Brunel's Railway Tunnel at Box

The large village of Box falls within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Above the Bybrook River, golden stone houses run along the hillside with beautiful valley views. In the 18th Century, local stone from Box was used to build the magnificent buildings of Bath. However it was the arrival of the legendary Isambard Kingdom Brunel that put the village on the map. In 1836 the pioneering Victorian engineer was contracted to build the Great Western Railway line which prompted the famed tunnel to be carved out of the hillside. The tunnel, with other features of the railway line, has been nominated for consideration of becoming a World Heritage Site.

This circular 1.25 mile Trail starts by the waterside and climbs the High Street to see the dramatic western portal of Box Railway Tunnel. Follow treasure hunt style clues around the old Market Place and on the way pick up interesting snippets about village associations with engineering, literature and exploration.

At the beginning or end of your Trail you can picnic on the slopes of the open recreation area where there’s also a playground. Alternatively stop at Little Box Cafe on the way up to the tunnel or at either of the two pubs (The Queen’s Head and The Bear) towards the end of the Trail. Parking is free near Box Library (SN13 8NT) but there are no public toilets in the village.

The route of this Trail is suitable for robust pushchairs but regrettably, due to some uneven ground and steep inclines, it is not suitable for wheelchairs.