Bitton - North Stoke - Upton Cheyney - Bitton

Roy Davenport

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Bitton - Swineford - North Stoke - Upton Cheyney - Bitton

The Avon Valley Railway is more than just a steam train ride, offering a whole new experience for some or a nostalgic memory for others. Steam trains run to the edge of the scenic Avon Valley. Special events are arranged throughout the year, including monthly Sunday lunch trains. Bitton Station contains a booking office, giftshop and buffet, as well as a large, outdoor seating area. These facilities are available to walkers and cyclists as well as railway visitors. The lovely picnic area at Swineford was once the site of an iron foundry and has a walled waterway.

North Stoke is a village and civil parish in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary authority within the historic county of Somerset and close to the border with South Gloucestershire. People have been visiting St Martin's Church, North Stoke for over 1,700 years. It had a Roman villa situated just below the church and in fact the church might have the foundations of a Roman building. One of the church's treasures is a very rare, rectangular font. An earlier historian noted that the church was slightly askew from the east / west angle, the church being made to fit pre-existing stones. The church has traces of reused Saxon stone in the tower and porch and it could well have been that this was a small Saxon settlement. There is a water spout that emerges beside the church, runs down by the wall of the graveyard and cascades down as a small waterfall into a pool next to the gate of the church, providing a ready source of water for both Romans and Saxons, making North Stoke an ideal place to settle. The water is so full of calcium that anything, including twigs and pieces of metal left in it for some time, will get a coating of what appears to be stone. A yew tree in the churchyard is thought to be between 800 and 1,000 years old.

Upton Cheyney is a picturesque village situated on the steep slopes of Lansdown Hill within the Green Belt and the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It consists of a cluster of traditional natural stone buildings and walls which, together with mature trees and hedgerows, create an attractive enclosed environment. The village setting is one of open countryside and sloping topography, open fields and mature trees. It is thought that the name Upton Cheyney is derived simply from the words 'upper farmhouse'. Archaeological records indicate the site of a Roman settlement. Upton Inn is a delightfully picturesque rural village pub and restaurant. There is a wide range of food on offer and outdoor seating on three sides of the pub. A huge Sunday carvery is served till 8pm. The Manor Farm Shop and Café are well worth a visit.

England - South West England - Gloucestershire - Avon Valley

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Industrial Archaeology, Play Area, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

3/22/2012 - Roy Davenport

This walk has been checked out for me by Alison and Kirsty, two very inexperienced walkers. They report all details are correct as written and found the walk very easy to follow. So please follow my instructions as written to enjoy your walk. RD

1/20/2012 - Damian McGonigle

Not sure when this was submitted but some comments of the route now: Way point 8. Looks like some recent work done on the path here. After crossing the small stream head toward the bottom left of the field. (The references to bushes aren't that helpful in winter as you can't tell a bush from a tree when there are no leaves). Here cross the small river via crossing/stiles and follow the footpath signs to next field and round to left. Continue over a couple of stiles and round to right and up between two fences to join the road. Turn left to Upton Cheyney as existing commentary. Waypoint 10. When you 'Exit into field..' the footpath arrow is indeed misleading, but I think the comment from the author isn't right either. Instead look to the opposite right hand corner of the field to a metal gate leading to some farm outbuildings. (This is the direction that the footpath sign seems to point). DO NOT head toward this gate but head toward the gate to the LEFT of this one. Beyond which you will see the track you need to take. Small point on Waypoint 7. The photo does show the path between the houses in the direction you will be walking. The walkers pictured are heading toward you in the opposite direction to you.