Bristol Temple Meads must be one of the best places in the country (or even the world) to walk by rail. The sheer range of walks available, from the Avon Valley, the Cotswolds and Malverns to the valleys and mountains of South Wales. I have now walked over 100 routes, starting at one station and finishing at another, returning to Temple Meads in a day. They are listed, with links to descriptions, photos and maps on the table below. The second column links to Outdooractive, a mapping app, where you can see a short description, photograph and a map of the walk. Note that you can reorder the walks below by area, station name or number of miles (the shortest ones are just 3 miles).
The easiest way to follow any of these walks is on the Outdooractive app, which is free to use (see how to use it). This is my Outdooractive profile, where you can see all my walks on a map, or search them graded by difficulty. If you have Outdooractive, you can bookmark the walks that interest you, and return to them later. Alternatively, you can download the gpx file for use on a different mapping app, such as OS Maps, Komoot or AllTrails. You might be able to do that directly on your phone, or, depending on how your phone is set up, you might have to download it to a computer, first.
This table shows linear (station to station) walks. For circular railwalks, click here.
| Area | From & more | To | Via | Both Ways? | Miles | GPX File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | Abergavenny | Ebbw Vale | Yes | 14 | Download | |
| Worcs | Ashchurch | Cheltenham Spa | Cleeve Hill | Yes | 14 | Download |
| Worcs | Ashchurch | Evesham | Wychavon Way | Yes | 14 | Download |
| Worcs | Ashchurch | Pershore | Better this way | 13 | Download | |
| Bristol | Ashley Down | Bristol Parkway | Stoke Park | Better this way | 4 | Download |
| Bristol | Avoncliff | Freshford | Farleigh Hungerford | Better this way | 5 | Download |
| Bristol | Avoncliff | Trowbridge | Westwood mansion | Better this way | 5 | Download |
| Bristol | Ashley Down | Filton Abbey Wood | Stoke Park | Better this way | 3 | Download |
| Bristol | Barnt Green | Hagley | Lickey and Clent Hills | Yes | 11 | Download |
| Wales | Barry | Llantwit Major | Wales Coast Path | Yes | 12 | Download |
| Wales | Barry | Rhoose | Wales Coast Path | Yes | 5 | Download |
| Bristol | Bedminster | Redland | Bristol’s Harbourside | Better this way | 4 | Download |
| Wilts | Bedwyn | Pewsey | Yes | 13 | Download | |
| Wilts | Bradford-on-Avon | Bath | Yes | 8 | Download | |
| Wilts | Bradford-on-Avon | Chippenham | Lacock | Yes | 15 | Download |
| Wilts | Bradford-on-Avon | Melksham | Kennet & Avon Canal | Yes | 9 | Download |
| Bristol | Bristol Parkway | Yate | Community Forest Path | Yes | 9 | Download |
| Bristol | Bristol Temple Meads | Nailsea & Backwell | Tyntesfield estate | Yes | 15 | Download |
| Bristol | Bristol Temple Meads | Keynsham | River Avon Trail | Yes | 9 | Download |
| Bristol | Bristol Temple Meads | Montpelier | Castle Park | Yes | 2 | Download |
| Somerset | Bruton | Castle Cary | Yes | 6 | Download | |
| Somerset | Bruton | Frome | Yes | 13 | Download | |
| Somerset | Bruton | Warminster | Better this way | 18 | Download | |
| Wales | Cadoxton | Cardiff Central | Wales Coast Path | Better this way | 12 | Download |
| Glos | Cam & Dursley | Stonehouse | Yes | 8 | Download | |
| Wales | Cardiff Central | Radyr | Taff Trail and parks | Yes | 6 | Download |
| Oxon | Charlbury | Kingham | Oxfordshire Way | Better this way | 11 | Download |
| Dorset | Chetnole | Maiden Newton | Better this way | 12 | Download | |
| Bristol | Clifton Down | Bristol Temple Meads | Suspension bridge and Harbourside | Yes | 7 | Download |
| Worcs | Colwall | Malvern Link | Malvern Hills | Yes | 5 | Download |
| Wales | Cross Keys | Pontypool | Cambrian Way | Yes | 10 | Download |
| Wilts | Dean (Wilts) | Salisbury | Better this way | 11 | Download | |
| Wilts | Dilton Marsh | Bradford-on-Avon | Better this way | 11 | Download | |
| Wilts | Dilton Marsh | Trowbridge | Southwick Park | Better this way | 8 | Download |
| Wilts | Dilton Marsh | Warminster | Upton Scudamore | Better this way | 6 | Download |
| Wilts | Dilton Marsh | Westbury | White horse | Better this way | 8 | Download |
| Somerset | Freshford | Bath | Yes | 6 | Download | |
| Somerset | Freshford | Bradford-on-Avon | Yes | 3 | Download | |
| Somerset | Freshford | Keynsham | Limestone Link | Yes | 15 | Download |
| Somerset | Freshford | Trowbridge | Better this way | 7 | Download | |
| Somerset | Frome | Bradford-on-Avon | Better this way | 13 | Download | |
| Somerset | Frome | Dilton Marsh | Upton Scuddamore | Yes | 8 | Download |
| Somerset | Frome | Freshford | Better this way | 12 | Download | |
| Somerset | Frome | Warminster | Better this way | 9 | Download | |
| Somerset | Frome | Westbury | Better this way | 8 | Download | |
| Dorset | Gillingham | Tisbury | Yes | 12 | Download | |
| Glos | Gloucester | Cheltenham | Gloucestershire Way | Yes | 13 | Download |
| Glos | Gloucester | Stroud | Painswick | Yes | 13 | Download |
| Wilts | Grateley | Salisbury | Figsbury Rings | Better this way | 16 | Download |
| Somerset | Highbridge & Burnham | Worle | Brent Knoll | Yes | 15 | Download |
| Somerset | Highbridge & Burnham | Weston-Super-Mare | Yes | 12 | Download | |
| Worcs | Honeybourne | Evesham | Badsey | Yes | 9 | Download |
| Glos | Kemble | Stroud | Thames & Severn Way | Yes | 14 | Download |
| BANES | Keynsham | Bath | Yes | 9 | Download | |
| BANES | Keynsham | Oldfield Park | River Avon Trail | Yes | 9 | Download |
| BANES | Keynsham | Yate | Golden Valley | Yes | 14 | Download |
| Worcs | Ledbury | Great Malvern | Malvern Hills | Yes | 13 | Download |
| Wales | Lisvane | Risca | Yes | 8 | Download | |
| Wales | Llanbradach | Trefforest | Senghenydd | Yes | 7 | Download |
| Wales | Llanhilleth | Ebbw Vale | Mynydd Carn-y-Cefn | Yes | 10 | Download |
| Glos | Lydney | Chepstow | Gloucestershire Way | Yes | 12 | Download |
| Wales | Maesteg | Briton Ferry | Efail Fach | Yes | 11 | Download |
| Wales | Maesteg | Treorchy | Mynydd Lllangeinwyr | Better this way | 11 | Download |
| Dorset | Maiden Newton | Yetminster | Evershot | Yes | 11 | Download |
| Worcs | Malvern Link | Worcester Foregate Street | Three Choirs Way | Better this way | 10 | Download |
| Wilts | Melksham | Chippenham | Lacock | Yes | 8 | Download |
| Glos | Moreton-in-Marsh | Honeybourne | Chipping Camden | Yes | 13 | Download |
| Hants | Mottisfont | Andover | Test Way | Yes | 17 | Download |
| Hants | Mottisfont | Dean | Yes | 5 | Download | |
| N Somer | Nailsea & Backwell | Portway Park & Ride | Tyntesfield Estate | Yes | 10 | Download |
| Bristol | Parson Street | Nailsea & Backwell | Barrow Court | Better this way | 9 | Download |
| Wales | Newbridge | Pontypool | Mynydd Maen | Better this way | 8 | Download |
| BANES | Oldfield Park | Bath Spa | Georgian Bath | Better this way | 3 | Download |
| Bristol | Patchway | Severn Beach | Pilning | Better this way | 9 | Download |
| Bristol | Parson Street | Bristol Temple Meads | Northern Slopes | Better this way | 3 | Download |
| Worcs | Pershore | Worcester | Better this way | 14 | Download | |
| Wales | Pontyclun | Pontypridd | Ynysmaerdy | Yes | 8 | Download |
| Wales | Pontypool | Abergavenny | Cambrian Way | Better this way | 15 | Download |
| Wales | Pontypridd | Mountain Ash | Yes | 9 | Download | |
| Wales | Porth | Fernhill | Yes | 8 | Download | |
| Wales | Porth | Mountain Ash | Yes | 10 | Download | |
| Bristol | Portway Park & Ride | Severn Beach | Severn Way | Yes | 13 | Download |
| Wales | Rhoose | Barry Island | Wales Coast Path | Yes | 6 | Download |
| Wales | Rhoose | Llantwit Major | Wales Coast Path | Yes | 7 | Download |
| Wales | Rhymney | Ebbw Vale | Tredegar | Yes | 6 | Download |
| Wales | Risca | Aber | Cambrian Way | Yes | 10 | Download |
| Wales | Rogerstone | Cross Keys | Monmouthshire Canal | Yes | 5 | Download |
| Hants | Romsey | Mottisfont | Test Way | Yes | 7 | Download |
| Bristol | Sea Mills | Bristol Parkway | Community Forest Way | Yes | 12 | Download |
| Bristol | Sea Mills | Patchway | Community Forest Way | Yes | 10 | Download |
| S Glos | Severn Beach | Chepstow | Severn Bridge | Yes | 10 | Download |
| Wales | Severn Tunnel Junction | Cwmbran | Wentworth Wood | Yes | 18 | Download |
| Bristol | Shirehampton | Clifton Down | Severn Way Bristol Link | Better this way | 5 | Download |
| Bristol | Shirehampton | Sea Mills | Kings Weston & Blaise | Yes | 6 | Download |
| Glos | Stonehouse | Gloucester | Yes | 13 | Download | |
| Glos | Stonehouse | Stroud | Yes | 9 | Download | |
| Glos | Stroud | Cam and Dursley | Yes | 13 | Download | |
| Wales | Taffs Well | Caerphilly | Cardiff Woods | Yes | 6 | Download |
| Wales | Taffs Well | Crosskeys | Cambrian Way | Yes | 13 | Download |
| Somerset | Taunton | Bridgwater | Yes | 13 | Download | |
| Devon | Teignmouth | Torquay | Southwest Coast Path | Yes | 12 | Download |
| Wilts | Tisbury | Salisbury | The Great Ridge | Better this way | 16 | Download |
| Wales | Trefforest | Porth | Pontypridd | Yes | 8 | Download |
| Wales | Trefforest | Ystrad Mynach | Mynydd Eglwysilan | Yes | 8 | Download |
| Wales | Trehafod | Abercynon | Ynysybwl | Yes | 8 | Download |
| Wales | Treorchy | Aberdare | Maerdy Mountain | Yes | 11 | Download |
| Wilts | Trowbridge | Bath Spa | Iford | Yes | 12 | Download |
| Wilts | Trowbridge | Melksham | Broughton Gifford | Yes | 8 | Download |
| Wilts | Warminster | Bath Spa | Dilton Marsh | Yes | 18 | Download |
| Wilts | Warminster | Bradford-on-Avon | Yes | 15 | Download | |
| Wilts | Warminster | Westbury | Wessex Ridgeway | Yes | 7 | Download |
| Wales | Waun-Gron Park | Danescourt | St Fagans Outdoor Museum | Yes | 6 | Download |
| Wilts | Westbury | Freshford | Macmillan Way | Yes (see notes) | 13 | Download |
| Wilts | Westbury | Melksham | Steeple Ashton | Yes (see notes) | 12 | Download |
| Wilts | Westbury | Trowbridge | White horse | Yes | 11 | Download |
| N Somer | Weston Milton | Weston-super-Mare | Better this way | 5 | Download | |
| N Somer | Worle | Yatton | Yes | 7 | Download | |
| Worcs | Worcestershire Parkway | Worcester Foregate St | Severn Way | Better this way | 8 | Download |
| S Glos | Yate | Cam & Dursley | Wickwar, Charfield | Yes | 16 | Download |
| S Glos | Yate | Stapleton Road | Frome Greenway | Yes | 12 | Download |
| N Somer | Yatton | Nailsea & Backwell | Yes | 6 | Download | |
| N Somer | Yatton | Weston-Super-Mare | Pier to Pier Way | Yes | 12 | Download |
| Dorset | Yetminster | Yeovil Pen Mill | Yeovil Junction | Better this way | 8 | Download |
| Wales | Ystrad Mynach | Bargoed | Rhymney Valley | Yes | 8 | Download |
| Wales | Ystrad Rhondda | Cwmbach | Ferndale and mountains | Yes | 9 | Download |
| Wales | Ystrad Rhondda | Mountain Ash | Ferndale and mountains | Yes | 10 | Download |