Photo: Fallow Deer in Clarken Coombe

Links

Most of the links on this page are external sites and will open a new window. The small thumbnails photo's also open new windows to larger photos on the Bristol jpg photo gallery site.

History

Bristol Council: Ashton Court: A Brief History.
About Bristol: Ashton Court.

Neighbours

Leigh Woods the Avon Gorge, Brunel's bridge across the Avon Gorge and Bristol Docks are all close neighbours and may be worth a visit too:-

Clifton Suspension Bridge

The Suspension Bridge crosses the Avon Gorge joining Clifton and Leigh Woods. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel but only opened in 1864 after his death.

Reach it from the Estate's Clifton Lodge entrance on the A369. From there cross the A369 and Bridge Road leads directly to it. Its a toll bridge, 50p per crossing now but free by foot or cycle.

Free guided tours through out the Summer months at 3:00pm on Sundays.

Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Leigh Woods

Leigh Woods are a large wooded area just to the North of Ashton Court Estate and Leigh Woods Village in North Somerset.

North end of Leigh Woods, view upstream of the River Avon View from the north end of Leigh Woods looking South towards the Avon Gorge. The photo I think was taken on the Grotto path.

Note that this hill side path was blocked by fallen trees after reaching the Grotto when I last walked there in July 2006. If you have been there since then and the path was open, please contact me and I will remove this note. All other paths I saw were well maintained and in good condition.

The woods are National Trust owned woodland. Two of the longer paths in the northern part run down to the old Avon Tow Path, with earth works from an Iron Age Village, Stoke Leigh at the woods Southern end.

Leigh Woods were part of Leigh Court Estate. With the old Leigh Court Mansion (built in 1814) now a conference centre at the North end of Leigh Woods. In the early 19th Century I imagine there was some competition between it and the Ashton Court Estate.

Perhaps that is still true today as Ashton Court Mansion too, is now run as a similiar facility.

Forestry Commission: Leigh Woods.

The Avon Gorge

The Avon Tow Path running through the Avon Gorge now forms a part of the Avon Trail. Its also a well used cycle route, during weekends in Summer it can get busy!

There is no immediate parking close to its start so I recommend parking near the Create Environmental Centre. Create Centre Street Map.

Cross the river either on the busy dual carriageway (the Avon Bridge) which is shown on the map. Or cross on the rusty iron foot and cycle path (the Ashton Bridge) not shown on the map and about 150m upstream. After crossing the river your in Greville Smyth park, turn right here and keep to the riverside path, walking towards the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

River Avon Trail.
Avon Gorge.

Bristol Docks Walk

If you park at or near the Create Centre (see map link above). You are at the start of circular walk (with a very small and reasonably priced ferry trip) round the western end of Bristol Docks too.

Bristol Docks Walk.