Author Archives: mikewilberforce

I can’t imagine there are many Bristolians who haven’t – at some stage – paid a visit to the wonderful landscape of Blaise Castle Estate, but there may be a bit more to the area than you realise. Walk Twenty-Three ‘Blaise Castle and Kings Weston Down’ offers a thorough exploration of the main parts ofContinue reading “Legendary giants and a fairytale hamlet”

This lovely stroll should be enough to brighten anyone’s day. Walk Twenty-Six: Portbury Wharf and Portishead Marina contrasts the wetland nature reserve of Portbury Wharf with the modern residential development of Port Marine and Portishead Quays Marina. It’s a winning combination of big skies, water and wildlife with a very smart urban environment. I’m alsoContinue reading “Beyond Bristol: Wetland to marina”

I’m back in action! A walk through St. Paul’s may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there is quite a bit to discover in this area. Walk Twelve: St. Paul’s and St. Werburgh’s goes on a journey through the inner city from the hardest urban parts of St. Paul’s to the leafy quiet ofContinue reading “From City Centre to City Farm”

I’m pleased to announce the arrival of Walk Twenty-Four: Stoke Bishop and Sneyd Park. This walk starts and finishes on the Downs and uncovers spacious, leafy streets; hidden footpaths; and, on the steep sides of the Avon Gorge, two lovely nature reserves and an abandoned woodland garden. The walk is also highly customisable: there areContinue reading “Spacious leafy streets, hidden meadows and woodlands”

Better late than never, it’s time for Walk Three: The Eastern Arc. A walk around Redcliffe, Temple Meads, St. Philip’s and Old Market may not sound like such an appealing prospect but, for anybody who enjoys really urban walks, there is quite a lot to be discovered in this area. Perhaps more than any otherContinue reading “Old and new in east central Bristol”

The time has come for another of my visits to a location beyond the city’s boundaries. Starting in Longwell Green, Walk Twenty-Nine: Willsbridge Mill explores the Willsbridge Valley nature reserve and surrounding area, following the Siston Brook in the direction of Oldland Common. A shorter walk than many in this collection, the walk is idealContinue reading “Beyond Bristol: A walk along the Siston Brook”

The latest walk to be added to the site is Walk Sixteen: Northern Clifton and the Downs. A walk of three parts, the walk starts with a circuit around the grand spaces of Clifton College and Clifton Cathedral. It then branches off into the maze of intriguing little streets around the Blackboy Hill area. TheContinue reading “On the edge of the Downs”

As our private outdoor spaces begin to reopen, it’s finally time to release Walk Eight: Bedminster, Totterdown and Arno’s Vale. I had originally planned to launch the site with this walk, but when Arno’s Vale Cemetery made the understandable decision to close due to COVID-19, I had to put it on hold. The Cemetery isContinue reading “Catching up with South Bristol”