Blue Lines Centre Circular (Bathscape Walk 17)

With your back to the train station main exit turn left, passing an old telephone box which is now a planter! Pass through the tunnel (under the railway tracks) and on the other side turn left, along the pavement which runs alongside black railings until you reach Halfpenny Bridge across the River Avon.

Turn right and cross the bridge, then turn immediately left down the pavement of the main road (Rossiter Road) until you meet a minor road. Turn left down this road and over a little bridge over the canal. The locks will be on your right. Continue under a bridge and then onto the pavement of a minor road. The river should still be on your left. When the road bears round to the right, continue straight ahead onto the footpath running parallel to the river. Pass under another bridge 1.

Continue ahead passing Bath Rugby Ground on your right and Parade Gardens, on your left on he far side of the river. The current Pulteney Weir was rebuilt in the early 1970s. However, a weir of some description has been here since 1603 to protect the city from flooding. Opposite the weir on your right is the Beazer maze, a small garden labyrinth created by Randoll Coate in 1984. Coate is a famous “labrynthologist” who designed over 50 mazes around the world.

After having a look, follow the footpath round to the flight of steps up onto Pulteney Bridge. Follow the steps all the way up until you pop out onto the street 2. Pulteney Bridge is to the left and is one of only four bridges in the world with shops that fully span both sides. It was built in the 1770s, replacing a ferry service.

Turn right to walk along Argyle Street towards a roundabout with a fountain on it. Just before the roundabout, turn left and cross Argyle Street, pass a post box and follow the pavement onto Henrietta Street on the left. Walk up this classic Bath street, lined with terraces of Bath Stone town houses (most of which are now divided into flats). After the end of the terrace and outside 1 Bathwick Villas, cross Henrietta Street to the entrance of Henrietta Park. There is a noticeboard next to the entrance with information about the park, and a plan of the site. As you enter the park down a slight slope on your left there is the Garden of Remembrance which was opened in 1936 to honour King George V. It makes a pleasant rest stop.

There are several paths through the park, explore a while as you make your way across to the far right-hand corner, here an upward-sloping pathway with a metal railing brings you out on the corner of Henrietta Mews and Henrietta Gardens. Cross the road onto the pavement on the other side of Henrietta Mews, then continue straight up the road (Sutton Street) passing the Pulteney Arms on your left.

At the T-junction turn right and carefully cross Great Pulteney Street, then turn left onto Sydney Place and use the pedestrian crossing to cross to Sydney Place. Pass the map mounted on the pavement and then turn left to enter Sydney Gardens via the metal gates in front of the Holburne Museum. (If the gates are locked, continue straight on to find an alternate entrance to Sydney Gardens on your left). Pass between the columns on the right of the main museum building, and continue past the museum café to the stone steps behind the outside seating area. Head up the steps into the main part of the Gardens. There is lots to explore in the park so take your time. Turn left to find the toilets, extensive play area (installed in 2022) and tennis courts.

When you are ready to continue, go straight ahead down the wide tarmac area towards a stone bridge. Just before the bridge, on the left, is the Minerva’s Temple which holds an exhibition all about Sydney Gardens, and is well worth a look. Cross the bridge over the train tracks and where the path divides four ways on the other side of the bridge, take the diagonal rights towards a white metal gate next to a litter bin. Go through the gates and turn right along the canal. Pass under a white metal bridge and then go through a tunnel.

When you emerge from the tunnel use the steps or the ramp to turn right up to the bridge. The building on the bridge is Cleveland House. It was built as offices in the early 1800s and originally called Canal House as it was the headquarters of the Kennet and Avon Canal Company until 1864. Cross the canal and turn right to pick up the tow path 3. The Kennet & Avon canal will now be on your right. Follow the tow path until a ramp takes you up to a main road. Use the zebra crossing to carefully cross the road then turn right to cross the stone bridge over the canal.

Immediately on the other side of the bridge turn left to find stone steps back down to the canal. Turn right to continue on the tow path, this time with the canal on your left. Soon after the old Pump Chimney, the tow path meets a road. Carefully cross the road and continue along the tow path on the other side. At Bath Deep Lock (locks 8/9) the tow path meets a busy road. Turn right and almost immediately left to use the three pedestrian crossings to safely navigate to the other side 4 . Then turn left to cross the bridge over the canal. Once over the bridge, turn right to continue down along the tarmac path. The canal is now on your right.

Go through the tunnel to emerge at the canal basin. Follow the path up to the minor road you walked down at the beginning of the route. From here you can retrace your footsteps, or for an alternative way back, continue straight on to remain on the tow path.

Pass under Halfpenny Bridge, the bridge you walked over at the start, and then under a second green bridge. The tow path then rises to meet a paved bridge with black metal railings. Turn right to cross the bridge over the river. Follow the pavement round to the left and then when it meets the road, turn right and use the pedestrian crossing to cross over to the right. Turn left and walk to the corner. Turn right to pass in front of the bus station to the start.

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