Radfro two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Good route and I agree with the previous reviewers that this is a better version than the original. A lot of it is easy to navigate and my only moans are some wet and muddy ground along the path by the Egford Brook in the wooded valley south of Bedlam (not a problem today but I bet it is bad in winter) and that there is not much to see along some stretches of the wooded old railway path at the Radstock end, although it is very easy and efficient walking.

I went from Frome to Radstock. The Slow Way heads uphill out of Frome, at first through cobbled pedestrian streets and then along a mostly dull main road for several hundred metres before picking up the East Mendip Way. This exits by a metal field gate on a well-used path by an arable field with a view ahead. It then narrows to a smaller path downhill by some woodland and soon arrives at a metalled road.

Here the Slow Way jinks south to circumvent the steep descent on awkward ground through the woods used by the East Mendip Way. Turn left downhill on the road and when you reach the carparky area at the bottom, turn sharp right back on yourself along the metalled path heading towards the woods (Note if coming the other way that there is a stern sign on the road saying that it is a private road but this looks to be mainly to deter cars).

[[Alternatively, if it is summer and the ground is very dry (as it was today) you could cut out this v-shaped section, cross the road and go straight ahead on the grassy path to head on down through the woods on the East Mendip Way, but it is steep, with some uneven, rocky ground and I wouldn’t recommended it when wet]]

There follows a woodland valley walk by a river. The path varies, starting out good, then reaching a damp section with some muddy dips and then improving again. The poorer section is probably very muddy in winter. Make sure you turn off right through the wooden kissing gate and over the old stone bridge to Bedlam Cottage (I was not concentrating and strode on by for quite a while before I noticed I was the wrong side of the river). Then, at the top of the access road to the cottage, you reach a lively-looking minor road. Look right and you can see the metal kissing gate on the other side which is the ongoing path. From here it is a hop across a field to another quiet road which takes the Slow Way a very short distance to pick up the old railway path (cycle route 24).

The remaining five miles to Radstock is a bit samey but very easy and there are views around into the fields some of the time. There were quite a few people using this multiuser path on a sunny weekend day on foot and on bikes. Eventually it arrives in Radstock via some new housing.

I climbed over one stile and there are some kissing gates. I didn’t encounter any locked gates.

I didn't see any refreshments on the path between the two towns. A couple of pubs are signed off the railway path but the one at Mells is a bit of a way away and the one at Kilmersdon several hundred metres away. Both towns have reasonable bus links and Frome has a railway station although it is a bit of a trek from the town centre to get to it.

I walked this route from Radstock to Frome. The changes Brian has made over the first version of this route are small, but are definite improvements. It was muddy and slippery today so avoiding the very steep section was very useful!

The locked gate that both Brian and I came across last time was not locked this time - I do wonder if we both just missed the not quite obvious latch?

Overall, still a great slow way. An easy, direct path. For me only 4 stars because it doesn’t have that something extra that makes it really special (and has a long stretch on a cycle path, which I find a bit dull…).

I undertook this route from Frome to Radstock, after nearly falling down the steep slope into Vallis Vale off the East Mendip Way. It is a easier route into the Vale. The final section in Radstock follows a largely straight line all along Nelson Ward Drive into the centre.
Other than these two changes it is identical to Radfro one.
Both Radfro routes have a lot of pavement, or tarmac track which is easy walking
I would have rated it 5 stars, for the above, but unfortunately there's a 'locked' field gate at ST 75124 49694 which I had to clamber over ( 1 star removed ).

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