A landowner has raised the alarm after witnessing multiple dangerous incidents at Warleigh Weir, one of England’s most popular swimming spots near Bath, warning that it’s only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt or worse.
Warleigh Weir attracts tens of thousands of visitors each summer, many accessing the site via a public footpath that crosses an active Great Western Main Line railway with trains hurtling past at speeds reaching 90mph. The crossing lacks barriers or a bridge, relying solely on flashing warning lights—warnings an increasing number of visitors are ignoring.
Johnny Palmer, a Bristol-based entrepreneur and activist who owns the nearby island at Claverton, has formally urged Bath & North East Somerset Council, Network Rail, and highway authorities to take swift action. In just one week in June 2026 alone, three separate eyewitnesses reported alarming incidents of unsafe behaviour on the railway line.
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Regular visitor Rob W intervened on June 14 when a family began posing for photos directly on the tracks. “Trains pass at around 70mph here; they can’t stop in time. It’s not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’,” he said, even considering a citizen’s arrest. Just five days later, Sarah W witnessed two groups using the tracks for photography on the same afternoon, with one group moving beyond camera surveillance to get their shots.
Johnny Palmer expresses grave concern: “I’ve watched people lie down on a 90mph mainline railway to take selfies. The next one might not survive.” The situation escalated further on June 20 when Manjir Shah saw a family drop shopping bags onto the tracks without noticing. A bystander risked safety by sprinting onto the active railway to retrieve the bags before a train came, narrowly avoiding a potential derailment. Shah said she will never return.
Palmer stresses, “People left items on a 90mph railway and walked away. We were lucky this time, but luck won’t always be on our side.” This dangerous trend is not new. Network Rail recorded five near-misses at the Claverton level crossing within five weeks during summer 2017, prompting a safety warning but no significant improvements.
Beyond the railway crossing, access to Warleigh Weir is fraught with hazards. Ferry Lane, the single-track country road serving as the main route, becomes dangerously congested during peak season. Palmer reports numerous crashes and pedestrians trapped between moving vehicles and narrow stone walls. “Ferry Lane feels like a city centre street in summer, but it isn’t built for that kind of footfall,” he says.
Additionally, visitors crossing the busy A36 trunk road to reach the site risk serious injury. “People in flip-flops carrying picnic bags are crossing a fast road. It’s a miracle no one’s been hurt yet.”
The situation is compounded by repeated police call-outs for violent and antisocial behaviour at the site. In response, Palmer has formally requested the council to extinguish the public right of way across his land under the Highways Act 1980, citing Section 118A, which allows closure of footpaths crossing active railways when safety cannot be reasonably assured.
Palmer is actively engaging with Network Rail and intends to fund a managed access system himself. This system would require all visitors to undergo a safety induction addressing railway hazards before crossing is permitted.
Despite multiple letters, photographs, and witness statements sent to authorities, Palmer feels responses have been inadequate. “The council argues the footpath stays open because it’s heavily used. That misses the point. It’s heavily used—that’s why it has to close.”
With a blunt warning, he says, “I’ve been warning for years, and I fear tragedy is imminent. If the authorities continue to ignore the danger, I will go public. If someone dies, everyone will know exactly who was warned and when.”
Interestingly, Palmer’s nearby wood-fired sauna has fostered a respectful, safety-conscious community of outdoor swim and wellness enthusiasts. Sauna visitors book in advance, receive safety briefings, and treat the environment with care, helping to moderate behaviour in the area.
“The sauna has transformed the island’s atmosphere,” Palmer notes. “These guests get it. The challenge lies with the uncontrolled day visitors who put themselves and others at risk.”