Escape the busy city and take a gentle stroll around Bath. It’s flat, short, has plenty of interest and stop off options. This 3km walk starts at The Holburne Museum, think Canaletto exhibition and stunning gardens, then to the canal descending along it’s 7 famous locks until it meets the River Avon to the breathtaking Pulteney Weir.
MAP & DIRECTIONS
Walking Map & Directions – below is a fully interactive map with directions, elevation & distances. Download the plotaroute app to follow the route on your phone with a few simple steps.
THE WALK
HOLBURNE MUSEUM & SYDNEY GARDENS
This is a great place to start your walk. Have lunch first in the Garden Cafe, sit in their huge open tent, cafe or surrounding gardens. Of course you can check out the latest exhibition at the museum and there’s a lovely shop for some goodies.
Take a walk through Sydney Gardens that surround the museum. These 18th century pleasure gardens are currently undergoing huge renovations to revitalize and restore them but there’s still plenty to see.
There’s a giant fallen tree for the kids to play on, huge shady trees for picnics and beautiful planting and wildflowers. The trainline runs through the park and a couple of bridges that provide a great view point for little trainspotters.
THE CANAL & 7 LOCKS
Head up to the top of the park and through a small white gate onto the canal. Turn right and simply enjoy this glorious, flat towpath back towards Bath. This section of the canal has an incredible 7 locks to get the canal boats down to the river.
Walking with children? Download this great activity map from the Canal Trust, there’s some interesting facts about the canal, so worth a look.
Top Lock Cottage was also known as the barter store, as goods were traded between boaters. Later the cottage was used by Bath Humane Society to store rescue and resuscitation equipment to help people who fell into the canal.
The Pumping Station sells coffee & ice cream, making for a lovely little pit stop and watch canal life.
The Flora and Fauna is ever changing too so the walk never gets boring. The trees are beautiful and there’s wildflowers, beautiful gardens, allotments to look at along the walk.
Dexters Cafe Refuel with a seriously good coffee and fresh pastry from Dexters, where the canal path briefly heads up and over Bathwick Hill.
THE RIVER AVON & PULTENEY WEIR
The canal descends the last lock to join the River Avon. There’s an optional stop off at Widcome Parade or Widcombe playground, then turn right to follow the river to Bath’s iconic Pulteney Weir.
- Widcombe Playground Stop off at Widcombe playground, a small site with a few pieces of play equipment and a sandpit.
- Widecombe Parade. Take a wander down the local high street with its lovely shops.
- Pulteney Weir was built in the late Middle Ages to prevent the river from flooding the town of Bath. It controls water levels, regulates flow and in the past has powered the water wheels power the mills. It was rebuilt in the early 1970s and given a more effective and now iconic V-shape design.
- Take a Boat Trip. Take a trip up to the river with Pulteney Cruisers or River Adventures.
- Play in the Beazer Garden Maze. The petite labyrinth in Bath is inspired by the city’s Georgian architecture, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s railway designs and is centered around a large Roman-inspired mosaic. It was designed by maze designer Randoll Coate in 1984, his designs are know for their hidden symbolism.
- Photography. Pulteney Bridge and Weir is an amazing spot for creative photography. Whether it bathed in glorious sunshine or moody skies, I’ve always enjoyed taking a few photos on this spot. And move about too, there’s a great view from the road, Parade Gardens and go round the other side for lower, riverside angles.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- TERRAIN: mostly paved paths and canal footpaths, sometimes gravelly and a short road section
- PARKING: Map. Free, restricted parking on the road around the Holburne Museum or £3.50 for 2hrs in it’s car park (coins only)
- LENGTH: 3km / 2 miles
- DURATION: 1hr plus stops
- ELEVATION: flat walk
- DOG FRIENDLY: Yes
- BUGGY FRIENDLY: Yes
- PUBS & CAFE:
- Garden Cafe at the Holburne Museum
- Dexter’s Cafe great coffee & tasty cake & pastries
- The White Hart in Widcombe has a tasty seasonal menu & great garden
