Moving to bath:how far out of bath is walkable?

Hello bath mummys (and daddys?) We are seriously thinking about a move to bath. Husband does not want to live in any town or city(that is why we are leaving London) So living in a built up area of Bath is a no no. We have sort of driven around Bath a couple of times checking it out, but got snarled up in the serous traffic, got flashed with a camera(still don't know why) etc etc
What I would like your expert advice on, is where around Bath is a place to live that is villagey/rural but is still walkable (maybe 30+mins in), allowing for hills etc. Or do i really have my head in the clouds on this one. I have really been put off by the traffic
We would be looking to by a detached house somewhere quiet. I would need to work in Bath 2 or 3 times per week and we would need to be near a good school (kids 3 and 6).
thanks in advance, sorry for waffling!

Depends how rural you want....not much as far as am aware within walking distance however there are some nice smaller communities around. We live in Bear Flat (Poets Corner) which is up the hill behind the railway station - there is a lovely park and collection of shops & pub so it does not feel like you are in the centre but it's only a short walk in (slightly longer on the way up). Combe down is also nice and has a similar small centre but that is a much further walk so depends on how far you like to walk!

Thanks for your reply Liz, well I have to say i don't like walking all that much.I am just so put off by the traffic. Do you know anything about areas such as Monkton Combe or Bathampton. Do they feel cut off from Bath or are they just a suburb of Bath. Is the traffic of Bath really as bad as they say. Thanks for listening!

Monkton Combe is lovely but tiny and a long long walk into town. Many of people who live there are connected to the school. Bathampton is a nice walk along the canal to town and I suspect better public transport although I haven't tried personally.

We live in lower swainswick which is on the old A46 near Alice park. Really close to larkhall which is also lovely. Feels like you're not in a city but close enough to do a daily walk in. Schools are brilliant (St Saviours infants & juniors) and the much smaller swainswick school. Brilliant access to the motorway, I can't think of anywhere I'd rather live!

Hi Bathampton and Monkton are both a bit of a trek into town but there are bus services too. Larkhall as Bailbrook Mum says is a nice little centre with some shops and nice parks/schools/houses. Bath is unfortunately a town that was built long before the invention of cars so it does get a bit snarled at times especially in the tourist/rugby season but then those things are partly what make bath a lovely place to live in as the are all the facilities of a city but it doesn't really feel like a big city. We've found that by living close enough to walk that we, for the most part, don't notice the traffic and its been great for me with my 6m old to be able to just walk out get a few things or go to some classes without driving. Been getting a bit wet though of late!! Depending on your budget you may also find it a challenge to get a detached house close to town as alot of the property, especially period, are terraced. Happy to have a proper chat about locations etc if you would like? I've lived here since 2004 and hubby since 1998 so we know the areas reasonably well. just not about schools yet as this is our first little one

Definitely agree with LizP about the housing. If you're after detached you will struggle nearer the city centre. Near Alice Park there are quite a lot nice detached houses around with a bit more land (it's not quite so built up), the only problem is that once people move into them they don't tend to move out of them (us included - my husband grew up in the house we live in), so they are few and far between on the market, and also very expensive.
Buses from places like Batheaston are very good and go straight up the london road, I think the schools out that way are also very good, but it is not an easy walk into town from there unfortunately. You would be more likely to find the kind of house you're looking for further out!

Thanks for all your lovely replies. Realistically we are looking for something absolutely max 700k so probably limiting? Yes we would like something rural, tucked out of the way and a big garden and a big shed for all our(husbands)junk. I am going to look into the areas you have mentioned. Fortunately we can take our time to find the right house in the right place, but so want to get it right 1st time as I don' t want to have to move again. I am considering for secondary schooling, independent sector so again, really worried about sitting in heavy school traffic in the morning(or do they go in by themselves at this age?boy I am out of touch!) I am so grateful for your input as this my only source of info, true bathonions!

I have to admit I thought I was reading "Bath Onions" thought they were a food speciality like bath buns.......then the penny dropped! Dim moment.

Bathampton is definitely do able! I live in Bathwick which is a lovely area but it can feel busy so we often walk down the canal to Bathampton! It is not a long walk and is all flat so very easy! It has 2 great pubs and loads of walks! The school is good as is the Bathwick one as soon as you hit Bath!

Sarah

South Stoke is where we live...it's a perfect looking village just 2 miles from Bath City centre and a few fields away from a bus stop. There are also lots of houses for sale in the village at present.

Bath traffic is pretty bad in the mornings because of the river and its lack of bridges. You really need to live on the side of Bath where your children go to school and where you work.

We have recently moved to Bathford for similar reasons. Bathford is on the edge of Bath so you can access it easily from the motorway without getting stuck in the nightmare traffic, busses run regularly into HR city centre from 6am until midnight and it's surrounded by beautiful countryside. It has a fantastic school and community and really is a quaint little village on Bath's doorstep. We often walk into Bath along the canal and it takes around 30 mins.