Huckford Quarry

A pleasant walk along the River Frome to visit Huckford Quarry, a Local Nature Reserve in a disused quarry. Passing Nightingale Bridge, an arched stone bridge which has been a crossing point of the Frome for centuries, and Winterbourne Viaduct, which has carried trains from London to South Wales over the Frome Valley since 1902. Return via the outskirts of Winterbourne with fine views across the Frome Valley towards Frampton.

Can be muddy along the Frome after periods of heavy rain (Route B offers alternative walk avoiding worst of the mud). Steep steps (32!!) up to road after visiting quarry.

Start at Live & Let Live, Park Lane.

Route A (yellow line on map) beside River Frome if not too muddy underfoot

1. Cross Park Lane and walk down Rectory Rd opposite and, before crossing the river, take footpath through kissing gate on left, beside Bridge House. Follow this path along edge of field, through gates toward Nightingale Lane (near Nightingale Bridge). Go straight across Nightingale Lane into field.

2. Follow trodden path through fields, veering left at end and through kissing gate.

3. Continue on Frome Valley Walkway, beside R Frome (on your right), following river as it bends Right through trees (if muddy – take higher path).

4. Continue on trodden path across grass of One-Acre Field (toward railway viaduct) and go up steps of bridge to cross river.

5. Follow path to go under viaduct.

6. Continue ahead to Huckford Quarry, where some may prefer to pause 5 mins while rest explore quarry: follow path anticlockwise, climb steep steps to Left, veering Left at top to follow path down & back to quarry entrance.

7. Re-trace steps to viaduct and Turn Left under viaduct to follow cobbled uphill path & 32 steps toward Winterbourne.

8. Turn Right onto Hicks Common Road, pausing at duck pond (or cross road to walk anti-clockwise round duck pond; then re-cross road).

9. Continue along Hicks Common Rd and, at corner, turn Right into Cloisters Rd.

10. Walk past road (St Francis Drive) to turn Left over stile and onto footpath across field. Exit via kissing gate & stile.

11. Cross road and take road straight ahead (Factory Rd). Either walk to end of road or pass Beavers Close to turn right into Manor Lane just before end.

12. Turn Right at end into Watleys End Rd

13. At sharp bend in road, turn Right along Nightingale Lane (2nd of 2 lanes on corner)

14. Turn Right down lane at Frampton Court Farm and continue over Nightingale Bridge. Continue up lane between the houses of Harris Barton.

15. At end of lane, turn left into Park Lane and return to pub.

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Click for more photographs

Alternative Route B (red line on map), if too wet beside River Frome:

1. Cross Park Lane and walk down Rectory Rd opposite and eventually take footpath through kissing gate on left, beside Bridge House. Follow this path along edge of field, through gates toward Nightingale Lane, where you turn Right to go over Nightingale Bridge.

2. Continue to walk above route in reverse to Huckford Quarry (14 to 6), as follows: continue walking up Nightingale Lane, veering Left at top (in front of Frampton Manor) to continue to end of lane.

3. Turn Left into Watleys End Rd and then turn Left into lane beside 156.

4. Turn left at end into Factory Rd, which you follow to end.

5. Go straight ahead across road to enter field via stone stile and kissing gate. Walk straight ahead along trodden path to exit via stone stile into Cloisters Rd.

6. Turn Right and follow road to end.

7. Turn left into Hicks Common Rd, pausing at duck pond (or cross road to walk anti-clockwise round duck pond; then re-cross road).

8. Continue along Hicks Common Rd and turn Left through gate into Lane (just past 2 or 3 houses on left and opposite Travers Perkins depot)

9. Follow lane, down 32 steps, following downhill path to Right under viaduct

10. Continue ahead to Huckford Quarry, where some may prefer to pause 5 mins while rest explore quarry. (Follow path anticlockwise, climb steep steps to Left, veering Left at top to follow path down & back to quarry entrance.)

11. Turn Right to cross Bridge by Huckford Quarry and turn right to follow path beside river.

12. Over stile and Turn Left to go up path; then turn right (another stile?) at top.

13. Follow foot path (lane) for about a third of mile (passing junction of lanes); then turn left up path through small wood (up small hill), turning right out of woods to follow lane to road.

14. Turn Left along Park Lane and follow this road, under railway and back to pub.

Using the map. The map shows the main walk in yellow and alternative routes in red. The Start/End point is marked with a yellow diamond and points of interest on the route are marked with a red pin. Click on a red pin to see descriptions and photos.

Use the +/- buttons at the bottom of the map to zoom in or out. Use the icon at the top right of the map to get a full screen image.