Walk Leader: James Dudbridge
13 of us set off from the Cross Keys Pub in Combe Down, Bath and initially walked along the brow of Horsecombe Vale towards Combe Down village.
After approximately a mile we descended into the Midford valley joining the Two Tunnels Greenway cycle path which follows the trackbed of the disused Somerset and Dorset Railway.
We then headed south towards Midford village passing over the Tucking Mill Viaduct. Looking up to our left we had a great view of Midford Castle, a folly castle built in 1775.
We stopped for a short break adjacent to the Hope and Anchor pub in Midford at the platform of the disused Midford railway station.
We then continued walking south along the old towpath of the Somerset Coal Canal with the old canal bed to our right. We passed the Midford Aqueduct and then passed a lock which formed part of the Combe Hay Locks which raised the canal over 134 feet over approximately 1.6 miles.
We then began to ascend up the valley towards South Stoke village.
Prior to entering the village of South Stoke the majority of the group took a small detour to the Southstoke Millennium Viewpoint to admire the views of the southern Bathscape.
On the clear day King Alfred’s Tower near Stourhead and the Westbury White Horse can be seen in the distance.
We then walked back into South Stoke village and then north through fields to our starting point at the Cross Key Pub.
A beautiful walk.
