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Top Three Walks in Bath
Thursday, 3 April, 2025As the winter chill subsides and spring sparks into life, we asked Bath Spa University’s Walking and Mountaineering society to document their top places to explore in and around campus as the sun re-emerges.
Walking can be a great way to take a break from studies and soak in your local surroundings, with the Walking and Mountaineering society specifically designed to bring people together.
From stunning views to varied terrain, these walks offer something for everyone.
Campus to Stantonbury Hill loop – accessible and quick
This is a great walk for those who live on campus and want to get some extra steps in between lectures. Beginning at the library, you follow the path down to the lake before skirting round into the farmland behind campus. You’ll be surprised at just how quickly the busyness of Newton Park fades and you find yourself surrounded by fields.
After a short walk along a narrow country road, you head up Stantonbury hill itself, entering the forest that shrouds the top. The open space on the hilltop was an iron age fort thousands of years ago. Continue over the back and enter the woodland again, before circling down into the quaint village of Stanton prior, named for its beautiful church. Following the footpaths out of the village leads you conveniently back onto Newton Park, across the Rugby/Football fields and into gardens accommodation
From there, head to the SU for some refreshments, you’ve earned it.
Kelston Roundhill walk – great views
This hike can be started from Locksbrook (or Newton Park if you’re feeling adventurous). Following the canal path west along the river Avon and up some steep woodland before skirting past Oldfield secondary school.
Before long you begin the steady climb on part of the Cotswold way and up the hill itself. Be sure to pause every now and then to look back at where you have come from and admire your surroundings.
The top of the hill serves as home for a solitary circle of trees, on a clear day; Bristol, the bridges across the channel and even South Wales can be seen to the North-West with views stretching out across Bath as well. It's worth noting that Kelston’s iconic hilltop can be seen from many other walks around the edge of the city too.
The walk culminates in a steady walk back into Upper Weston, where bus links can take you back to where you set out from, or if you’re not too knackered it’s only a 20-minute walk back to Locksbrook.
Bath Skyline walk – an essential while you’re here
Beginning in the centre of town, this route takes you out through some of the older parts of the city along Great Pulteney Street and into Sydney Gardens behind the Holbourne Museum before joining the canal path heading North to Bathampton.
The walk then takes you up a steep, wooded hillside onto bath golf course where the views begin. You wander along the ridgeline until you’re struck by the iconic ‘Sham castle’ where your unobstructed view of the centre of bath is truly breath-taking.
Time it right with a sunset and you’re in for some of the best views in Bath through the castles’ arch. An easy trek down into the centre of the city culminates the walk with simple connections via bus back to campus and the other accommodations.
Looking for detailed breakdowns of some of Bath’s most iconic walks? The Bath Spa Walking and Mountaineering Society Instagram page is a great place to discover more.