Parkway Lane down to Meadgate is pleasant then I used Camerton Road (500 metres) rather than divert across another wet field path. It's not a PROW but an obvious path with no gate at the road and a safer crossing....

JohnMyerson

From Farmborough, the route crosses straight over the lively road past the village and makes its way east through tracks, paths and pastures on a well-walked and easy-to-follow route through lots of metal kissing gates. It then reaches some arable fields with good headlands around or well-worn paths through the crop, before turning south, very briefly sharing the route of Farrad two at one point (making it possible to swap between the two routes if desired), but soon turns away east, heading diagonally into a shallow valley where there is a stream course to cross. Up on the other side, after climbing over a wooden stile, the route crosses the corner of a field and continues over a rather more rickety stile through a couple of fields with big patches of cover crops for a shoot. Footpath infrastructure and signage is not good through here (unlike the rest of the route) but it is a short section. A short section of quiet lane leads on to a climb up the other side of the valley through a big pasture, leading away from the world of the worker and into the sunny uplands of the landed gentry. (Here this version of the route departs from the shared route with Farrad two. The latter heads west along the pavement of the main road for a short stretch and then takes a quiet lane down into town, should you prefer that.). To keep on Farrad three and stay off-road, head straight on over the main road and along the avenued driveway to the next grand country house. Another valley down-and-up follows, routing via a set of ornamental lakes (it is potentially wet and boggy around the spring line by the gate into the lower field on the way down, so stay left) and then up through more arable fields before skirting round another old wooded spoil tip and descending into the one-time mining town of Radstock along a quiet road and through an alleyway....

Mockymock

The two kinks are easily avoided, Priest Barrow is a pointless bit of route plotting, as the route on the ground overrides it, and the second, at the top of Bear Flat in Bath, is again not required, by crossing the main road at the Bear pub, and dropping straight down Holloway ( both safer road crossing, shorter, and no steps !) A fine addition to the network...

Brian

The route as OS map skirts the gardens ( where you will encounter horse tape, but the route on the definitive map, and on the ground is through the properties gardens. Interestingly, the southern fp sign is pointing the wrong way, which makes it challenging. I have tried to raise a complaint on the BANES system, but it appears not to have a section to raise fp issues - I have now complained about that!...

Brian

Based on local knowledge of Chris Selwyn, and review by Paniex of Farrad two, the road sections in Farrad one really make it a non starter. The minor roads are VERY busy, and with the many bends, a very unpleasant experience, and possibly dangerous. Farrad two is a very credible alternative...

Brian

Pleased to say I read the description by Chris, and review by Panifex, which ensured I avoided Farrad one....

Brian

This route generally deserves more stars than the three I have given it and panifex’s alternative route out of Farmborough is really nice, but thanks to the propensity of some farmers to drill crops right up to the hedge and not maintain the footpath across their fields, I had two 500m instances of wrestling through mature crops of field beans sometimes up to my shoulders (I’m not tall) plus a field of wheat to wade through to boot, and this put a dampener on my enjoyment of this very decent Slow Way today. And though the locals clearly walk around the edge of one of these fields, it is still a right pain once the crop gets tall....

Mockymock

Sounds obvious but walking from Bath centre out into the wild country in a few miles was great....

Meg

It is a great walk, along easy to navigate footpaths. The only problems I encountered were cows... Definitely a good Slow Way...

panifex

I walked this route from Farmborough to Keynsham. it is generally a great route - especially once you get past Marksbury. Up to that point I had a couple of minor issues: 1) I was unable to use the footpath south of Marksbury across Beech Tree Farm, it was blocked by fences for horses. The previous two reviewers clearly managed to get across fine, so hopefully this was just temporary. There is an easy diversion along the road in any case. 2) I got a bit confused at Court Farm just after Marksbury - the footpath is marked as going through the barn (as is the .gpx file for this route) and it looks temptingly like that might be possible....

panifex

The section between Clutton Hill and Clutton is not obvious and required some back-and-forthing. But not too bad if you keep your eyes peeled!...

Dommo

We did Bath to Farmborough and skipped the last kink up Priest Barrow as we had longer to go pst Farmborough. All signs very easy to follow, good mixture of terrain....

Dommo

From Farmborough, the route is a little roady but once you have left Marksbury, this is a glorious route with a few minor glitches...

Steve_Roser

Safe road walking and horsey pastures between Farnborough and Marksbury. Beautiful route from there on to Keynsham. Lovely walking in the Spring sunshine....

Mockymock

The route does a slightly odd "kink" at the end on the walk down into the city centre - there is a much more obvious and well trodden route into Bath - but this is a very minor issue, and not worth worrying about really - the route suggested still works fine....

panifex

1) the very first part from Farmborough to Common Lane along the main road to Timsbury - where care really must be taken. It is a busy road with no verges to speak of.....

panifex