SPC Parish Walk to new Wessex Water Bridge – 6:30pm Thurs 5 June 2025 – free to residents

Saltford Parish Council will host its FREE Parish Walk on Thursday 5 June 2025, starting at 6:30pm, which will take residents to the new Wessex Water Bridge, past Swinford Lock and through the village’s beautiful Green Belt fields.

Photo courtesy of Wessex Water, who kindly shared photos following the bridge opening for SPC’s use. Image used with permission of Wessex Water.

The guided walk is open to all residents and is free to attend. There’s no need to book a place, please just turn up. The meeting point to start the walk is The Shallows Car Park (you’ll see a crowd gathering and some people in hi-vis vests – Robin and Cheryl will be the guides).

The walk will start at 6:30pm, and last for approximately two and a half hours. The distance of the walk is estimated to be 5 miles, and parts of the walk will be on uneven and at times rocky ground – please find more information in the Health and Safety section below.

SPC expresses its sincere thanks to local residents Robin and Cheryl for their help arranging and guiding SPC’s Parish Walk 2025, including planning the route and providing the risk assessment for SPC’s approval.

As part of the guided walk, aspects of interest along the way will be highlighted by Robin and Cheryl, including areas of historical and environmental significance.

Members of SPC will be present, and it’s a great chance to have a chat with other residents of the village whilst enjoying our village’s beautiful rural surroundings.

The route this year was chosen as Cllr Jon Godfrey had the honour of opening the new £9 million Wessex Water Bridge (Saltford side) last September, check out SPC’s article ‘SPC Chair Cllr Jon Godfrey opens ‘Saltford side’ of new £9 million Wessex Water access bridge‘. For more about Wessex Water’s two-year £35 million expansion project at Mead Lane, visit their dedicated page titled ‘Saltford Recycling Centre‘.

Photo shows SPC Chair Jon Godfrey and Cllr Andy Rice, at the bridge opening ceremony in September 2024

Route – The Shallows, Wessex Water Bridge, Swineford Lock, and Green Belt fields, The Shallows

SPC’s 2025 guided Parish Walk will start at The Shallows go down Mead Lane past the Jolly Sailor pub and into the footpaths through fields to the new Wessex Water bridge. Time will be spent at the Wessex Water bridge to view the new bridge and for those wanting to cross over it and back again.

The walk will continue on the ‘Saltford’ side of the river to Swineford Lock, then through the village’s Green Belt fields, across Brunel’s railway bridge and along the footpath to Norman Road.

Once back in Saltford’s housing boundary, the walk will continue down the historic High Street and end at The Shallows.

As above, it’s anticipated that the route will take 2.5hrs, and is about 5 miles.

Health and Safety

Those joining the walk are reminded to be aware of tree routes and other possible trip hazards, and that paths through woods and across fields may be slippery if the weather has been or is wet. The guides will show everyone back to The Shallows, where the walk will end. There may also be animals (e.g. cows) in some of the fields, so everyone is advised to follow the Countryside Code.

Residents attending the SPC Parish Walk are asked to wear appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear for the weather conditions and terrain. Please bring a bottle of water or two, especially if temperatures are high. Friendly dogs are welcome but please ensure they are kept under control, and kept on short leads especially in areas where there may be livestock.

Though the walk is due to end before we loose the light, as the weather may be unpredictable please consider bringing a torch and note that the end point of the walk (The Shallows) has no streetlights.

Getting to the start point

Those attending the walk are encouraged to arrive by foot, bike or bus. There is limited parking at the car park and parking restrictions on most of the The Shallows (bar a short parking bay), parking at both can be in demand particularly on good weather days so please allow time if looking for a place to park. SPC asks that those joining the walk view signage in the area and park considerately if coming by vehicle. Please view SPC’s ‘Visitor Information‘ for more details.