A walk around Bradford on Avon

By Emma Kirkup

After a successful first ever golf lesson (see my previous blog) I made the short drive from Cumberwell Park to Bradford on Avon. Parking up by Timbrell’s Yard, along the river, I made a leisurely walk along the footpath towards one of my favourite parts of Bradford on Avon, the Tithe Barn.

As I approached the Tithe Barn area I could see a lot of vehicles and realised upon closer look that there was a film crew there filming more of The White Princess. It was pretty amazing to see the big lights, the actors and extras around the scene and the local residents who I saw dog walking just seemed to take it all in in their stride!

The sunshine was beaming down as I strolled along the tow path of the Kennet & Avon Canal, passing the Lock Inn with its canoes (you can hire them here) and across the road towards the canal café and the area where the Barbara McLellan day boat is moored.

Considering it was October, the weather was lovely and there were a lot of walkers out enjoying the warmth and even sitting out at the cafes and pubs around the town.

I love to explore Bradford on Avon’s nooks and crannies. The Bath stone was a gorgeous honey colour with the sun beaming off it. If I’d have had the time it would have been lovely to spend some time at one of the riverside pubs just taking in the views.

There are lots of independent shops here too selling gifts, clothing and food items. In fact, the whole community has a buzz about it. It would be a nice spot to do some Christmas shopping, especially if you combined it with a meal out, or even an award-winning afternoon tea.

There are also nice touches to some of Bradford on Avon’s famous residents including McKeever Bridge – in celebration of Ed McKeever’s Gold in the London 2012 Olympics and the newly named Carlin Steps, named after Jazz Carlin for winning two silver medals for swimming at the Rio Olympics. In fact, if you pop along The Shambles, you’ll also see Ed McKeever’s golden post box!

If you haven’t been to Bradford on Avon before then it’s definitely worth a visit. There is a variety of places to stay in and around the town from luxury inns through to cosy self-catering cottages and don’t forget to check out some of the town’s popular events including the annual Walking Festival (usually held in September) as well as regular concerts held at the Wiltshire Music Centre.

Have a look at the short video we produced here: