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As promised, on 20th September 2009 I walked an 8-mile section of the Circuit of Bath walk, together with my daughter Naomi (10) and son Alban (7), in aid of Julian House's work with the homeless in Bath.
It was very much a walk of two halves. We began at 12.15 at the canal visitor centre at Brassknocker Basin, and followed the Kennet & Avon Canal as far as Bathampton. This first section was very straightforward and enlivened by meeting quite a few people we knew (some of whom were also doing the walk) and by the presence of blackberries. We reached the checkpoint at Bathampton Mill at 1.30 and paused for lunch there for half an hour.
Gravity was not in our favour on the next section, which began by proceeding upwards through Batheaston to the trip point on Little Solsbury Hill. We were however rewarded by wonderful views across Bath. After crossing under the A46 we walked through Swainswick (free apples thoughtfully provided by a resident) and then cross-country over the fields through Woolley. My heart sank at the words 'continue steeply uphill', on our marching orders, but this was now the home straight and we emerged by the MoD property on Lansdown. After the official conclusion of our walk at 4.30 at the checkpoint at Granville Rd., we made a short detour to take a closer look at Beckford's Tower.
My step counter claimed that I took 17763 steps on the walk. The weather was fine throughout - if anything a little too warm for comfort.
We had come across people doing the walk last year when we went to Brassknocker Basin to inspect its pig (Bathonians will know what I mean!), and I resolved to join them this year. In a future year we might walk the western part of the route or even attempt the entire circuit.
I have set up a Facebook group for the walk here.
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