A waterside wander
MAP
OS Explorer 156 Chippenham & Bradford
DISTANCE
4½ miles
TIME
At least 2 hours
TERRAIN
A flat walk; some muddy paths
START
School Lane in Staverton (GR 856605 or postcode BA14 6NZ)
On the surface, Staverton might appear to be little more than a residential suburb of Trowbridge, but dig deeper and it is a place with a real sense of history. There is a Wesleyan Chapel dating from 1824, a sign of the strength of non-conformism in the area, as well as an even earlier Anglican church. The Kennet & Avon Canal came this way in 1810, followed by the Wiltshire, Somerset & Weymouth Railway in 1848. Dating from the same period is the Old Bear Inn, where a sign reads ‘children, dogs and muddy boots are always welcome.’ Dominating the village, however, is the Cereal Partners Worldwide factory, that focuses on wheat-based cereal production. This is the home of Shreddies and Shredded Wheat, although the rumours of ‘knitting nanas’ as shown in the television adverts are unfounded! The site started as a cloth mill on the Avon, and later became the national Anglo-swiss Milk Company which then morphed into nestles. Evidence of this former era can be seen in a rank of workers’ cottages named nasmilco. From Staverton, the walk follows the Avon’s flood plain to Whaddon with its charming St Mary’s Church. Inside is the Long Chapel, dedicated to a wealthy landowning family ... but sadly the church is usually locked. Along the way is an area of wetland and reed beds, almost unique in this neck of the woods. Ornithologists will no doubt stop and linger here awhile, maybe spotting a heron or egret. A fieldpath takes the walk from Whaddon to a quiet section of the K&A Canal. This is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the K&A between Bradford and Bath, where cyclists and walkers, buggies and dogs are all competing for space. Once again this is a haven for wildfowl, with mallard and Muscovy duck, swans and moorhens in abundance. The last species, according to a local source, gets its name from being ‘moor hen than duck.’ At the journey’s end, those muddy boots will be most welcome at the Old Bear Inn. The reviews online are almost unanimous in praise of the place. A typical one reads ‘a lovely old pub with a great atmosphere, the food is well-presented and cooked but it can get busy due to its excellent local reputation.’ Forewarned is forearmed, so do book a table if planning to do this walk at a weekend – the Sunday roasts are somewhat legendary.
GETTING THERE
Leave the A363 just north of Bradfordon-avon and follow the B3105 for three miles through to Staverton. Having passed the Old Bear Inn and crossed a railway line, turn right into School Lane and park on the roadside.
SCHOOL LANE
Walk back to the B3105, cross to the pavement opposite and turn left. In 300 yards, immediately past a converted Wesleyan chapel, turn right and follow a path that soon joins the access road leading to the CPUK factory’s car park. Where this road bears left into the car park, keep ahead and follow a grassy path around the perimeter of the factory. In ¼ mile, pass under a railway bridge and walk across the left edge of a field, the River Avon is on the left.
RIVERSIDE MEADOWS
Bear right on the far side of the field up to a gate in its top corner. Follow the left edge of the next field to a gate, before crossing the following field, with a solar farm to the right. At the end of this field, walk ahead across the top edge of an area of wetland and reed beds. Beyond these reed beds, follow a path bounded by fences through to the next field, before heading uphill to a gate in the top field boundary. Continue ahead passing a series of sheds to join the lane in Whaddon.
WHADDON CHURCH
Walk ahead, shortly passing St Mary’s Church, before continuing along an access road to reach Whaddon Grove Farm. Where the road bears left immediately before the farmhouse, turn right to a gate and stile before crossing three fields to reach the K&A Canal and bridge number 162. Immediately before this bridge, follow a stepped path on the left down to the towpath. Turn right, pass under the bridge and follow the K&A for 1½ miles to bridge 166. Veer right just before this bridge up to the B3105, turn right and walk back to School Lane which is on the left in 400 yards.