B3108
B3108 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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From: | Monkton Combe (ST781621) | |||
To: | Bradford-on-Avon (ST826614) | |||
Via: | Winsley | |||
Distance: | 3.7 miles (6 km) | |||
Meets: | A36, A363 | |||
Former Number(s): | B3105 | |||
Primary Destinations | ||||
Highway Authorities | ||||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
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For the original B3108 between two villages to the east, see B3108 (Staverton - Holt).
Route
The B3108 is seen as a short cut from Bath into northern Wiltshire, bypassing the A4 further north. However, for that to work most people leave Bath on either Bathwick or Widcombe Hill, and then descend the fabulous, but quite daunting, Brassknocker Hill. The 'crossroads' at the bottom of the hill is staggered, with the bridge over the former railway line between Brassknocker Hill and the B3108.
We therefore start on the A36 at a set of traffic lights and initially head east, before curving to the south and following the railway, river and canal through the narrow Avon Valley. The road ahead leads to Freshford, but the B3108 turns sharp left, under the railway, over the river and then starts the ascent of Winsley Hill, almost immediately crossing the Canal too.
Winsley Hill is a doddle compared to Brassknocker, climbing steeply, but without hairpins, up the hill to Winsley Village. The village was bypassed in the mid-1990s, with the new road sweeping round the north, the most exciting point being the roundabout at the eastern end. Barely half a mile later we reach Bradford on Avon and soon start descending into the Avon Valley once more, this time surrounded by housing. The road terminates on the A363 above the really narrow and twisty descent through yellow boxes to the town centre.
History
This road was originally unclassified. It gained Class II status in the late 1920s but as part of the B3105. It was not until 1935 that the road became the B3108, after the original B3108 was renumbered.