A fascinating walk, mostly on good paths and tracks following sections of the old horse tramway to its termini on the banks of the River Avon.

The horse tramway, known locally as the Dramway, appears at regular intervals along this walk. The Dramway ran downhill for a distance of five miles from the Coalpit Heath collieries north-east of Bristol to the River Avon, where barges transported the coal to Bristol, Bath and beyond. The line was completed by 1831 and operated for thirty years until the coal traffic died out. In 1876, a section was reopened to serve the recently revived California Colliery above Willsbridge and an incline was built across the valley to link with the Dramway. By 1904, flooding contributed to the mine's closure and the subsequent demise of the railway.

Also of interest is the Avon Valley Steam Railway and Willsbridge Mill with its nature reserve run by Avon Wildlife Trust.

England - Bristol - Avon Valley

View a road map to the starting point of this walk.