A DISTINCTLY BRITISH SENSE OF FUN

IT’S A HOP AND A SKIP TO THE COUNTRYSIDE

To the south of the town centre, reachable via a short, leafy walk along the river, is Barton Farm Country Park (wiltshire.gov.uk; free). Here, the river is guarded by a Second World War pillbox and spanned by the packhorse bridge. This once allowed goods to be carted across to the Tithe Barn (english-heritage.org. uk; free), a magnificent 14thcentury limestone grange with a timber cruck roof – one of the best-preserved in the country. It sits within a complex of old agricultural buildings, which now house craft workshops, antique stores and a tea room (tithebarnartscrafts.co.uk).

Beyond the farmyard, there are picnic areas, wild flowers and the Kennet and Avon Canal. An easy mile-long walk leads to Grade II listed Avoncliff Aqueduct and the homemade scones of No. 10 Tea Gardens (avonclifftea. com). Follow the canal via the grand Dundas

Aqueduct, another eight miles (13km) and you’ll end up in Bath. But there are plenty of walking options including the Bradford-onAvon Wheel (walkbradford onavon.org; map £5), a 42-mile (68km) network of waymarked trails encircling the town. There’s a six-mile (10km) inner wheel and a 22-mile (35km) outer wheel, with various “spokes” linking the two. En route lie pretty villages (Monkton Farleigh, Limpley Stoke), National Trust properties such as 15th-century

Great Chalfield Manor (nationaltrust. org.uk; £6.20 for adults, £3.10 for children), country pubs such as the Locals are cashing in on the Kennet and Avon with a series of floating markets throughout 2018 (July 28-29, Dec 1-2; facebook.com/ kacanalfloatingmarket). New Inn (thenewinnwestwood.co.uk) and glorious countryside. The annual Walking Festival (August 31-Sept 2 2018) is a good time to get out and explore.

Bike lovers may prefer the Cycling Festival (July 14-15; boacyclingfestival. com), which includes a family-friendly sportive and a race up Market Street – a thigh-busting elevation gain of 144ft in 500yd (45m). Flat and traffic-free, the canal is perfect for easy rides. Bikes can be hired from the Towpath Trail Hire Centre (ttcycles.co.uk; one-day hire £18 for adults, £12 for children), which also rents family-size Canadian canoes (£12 per hour). Alternatively, take to the water by barge – boat trips aboard the Barbara McLellan run on selected dates from Bradford to Avoncliff or Hilperton (bmac.katrust.org.uk; from £5).

WORKED UP AN APPETITE?

Interesting new eateries open quite regularly – next will be Il Ponte. For now, try the Weaving Shed (weaving-shed. co.uk; from £13 for mains), which serves seasonal brunches, lunches and dinners in its big-windowed dining room or on its riverside terrace; fat burgers and Cornish fish pie sit alongside fancier Creedy Carver duck breast and Bromham broccoli and chestnut stew.

Pablo’s (pablostapas.com; from £4 for tapas dishes) does proper Spanish sharing plates. There’s lots of choice for veggies, plus authentic fish and meat options.

Henry Shrapnel, inventor of the explosive shell, was born in Bradford -on-Avon in

1761

AFTER A LONG DAY

Timbrell’s Yard (telegraph.co.uk/ tt-timbrells-yard; doubles from £95) is an 18th-century industrialist’s house turned smart pub-with-rooms, right in the heart of Bradford. The restaurant’s menu is a big draw, featuring largely West Country produce, from

Quantock venison to Bath Soft Cheese.

Woolley Grange (telegraph.co.uk/ tt-woolley-grange; doubles from £120) is a grand option for families. The 17th-century manor, a 25-minute walk along the canal from Bradford, has a kids’ club, crèche, toy boxes and an indoor pool. In the garden there’s another pool (heated in summer), a maze a tree swing and more.