Looking for inspiration for hiking and walking, using Bath as a base? Check our map and self-guided walking routes to find new places. And there are lots of other walks and hikes that you can download.
Urban trees are extremely important to the look and feel of Bath, and the city has some incredible trees. You can explore them with our four self-guided walking trails available online and as physical maps – Bath urban treescape. These maps and information were put together by a group of volunteers and tree enthusiasts.
Cotswolds National Landscape has self-guided walks in all parts of its 790 square miles. There is map for you to pick your location, and descriptions to download. There are plenty in the Bathscape area. You can also explore the 100 mile Cotswold Way – a National Trail between Bath and Chipping Camden.
The National Trust’s popular Skyline walk provides 6 miles of views. Or you can do the shorter 3 mile Walk to the View, and the Family Woodland Activity Trail.
Interested in nature? Bath Natural History Society has two walks, complete with what wildlife you might see. One around Bathampton Down, and one from Bathwick to Batheaston.
If you’d like a closer look at the Kennet & Avon Canal and the River Avon, there is a Riverside Heritage Walk covering the section between Newbridge and Windsor Bridge, and the River Avon Trail.
Taking Dundas Aqueduct as its starting point, Colliers Way takes you out on disused railway lines and quiet lanes from Bath to Frome via Radstock. Sustrans has produced a useful guide to the 18 mile route.
The Somersetshire Coal Canal is great to explore, combining industrial heritage with beautiful green valleys from Paulton to Dundas.
The Limestone Link is a 38 mile route which links the Cotswold Way at Cold Ashton, north of the Bath, to the West Mendip Way at Shipham. Mendip AONB has produced a walking guide to the section from Combe Hay to Shipham.
The Widcombe Association has created a series of six self-guided walks in Southern Bath covering Widcombe, Lyncombe and Bear Flat. You can see all six walks, together with supporting directions, maps and information about what you can see Widcombe Association Walks here.
If you’re looking for walks starting in the Bathampton, Batheaston, Bathford area, then East of Bath publishes walks.
For shorter strolls around the parks, towns and villages across Bath & NE Somerset, the Council’s website has lots of ideas and information about the wonderful parks.
In the Somer Valley Rediscovered area, there are some really good heritage trails – try Timsbury Heritage Trail (or Timsbury general walks), Westfield Heritage Trail and Radstock Town Council walks.
For a comprehensive set of books about walking in Bath, the historic and literary context, industrial and pub heritage, Andrew Swift and Kirsten Elliott have written fourteen, available from Akeman Press.
Look out for the annual Bathscape Walking Festival each September, the website includes previous walks, self-guided walking trails and videos.
You can set yourself a challenge to increase the amount you walk and keep motivated to walk further by joining the Circuit of Bath walk each September, in aid of Julian House.
Or join a local walking group, such as Bath Ramblers (or outside Bath, see the national Ramblers) and Bath Rambling Club. Or you can see our own wellbeing walking groups. For free guided tours of the city centre, the Mayor of Bath’s Guides offer daily historic walking tours which appeal to both residents and visitors.
Or if you fancy trying 20 miles of walking around the Bathscape, the waymarked Circuit of Bath hiking route offers stunning views, history, heritage, countryside and city. A beautiful walk in any season as it takes in river, canal, meadows, woodland and peaceful valleys.
