Last weekend while my sister-in-law
was visiting we decided to explore The Two Tunnels Project in Bath, a newly
restored and recently opened Sustrans cycle path following the route of the old
Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway line, which first opened in 1874.
The two tunnels of the name are the short (at 447 yards) Devonshire Tunnel and the longer (at 1829 yards) Combe Down Tunnel, the longest cycling tunnel in Britain, both burrowing their way under the streets and townhouses of Georgian Bath.
We started our journey in Bath's
Linear Park near the first of the two railway tunnels, Devonshire Tunnel.
The route from Linear Park through to Midford village is about 2 ¾ miles and we
walked the whole way there and back, stopping at the Hope and Anchor pub in Midford for a pot of
tea on the way.
The tunnels are very nostalgic; the
walls are still covered with soot from the days of steam trains racing through
and you can't help but look over your shoulder, thinking that the Pines Express
could be haring its way towards you.
With the obvious exception of the tunnels themselves, the whole path is incredibly green and there were hundreds of bluebells, daisies and other wildflowers scattered along the route, along with many other countryside sights to see.
Tucking Mill Reservoir
Midford Castle, a folly once owned by actor Nicolas Cage!
Wonder who lives in this burrow?
It's a shame we don't still have the pre-1960's extensive railway network across the UK but it's excellent that projects like this are being funded to keep the routes open and usable for other transport users.
Tucking Mill Viaduct
One very long and straight railway line
Bathonians - Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams, celebrated dandy Beau Nash (we think) and a Roman centurion.
With the obvious exception of the tunnels themselves, the whole path is incredibly green and there were hundreds of bluebells, daisies and other wildflowers scattered along the route, along with many other countryside sights to see.
The remains of Midford Station
It's a shame we don't still have the pre-1960's extensive railway network across the UK but it's excellent that projects like this are being funded to keep the routes open and usable for other transport users.
The only surreal thing was in the
middle of Combe Down Tunnel, there was strange classical music playing as you
walk past, similar to what you might hear in the Pump Rooms in Bath city
centre. Perhaps it has some significance but it wasn't explained by any notices
and I think playing steam train sounds or lines from "The Slow Train"
by Flanders and Swann (as read by railway enthusiast John Betjeman in his 1963 documentary
about the closure of the Somerset and Dorset rail line) would be altogether
more appropriate.
Anyone else done the Two Tunnels?
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