A figure of eight around the Avon

A couple of weeks before the quick stroll I stretched my legs and walked eleven miles. It was a grey day but it wasn’t cold and no rain forecast; perfect for exploring more of the Avon Valley. My walk began on the northern banks of the River Avon, and whilst the grey made everything very dark at times there was still beauty to be found.

I was still in Wiltshire, but walking through the Avon Valley you really feel like you are in the middle of the Cotswolds rather than on the edges.

It was now time to cross the river and explore its southern banks, and rather unusually for a walk I used an aqueduct to cross! The aqueduct was of course holding up the Kennet & Avon canal, and I have taken you there a few times before. This time, for the first time, I was going to explore another waterway that also transverses this point.

The Somerset Coal Canal is much narrower and shorter than the Kennet & Avon, and is only suitable for the canal boats that are 7ft or less in width, ie the boats known as narrow boats. Coal mining began in this area in the 1760s and they soon realised they needed more effective transportation to get the coal out to customers in the county and further afield.

In 1794 an Act of Parliament was passed to enable the canal to be built, and by 1798 the first section had been completed and by 1805 the canal was fully open to both passenger and coal traffic. These days only a tiny section is navigable by boat, and even walkers have to divert in places including me. I left the canal behind after only a few minutes as I had a figure of 8 walk in my head and needed to head back towards Bradford-on-Avon.

Initially the path was easy to follow, but then it became a bit more challenging. Not only very narrow and uneven but also incredibly steep. I found myself sliding backwards even in hiking boots. Apparently the path on the right is a bridleway?!

Finally and after a few hairy moments I managed to make my way to the top of the path. I made a mental note never to attempt it the other way round nor after a very wet spell. A few minutes later I had to risk life and limb again to cross an ‘A’ road, but then the calmness returned as the next village had come up with a brilliant idea to keep pedestrians safe.

The day was still very grey, and whilst perfect for hiking I was struggling to find colour for the camera. I felt it deserved it as this was the first time I had taken the camera on a proper adventure since Robert died. I was also aware my ability to cope with poor light was limited. The skills will return but on this walk I struggled and the cutting room floor is littered with photographs.

Now a few of you maybe wondering where the Avon is, given my title. Well it wasn’t until I was approaching the cross-over that I found myself actually on the river bank. It was still grey here and also plenty of green.

I think by this time I must have been getting hungry as I stopped taking photographs, and just walked. The tea place was a few of miles ahead but it wasn’t long before I was sitting down with a delicious slice of cake. I took a few mouthfuls before I remembered to take a photograph for Jo. I think she might have a cake rule for her Monday walks!

Now refreshed it was time to complete my figure of eight walk, and return to my rental in Bradford-on-Avon. I took the river path not that I took any photographs of the river on this section. I was too distracted by all the flora and fauna! There was hint of blue in the sky too, amazing what a difference it makes.

As I came into Bradford there was choice about which way I exactly went to return to my accommodation and looking at the photographs I recall I went for the illogical (given my final destination) but traffic free route. A chance to show off one of my favourite ancient paths and also two of Bradford’s three bridges.