We all love good food, right? And fresh air? Well that’s a no-brainer when it comes to feeling good. In Bath, we think the best way to fully enjoy both of these feel-good factors is to combine the two in a fantastically fresh food trail with a difference. Weave your way along our bespoke walking trail, and enjoy a day-long excursion in Bath’s great outdoors, punctuated by exciting culinary discoveries and delicious diversions. A food-fest with the side order of fresh air – what could be better?
Breakfast: Artisan Treats at Bertinet Bakery
Situated in the Vaults underneath the train station, the Bertinet Bakery is a wonderland of artisan breads, pastries, savouries and viennoiserie. Packed with produce freshly baked by master baker Richard Bertinet and his dedicated team, this charming café is the perfect place to begin your day.
Morning: Prior Park/Bath Skyline Walk
Brush down the crumbs and take a final sip of coffee before venturing along Widcombe Parade and down Prior Park Road to Prior Park Landscape Garden, a stunning eighteenth-century garden boasting an iconic Palladian Bridge, one of only four in the world. The gardens also lead on to the Bath Skyline Walk, a moderate six-mile amble through rolling countryside, offering epic views over the city and surrounds.
Lunch: Dine on Pulteney Bridge
Worked up an appetite during the morning’s exertions? Then we’ve got some great options for you near Pulteney Bridge, a beautiful example of eighteenth-century Palladian-style architecture. Sample modern French cuisine in the cosy surrounds of family-run Chez Dominique or enjoy some hearty pub grub paired with craft ales in the welcoming waterside environs of The Boater.
Afternoon: Sydney Gardens followed by a Riverside Stroll
Once suitably rested and revived, promenade down handsome Great Pulteney Street, one of the best examples of Georgian architecture in Bath. Behind the impressive Holburne Museum hides Sydney Gardens – one of the original “pleasure gardens” – popular in the eighteenth century as the place to see and be seen. Admire the lawns and shrubberies before joining the path alongside the Kennet and Avon Canal, and enjoy a scenic walk along the canal path, joining the riverside path at Widcombe. Follow the river as it meanders across the south of the city, and after a gentle couple of miles you will reach the waterside haven of The Locksbrook Inn.
Evening: A Well-Deserved Celebration at the Locksbrook Inn
Offering everything from small plates and tasting platters to hand-tossed pizzas and gastropub staples, the Locksbrook is the perfect sanctuary at the trail’s end. Cosy up beside the wood-burning stove, treat yourself to a well-deserved glass of something cold, and peruse the menu for tasty nibbles or a hearty meal. Feeling proud of yourself? You should be. Now, go get yourself another drink, you earned it!
By Niamh Noone
