Bath walks: Best strolls in and hikes around Bath
Are you looking for the best walks in Bath?
With its iconic Georgian buildings sitting in the midst of stunning Somerset and Wiltshire countryside, Bath knows a thing or two when it comes to wonderful walks.
I used to live in the Somerset city, just after I’d graduated when I had VERY little money… and as Bath was such a pricey place to be in, I spent most of my time taking in these beautiful walks in and around Bath.
Some of these walks take in the wonderful city centre architecture, whereas others are based in Bath’s surrounding countryside.
But one thing’s for sure, there’s a Bath walk for everyone on this list!
So, let’s dig into the best walks in Bath!
Best urban walks in Bath
These walks take place right in the urban centre of Bath and are among the best things to do in the city.
Spanning through the stunning cityscape, these picture-perfect routes take in the city’s Georgian architecture, exploring the heritage and taking in beautiful scenery on the city’s outskirts.
Bath guided tour
If you want to walk around Bath and ensure that you don’t miss any of the heritage sites, consider this walking tour.
Run by Bob, a man who has lived in the city of Bath for 40 years, this tour traverses the main Georgian sites of the city, with some information about Bath before and after the Georgian era too.
You’ll see iconic sites like Pulteney Bridge, the Crescent, the Circus, Royal Victoria Park and the Roman Baths.
The tour starts and ends in Bath Abbey Churchyard.
As this is a guided tour, there is a small fee and you must reserve in advance.
You can do that by clicking here and booking with Viator.
Bridgerton walk
Are you Bridgerton mad?
If seeing the houses of the Bridgertons, the Featheringtons and the Danburys is on your Bath bucket list, then you must take this guided Bridgerton walk!
This walk travels to the iconic filming sets that were made famous thanks to the hit Netflix show.
Of course, you can do a self-guided walk, but taking a guided tour will ensure that you don’t miss anything. Plus, you’ll learn lots of stories from the show!
Click here and book the Bridgerton walk!
Bath Skyline Walk
The Bath Skyline Walk is without a doubt the best hike in Bath.
While it feels like you’re in the heart of the countryside, it’s actually very easy to walk here from the city centre (although it is uphill – the views are worth it!).
This is actually where the 5km Bath Park Run runs every Saturday!
The National Trust has excellent instructions for the 3 mile/ five kilometre hike; you’ll pass through fields and woodland, enjoying magnificent views of the Georgian city and the surrounding countryside spread out beneath you.
It’s not a difficult walking trail, but it is the most “rural” out of all of these walks in Bath, so wear appropriate walking boots!
Kennet and Avon Trail
The Kennet and Avon Trail actually runs over a whopping 82 miles.
Of course, you probably won’t do all of this while you’re in Bath!
Running from Bath to Reading, this is a walking and cycling trail that spans some of the most picturesque countryside in the West Country.
When I lived in Bath, I used to incorporate some of the trail into my runs (I was training for a half marathon at the time!).
You can either walk a little along the trail and then turn back or walk the whole way to Bradford on Avon (about 10 miles) and take the train back.
Bradford on Avon, a cute Wiltshire town, is also well worth spending some time in.
Royal Victoria Park
Royal Victoria Park is close to where I used to live, so I’ve spent many a weekend strolling around this area.
The best thing about this park is that there are several different sections to it, so you can have as long or as short a walk as you desire!
One section is part of the Bath Botanical Gardens; here, you can enjoy trees from all over the world.
You can also walk further down and see The Crescent. This ultimately leads onto Brock Street, which connects to the circus and leads down to Bath City Centre.
Prior Park
Prior Park is a National Trust-owned landscaped garden just to the south of central Bath.
In fact, it’s close to the Skyline Trail, so you could either do it as well as the trail, or as an alternative if you don’t want to walk right to the top of the hill (there are still some glorious views from Prior Park!).
This park dates back to the 18th century and it boasts landscaped flora and a palladian bridge.
It’s a National Trust garden, so there is a fee to enter (£8.00 for adults and £4.00 for children).
It’s free if you’re a National Trust member – read my full review about National Trust membership here.
Bristol to Bath Railway Path
The Bath to Bristol Old Railway Line is a frequent extension onto the Kennet and Avon Canal hiking and cycling route.
It’s a disused railway line rather than a canal path, but you can enjoy walks, bike rides or jogs along it.
There are a couple of cafes en route and it’s relatively flat. You can reach Bristol in 4-5 hours if you’re hiking or one to one and a half hours if you’re cycling.
Best walks around Bath
Mendip Walks
With charming villages, gently rolling hills and lush woodland, there’s plenty to enjoy in the Mendip Hills AONB. There’s plenty of space for hiking around, but here are some of the best!
The Mendip Way (or part of it)
The Mendip Way is a 50 mile hike that takes most trekkers around four days to complete.
Of course, if you’ve got time on your Bath trip, or if you live in Somerset, you might want to do the full hike!
It leads from Weston-super-Mare in the west to Frome in the east.
If you don’t have the time, you could just do a segment; the East Mendip Way is closest to Bath and it runs between Wells and Frome.
Three Priddy Droves
Situated near the village of Priddy, Three Priddy Droves is a lovely hike through some of the best Mendip Countryside.
It’s 8 kilometres in total and is flat the whole way around. You’ll go through some fields and start and end in Priddy village.
You can see the full map on All Trails.
Blackdown Hill
Blackdown Hill is the highest peak in the Mendips and is a great hike in the hills if you’re looking for views and rural country life scenes.
Close to the village of Blagdon, this is actually one of the best Mendip walks from Bristol, but it’s fairly accessible from Bath too. It’s a popular trail for mountain biking.
Starting from the Burrington Ham Car Park (plug that in your SatNav to find the trailhead), this hike is officially 7.2 kilometres, although it’s not signposted, so you can extend it a little.
As it’s not signposted, I’d recommend using Maps.Me or an OS map to ensure you’re following the right hiking trails!
You can see my full guide to the Blackdown Hike here.
Blagdon Lake
An easy walk in the Mendips, Blagdon Lake sits in the north of the hills and it’s a charming place for a stroll.
You can simply park your car (Google Maps location) and walk around the lake on either side.
While you can walk around the whole lake, the path only runs for part of the way, and then the trail joins the road. If you want to keep on the path by the lake, I’d recommend just walking on the path until it ends and then retracing your steps.
You could also walk around Chew Valley Lake and Chew Magna, which are both close by.
Cheddar Gorge
Ah, Cheddar Gorge. If you only do one hike in Somerset it should be this one!
The Cheddar Gorge Rim Walk traverses around the deepest and most famous gorge in the UK.
It’s a difficult walking trail, with two summits and descents, but the views are unmatchable.
It’s well signposted and offers plenty of changes to explore the rugged terrain of this inland cliff, with views of the Mendips and Cheddar Reservoir.
You can park in town (don’t forget to check out all of the best things to do there too); there are signs to the hiking trail. The walk around Cheddar cliffs is 6 kilometres in total.
Cotswold Walks
While the Cotswolds is most famous for its picturesque villages, it also boasts some spectacular scenery. These Cotswold walks include hikes around charming towns and villages and sweeping scenery.
St Catherine’s Valley
The St Catherine’s Valley Walk is one of the best country escape hikes near Bath – a must if you like secluded valleys!
Sitting right on the edge of Bath, where it meets the Cotswolds, this walk summits Little Solsbury Hill before descending into hidden valleys and up more green hills.
It’s an eight-mile hike and is a must-do if you want to get out the city without having to drive too far – you can even take a bus to the trailhead.
Click here for full directions.
Castle Combe and Nettleton Mill Circular Walk
Castle Combe is a tiny Cotswold village around 30 minutes away from Bath. It’s well worth visiting for its charming buildings and cobblestone streets, but I’d also recommend checking out this walk.
A 5.8 kilometre/ 3.5 mile route, this circular trail takes you through the heart of the Cotswolds; and is an excellent trail to tackle if the village of Castle Combe is too busy!
The Cotswold Way
The Cotswold Way is a long-distance walking trail taking in spectacular views of the Cotswolds, one of the most famous areas of Southern England.
Starting in Chipping Camden, it traverses 102 miles/ 164 kilometres and terminates in Bath.
Of course, if you’re staying in Bath, you might not want to do the entire walk!
The last section is Cold Ashton to Bath, which takes you to the site of the Battle of Lansdown in the Civil War and offers stunning views toward the city.
You could also enjoy the section that runs through Dyrham Park near Tomarton.
The Cotswold Way also Dursley, Wotton-Under-Edge and Winchcombe and takes around a week to complete.
Click here for more information about the full walk.
Cranborne Chase Walks
Cramborne Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) that straddles Dorset and Somerset, boasts some of the most impressive walking routes in the area. Enjoy acres of woodland, traverse up and down steep hills and plummet into captivating valleys!
Cramborne Chase covers quite a large area, but Warminster sits on the north edge of the AONB and is about half an hour from Bath – so these suggested walks are all around Warminster.
Mere Down Circular
Mere Down Circular is a 7.6 km/ 5 mile walk leading from the town of Mere.
Enjoy beautiful views over Salisbury Plain and the area’s rolling hills. It has a few ups and downs, but most people complete it in around two and a half hours.
There’s free parking in Mere and it’s around a 45 minute drive from Bath.
Corsley Circular Walk
This 2.6 mile/ 4.2 kilometre loop, situated in Cranborne Chase traverses through captivating woodland and past the animals of Longleat Safari Park.
It’s an easy route that takes less than half an hour, and the trailhead sits just half an hour from Bath. As it’s a loop, you’ll end up in the same place where you started!
Of course, you could twin this hike with a trip to Longleat itself!
Stourhead Walks
Stourhead is a National Trust property with glorious grounds. You’ll need to pay to enter the grounds and house (or have a National Trust membership), but you can take in walks like this loop around King Alfred’s Tower for free.
The walk spans through Stourhead Park, venturing to King Alfred’s Tower, which dates back to 1772. This tower was where King Alfred the Great gathered his troops in 878 and thus ended the Seven Years War.
It also enjoys woodland and wildflower meadows. If you’re visiting Bath at Christmas, there’s an excellent light trail in Stourhead.
Click here for the directions.
Walks in Bath FAQs
Is Bath a walkable city?
Yes, Bath is a walkable city. You can easily stroll from Bath Abbey, through Royal Victoria Park and around the crescents.
Can you walk along the river in Bath?
You can walk around the canal in Bath; hiking to Bradford on Avon is one of the best walks in the area!
How long is the Bath skyline walk?
The Bath skyline walk is a 3 mile/ 5 kilometre loop, although it can be extended.
Whether you want to walk to Bath’s Royal Crescent, explore formal gardens or take in wild landscapes just outside of town, this list of walks and hikes in and around Bath has you sorted!
