4 min readWhen the landscapes of Britain are starting to change colour, golden leaves spatter the ground and there’s an official whiff of autumn in the air, there’s nothing quite like heading outdoors to experience this magical time of year.
We’ve put together a guide to some of the best places for an autumnal walk in and around Bristol…
Blaise Castle House Museum & Estate
Set in 650 acres of parkland, with a ginormous children’s play area, museum and 19th century manor house, the Blaise Castle Estate is perfect for families. Stroll up to the folly castle before sauntering back down to a babbling stream and leaf-strewn woodland floor, past tree-heavy views of Bristol. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for signs of the Bristol Giants…
Image - Blaise Castle
The Downs
A vast green area of Bristol, whose edges are tinged with magnificent houses, Avon Gorge views and trees. From the ‘Sea Walls’ end, gaze left over the autumnal hues of forested cliffsides towards the Clifton Suspension Bridge or right towards the Severn Estuary. Go bonkers for conkers on Saville Road or kick leaves to your heart’s content on Clifton Down’s beech tree-lined avenue.
Image - Clifton Down, credit Paul Box
Leigh Woods
Hop over Clifton Suspension Bridge and go adventuring in Leigh Woods. There’s a woodland play area for kids and the views over the Avon Gorge from this side aren't half bad either.
Image - The view from Leigh Woods
Ashton Court Estate
Walk, run, cycle or ride – however you choose to get around Ashton Court Estate, there are picture-perfect autumnal scenes a-plenty to bowl you over. Deer wander the grounds, wide open spaces gaze back over the city’s pretty rows of houses and famous Cabot Tower, while woodland paths duck into gleaming orange and russet-coloured foliage criss-crossed by mountain bike trails.
A real draw is the large number of unusual tree species on the estate, including a 700-year-old Domesday Oak and Ginkgo, which changes to a vibrant yellow in autumn.
Image - Ashton Court Estate, credit Jon Chamberlain
Bristol's parks and gardens
Bristol is home to over 400 parks and gardens, so there’s plenty of places to go for a satisfying leaf-crunching stroll. Amble along the Harbourside on a magical misty morning to the conker-laden trees of Queen Square. Or rustle up Brandon Hill’s pathways to the top of Cabot Tower to witness the city’s autumnal makeover all the way out to the Mendip Hills.
Catch falling leaves in Clifton’s pretty Victoria Square or scuff up the auburn undergrowth in Snuff Mills and Oldbury Court Estate. St George’s Park with a lake at its heart, is particularly lovely come autumn when the park’s hundreds of trees are ablaze with the season’s shades – another good one for eager conker hunters.
Image - St George's Park Bristol, credit Paul Box
Arnos Vale Cemetery
A hefty 45 acres of Bristol’s landscape, full of fascinating nature trails, this Victorian garden cemetery has been described as ‘one of Bristol’s best kept secrets’. In autumn, historic monuments and memorials are backlit by trees of luminous yellows and oranges.
Image - Arnos Vale Cemetery
Trooper’s Hill
Years of quarrying have shaped Trooper’s Hill, now a local nature reserve thriving with heather and broom, wild plants and animals. Climb up to the listed chimney for panoramic views across Bristol and the River Avon as autumn creeps into the city.
Image - Trooper's Hill
Westonbirt Arboretum
A frequent star on ‘Best autumn walks in the UK’ shortlists, Westonbirt conjures breath-takingly photogenic autumnal scenes at every twist and turn. From the glowing red Japanese maples, to the blazing yellows of the black walnuts, it’s a stunning autumnal spectacle, especially on a blue sky day.
Image - Westonbirt The National Arboretum
Tyntesfield
Explore autumn’s colourful glory at Tyntesfield, a Victorian Gothic Mansion surrounded by 540 acres of woodland, gardens, meadows and parkland. Discover ancient Champion trees on a guided walk, and marvel at the ready-to-harvest kitchen garden.
Image - Tyntesfield, credit John Millar
Bristol Zoo Project
With over 50 acres of outdoor space to explore, multiple play areas and animals from across the globe, Bristol Zoo Project is a scenic and fun destination for an autumn stroll. Kids can run wild in the Fun Fort, Congo Bongo and Barefoot Trail, in between exploring areas such as Bear Wood, a raised walkway for watching bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines roaming below.
Image - Bear Wood at Bristol Zoo Project
Read more:
