Kennet & Avon Canal at Bradford-on-Avon
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Our view
"Combine a visit to this enchanting reverside town and its surprising Saxon church with a canalside stroll."
Walk directions
Walk to the end of the car park, away from the station, and follow the path left beneath the railway and beside the River Avon. Enter Barton Farm Country Park and keep to the path across a grassy area to a junction of paths. With the packhorse bridge right, take the rising path ahead, passing to the right of the tithe barn and up to the Kennet & Avon Canal.
Turn right along the towpath, signed to Avoncliff. Cross the wooden footbridge over the canal in 0.5 miles (800m) and follow the path right to a footbridge and kissing gate. Proceed along the right-hand field edge to a further kissing gate, then bear diagonally left uphill, away from the canal,
to a third kissing gate.
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Additional information
Terrain
- Tow paths, fields and woodland paths, metalled lanes
Landscape
- Canal, river valley, wooded hillsides, town streets
Dog friendliness
- On lead through town
Parking
- Bradford-on-Avon station car park
Toilets en route
- Station car park and St Margaret's car park
About the walk
Set in the wooded Avon Valley, Bradford is one of Wiltshire’s loveliest towns, combining historical charm, appealing architecture and dramatic topography. It is often likened to a miniature Bath, the town sharing the same honeycoloured limestone, elegant terraces and steep winding streets that...
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Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
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Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
About the area
Wiltshire’s charm lies in the beauty of its countryside, with expansive chalk landscapes of the Marlborough and Pewsey downs and miles of uninterrupted views deep into Dorset, Somerset and the Cotswolds. Stroll through quaint timbered and thatched villages in the southern Woodford and Avon valleys and explore the historic streets of the stone villages of Lacock, Castle Combe and Sherston.
Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
Nearby places to stay
Leigh Park Hotel
Just outside the historic town of Bradford Upon Avon, Leigh Park Hotel is a charming Georgian house set in five acres of landscaped gardens. Bedrooms are each individually designed in a...
Abbey Mews
Abbey Mews is a Georgian 4-bedroom townhouse, nestled in the heart of Bath Spa. It's a luxurious retreat for your next getaway. Boasting a great location, you'll find yourself just mome...
Abbey Mews
Combining Georgian elegance with modern luxury, Abbey Mews is a spacious townhouse tucked away down a medieval cobbled street in the centre of Bath. With four double bedrooms, the luxur...
189 April Cottage B&B
One of five traditional houses on the former Ashley estate near Bradford-on-Avon, the handsome 189 April Cottage B&B is built of local stone with oak beams and sits in gorgeous West Wil...
Moncrate Cottage
Moncrate Cottage sleeps 4 in a king and a twin bedroom. It has a corner shower, sink and WC. There is also an open plan living / kitchen / dining area....
Church Farm Country Cottages
On a working sheep farm between Bath and Bradford-upon-Avon, Church Farm Country Cottages comprises seven ground-level cottages sleeping two or four, grouped around a walled garden. All...
Vellum Stone Cottage
Vellum Stone Cottage sleeps 4 in a double bedroom and a bunk bedroom. There is a bathroom with a shower over the bath, sink and WC. Guests can relax in an open plan living / kitchen / d...
Burys Cottage
Tucked away in the corner of the garden, Burys Cottage sleeps 2 in a king size bed with a brand-new ensuite shower room with a walk-in shower. There is also an open plan living / kitche...
Places to eat nearby View all
