Bradford-on-Avon - Walks on Wheels

Easy 4km canal walk on hard surface for most wheels. Alternative grassy path for wheelchairs.

Bradford-on-Avon - Walks on Wheels

Distance

3 miles / 4.83 km

Duration

2 hours

Difficulty

Easy access

Mobility aid rating

Mobility scooter

Shape

Linear

Route description

This 3 miles (4.8km) route alongside the River Avon and the Kennet and Avon Canal passes through the historic Barton Farm Park and leads to the Avoncliff aqueduct. The complete walk is accessible for all except hand-propelled wheelchairs. Subject to conditions underfoot, wheelchair users can enjoy a riverside walk of similar length. The surface is largely surfaced or hard grit, with mown grass on the riverside. All users have a steep short descent at the beginning. Thereafter wheelchairs are on the level while others face a short ascent to the towpath. At Avoncliff there is an optional steep descent to an inn, or a longer descent and steep ascent to a café.

Start

Address

4A Pound Ln, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1LF, UK
View start on Google Maps

OS Grid Ref

ST825606

What3Words

shun.heartache.tilting

Public toilets

Accessible toilets at the start.

Refreshments

Restaurants, pubs and cafés in Bradford including the Tithe Barn, pub and café at Avoncliff 3.

Travel Info

Bradford-on-Avon is on the A363 between Bath and Trowbridge, and the walk starts at the railway station car park. Park at the far end in Zone B, pay and display. There is also limited parking at Avoncliff aqueduct (approached by a steep and narrow lane).

Navigation

From the far end of the station car park the walk drops on a short hairpin bend between two offset iron posts under the railway bridge. The path leads past the attractive farm buildings 1 (farmhouse, dairy, pigsties, granary and tithe barn) which are worth a close look now or on the way back. The ground at the site is gravelled.

The path leads across the meadow with the river on the right and the canal just visible above to your left.

2 Half way through the walk, at a fork in the path wheelchair users may bear right to a grassy riverside walk (Route 2) which passes through four double gates to Avoncliff weir. Turn around at the weir. The grass on this section is sometimes uneven and may be muddy after rain. You return the way you came.

The route to the left (not for hand-propelled wheelchairs) climbs a short way to the canal and follows the towpath for about 0.75 mile (1.2km) to where the canal turns right over the viaduct. 3 Here, turn round and go back the way you came.