Bath and Beyond - Linear Self Guided
Bath & Mendip Explorer £399 (ss£120)
Commence any day you like – subject to availability of accommodation. A eight-day country-walking holiday that will give you a chance to relax and enjoy the gentle landscapes and sleepy villages of Somerset. The walk starts from the beautiful City of Bath and takes you along the Kennet and Avon Canal and just into Wiltshire. Then on through the rolling Mendip Hills to Wells, England’s smallest city, lying in the lee of the Mendips and renowned for its medieval heritage. Here you will have the opportunity to stay an extra night and visit the famous market town of Glastonbury. This is an ideal holiday for those who enjoy walking and would like the freedom to discover, at their own pace, the wealth of the English countryside and its heritage.
Your luggage will be transferred daily to your next accommodation.
Your accommodation will be at accredited hotels,country inns and guest houses with en- suite facilities.
Note: This holiday can be shortened to meet your requirements or alternatively you may like to extend your holiday further by adding our West Mendip Way 3 Day walk to Weston-super-Mare (contact us for an individual quote).
Your Programme
Day
1:Arrive at Bath
Time to gain a flavour of the beautiful City
and settle into your accommodation.
Day
2: A City Walk
An opportunity to spend the day visiting some of the finest architectural
sights in Europe such as the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent.
Bath is also renowned for its award winning colourful parks and gardens. Free-guided
walks of the City are available or walk the Bath Sky Line.
Day
3: Bath - Bradford on Avon (9mls/14km)
You leave the beautiful Georgian City of Bath and walk along the
banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal, one of the most picturesque canals in
the country. The towpath follows through the River Avon valley.You will discover
two of Britain’s finest aqueducts at Dundas and Avoncliff. You complete
your walk along the Canal at Bradford on Avon passing a 14th century Tithe
Barn.
Day
4: Bradford on Avon - Mells (14mls/22km)
From Bradford on Avon you make your way to the village of Iford and
pass close by Iford Manor which was the home of architect and landscape gardener
Harold Peto from 1899-1933.The walk continues along the quiet picturesque
valley of the river Frome to Farleigh Hungerford with its fine 14th century
castle. before walking through a wooded gorge cut by the Mells Stream you
see evidence of the industrial past by passing the remains of an old iron
works. Stepping out of the woodland you enter the lovely village of Mells,
which has an unusually large number of listed buildings.
This walk can be shortened to 7 or 11 miles if requested.
Day
5: Mells - Chilcompton (10mls/16km)
Leaving
the enchanting village of Mells you will now walk the paths and tracks that
were used by miners on their way to work in the mines. Many of the mines are
now grass-covered mounds but amongst the woods, field and quiet villages you
will discover a fascinating history from the remaining evidence of old canals,
railways and tramlines. The walk takes you along the Nettlebridge valley to
the village of Chilcompton.
Day
6: Chilcompton - Wells (11mls/18km)
From Chilcompton you head across the Mendip Hills to the village of Chewton
Mendip.You then join The Monarchs Way, which was the escape route of Charles
11 after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The route crosses
the Priddy Mineries Nature Reserve and You head along the Mendip escarpment
with the wonderful views across the mystic vale of Avalon with Glastonbury
Tor rising from the Somerset Levels. The walk then takes you on into the village
of Wookey Hole, famous for its caves and onto Wells the smallest city in England.
Day
7: Wells/Glastonbury (6mls/10km)
This day offers you the opportunity to visit further sites of the area
from your base in the city of Wells. Wells Cathedral is a must for every visitor
as is the famous town of Glastonbury with its Abbey ruins.
If
you wish to take a walk on this day you take public transport to Glastonbury
and we offer a 6 mile circular walk from the centre of Glastonbury across
the Somerset levels, up Wearyall Hill and across pastureland to the famous
Glastonbury Tor.After climbing the Tor the walk takes you back into the town
and you return by public transport to Wells.
