Bath is a city built for walking. Its Georgian streets reward the pedestrian pace at which they were designed to be experienced. The hills surrounding it on every side offer views that explain, immediately, why the city was built where it was. And beyond the urban edge, the countryside of the Avon Valley, the Cotswold fringe, and the Limpley Stoke Valley provides some of the most accessible and rewarding walking in the south-west of England.

Whether you’re a guest wanting a morning walk before breakfast or a serious walker planning a day in the hills, Bath has routes for you.

City Walks: Exploring Bath on Foot

The Georgian City Walk

A self-directed walk through Bath’s finest architecture requires no route planning. Walk from North Parade north to Bath Abbey, across to Pulteney Bridge, along Great Pulteney Street to the Holburne Museum, back through Sydney Gardens, and then west to the Circus and Royal Crescent. This circuit takes around two hours at a comfortable pace with stops.

Gravel Walk, the tree-lined path running between the Royal Crescent area and the city centre, is worth including: it’s the path Jane Austen described in Persuasion.

The Canal Towpath to Bathampton

The Kennet and Avon Canal towpath begins near Sydney Gardens and runs east from Bath in an almost perfectly flat line. The walk to Bathampton village takes around 45 minutes each way and is one of the most pleasant easy walks from the city centre. It’s traffic-free, dogs are welcome, and the towpath is well surfaced for most of its length.

Bathampton has a pub at the canal-side end of the village. The walk can be extended to Bradford-on-Avon, around 9 miles from Bath, which has a train station for the return journey. Check Great Western Railway for return train times.

• Distance: To Bathampton: approximately 2.5 miles one way. To Bradford-on-Avon: approximately 9 miles one way.
• Difficulty: Easy. Flat throughout.

The Two Tunnels Greenway

The Two Tunnels Greenway is a 13-mile circular cycling and walking route that passes through two Victorian railway tunnels.It includes the Combe Down Tunnel and the Devonshire Tunnel, which together form the longest cycling and walking tunnel in the UK.

The route uses a former railway line and is traffic-free throughout. The Combe Down Tunnel is 1.67 miles long and includes LED lighting and a sound installation. The Two Tunnels is primarily a cycling route, but walkers use it too.

• Distance: 13 miles circular (full route). Shorter sections possible.
• Difficulty: Moderate. Some elevation on the hillier sections.
• Terrain: Former railway track. Surfaced and generally good condition.

The Bath Skyline Walk (National Trust)

The National Trust Skyline Walk is the most popular full walking route in the immediate area around Bath. It offers a panoramic circuit of the hills surrounding the city, passing through National Trust land at Bathampton Down and Bathwick Fields.

The standard circular route is approximately 6 miles and is accessible from the city centre on foot. The views across Bath from the high points of the walk, particularly looking west across the city on a clear day, are exceptional. Check the National Trust website for current route information and conditions.

• Distance: Approximately 6 miles circular.
• Difficulty: Moderate. Some ascent and descent, steep sections and steps in places.
• Terrain: Grass and earth paths. Walking boots recommended. Can be muddy.

Limpley Stoke Valley

The Limpley Stoke Valley runs south of Bath, carved by the River Avon between steep, wooded hillsides, and it is one of the most beautiful stretches of walking country in the area. Accessible from Bath via the canal towpath heading south-east, or by bus to Limpley Stoke village. A popular route follows the valley floor through the woods along the river and canal to the village of Freshford, which has a pub and a return bus service to Bath.

• Distance: Bath to Freshford via the valley: approximately 6 miles one way.
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Mostly flat in the valley floor.
• Terrain: Woodland paths, riverside. Can be muddy after rain.

Solsbury Hill

Solsbury Hill sits to the north-east of Bath, above the village of Bathampton. It’s one of the distinctive local walks for its combination of open hilltop walking, Iron Age hill fort remains, and views across the Avon Valley. The National Trust’s Skyline page notes that it was the inspiration for Peter Gabriel’s 1977 song of the same name. The ascent takes around 30 minutes from the road below and is steep in places.

• Distance: Approximately 2 miles to the summit and back from the road below.
• Difficulty: Moderate. The ascent is steep.
• Terrain: Field paths and grassy hilltop. Walking boots advisable.

The Cotswold Way

Bath is the southern terminus of the Cotswold Way, the 102-mile National Trail that runs from Bath to Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire. The full route is a multi-day undertaking, but the southern sections from Bath make excellent day walks.

The first section heading north from Bath, through Weston Village and up onto the Cotswold escarpment, gives you the open hilltop character of the Cotswolds within around two hours of leaving the city. Walk to Dyrham Park (National Trust) for refreshments before returning.

• Distance: Variable. First significant section: approximately 5 miles to Dyrham Park.
• Difficulty: Moderate. Ascent from Bath onto the escarpment.
• Terrain: Signed National Trail. Mix of field paths, tracks, and short road sections.

Dog-Friendly Walks Near Bath

Most of the walks listed above welcome dogs. Specific notes for dog owners:

The canal towpath to Bathampton is ideal for dogs: flat, traffic-free, with water access. The National Trust Skyline Walk requires leads near livestock, which applies to several sections. Limpley Stoke Valley is excellent for dogs with water access in the river. Parade Gardens in the city centre also welcomes dogs on leads.

For a full guide to exploring Bath with a dog, see our Dog-Friendly Bath guide.

Practical Information for Walkers

• Maps: The Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map (Sheet 155, Bristol and Bath) covers all the walks in this guide. Digital mapping via the OS Maps app is accurate and works offline.
• Getting back: The canal towpath to Bradford-on-Avon and the Freshford/Limpley Stoke route both allow for a train return via Great Western Railway, making one-way walks practical.
• National Trust Skyline parking: There are no National Trust car parks on the Skyline Walk. Frequent bus services run from the city centre. See the National Trust website for directions.

A Base Worth Coming Back To

After a day in the hills, the Parade Hotel Bath is exactly where you want to be: central, comfortable, with a Courtyard Spa to ease tired legs and a restaurant for an unhurried dinner. We’re on North Parade, twelve minutes from the train station.

Book your stay at Parade Hotel Bath

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best walks in Bath city centre?

The Georgian city circuit – Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, Great Pulteney Street, Sydney Gardens, the Royal Crescent via Gravel Walk – is the finest urban walk in Bath. Allow two hours at a comfortable pace.

Are there easy flat walks near Bath?

The Kennet and Avon Canal towpath to Bathampton is the best flat walk from Bath: traffic-free, well surfaced, and accessible directly from the city centre. The round trip is around 5 miles.

Are the walks near Bath dog-friendly?

Most are. The canal towpath and Limpley Stoke Valley are particularly good for dogs. The Skyline Walk and Cotswold Way sections require leads near livestock. Parade Gardens in the city centre also welcomes dogs.

How long is the National Trust Skyline Walk in Bath?

The standard circular route is approximately 6 miles and takes most walkers around 3 hours, not including stops.

What is the Two Tunnels Greenway?

A 13-mile circular traffic-free route from Bath that passes through two Victorian railway tunnels, one of which is the longest cycling and walking tunnel in the UK. See the Two Tunnels website for full route information.