Sham Castle is a free, 18th-century folly on Claverton Down with one of the best views over Bath, and you can walk there and back from the city centre in under two hours. It costs nothing to visit and doesn't require committing to the full Bath Skyline Walk, which passes it as one stop among many.
What Sham Castle actually is
Despite the name, it was never a real castle. It's a single freestanding screen wall with two turrets, built to look like a fortified building from the front while being completely flat and unadorned from behind, a style of 18th-century landscape ornament known as an "eyecatcher." It was built in 1762 for Ralph Allen, the Bath stone magnate also behind Prior Park, reportedly to improve the view from his townhouse in the city (though some local historians dispute whether that was really the point, and the exact story remains debated). It's a Grade II* listed building and stands in the grounds of Bath Golf Club on Claverton Down, one of three surviving follies visible from Bath, alongside Beckford's Tower and Browne's Folly.
How to get there
The most direct route on foot starts from Bathwick Hill, on the eastern side of the river past Pulteney Bridge. Follow Bathwick Hill up, then pick up North Road or Cleveland Walk (the same route the skyline walk uses at its start) and continue onto the golf course, where Sham Castle stands beside the path. It's a steep climb for the first stretch, then levels out.
| Starting point | Distance | Walking time |
|---|---|---|
| Bath Abbey / city centre | Around 1.5 miles each way | 35-40 minutes each way |
| Bathwick Hill (bus stop) | Around 0.7 miles | 15-20 minutes |
There's no dedicated car park at the folly itself, and it sits within an active golf course, so stick to the marked path and be aware of golfers when you're close to the fairways. Some visitors park on Cleveland Walk or nearby residential streets and walk the last stretch, though parking there is limited and should be treated as informal rather than a guaranteed spot; if you're driving into Bath at all, check our honest guide to Bath parking first.
What you'll see
The main reason to make the walk is the view back over Bath: the Abbey, the curve of the river, and the city's honey-coloured terraces laid out below, with the hills beyond. Because Sham Castle is only a screen wall, there's nothing to go inside, so most visits are short: enough time to take in the view, read the information plaque, and take photos before heading back. It's illuminated at night, so it's also visible (faintly) as a lit point on the hillside if you're looking up from the city after dark, though visiting after dark yourself isn't recommended given the unlit approach paths.
The name itself is worth knowing before you go, since it explains what you're looking at. "Sham" here simply means fake or imitation, and eyecatchers like this were a common device in 18th-century landscape design: a structure built purely to be looked at from a distance, adding drama to a view rather than serving any practical purpose. Once you know that, the flat, unfinished back of the wall makes sense rather than looking like an oversight.
Is it worth the walk?
If you've already done the full skyline walk, you'll have seen Sham Castle already and don't need a separate trip. But if three and a half hours of hills and stiles isn't what you're after, and you just want one really good view of Bath without an entrance fee or a queue, this is the shortest way to get one. It suits an early evening walk particularly well, when the light is better for photos and the golf course is quieter.
Combining it with other things
Sham Castle sits reasonably close to the start of the Bath Skyline Walk, so if you enjoy the walk up and want to keep going, you can continue onto the full route rather than turning back. Alternatively, pair it with a wander through Bathwick and over Pulteney Bridge on the way there or back, since the approach takes you past Sydney Gardens and Great Pulteney Street anyway. It's a good option for a spare late afternoon during a weekend in Bath when the main sights are done and you want a short walk with a payoff.