Take a short drive down the London road, and somewhere just the other side of the A46 is an Iron Age hill fort perched high above Batheaston, with a panoramic view of the River Avon as it snakes its way into the heart of Bath. On a clear day you will be granted an excellent view of Bath all the way from Larkhall to the Abbey, but bear in mind that with the second worst air pollution in Britain a clear day is by no-means certain, the hills which surround the city frequently hold in the warm and misty air for days at a time.

   The Number 13 bus leaves Bath Bus Station 4 times an hour for Batheaston, ask the driver to let you off at the high street stop. Continue walking in the direction of the bus and then turn to the left and follow your nose up past Brow Hill Villa's till you get to Solsbury Lane on your left. If you took the car carry on a little further up the road to find some marked parking spaces opposite the school. Whilst it is possible to drive virtually right up to the fort, the road is the width of a car with no passing places, more importantly its parking prohibited once you reach the top. For those with reduced mobility this may be an option, but will still require a short walk up uneven ground.

   Assuming you chose to walk, look forward to around half an hour of steep climbing. Rather deliciously there is very little view to speak of, that surprise is retained right until you walk to the very edge of the fort. Simply follow Solsbury Lane up until you get the opportunity to turn right, take that and you will find yourself at the base of Little Solsbury common. Enjoy the view for as long as you like, because there isn't so much as an ice cream waiting up there for you. Chances are you won't be alone, surrounded by dog walkers, families, rabbits, and if your lucky, some locals. The exposed location will always catch a strong breeze, and with a lack of overhead powerlines makes an excellent location for kite flying.

    Personal Experience:For a quiet afternoon walk in the country my last visit to Solsbury Hill was quite exciting. One of the inhabitants of the scary house. Was seen playing golf on the road. The only real semblance to the mindless game was his use of what was once a 5 iron to smack small lumps of rock up and down the road. Pausing briefly upon my approach he continued his game, managing to take his swing and pass a menacing glance at the same time. This yokal chap was later seen poking a bin of road grit with his favoritete club... unsure what was being achieved I walked swiftly on. At this juncture its worth noting that the Avon and Somerset Police helicopter was buzzing the area for the entire duration of my visit, this was I think an unrelated fact.

   The return journey down the hill yielded no less drama, half way down the road two men were trying to push a broken down car up the hill. I dutifully joined in, despite the obvious fact that it requires much less effort to push a 1 ton car down a slope. An eventual solution was found in the form of turning off the engine immobiliser. Whereupon my belief in the legendary reliability of Nissan's was restored.

   Little Solsbury Hill Fort is an easy afternoon's excursion for any able bodied person. A healthy climb, takes you to a stunning panorama, and a sizable patch of National Trust open ground. Surrounded as it is by a very steep drop on all sides. Timed properly, you could give yourself a stunning sunrise or sunset, but come prepared and bring your own streetlighting. A handy plaque provides all the information most tourists require when adding commentary to holiday snaps.