When 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…

Autumn trees at Westonbirt
Image - Westonbirt The National Arboretum

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
Blaise Castle folly
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.

Clifton Paul Box
Image - Clifton, Bristol 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.

Child cycling in Liegh Woods
Image - Leigh Woods, credit Paul Box

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.

Aerial view of Ashton Court Estate
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.

St Georges Park
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.

Arnos Vale Cemetery
Image - Arnos Vale Cemetery, credit Paul Box

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.

Troopers Hill
Image - Trooper's Hill, credit Paul Box

Westonbirt The National 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.

Mother and child walking through autumn trees
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. 

Tyntesfield chris watts
Image - Tyntesfield, credit Chris Watts

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.

Bear Wood at Wild Place Project
Image - Bear Wood at Bristol Zoo Project

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Related

The Downs
Municipal Park
The Downs Bristol

Consisting of Clifton Down and Durdham Down, this is a huge area of protected parkland on the edge of the city

Ashton Court Estate
Garden
Ashton Court Estate Bristol

Historic 850-acre parkland with mansion, two pitch-and-putt golf courses, deer park, miniature railway, orienteering and nature trails

Queen Square
Municipal Park
Queen Square - Copyright Destination Bristol

A magnificent Georgian park area in the heart of Bristol, surrounded by trees and cobbled streets.

Cabot Tower and Brandon Hill
Garden
Cabot Tower and Brandon Hill Bristol

Cabot Tower is a century-old 105ft tower, set in the gorgeous parkland of Brandon Hill near Park Street in the West End.

Oldbury Court and Snuff Mills
Parkland/Woodland Garden
Walking along the river Frome - Oldbury Court and Snuff Mills Bristol

Enjoy a great family day out with woodland and riverside walks, an arboretum and large children's playground.

Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust
Cemetery/Mausoleum
Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust

Step into a secret world and discover 45 green acres where the history of Bristol is told in a leafy and tranquil setting.

Troopers Hill Nature Reserve
Country Park/Nature Reserve
Troopers Hill Nature Reserve (c) Visit Bristol

An award-winning local nature reserve and former mine in east Bristol that overlooks the River Avon.

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Country Park/Nature Reserve
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum managed by Forestry England, is a remarkable place for people to enjoy and learn about trees.

Tyntesfield
Historic House/Palace
Tyntesfield

An ornate Victorian Gothic Revival house with extensive garden and parkland, just a stone's throw from Bristol

Bristol Zoo Project
Country Park/Nature Reserve
Giraffes at Bristol Zoo Project

Discover a world of animal adventures – right on your doorstep! Bristol Zoo Project is the perfect family day out, with 50 acres to explore. Say ‘hello’ to bears, giraffes, zebras, gelada ‘baboons’, cheetahs, meerkats and ring-tailed lemurs, among many others.