Bath Sk line Walk - FastlySupport our work protecting special places in Bath and the South...
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Photography: NTPL, Annette Townsend, Jim Parry, Rob Auckland, Ben Cross, Katy Smith and Matthew Ward. © National Trust 2012. Printed on 100% recycled paper. Please recycle this leaflet after use. National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846 For alternative formats, please call us on 01225 833422 or email bathskyline @nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ bathskyline The National Trust is a charity that looks after hundreds of extraordinary places, for ever, for everyone. Support our work protecting special places in Bath and the South Cotswolds. All you need to do is become a member of the National Trust. By joining the National Trust you are helping us to care for 250,000 hectares of outstanding natural beauty around the country. Members get free admission, and free car parking at all our places, plus a complete handbook and a fascinating magazine. Call 0844 800 1895 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk Do more with the National Trust Join us Suggested start points: • Point 1 (Bathwick Hill) – grid ref: ST760647 • Point 5 (Bath Cats and Dogs home, RSPCA) – grid ref: ST773641 Getting here: Please note: there are no National Trust car parks on the Skyline, but there are frequent bus services from the city centre. By foot: Within 1 mile from city centre, proceed up Bathwick Hill. Join the walk at point 1 at the junction with Cleveland Walk. By bus: City Sightseeing tour bus from Bath Spa, alight American Museum. Buses 8, 18 and 418/9 (term time), City Centre-Bath University. Join the walk at point 1 or point 5. By train: Bath Spa 1 mile walk to point 1. Step out of the city and into the countryside… Enjoy this 6 mile circular walk which incorporates some stiles and gates. Paths may be muddy and steep in places and some of the walk crosses busy roads so please take care. Cattle and sheep graze the meadows so please keep dogs on leads and clear up after them. This walk follows the recommended route. However, there are lots of other footpaths that detour from the main route, which cross level ground and avoid some of the steeper hills. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bathskyline Countryside in the city Enjoy a 6 mile (9.6 km) circular walk through stunning countryside Explore Bath Skyline Walk Countryside in the city... Discover... Bathwick Wood • The pungent Wild Garlic and patches of vibrant Bluebells in the Spring • Evidence of old Medieaval terraces and embankments • Butterflies and other insects Smallcombe Wood • Site of ancient woodland • Current planting includes: Guelder Rose, Dogwood and small-leaved Lime • Nuthatch, Wrens and Blackcap • In early Summer: the rare Gladdon, Solomon’s Seal and Bee Orchids Rainbow Wood Fields • The natural mounds are home to the Yellow Meadow Ant • The name originates from the arc shaped woodland • In Spring look out for Dog’s Mercury and Hart’s Tongue Fern • Jays, Nuthatches, Green Woodpeckers, Chiff Chaffs and the occasional Buzzard Bushey Norwood • Iron Age hillfort • Early Roman earthworks • Standing Stones, known locally as claver ‘key’ stones Bathampton Wood Quarries • Old Bath stone quarries • Bath stone is a type of Oolitic limestone formed when lime was deposited around shell fragments of sea creatures millions of years ago • Stone tramway Sham Castle (not National Trust) • 18th century folly commissioned by Ralph Allen • Built to improve Ralph Allen’s view from his Bath town house • A good picnic and rest spot Enjoy the magnificent views of the World Heritage City of Bath. Discover an Iron Age hill fort, eighteenth century follies, hidden valleys, tranquil woodlands and meadows all with an array of flora and fauna. Prior Park Landscape Garden • Beautiful 18th century landscape garden set in a sweeping valley overlooking Bath • One of only four Palladian bridges of this design in the world • Created by businessman Ralph Allen, with advice from Alexander Pope and ‘Capability’ Brown • National Trust members free. Entrance on Ralph Allen Drive www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bathskyline
Transcript of Bath Sk line Walk - FastlySupport our work protecting special places in Bath and the South...
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Bathwick WoodStanding on Bathwick Hill with your back to
Cleveland Walk, take the path opposite that
goes between houses. Go through kissing
gate (KG) and bear left (L) diagonally across
field. Through next KG, after 75m go through
another KG and enter Richens Orchard. Exit
Orchard through another KG and follow track
right. Go through KG, down slope and steps
and follow until KG. Cross road to next KG.
Smallcombe WoodGo through KG into field opposite and bear R
diagonally uphill to KG. Bear diagonally L
uphill across next field towards houses. At far
corner turn R immediately after KG to road.
Turn L uphill on road. After last house turn R
across road and follow path uphill through
woods. At KG turn R and follow path
straight ahead to gap in wall. 100m across
next field take path bearing R away from main
gravel track. Enter trees, cross a junction of
tracks and follow steps downhill with railings
on R. At bottom of slope turn L before KG,
keeping railings on your R.
Rainbow Wood FieldsAt gateway turn L uphill through trees to
playing fields then turn R, keeping fence on
your L. Keep on round perimeter of field, then
go through metal gate onto gravel track. Go
straight across, through KG into woodland.
Keep straight on across private drive, pass
field on L and keep on through more
woodland. Follow path to R as it skirts an old
quarry and finally arrive at houses at
woodland edge.
Turn L through KG into field. Keep field
boundary on R and at end of field take the R
of two gates and follow path along wall. At
main road turn L and after 25m turn R down
narrow footpath. Go straight on at playing
field, keeping boundary immediately on L and
come to RSPCA home on L.
Bath Skyline walk –
map and directions…
Bushey NorwoodTurn R on road and after 100m turn L over stone
stile in wall. After 20m turn R at crossing path,
go through gate, then L onto track. Follow to first
corner of field, go through KG and bear L across
field. At corner, where field and woodland meet,
go through KG and cross field, following
woodland edge to your R.
Bathampton Wood QuarriesAt end of field go through KG and enter
Bathampton Woods. At first fork bear R and keep
to main trail through woods.
Leave woods and go straight on. Bear L,
slightly uphill, heading towards the R of the TV
masts. As you approach the masts, there is a
woodland on R and a golf course on L. The path
gradually moves away from the woodland and
joins a track just to the R of the masts.
Sham CastleFollow track to second KG on R, down into
woods. Path drops down very steeply through
trees, then go to L just before a wire fence.
Continue on path, winding through trees, go up
some wooden steps to viewpoint and stone
pillars of golf club drive. Here, make a short
detour to Sham Castle then return to route and
go through KG on R of stone pillars and follow
path downhill with field boundary on L.
Alternatively, for a level walk, continue from the
Castle and follow path, keeping plantation on L,
across field to stile. Cross wooden bridge and
continue along track through car park, at end
turn R onto private road. Carry straight on until
Bathwick Hill, opposite Copseland. Walk down
Copseland and cross Widcombe Hill to Quarry
Farm. Continue along path to KG on R. Rejoin
route at
At bottom of slope go through KG onto road
(cross with care) and turn R along pavement.
Take footpath L between a field and a garden and
follow downhill to emerge onto Clevedon Walk.
Turn L to Bathwick Hill and return to the start of
the walk.
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© Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey. Crown
copyright and database right 2012. All rights reserved.
Ordnance survey 100023974.
Access point
Walk route
Level walk
Bus stop
Very steep hill
Viewpoint
Entrance toPrior ParkLandscapeGarden
National Trustland ownership
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wiDcoMBe hill
claverton DownroaD
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