Circuit of Bath Official way marked route

Walk 1

If starting from Lansdown Park & Ride EXIT via the back entrance. To find this path walk left past the toilet block and other single-storey buildings in the same location. Join the tarmac path to your left which runs down the fence line.

Follow this path round LEFT (L) and then onto a footpath towards Beckford’s Tower. After a short distance take the right-hand fork through a gate and then turn L. Stay on this path all the way along, taking the most well-trodden route past the Tower until you meet a final gate and pick up the main Circuit of Bath path. Turn L onto the Circuit of Bath footpath beyond 1.

Or if continuing from walk 4 carry on up the hill towards Lansdown Road. When the footpath meets the road turn L and use the pedestrian crossing to cross over to Granville Road.

Walk to the very end of Granville Road then take the way marked L (not the hard left) up the tarmacked track as far as the stone arch into Charlcombe Grove Farm. Do not go through the Arch. Keep dogs on leads for a while longer 2. In front of the arch turn L to some large metal gates and railings. Go through the pedestrian gate; this is the public right of way. Please close the gate after you.

Follow the track and at the wooden gates veer L onto a grass path alongside a hedge on your R. Follow the way markers through two more gates until you reach a set of steps taking you steeply down the open hillside.

Continue straight down the hill to a way-marker in front of an area of brambles. Follow the indicated path down and through a wooden gate in the field boundary. Follow the winding path downhill. Pass through a metal gate and once clear of the bushes, veer slightly RIGHT (R) to the gate at the bottom corner of the field. Ignore the free-standing kissing gate.

Go through the gate and turn R, go down a short track to meet the tarmac road. Turn L and after c.50m turn R into Church Street. Cross the stone stile at the end of Church Street and head down an alleyway.

Once in the field bear diagonally R down to the bottom. Cross the stream.
Turn R alongside the stream. After c.120m cross the stream again then bear L and walk diagonally up the steep hill ahead, aiming for the extreme right hand house on the far edge of the field. Dog owners beware- there may be sheep in this field.

Towards the top of the slope, bear L again and leave the field by the obvious steps, through the garden of Woodbine Cottage, (yes, this really is a public footpath!) Please close the gate after you to emerge onto a road in Upper Swainswick 3.

Go straight up the steep road, with Swainswick Church on your L. At the T-junction turn R. Proceed through the village and continue to the ’Give Way‘ sign.

Turn R (signed ’Bath A46‘) and head down the hill. Cross the road with care when a pavement appears on the other side. Continue downhill and soon turn L under the A46. Bear L uphill. CAUTION: Beware of fast traffic leaving the A46. Just before meeting the A46 cross over the road and head up the lane marked ’Private Property – No Unauthorised Access’. After c.100m turn R through a gate and go straight across the field, aiming for the lone telegraph pole.

Turn R at the telegraph pole and follow the hedge line uphill through two gates. Head straight on, up to the flat top of Little Solsbury Hill. Bear R following the edge until you find the trig point.

From the trig point, continue on along the edge keeping the views on your R until you see a National Trust sign. Turn R here down hill towards a gate. Pass through the gate and follow the lane all the way down hill to a T-junction. At the T junction turn left, continuing down hill until you see a footpath on your right.

Take the footpath across a field to a metal gate, go through the gate and across another field before descending some steps and turning R back into the lane. Take care walking in the narrow lane. At the T-junction turn R, continuing downhill. Pass the Church of the Good Shepherd on your L and as the road bends to thr R take the flight of steps straight ahead 4.

At the bottom turn L onto Batheaston High Street. Use the crossing to cross the road, then turn R and after a short distance L into the car park.

Walk 2

From the Batheaston Riverside and Gardens car park, cross the river via the bridge which ends in a footpath. Follow this along the river, then parallel to the road until it brings you to Mill Road 1.

Turn LEFT (L) here and walk into Bathampton, passing the George Inn on your RIGHT (R). Head towards the canal at Bathampton. If you are unfamiliar with the area there is a flight of steps up to the canal next to the George Inn. Turn L along the towpath.

Carry on along the tow path until you reach the Brassknocker Basin (5km) 2. Turn R over the canal using the stone & metal bridge. Walk the short distance around the basin and then cross the mouth of the Somersetshire Coal Canal over a little drawbridge.

Turn R at the cycle path sign (to Radstock /Monkton Combe) and follow the path. Fork uphill to the Canal Visitor Centre and Angelfish Café or fork L to continue on the Circuit of Bath or to find the car park.

PLEASE NOTE IF WALKING IN THE EVENING:
The gate at the end of this path connecting you to the next section is locked at night. Times are clearly displayed at Brassknocker Basin. To work around this, follow the Limestone Link (waymarked) along the A36 until you get to the traffic lights.

Turn L down Lower Stoke (B3108) exercising extreme caution as there is no pavement here. Then turn L where the 40mph signs are and immediately L again to continue on to the Circuit of Bath passing under the road through the archway towards Monkton Combe School.

Walk 3

Head out of the car park main entrance towards Lower Stoke, but before meeting the main road, turn immediately RIGHT (R) into a lane. Walk under the arch and past the sports fields of Monkton Combe School on your LEFT (L). Immediately after the sports fields, fork L onto a footpath, which runs parallel and slightly above the lane.

At the end turn R to cross the sunken lane and take the flight of steps opposite. Continue uphill along the path between the school buildings. Keep within the fencing through the school grounds. When you reach a road turn L 1 into Monkton Combe village. Continue until you reach St. Michael’s Church.

Follow the tarmac path through the churchyard, passing Harry Patch’s grave. Exit the churchyard through a gate and turn L onto Tucking Mill Lane. This lane is used by cyclists and motor vehicles so take care as you follow it all the way down to Tucking Mill. At Tucking Mill the path separates from the road along a hedge on your L. Take the path and follow through a wooded area. Continue on this path, crossing a small tarmac driveway half way along until the path begins to follow a wooden fence on the R, then it passes between two fences before emerging onto Midford Hill 2.

Caution: The road is likely to be very busy. Turn R uphill towards the Hope & Anchor pub and find a safe place to cross the busy road. Opposite the pub, before the bridge turn L down some steps onto a footpath. Follow this path, under the brick and steel bridges. Go through a gate and continue along the raised path beside the disused Somersetshire Coal Canal.

Continue to follow the old canal ditch through several gates and under a brick bridge. After the bridge bear R and follow the shady path to another
wooden gate.

Continue through to a large field. Skirt the field on the grassy bank, keeping the electric fence on your R. Walk through a gate and continue along the bank.

Head up some steps to reach a gate. Turn R then soon after L through a gate. Walk through the wooded area and along the shady fenced path. Head up a slight slope to reach a gate onto a road 3. Cross the road to a gate opposite.

Continue under the abandoned railway bridge and over the stile straight ahead. Follow the path through the wood until you reach a gate.

Cross the adjacent stile and follow the path, keeping the stream on your LHS. Continue uphill to reach a field, cross it uphill to a gate, to the left of the big house. Pass through the gate and continue up a steep path through a wood. Pass through a metal gate and continue with the fence on your RHS.

Bear slightly left, heading uphill and continue through another metal gate. Keep L and walk uphill. After approx. 50 metres, turn L and continue uphill to a concrete track. At the fork, bear L. At the top of the lane is the Millennium Viewpoint. Take a moment to enjoy the view before following the path L away from the farm buildings. At a junction where the lane ends, keep ahead through trees.

Bear slightly L and continue straight through a gate into a field. Follow the edge of the field through a gate onto a road 4 . Turn R and walk to the end of the road. CAUTION, there is no pavement here, please take care on the road. Turn L to find Odd Down Park & Ride on your L, or continue across the crossroads to continue onto Walk 4 of the Circuit of Bath.

Walk 4

If you are continuing on from Walk 3 continue straight across Sulis Manor Road, to stay on Combe Hay Lane. At the roundabout follow the pavement RIGHT (R) then cross Sulis Manor Road, turn R and then LEFT (L) into Combe Hay Lane. Pass buildings of St. Gregory’s School until you reach a T-junction with A367 Bath – Radstock Rd. Turn R and cross the road at the pedestrian crossing. Turn L and then R into Old Fosse Rd.

After c.80m turn L into Kilkenny Lane, soon passing Bristol View on your L. Take care on this narrow road. Follow the Lane for over 1km until the bottom of the hill, just after Kilkenny Cottages 1. Turn R through a gate into a field. Follow the edge of the field, keeping the hedge and wood on your R, to reach a gate and track. Cross the track and go through the gate opposite.Look for the way marker post on your diagonal L and head towards it. Descend gently down the shallow valley.

Continue through a gate. Then look out for a gate on the L into the wood. Go steeply up the path and carry straight on, ignoring all cross tracks. This path can be very slippery when wet. Leave the wood through a gate. Bear slightly R across an open field to a gate opposite. Go through the gate and follow the track through the next two fields, keeping the hedge on your R. Go through a final gate 2, then turn L and follow the road into the village of Englishcombe.

At the grassy triangle, fork R. Continue downhill and then go R immediately after the Old Vicarage onto Church Lane. Follow the lane as it curves round to the L and look for a footpath through a gate on your R. Take this path into a field. Bear L skirting the wooded area ahead, which surrounds a pond. Keep this secluded pond on your R, then head across the field down to a gate beside a metal gate.

Go down a short track, then up into a field, this dip can be very muddy most of the year round and can be difficult to pass without waterproof  footwear. Go uphill and keep the hedge on your L. At the top, stay on the high ground and follow the field boundary down the hill, keeping the hedge on your L, to a gate in the far left-hand corner of the field.

Go through the gate and turn L over a concrete bridge. Ignore the gate on the L and continue along a narrow path alongside the stream on your R, soon reaching a road. Turn hard R along the road. Pass Clays End Farm and then Buttercup Barn Day Nursery, both on your R. Turn R at the crossroads 3 and follow the lane downhill to the main road. Cross the road with extreme care to the gate in the fence directly opposite. CAUTION: there is good visibility in both directions here but beware of fast-moving traffic. Go straight ahead towards Bath Mill Lodge Holiday Park along a tarmac driveway, keeping the stream on your R.

Turn R over the first wooden footbridge and follow the path uphill. At the clearing, keep L, ignoring the steep path uphill. Continue to meander uphill to an old metal gate. Pass through and turn L to reach a concrete path. Continue past houses and after approx. 60 metres turn L through a metal gate and down into the wood. Continue through the wood and eventually into a field. Turn L to skirt the field and head past the information board. Continue straight downhill then turn L through a gate to head steeply downhill to the main road.

Cross the main road, which can be busy, with caution, and turn L. Walk a short distance and turn R at the blue ‘Bristol and Bath Railway Path’ sign 4. Follow the path through the wooded area and head up to a set of steep steps to the tarmac cycle path above. At the top of the steps, turn R to cross over the bridge.

Shortly after the metal barriers, turn L and head down a concealed narrow path which soon meets the tow path. Turn R and continue along the riverside path. Continue straight. Walk over the wooden bridge and continue under the low stone bridge. Turn R, and follow the way markers through the car park of The Boathouse Pub and up to the edge of  Newbridge Park & Ride. Here you can head into the Park & Ride to pick up the rest of the section another day or continue on to Lansdown Park & Ride.

Route to Lansdown Park & Ride

Follow the footpath up towards the rowing club which will be on your L. Turn L immediately after a wide gap in the fence and follow path, keeping the fence on your L. Follow the path round to the R up a grassy slope to some steps and then uphill through a belt of woodland to reach a metal gate. Go through gate, Oldfield School is directly opposite you, turn R onto the pavement of the A431 – Bitton Road. Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing. Turn R and then L into the enclosed path on your L which takes you up past the school.

Follow the footpath to where it emerges onto Penn Hill Rd and turn L. Carefully cross the road at the bollards to the pavement on the other side. Turn L and continue. Just after you cross Frankland Close, carefully cross the road to a metal gate. Pass into the recreation ground through the gate and take a hard R parallel to the road. Pass through a gate to re-join the main road. Turn L, walk along the pavement, passing the entrance to Southlands. Just past the bus shelter, go down Penn Hill Road and continue down this short narrow lane. At the bottom of the lane, cross the road via a zebra crossing to a pharmacy. Turn R and then after a short distance turn L up Trafalgar Rd 5. At the top of Trafalgar Rd bear slightly R into ‘The Weal’.

Continue up ‘The Weal’ for about 150m then turn R into Blind Lane. CAUTION: This lane becomes increasingly rough and narrow and wet underfoot. Look out for loose stones and projecting or overhanging branches. Use the hand rails. Follow Blind Lane up to and through a gate at the top. Bear slightly R and head up the hill through the field to a gate in a hedge – Beckford’s Tower is on the skyline to your L. Pass through the wooden gate beside a large metal gate and follow the enclosed path with the hedge on the R.

At the end of the path, turn L, through a tall metal gate and go uphill into Primrose Hill Community Woodland. Follow the path directly uphill and through another metal gate at the top. Follow the footpath ahead and through the next gate. Carry on along the right-hand edge of the field uphill into large field. Halfway up the field, cross a tarmac track and continue uphill.

About 30m before reaching the trees bear L as instructed by the way marker then the path levels out. Walk for c.200m parallel to the tree line on your R. At the end of the field 6, to continue on the Circuit ignore the gate on the L and continue uphill, and follow the enclosed track to Lansdown Road.

Or to continue to Lansdown Park & Ride take the path to the left which runs beneath Beckford’s Tower all the way to back to the rear entrance of the car park.

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