Discover Bradford on Avon and the Kennet and Avon Canal

Payment is in advance for this tour. Once you have booked your place on Meet Up, Steve will be in touch about paying the walk fee to secure your place.

The settlement of Bradford on Avon was founded in the seventh century by Saxon settlers. There is evidence of Iron Age and Roman influence before this in the surrounding area, including a villa with a fine mosaic under the local school playing field!

We will start and finish our four mile circular walk at the wharf on the Kennet and Avon Canal. The walk is almost entirely level and mostly on good walking surfaces.

Discovering the origins of the town we will visit the Norman bridge over the Avon, the 10th century Saxon church of St. Laurence, which lay hidden for centuries within later buildings, and the magnificent medieval tithe barn, one of the finest in the country.

After a walk along the banks of the River Avon we will pause for refreshments at the newly reopened Cross Guns at Avoncliff. Here we will meet the Kennet and Avon canal again and explore another dimension of the local history. We will take a look at the fine aqueduct at Avoncliff, walk along the canal itself and visit the locks and docks of Bradford on Avon waterfront.

As is our custom a set of written notes will be emailed out to walkers after the walk. This will allow you to hold on to what you have picked up from our exploration of Bradford on Avon.

A Walk in the Past is a friendly group where regulars and newcomers are always welcome. Our aim is to combine a good walk with pleasant company in historic landscapes.

If you would like to lift share from Bath or Bristol for this event please use the comments board below to facilitate this.

Regular trains to Bradford on Avon from Bristol and Bath.