We are the Somer Valley Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
We will walk around and through the beautiful secluded St Catherine's Valley, near Batheaston, where wooded hillsides are resplendent with autumn colours of varying hues.
We will visit Little Solsbury Hill, made famous in song, and topped by an early Iron Age hillfort, where panoramic views may be had.
The walk involves some hill climbing, particularly near the start and towards the end, but there is also gentler walking through St Catherine's Valley bottom.
There is a steep hillside path enclosed between hedges, to descend into St Catherine's Valley, although its surface is mostly small stones which are not too slippery.
There are a few places where paths, if muddy or wet, may require careful traversing.
Near Upper Swainswick. From the south, take the A46 (north in Stroud direction) and after approx. 1 mile take left slip road signposted to Swainswick. Note: you will come upon the sign post suddenly with no prior warning. Take the slip road for a short distance, which goes uphill. There are signposts variously for Swainswick and Upper Swainswick, the latter which you will nearly reach. You need to look out for a road on the right which goes under the A46, and is signposted 'A46 Bath'. Take this and go under the A46, then round a bend to the left, and there are in front of you car parking spaces on the left. If spaces are all full (unlikely), turn round and go back under the A46, then turn right and go uphill until beginning of Upper Swainswick, where further street parking spaces should be available on the road to the left or, the no-through road called Gloucester Road on the right. The walk will start by the first mentioned car parking spaces on the road which passes under the A46.
