MARCH bimble: MIDFORD – Wednesday 18th March 2026
WHERE TWO RAILWAYS AND CANAL MEET AT MIDFORD
This walk takes us back into history where the Somerset and Dorset Railway and Great Western Railway once had two separate railway stations at Midford. It is also here where the Somerset Coal Canal had a weighing station.
Our walk begins along the towpath of the canal parallel with the track bed of the GWR towards Tucking Mill. At Tucking Mill, passing the lake, we walk across the railway viaduct and enter Combe Down Tunnel. We return walking along the Somerset and Dorset Railway back to Midford Station. This walk is in a very tranquil setting through the Somerset countryside.
Starting Point and Parking: the Hope and Anchor pub at Midford, BA2 7DD. Please arrange to meet in the car park at 10.15 am. to commence walking at 10.30 am.
Terrain: approximately 2½ miles easy walking along the Midford Valley which is mainly flat. We’re calling this one a Bamble (crossed between a Bimble and an amble)! The start of the walk could be muddy as it was when it was checked out, but not too bad!
Lunch: at the Hope and Anchor pub and the table is booked for 12.30 pm. Menu can be found here – If numbers are less than 10, then pre-ordering will not be required.
Walk Leaders: Tony and Rachel Howe 07812 754847 racheltony19@gmail.com – please contact them if you wish to join the walk and/or would like to join for lunch.
FEBRUARY ramble: WESTWOOD – Wednesday 11th February 2026
Starting point & parking: The New Inn, Westwood in Lower Westwood BA15 2AE ready to start walking at 10.15am.
Walk description & terrain: A great little winter ramble of around 4 miles across field footpaths, some woodland, and quiet country lanes, taking in both the River Avon and River Frome. The going is normally good but this is winter walking so you should wear stout boots or other appropriate supportive footwear and expect some mud. Given the rain we’ve had, the going is actually much better than you might be forgiven for expecting!
Much of this route will feel familiar to regulars, but we’ll be going the other way round this time. Starting from the Pub, we’ll head along the village road and through Upper Westwood to cross the fields by Avoncliff Woods down to the Avon. We stay on this path broadly following the river (although it’ll soon switch to being the Frome!) round to the weir near Dunkirk Mill, where we pick up the path above the river, passing Friary and through Friary Woods, crossing the only stile (very well built!) to come out into the fields opposite Iford Manor. We cross the bridge and make our way slowly back up the (steep but mercifully short) hill and back through the village to the pub and a well deserved lunch!
Don’t forget your coffee as we’ll have a stop along the way…
For those that have the app, here’s a link to the planned route on Ordnance Survey…
Lunch: is at the excellent New Inn, Westwood – feel free to meet us for lunch which is booked for 1pm if you can’t quite make the walk! Menu here…
Walk Leader: Sarah Dow – please let her know if you’re coming on the walk or joining for lunch; email callymosh@yahoo.co.uk, WhatsApp 07870 909757, or call 01380 871729 and leave a message.
USEFUL FOOTPATH MAP SYSTEM
See article here from West Wilts Rambling Group about local footpath improvement and maintenance. Also a really useful link to the Wiltshire Council Rights of Way Explorer map
Click on an image to see it full size and scroll through the gallery
KEEVIL WALKERS ANNUAL MEETING 2026
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the new walking programme for the year ahead; minutes here: NOTES OF ANNUAL MEETING OF KEEVIL WALKING GROUP 2026
If you’d like to join in, find out more, or just receive regular updates and details of walks via the group’s email list, please contact Rachel and Tony Howe (870661) email racheltony19@gmail.com.
WALKS PLANNED FOR 2026-27 SEASON
- APRIL 2026 – ramble – Barbara
- MAY 2026 – ramble – Geoff
- JUNE 2026 – bimble – Geoff
- JULY 2026 – bimble – Geoff
- AUGUST – Rachel & Tony
- SEPTEMBER 2026 – Vivien
- OCTOBER 2026 – ramble – Colin
- NOVEMBER 2026 – ramble – Sarah
- NEW YEAR! 2027 – bimble: Saturday 2nd January – to the Lamb on the Strand
- FEBRUARY 2027 – ramble – Sarah
- MARCH 2027 – ramble – Rachel & Tony
Previous seasons
- MARCH 2026 – bimble: Wednesday 18th March – Rachel & Tony Howe, Midford
- FEBRUARY 2026 – ramble: Wednesday 11th February – Sarah Dow, Westwood
- JANUARY 2026 – no walk leader available
- NOVEMBER 2025 – ramble: Wednesday 26th November – Sarah Dow, Chapmanslade
- OCTOBER 2025 – ramble: Thursday 9th October – Colin Dimbylow, Horton
- SEPTEMBER 2025 – ramble: Wednesday 17th September – Vivien Carson & Juliette Hall, Berwick St James
- AUGUST 2025 – ramble: Paul Lenaerts & John Tucker
- JULY 2025 – bimble: Tuesday 29th July – Geoff West, Lacock
- JUNE 2025 – bimble: Tuesday 24th June – Geoff West, Harnham, Salisbury
- JUNE 2025 – ramble: Tuesday 17th June – Sarah Dow, Norton St Philip
- MAY 2025 – bimble: Cancelled
- APRIL 2025 – ramble: Wednesday 23rd April – Barbara Lewendon, Berwick St James
- MARCH 2025 ramble: Rachel & Tony Howe – Norton Radstock – 14 March
- FEBRUARY 2025 ramble: Sarah Dow – Upavon – 18 February
- JANUARY 2025 ramble: Sarah Dow – East Woodlands – 22 January
- NOVEMBER 2024 ramble: Barbara Lewendon – Ramsbury – 20 November
- OCTOBER 2024 ramble: Colin Dimbylow – Westwood, Avoncliff & Iford – October 25
- SEPTEMBER 2024 ramble: Tony Howe – Radstock – 25 September
- SEPTEMBER 2024 bimble: Geoff West – replaced by Swanage trip
- AUGUST 2024 bimble: Geoff West – POSTPONED
- JULY AWAY DAY to SWANAGE 2024: Geoff West – rescheduled to September 20th
- JUNE 2024 Ramble: Tuesday 18 June – Nunney – Sarah Dow
- MAY 2024 Walk-from-the-Door: BH Monday 06 May- Edington – Sarah Dow
- APRIL 2024 Ramble: Paul Lenaerts & John Tucker POSTPONED
- MARCH 2024 Ramble: Isobel Geddes POSTPONED
- FEBRUARY 2024 Bimble: Wednesday 28 February – Caen Hill Locks – Barbara Lewendon
- JANUARY 2024 Ramble: Wednesday 17 January – Bremhill & Maud’s Monument – Sarah Dow
History of the Walking Group
It’s all thanks to Ray Ward who started the group over 25 years ago, ably assisted by David Bodman who together until recently organised numerous fascinating walks throughout the area.
We continue their legacy by meeting once a month for a walk which is always followed by a fabulous pub lunch. Walks (rambles) vary, usually between 4 – 6 miles, and we pace ourselves to suit the slowest walker, with time to enjoy the countryside views. In 2019, Geoff West introduced ‘bimbles’ – short and easy walks in the summer months, running alongside the longer rambles, for those who prefer something less demanding but still want to enjoy good company in lovely countryside.
New walkers are always welcome whether to just participate or organise a walk for the group! Full details of forthcoming walks are published in the Village magazine and here on the village website (and promoted on the Buzz Roundup).
For more information please contact Tony and Rachel Howe on 01380 870661 or email racheltony19@gmail.com
BIMBLES and RAMBLES
Bimbles are shorter, easy-going walks of around 3-3.5 miles on well-established tracks and without stiles; Rambles are longer walks of 4-6+ miles with more mixed terrains and stiles. Both conclude at a pub for lunch. For further details, particularly if you would like to join us for the first time, or would like to organise and lead a walk, please contact Geoff West (870425) in connection with the Bimbles and for all other walks, Rachel and Tony Howe (870661).
All walks will take into consideration advice given by the Ramblers Association www.ramblers.org.uk whilst we continue with caution during the pandemic.
COVID AWARENESS FOR KEEVIL WALKERS
- If you, or any member of your household , have COVID-19 symptoms, you should not take part in any activities with the Walking Group during this time.
- If you, or any member of your household, are clinically vulnerable, you should take extra care to minimise contact with others. Taking part in a walk could put you and those around you, at a higher risk.
- You do not have to feel obliged to join the walk just because you are a listed member of the Keevil Walkers.
- Remember, paths can be slippery in wet weather, steep declines when muddy can be treacherous. Do not put yourself at risk if you feel you might have an accident which might lead to hospitalisation..
KEEVIL VILLAGE 