Top 10 Places to Walk in Bristol
As the weather turns warmer and the sunshine (finally!) starts emerging after a long British winter, many of us plan to get out and about more. Whether you love people-watching at bustling city landmarks or exploring quiet nature reserves, this list of the best walking destinations in Bristol has something for everyone to enjoy.
If you’re new to the whole walking thing, rest assured - these walks are all suitable for beginners, or those who simply prefer a gentle plod to a hardcore hike!
Harbourside loop
The Harbourside. Photo by Sarah Edwards (used with permission).
Facilities: Public toilets and plenty of cafés, pubs, and ice cream parlours along the way!
Accessibility: Pavements and mostly flat walking, but there are steps by the marina.
The Harbourside is an iconic, picturesque Bristol walking area. Along the route, you can stop off to explore the city’s famous features, like the SS Great Britain or the M-Shed museum. It makes a perfect spot for people-watching too, whether you want to sip coffee in a busy independent café or take in the tranquility of lone paddleboarders.
2. Ashton Court estate
Stag at Ashton Court. Photo by Sarah Edwards (used with permission).
Facilities: Multiple car parks with minimal fee, toilets, café, picnic areas.
Accessibility: Paved routes are available but often quite hilly. The courtyard where the toilets and café are located is cobbled.
If you’re unsure where to start with Bristol walks, Ashton Court is a destination that has it all! From gorgeous landscaped gardens to huge swathes of parkland and woodland, the walking routes to explore are seemingly endless. There are also two deer parks with both Red and Fallow Deer, so keep an eye out for the herds!
3. The Downs (feat. Suspension Bridge and Observatory)
Suspension Bridge. Photo by Ferenc Almasi on Unsplash
Facilities: Public toilets, cafés by the Water Tower and Clifton Observatory.
Accessibility: Paved, flat routes with benches. Find out more.
The Downs is an ideal place for walking because you can choose a route that suits you, be that a short loop or extended march (you can even link it to the Harbourside loop via Hotwell Road if you’re feeling especially high on stamina!) Why not incorporate the Bristol icon that is the Suspension Bridge into your walk, or admire the views at the Clifton Observatory?
4. Leigh Woods
Facilities: Car park and picnic area. Note there are no public toilets, so beware if you’re shy about having a nature wee!
Accessibility: There is an all-ability route called ‘The Purple Trail’ that avoids steep slopes and has level paths, accessible for wheelchair users and pushchairs.
For somewhere so close to the city, Leigh Woods feels miles away from the everyday hustle and bustle of Bristol life. Enjoy wandering the woodland trails, with waymarked routes, a network of ponds and streams, and plenty of viewpoints and picnic areas to help you make the most of a day out.
5. Abbots Pool
Facilities: Free car park and picnic area. No public toilets.
Accessibility: Pathways are a mixture of paved and non-paved, and can be hilly.
Abbots Pool is very near Leigh Woods, so it’s easy to join them together. This nature reserve is ideal for wildlife watchers, or those looking for a shorter, tranquil amble. If wild swimming is on your mind, though, a word of warning - swimming is not allowed in the lake, so stay on land and enjoy it from a distance.
6. Blaise Castle estate
Blaise Castle. Photo by Ryan Searle on Unsplash.
Facilities: Car park with overflow in busy periods, café, toilets, museum, large children’s playground, and a seemingly ever-present ice cream van!
Accessibility: Accessible walking route available to download. Find out more about the museum accessibility here.
Blaise Castle is a huge estate with plenty on offer for walkers, including riverside walks, extensive paths through fields and woodland, and of course the castle itself (which is really a folly - sorry to disappoint!) A favourite route of mine is the 2-in-1 walk from Blaise Castle to Kings Weston House, so you can take in both spectacular sites in one go.
7. Golden Valley Nature Reserve
Facilities: There is no designated car park so parking is very limited.
Accessibility: The lower part of the reserve is fully accessible for wheelchair users and pushchairs (follow the Red Ochre Trail).
The Golden Valley Nature Reserve is located in Wick, making it the perfect destination if you live outside of the city centre or want to explore further afield. This former quarry turned nature reserve features walking trails through woodland and grassland, as well as extended routes into the wider South Gloucestershire countryside.
8. Tyntesfield (National Trust)
Tyntesfield Orangery. Photo by Florence Edwards.
Facilities: Car park, toilets, café, gift shop, picnic areas.
Accessibility: Gravel paths that can be steep, but there is a mobility shuttle operating.
Tyntesfield is a lovely place to explore if you’re a National Trust member, or willing to pay the entry fee on a special occasion. It boasts the stunning house and pretty gardens that you’d expect from a National Trust estate - the kitchen garden and orangery are especially worth checking out - alongside a range of walks through the surrounding woods and parkland.
9. Conham River
Facilities: Small car park, toilets, picnic area.
Accessibility: Accessible pathways at the Conham River Park area.
In case you haven’t noticed, river walks are something of a Bristol speciality! Conham River Park forms part of the River Avon trail, so you can extend it as far as you’re willing to walk. Don’t forget to stop off for refreshments in one of the many pubs nearby, or pay a visit to the lovely Beese’s Tea Rooms.
10. Oldbury Court
Facilities: Car park, toilets, café, children’s playground.
Accessibility: Wide surfaced paths are available throughout the estate. Find out more.
If you’re looking for a gentle woodland stroll by the river, Oldbury Court is just the ticket. The walking route is not particularly long, but take your time and enjoy the abundance of wildlife - this is the place where I spotted my first kingfisher!
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Written by Florence Edwards