Hambrook Short Loop
Intro
This short loop is mostly off-road and uses some rarely used footpaths to see some areas of local countryside.
While you are on Whiteshill common, take time to visit the war memorial, look for interesting funghi on the common and visit the wild flower meadow planted by Winterbourne and Frome Valley Environmental Group to the south of Worrells Lane.
Whiteshill Common to The Frome - 0 miles
Keeping the common on your right and Hambrook Primary School on your left, head south on Moorend Road, going straight over at the crossroads and down the hill. Be careful as this road is narrow and has no footway.
The Frome and Bradley Brook - 0.2 miles
Turn right at a barred gate before the bridge to follow the river Frome along a quiet bridleway with fields on your right. In the autumn, there are many blackberries on this section.
At the end of the bridleway, make your way through the most complicated gate system in South Glos and turn left onto the quiet road. As you cross the bridge, look to the East to see where Bradley Brook (beneath you) joins the River Frome.
Almost immediately, follow a footpath sign through a driveway on your right. There is another narrow footpath between two walls further along. If you reach that, you have gone too far.
The footpath will turn north through a small paddock until you reach the B4058 where the M4 crosses. Carefully cross this busy road.
Footpath to Brook Farm - 0.5 miles
From here, the footpath is accessed by a small wooden style attached the metal gate - take care when climbing over.
The path follows the edge of a small field before making it's way through a pretty and narrow path with Bradley Brook below and to the right. You may hear the motorway traffic to your left as the path follows the edge of the M32 / M4 junction roundabout.
There are often fallen trees on this path, so take care.
The path follows a series of paddocks as it turns back to the East and eventually reaches the top of the road on Quarry Barton with the mainline railway track on your left.
Quarry Barton to Whiteshill Common - 1 miles
Follow the quiet road of Quarry Barton for about 300m until the road reaches the B4058 (Bristol Road). This road should soon have a 30mph limit but care should be taken when crossing.
Once on the opposite side, take the immediate left onto Pye Corner following the quiet road up the hill until you reach your starting point at the common.