13/11/16 - The Bath Skyline

Distance - 6 Miles
Geocaches - 5
Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, Dec 16 Walk 1 or this link
Pub - The Inn at Freshford, Steam Box Brewery Tunnel Vision

The beautiful thing about our hobby is that new and interesting opportunities are available to you, anywhere in the country.

Today, we agreed to drop our post Cat Fish and the Bottlemen gig going student back off at Bath University.  He avoids a 2 hr 20 minute train ride, we get to explore another superb bit of Britain.

And as luck would have it, this months Country Walking Magazine has a route that starts from the University car park.

File under all round result.

We are barely out of the car park when we see our first signpost and know that route finding will not present a challenge.  Good old National Trust.

Students - This way for Fresh Air and Exercise

We make our introductions to a few friendly cows and progress to Claverton Down.  Autumn really is the time of year to be doing this walk.

Walking on a leafy carpet

As if the walking wasn't pleasant enough, NT have laid a geocache trail within the woods.  All nice and easy to find.

National Trust themed caches with logo log book

The first views of Bath are revealed at the Priory and they don't leave you for half of this walk.  I doubt there's a finer vantage point of this great city.

So we slap us two in front of the view

With other assorted walkers and football players

Sham castle more than lives up to its name. Nice to know that people had delusions of grandeur, even in 1762. How his neighbours must have laughed at his one wall castle.

Through the Arch and nothing is there

The return to the car is through Bathampton woods.  Just chance for a bit of off piste Geocaching to get the final piece of a multi cache which works only if you are walking the route clockwise.  Signing the log book required some rather serious scrambling skills - but always worth it when you find the treasure.

All that remains is to take the Student for his promised lunch.  Parking in Bath is not the easiest, so we head for Freshford - reminding us of a another CW walk we completed three years ago.

The C16th Freshford Inn was as stunning as the walk - honey coloured stone exterior, stripped pine interior, great service and a chance to try a new beer.

Steam Box Tunnel Vision and an expectant, hungry Student, previously living off Pot Noodles

They also have fine taste in literature.

Perfect Pub, Perfect Publication