The Winsley Circle - Miles without Stiles

On this short circular walk in the southern Cotswolds, observe the local history of Winsley including the Turleigh Troughs, the 16th Century Woollen Mills and the Canal at Avoncliff.

Distance

2.5 miles / 4.02 km

Duration

1 hours

Difficulty

Basic fitness, unsurfaced paths

Mobility aid rating

Stile free

Shape

Circular

Start

Address


View start on Google Maps

OS Grid Ref

ST799609

What3Words

informed.comedy.boating

Travel Info

The Seven Stars Public House, Winsley. BA15 2LQ ST799608- parking only with landlords permission or park alongside wall by War Memorial. Alternatively use the Pay & Display car park on the south side of Avoncliff aqueduct and start/finish at point 5. The walk can be reached from neighbouring towns. Bus: Route D1 Bath to Warminster, alight opposite The Seven Stars. Train: From Bath, Bradford on Avon and Trowbridge, alight at Avoncliffe.

Navigation

Turn right out of the Seven Stars and follow the road round to the War Memorial. Take the path sign-posted ‘The Peace’ 1 for 150m before turning right onto a steep road down to Turleigh.

Continue until the Turleigh Troughs appear on your right and Turleigh Manor on your left. 2 The Turleigh Troughs provide the outflow for an unfailing spring that provided the water supply to Turleigh village. The Troughs are thought to be made up of stone coffins and legend tells that King Alfred watered his horses here after defeating the Danes at nearby Dane Bottom.

Turn right up Green Lane passing Uplands House (c1720) on your right, and in 300m when Green Lane turns sharp right continue straight down 3 bridleway for 300m. Turn right onto the road 4 and in 300m enter car park at the north end of aqueduct in Avoncliff 5 .

Cross the aqueduct, note the Cross Guns Pub c1550, make a sharp U turn to the left passing under the canal and re-joining the tow-path on other side.

Re-cross the aqueduct and follow the tow-path for 900m until you reach Winsley Bridge. 6 Cross the bridge and immediately turn sharp left (note: the very first turning left). Follow the path along the canal edge for 350m to Murhill Wharf. Bear right up the old tramway to Murhill Quarry, part of the way up there is an old tramline in the path.

At the top of the tramway take the flight of stone steps to join the road 7, turn right and then bear left in 100m. Cross over the road and enter the old part of Winsley Village with its charming 17th/18th century cottages.

Leave Burghope Manor (Elizabethan) on your left and then on to St Nicholas Church with its interesting 16th century saddle-back roof on the tower. Turn right to return to The Seven Stars pub.