Avon Valley – Bath Walking Holiday (8 days, 7 nights)
Price (from)
Difficulty
Tour information
Explore the Avon Valley starting in Bath. Follow the canal tow paths to the fascinating town of Bradford-on-Avon, all while taking in the countryside views throughout the journey.
There are two itineraries available for this tour including a six night, seven day and seven night, eight day vacation with a number of walking trails to enjoy in the Avon Valley.
The 7 day walking tour misses day 6
Correct clothing is important to ensure your comfort during the walks. Your clothing should take moisture from the body to the outside. Sweatshirts, thin pullovers and breathable jackets are ideal companions during the cooler days.
Please take light, waterproof jackets and trousers in case there is rain. On hot days please wear a cap or hat to protect your head from the sun; sunglasses to protect your eyes from the UV rays and please wear sun cream.
Included/Excluded
- Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
- Luggage Transfers
- Fully comprehensive tour pack with colour coded routes on local maps
- Smartphone App with GPS
- Emergency Telephone Assistance
- Meals except breakfast
- Transport to and from the Cotswolds
Itinerary
Arrive in Bath and check into your accommodation.
Why not spend the evening relaxing in a local restaurant or pub before starting your walking adventure?
The sights of the city are well known and throughout the streets you can see the remains of its Roman predecessor in the famous Roman Baths, while the Abbey Church tells stories of the very different medieval times.
There are many grand Georgian buildings from the cities great boom time as a Spa with the Royal Crescent, the Circus and the Pulteney Bridge.
Explore the valleys of the Midford and Cam Brooks where the beautiful countryside is filled with the relics of a bygone industrial age.
Two railways and a canal once carried coal from Somerset but now crops grow and cows graze beside old locks and quietly crumbling bridges. The peaceful villages of Midford and Combe Hay nestle comfortably in these valleys offering plenty of character and country inns.
Walk through Widcombe village, a tranquil corner of Bath, to Ralph Allen's Sham Castle then across the Bathampton Downs. Here you join the Skyline Walk with some of the best views north over the city of Bath and east across the wooded Avon Valley. At Claverton Manor you can visit the American Museum in Britain and discover the history from across the pond.
Join the Kennett and Avon Canal at the Claverton Pumping Station, a historic example of renewable energy that uses the flow of the river to lift water into the canal. Cross the river and climb through the woods before gently descending across fields into Bradford-on-Avon.
This lovely Wiltshire town is full of history and you could just spend a day just enjoying the wonderful sites. From the 14th century bridge over the River Avon, Bradford climbs steeply up the southern edge of the Cotswold Hills through narrow streets and paths lined with quaint and quirky cottages.
Near the river you can visit the ancient 7th Century Saxon Church and the splendid 14th century Tithe Barn. The solid Victorian mills are a reminder of the days when wool and cloth was the main trade.
Bradford is also surrounded by beautiful countryside and the gentle, open farmland to the north of Bradford has a string of splendid manor houses, Great Chalfield, South Wraxall and Monkton Farleigh that are picturesque reminders of the feudal past.
The countryside just outside Bradford is full of interest. Pass the Jacobean Manor at Westwood on the way to the romantic 14th century ruins of Farleigh Hungerford Castle.
Continue through the delightful countryside to Iford Manor, with the famous hillside garden created by the Edwardian landscape architect Harold Peto, and return to Bradford along the wooded slopes of Avoncliff.
Enjoy the peaceful waterway scenes of boats and wildlife along the Kennet and Avon Canal. The delightful villages of Limpley Stoke and Monkton Combe provide the more rural aspect to this walk before heading back into the city past Prior Park.
The dramatic landscaped gardens sweep down the valley towards the centre of the city and are now in the care of the National Trust.
On day eight, you will depart.
Frequently asked questions
Activity Information
General Information
Do I have to walk/cycle every day of my trip?
Absolutely not! You can enjoy additional stop overs at various points along the tour if you would like more time to explore the local area.
We can also add additional days to the start and end of your trip to allow you to explore and relax.
If you would like to add rest days or additional nights to your trip please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss your specific requirements. We’re happy to tailor your trip to suit you!
How do I get to the start of my tour?
Most UK travel destinations are accessible by public transport.
However, some of the locations are quite rural and may require a car or taxi to reach the starting point.
Our tours do not include travel to the starting point as standard but if you would like specific travel to be include in your trip please let our team know.
Not quite sure where to start? Contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss your travel plans.
How far can I walk or cycle each day?
How far you choose to travel each day depends on your individual fitness levels and how long you want to spend walking or cycling.
We have a wide range of tours to suit all fitness levels.
All our itineraries specify the daily mileage and the difficulty level of the tour.
If you would like to make adjustments to a tour to suit your specific needs, please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss a bespoke tour. We are good at this!
How does the luggage transfer service work?
We offer a luggage transfer service across most of our tours so you don’t have to worry about your luggage during your vacation. We pick up your luggage on the morning you are moving accommodation and take it direct to your next stop.
What about places to eat?
All our tours come with bed and breakfast as standard.
In some more remote locations, accommodation providing breakfast may not be possible but we will find you somewhere to get breakfast nearby. This will be covered in the price of your trip.
Our tours do not include lunch and dinner as standard, though some accommodations do offer packed lunches and dinner options at an additional charge. Please let us know if you would like this option when booking.
How fit do I have to be?
Our tours all vary in degrees of hardness.
We specify the difficulty level of all of our tours on our website. The itineraries also give an indication of the gradients travelled on any given day.
If you would like to discuss this in more detail with our travel experts please contact us prior to booking.
What ages do you cater for?
Both our walking and cycling tours can cater for travellers of all ages. Distance is listed on each of the tours. If you are unsure about the distance covered, please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642.
All of our routes have been tried and tested by our expert team with lots of stop-offs and attractions so younger members of the team can rest and enjoy all that’s on offer. Please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642 at the time of booking to discuss your exact requirements.
Cycling equipment
We have a large range of bikes and accessories suited to adults and budding cyclists. We also offer a tag along (tandem) (please note it is not fully enclosed and waterproof but a single wheeled bike that attaches to the adult bike). We can also provide fully enclosed and waterproof trailers for younger children.
What day can I start my tour?
Most of our tours can be taken at any time but there are some which start on specific days which are usually Saturday to Saturday.
To find out more information, please call our expert travel team on +44 (0) 1242 250 642 or email info@compass-holidays.com.
What type of accommodation is included?
Our holidays are priced with 3* hotel, B&B as standard. These accommodations are hand picked for our tours.
Where a bespoke or luxury option is required please contact us on +44 (0) 1242 250642.
Can I bring my dog with me?
Several of our tours do have the option to bring your four-legged friend with you, depending on availability.
Please contact our expert travel team on +44(0) 1242 250 642 to find out which tours your dog will love too!
