Day 3: Bath to Melksham
Apart from a few short slopes, this is a generally flat day's walk. Leaving the impressive church of Our Lady & St Alphege, the first part of the walk is along the disused Somerset & Dorset railway, now a pedestrian and cycle route called the Two Tunnels Greenway. This passes through two old railway tunnels, the first 300 metres long, the second 1670 metres; the UK's longest cycling and walking tunnel. After the tunnels the route crosses the tall viaduct at Tucking Mill, after which we descend to a quiet lane leading to Monkton Combe and a morning prayer stop in the church. Harry Patch, the longest surviving soldier from the WW1 trenches, is buried in the graveyard. Passing Monkton School and its playing fields the walk then reaches a remnant of the old Coal Canal and the Kennet & Avon Canal, crossing the impressive and historic Dundas Aqueduct. The towpath, with views of the River Avon valley and railway passing through it, leads to Avoncliff and the Cross Guns pub by the canal for lunch. After lunch, the walk proceeds to Bradford on Avon, with a brief visit to its medieval tithe barn, its Saxon church and nearby parish church. Then, after crossing fields, the walk returns to the canal towpath. Passing through the marinas of Staverton, a long easterwards canal stretch ends when the route diverts northwards on the locally-called “old road” and then a main road into the centre of Melksham and our overnight stop at the United Church.
Pilgrimage Newsfeed - Day 3
Click on any photo to see a full resolution version thereof.
Bath
Our Lady and St Alphege catholic church, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott. Aidan Simons
Inside the church Aidan Simons
The altar under its canopy Aidan Simons
Fr Tony the guitar man, before mass at Bath Aidan Simons
St Alphege Danny Thomas
Pilgrim Music at Mass John Chenery
The Tunnels
Into the first tunnel... Aidan Simons
Into the unknown... But well lit Aidan Simons
Some famous Bath citizens. Janet Catterick
The end is nigh! Aidan Simons
We made it out! John Chenery
St Michael, Monkton Combe
House of William Smith Father of Geology Janet Catterick
Refreshments at Monkton Coombe: wonderful! Susan Adilz
Prayers: Gary talks about the life of Mother Elvira, Cenacolo Community, which helps people with addiction problems. Susan Adilz
Cheers! Susan Adilz
How about this for a kitchen in church? Susan Adilz
At Monkton Coombe, the grave of Harry Patch who died in 2009 aged 111, the last survivor of the trenches of WW I John Chenery
Pilgrims catch up on the news. Susan Adilz
Nicole serving drinks a la francaise. Veronique
St Michaels, Monkton Combe Aidan Simons
Monkton School chapel, just after the church Aidan Simons
The Kennet and Avon canal goes over the River Avon Fr Tony Milner
Back on to the canal, in light drizzle Aidan Simons
View of the river from the aqueduct John Chenery
Dundas aqueduct - we walked along the top beside the canal Aidan Simons
Onwards along the canal John Chenery
The Cross Guns, Avoncliff
Mark at the Cross Guns Danny Thomas
Wasp protection Cross Guns Danny Thomas
The Cross Guns Danny Thomas
Picnic lunch just before the Cross Guns John Chenery
Lunch spot in Avoncliff Janet Catterick
The Cross Guns is downhill from the canal John Chenery
but the Cross Guns looks down on the river John Chenery
At the Cross Guns John Chenery
Bradford on Avon
The Tithe Barn at Bradford on Avon Fr Tony Milner
The Tithe Barn at Bradford on Avon Fr Tony Milner
Saxon church, Bradford on Avon. Fr Tony Milner
Saxon church, Bradford on Avon. Fr Tony Milner
Saxon church, Bradford on Avon. Fr Tony Milner
Pilgrims seen in the Tithe Barn John Chenery
The back of the Tithe Barn John Chenery
The Saxon church of St Laurence with Holy Trinity Church behind. We visited both. Fr Tony Milner
Inside the tithe barn Aidan Simons
Surveying the huge tithe barn in Bradford on Avon Aidan Simons
St Laurence church, Bradford on Avon Aidan Simons
Inside St Laurence Saxon church Aidan Simons
Holy Trinity Aidan Simons
Holy Trinity Bradford on Avon Aidan Simons
Norman Church of Holy Trinity in Bradford on Avon Janet Catterick
A bucolic scene, with a sailing club fred.adilz
Towpath bumble bee Danny Thomas
Drinks stop at Staverton John Chenery
Swan family with ten cygnets! Danny Thomas
A flotilla! Fr Tony Milner
Melksham
Melksham United Church Janet Catterick
Aidan and Fred have an unscheduled drink stop. Louise
Some of us fell by the wayside just before the end, and enjoyed a sunny pint watching our fellow pilgrims pass by. Aidan Simons
An aerial view of of pilgrim washing up John Chenery
Talk by Gavin and Miranda about Bath Stone, its geology, and the Bath Stone museum. fred.adilz
With no projector in the church, Aidan's screen provided the visuals John Chenery
