5.5 Miles

Contoured walk with a focus on 18th century historic features in semi-ancient woodland.

Hilly, with extensive views over and beyond the park landscape, mainly on open land.

Doynton is a village situated at the southern end of the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, approximately 14.5km (9.0) miles from Bath. The walk starts from the Holy Trinity Church, Doynton, and takes you up the Cotswold escarpment, over fields, through quiet lanes and valleys, to the village of Dyrham, before returning to Doynton

This linear Somerset walk includes typical English countryside, quiet villages, old buildings and historic churches. The route runs from Keynsham to Bath along the northern fringes of the Mendip Hills, and its proximity to both Bath and Bristol ensures that it is well served by public transport.

From Swineford Picnic Area, the route climbs up through the village of Upton Cheyney; from here it's over fields, passing Beach House, and on to Coldharbour Farm. Return is back down the valley, up the other side via the humorously named – Grandmother’s Rock Lane, then onto the less humorous - Hanging Hill, up to Lansdown. Then a short section of the Cotswold Way. On leaving the Cotswold Way the route continues downhill to the village of North Stoke to pick and back to the Swineford Car Park.

It is 150 years since The Clifton and Durdham Downs (Bristol) Act, 1861 secured the Downs as a place of recreation for us all – forever. This trail and a second trail exploring the Promenade and Observatory Hill celebrate this anniversary and explore the rich and fascinating history of the Downs.

Passing by Goram’s Chair, Tarn Lake, Beech Cathedral, Lily Pond, Rhododendron Walk, Rustic Lodge, Woodman’s Cottage.

The Church of St Mary the Virgin dates back to 1093, with various rebuilding over the years until an extensive refurbishment in 1878. Look out for two notable graves; an obelisk memorial to the Egyptologist Amelia Edwards and coloured head and foot stones of ‘Scipio Africanus’, a negro slave.