Bath Skyline walk

What the route covers

The loop runs across Bathwick Hill and Bathampton Down, through Bathampton Woods and past Richens Orchard and Smallcombe Cemetery, with Prior Park Landscape Garden close to the southern stretch. Sham Castle, the folly built as an eye-catcher for the city below, sits right on the route. On clear days you can pick out the Iron Age hill fort on Little Solsbury Hill to the north-east.

How to walk it

It is a proper half-day outing rather than a stroll, so wear boots in wet weather and take water. You do not have to do the full circuit: shorter sections from Bathwick Hill or Claverton Down make a good morning walk, and part of the trail has been adapted for wheelchair users. Families can aim for the play area in the woods at Claverton Down, and the National Trust runs guided walks and seasonal events on the land.

Before and after

Bath Skyline is also home to a Saturday parkrun that starts near Prior Park Landscape Garden, so expect runners early on Saturday mornings. Combine the walk with a look round Sham Castle, then drop back down Bathwick Hill into the city for lunch. The route sits inside Bath's World Heritage Site, and the views explain why the city's setting is as celebrated as its buildings.

Highlights

• 6-mile (10km) circular National Trust trail
• Passes Sham Castle and Bathampton Woods
• Views across Bath and towards Little Solsbury Hill
• Woodland play area at Claverton Down
• Part of the route adapted for wheelchair users

Good to know

• The full loop is around 6 miles, so allow a half day.
• Bath Skyline parkrun starts near Prior Park Landscape Garden on Saturday mornings.
• Paths can be muddy after rain; sturdy footwear helps.

Frequently asked questions