Now as nationally famous for its toad patrol as a place where Jane Austen enjoyed walking in this ‘sweet green valley’, Charlcombe is a hidden gem barely a mile from the centre of Bath as the crow flies.
It’s where Henry Fielding got married in a church that dates back a thousand years and has springs that featured in the Saxon charter. In winter Charlcombe Lane is full of thousands of amphibians making their annual journey to a breeding lake and the valley’s haymeadows come alive with 20 species of butterfly, wildflowers and foraging bats in the summer.
So, whether you love books, nature, or the beautiful southern Cotswolds, join us for a 2-hour walk to lose yourself in this incredible landscape.
Members of the Friends of Charlcombe Community Nature Reserve – that looks after two fields called Great Park and Mudcombe which are owned by Bath & North East Somerset Council – will be your guide and help tell the story of this secret, small, and surprisingly wild valley. We will have time to talk about the history and heritage of the area, as well as its diverse wildlife – and hopefully see some of them along the way.
To get there – Bus stop on Solsbury Way (number 6 bus from the City Centre). Limited parking on Solsbury Way, please park considerately.
The entrance to the fields is on Charlcombe Way, BA1 6JZ where Mike and Matt will meet you. what3words haven.being.into
There are no toilets or refreshments available at the site. The walk is 3 miles on rural grass paths, with some paved sections and some kissing gates. There are one or two steeper sections.
Assistance dogs welcome. Other dogs must be on leads, but we don’t think the pace will be appropriate for them.
Book your free tickets here – Charlcombe
