One tunnel from Springfield Park (Bathscape Walk 6)

Standing on the pavement of Meare Road head into Springfield Park downhill keeping the playground on your left. Go past the playground and at the bottom turn right and when you reach the edge of the basketball court take the path on your left continuing downhill through a wooded area until it enters a field.

Continue downhill to the bottom left of the field and take the footpath left, through a gate and onto a path that soon runs alongside a wall.

There are steps along the way as you descend to a minor road at the bottom.

Follow this road (Lynbrook Lane) round to the left and then as it curves right up to meet the main road (Entry Hill) 1. Turn right and walk along the pavement of Entry Hill until you see the Devonshire Arms ahead. Carefully cross the road and walk up past the pub to Wellsway. At the top turn right and cross the road so you are outside the Devonshire Arms 2. Turn left to use the pedestrian crossing to cross the road.

Turn left and then right into the next road, Hatfield Road. There is only pavement on the far side of this road, however you’re only going to walk a short distance along the road until you find St. Luke’s Church on your right. Walk through the church car park heading for the far-left corner where you will soon see a path down past the church to the green space, which is churchyard, beyond. Stay on this path until you reach Bloomfield Road. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and turn right along the pavement, carefully crossing side road Hensley Road, until you see the gate into Bloomfield Green immediately after house number 102.

Carefully cross the road and enter the open space 3. Follow the left hedge down towards the basketball court. On the far side of the court turn left onto a paved path. After a few metres you will come to a gate. On the other side of the gate is the Linear Park and Greenway. Look out for cyclists using this route. Turn left onto the path and ahead you will see the entrance to the Devonshire Tunnel, the first of the two tunnels. This is the shorter of the tunnels and takes approx. 10 minutes to walk through. Notice the difference in the air temperature as you approach the entrance.

Walk through the tunnel which curves slightly, but you’ll soon see the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’. Upon exiting 4 you’ll soon cross two bridges, the second being a red brick bridge with metal railings.
A short distance after the bridge, keep an eye out for a small path on your right which will take you back down the side of this bridge as you descend to eventually pass under it. Once you have walked under the bridge, passing through a gate, turn right onto the quiet Lyncombe Vale Road. Walk down the road until opposite the new houses you see a footpath on your right leading uphill into the woods 5.

Follow this path gently uphill to reach a crossing path. Go up a flight of steps on your right leading up above the two tunnels path below. At the top of the steps turn left until you reach a bridge over the path below. Turn right through a gate, across the bridge and through another gate into a field. If you have dogs check for grazing animals before following the best worn path uphill towards a gate ahead and slightly to your left, on the other side of the field.

At the top, turn around to enjoy the views. Then pass through the gate and turn left onto the lane away from Honeysuckle Farm. At the T junction 6 turn right up Fox Hill. Half way up the hill just before a driveway turn right into a meadow and follow the footpath across the meadow, with far reaching views on your right.

The path forks just before some scrubby woodland. Take the left fork. Pass into the edge of the wood and soon you will see up and on your left the exit from the woodland back into Springfield Park. Head straight up hill from here, until you return to Meare Road.

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