Bath Skyline
Wide open space overlooking the World Heritage City of Bath
Bath Skyline
Overview
Wide open space overlooking the World Heritage City of Bath
Explore the Bath Skyline along miles of waymarked footpaths. There is the Walk to the view - a circular three miles from the city centre out to the countryside and back, a circular 2 miles around the Family Discovery Trail, accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs, or the full six miles of the ever-popular Bath Skyline walk.
Discover hidden valleys, rich in limestone flowers and tranquil beech woodlands, interspersed with extensive views over Bath and out towards the Blackdown Hills.
The limestone grassland slopes support a variety of plants and attract a number of butterflies, great for some spring and summer wildlife spotting.
Away from the main Bath Skyline walk, the Iron Age fort on Little Solsbury Hill offers the perfect vantage point for spectacular views over Bath. The skylark has also made its home here. Listen out for their distinctive song, a warbling of short trills, in late spring.
- Telephone
- 01225833977
- bathskyline@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Further reading
- Buy the guidebook
Bath Skyline
How to get here
- Address
- South East of the city of Bath, Bath and NE Somerset
- By cycle
- National Cycle Network route 4 passes through Bath (long distance path from London to St. Davids). Follow cycle route to the east side of the city, where cycle route joins/ leaves the canal path. Follow canal path back towards the city (south), until you reach Bathwick Hill. Follow Bathwick Hill uphill until you reach point 1 on the Skyline map (behind National Trust branded bus stop on your right).
- On foot
- The closest part of the Bath Skyline to Bath city centre is at point 1 on the Skyline map, Bathwick Fields (0.9 miles from Bath Abbey). Follow Bathwick Hill uphill until you reach a National Trust branded bus stop on your right (opposite Cleveland Walk). You will see a marker for point 1. Cross the road and follow Cleveland Walk and the yellow 'Bath Skyline' arrows to start the walk. The Bath Skyline walk follows a circular path, so you can start at multiple points around the route. Another option to reach the Bath Skyline from Bath city centre is to follow the ‘Walk to the view!’. This walk will lead you from Bath Abbey, through the city and along the Kennet and Avon Canal, and up into Bathwick Fields to join the walk at point 1 on the map. You can collect a ‘Walk to the view!’ leaflet from the Bath Ambassadors out and about in the city centre, or email us at bathskyline@nationaltrust.org.uk. Little Solsbury Hill: from Bath follow the Kennet and Avon Canal east to Batheaston. From the village of Batheaston follow Solsbury Lane. Grid reference for the top of the hill is ST768 679
- By train
- Bath Spa station is 0.8 miles (1.3km) from the start of the walk (point 1 on the map). Take bus U1 or U18 from Bath Bus Station/Dorchester Street (at front of train station). Alight at Cleveland Walk (on Bathwick Hill). Cross over Bathwick Hill to find the start of the walk (behind National Trust branded bus stop).
- By road
- Bath is just off the A4 Bath to Bristol road, and the A36 between Bath and Warminster; 10 miles (16km) from Jct 18 on the M4. Little Solsbury Hill: Situated between the A46 and the village of Batheaston. Grid reference for the top of the hill is ST768 679.
- Parking: There are no National Trust car parks on the Skyline, but there are frequent bus services from the city centre. Little Solsbury Hill: No parking at the hill, but there is a public car park in Batheaston, on London Road by the river.
- By bus
- Take the U1 (Firstgroup) from the Bath bus station/Dorchester Street towards the University of Bath. Alight at Cleveland Walk (on Bathwick Hill). Cross over Bathwick Hill to bus stop and National Trust signs. Alternatively you can take the City Sightseeing Skyline tour bus to reach various points on the Bath Skyline. This route starts outside Bath Spa train station. The stops listed below may be request stops only, so you are advised to check with the driver when you board. Alight at stop 5/E – Holburne Museum, follow Pulteney Road approximately 130m south (right turn at the end of Great Pulteney Street), then follow Bathwick Hill uphill to join the walk at point 1 on the map. Alight at stop 13/M – Claverton Down Road, or 14/N – Ralph Allen School, cross the road and join the walk at point 4 (for the Woodland Play Area). Look for National Trust signage and gates between stop 13 and 14 Little Solsbury Hill: From Bath bus station take bus 3 (First group) to Batheaston (bus route to Bathford). From Batheaston you can walk up to Little Solsbury Hill.
Bath Skyline
Prices
Admission free
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission
- Standard Admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Bath Skyline
Opening times
Monday 15 August
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Tuesday 16 August
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Wednesday 17 August
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Thursday 18 August
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Friday 19 August
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Saturday 20 August
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Sunday 21 August
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Bath Skyline
Contact us
- Telephone
- 01225833977
- bathskyline@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Address
- South East of the city of Bath, Bath and NE Somerset