Author Archives: mikewilberforce

A walk around the old village centre of Westbury-on-Trym is always a winner for me at any time of year. In the quiet streets behind the High Street, you can transport yourself to imagined rural idylls as the river trickles gently past the cottages. The heart of the village is criss-crossed by old lanes andContinue reading “The village and valley of the River Trym”

Even with an old draft to work from, this was a hefty guide to put together! Walk Four: The Northern Edge explores the many ups and downs, steps, terraces and squares of the steep escarpment that lies just to the north of Bristol City Centre. The route explores the Georgian development of St. James’, St.Continue reading “Central Bristol’s historic northern escarpment”

From one end of the Avon Valley to the other… following last week’s publication of the Crew’s Hole walk, tonight I am turning my attention to the more famous Avon Gorge. Walk Twenty-Five: Ashton Court, Leigh Woods and the Avon Gorge is a ‘primer’ for three major spaces that lie just to the west ofContinue reading “Parks and spaces of the Avon Gorge”

Tonight I’m glad to be able to share another of my very favourite Bristol walks with you. Walk Nineteen: Crew’s Hole, Conham and St. George sheds light on the myriad secret footpaths and lanes that traverse the north side of the beautiful Avon Valley in east Bristol. I only discovered the area ten or soContinue reading “Secret ways of the Avon Valley”

We have missed the coast badly during the COVID-19 lockdown, so once restrictions started to be eased we were keen to get back out there as soon as we could. As an antidote to all of our urban walking, Severn Beach has long been a favourite spot of ours for a total change of scene.Continue reading “Beyond Bristol: Severn Beach”

It may not exactly be a ‘hidden corner of Bristol’, but no Bristol walks project would be complete without a chance to see the main tourist sights of Clifton. Walk Five: Introduction to Clifton is a walk full of historic interest that combines the big-hitting tourist sights of the area with a few of itsContinue reading “Clifton calling…”

I’ve published a couple of walks lately that are heavy on open spaces, so it seemed like the right time to do something more urban. If you enjoy middle-class Victorian townscapes, Walk Fourteen: Cotham and Redland is the walk for you. It explores two north Bristol neighbourhoods full of characterful houses and tree-lined streets. WhatContinue reading “Time for a street walk”

I have been making use of the half term break to get some writing done, and I am pleased to be able to share yet another walk with you! Walk Twenty-One: Stoke Park and Purdown is one of the greenest walks in my project, as it is set almost entirely within the open spaces ofContinue reading “A rolling landscape overlooking east Bristol”

On a beautiful bank holiday Monday I’m pleased to be able to share my next walk with you. Walk Nine: Knowle, Windmill Hill and the Northern Slopes lifts the lid on some beautiful and little-known wild spaces on the slopes between Bedminster and Knowle West. As well as being great for wildlife, the Northern SlopesContinue reading “Time for the Northern Slopes to shine”