Historic and parks in

Walk information Distance: approx 1.2 miles Difficulty: easy, surfaced paths for pushchairs, with lots of benches in the parks. Herbert Gardens is level for wheelchairs, but only the formal garden section of Alexandra Road Copse would be suitable Duration: about 45 minutes, with additional time to explore the parks and shops Public toilets: opposite the pier in Pier Copse

How to get there Step back in time, smell the sea air, and visit Start at map ref: ST403718 (OS Explorer 153) unique shops in this accessible, urban walk around Car: the walk starts at Clevedon Pier. Free car parking along the historic Clevedon (courtesy of Clevedon Civic Society). promenade

egin the walk in front of Clevedon Cross the road and walk up Alexandra Just after the fountain, turn left into Pier BPier, the only remaining Grade I Road. A pretty Doulton drinking Copse and immediately left again to listed pier in the country. The pier, fountain can be seen on your left-hand follow the path around the ladies toilet tollhouse and Royal Pier Hotel date side. This Grade II listed fountain was block, and up a few steps to a look-out from 1869. The Victorians packaged erected in 1895 and then restored in area. The seating was renovated here Clevedon as a fishing village but it was 1992. in 2010 as part of Clevedon Civic largely a farming community. Society’s 40th anniversary.

14 North Life August 2012 Start and finish

From here you can enjoy At the bottom of the gardens, turn left Clevedon Civic Society: i good views of the beach onto Alexandra Road, then cross over www.clevedon-civic-society.org.uk and pier. If you want to Six Ways roundabout into Linden Road. avoid the steps, you can Turn left into Herbert Road and after just take the path to the Clevedon’s historic pier will soon about 50 metres go through a five-bar benefit from a programme of repairs right when you enter the gate on the right-hand side into copse. and maintenance after North Herbert Gardens. Somerset Council’s executive members From the look-out point, walk Follow the path anti-clockwise around agreed to contribute to essential work. though the copse on the the park, which is popular with The Grade I listed pier and toll house footpath until you reach dog walkers. There are also Copse Road. is owned by the council and leased to lots of benches to rest your Clevedon Pier Trust and at a meeting Turn left and walk up the feet. in June executive council members hill to the junction with Leave the park at the top agreed to allocate £657,601 for Hill Road. Turn right onto entrance and turn right onto maintenance. Hill Road, where you will Herbert Road opposite a Clevedon Pier: 01275 878 846 find a host of individual fine terrace of houses. Turn i www.clevedonpier.com shops, cafés and bars, then left at the junction with Hill turn right again at the Road and walk along entrance into Alexandra here, past the boutiques Gardens. and cafés again. Cross the Pier Copse and Alexandra road at The Cellar bar and Gardens are the remains of an ancient continue down Marine Hill. copse of trees called The Ripple, which Keep to the left-hand pavement was bounded roughly by the sea, Hill next to The Convent and Road, Bellevue Road and Elton Road. then take the footpath These parks, within Clevedon down the hill past Conservation Area, were given to the Marine Hill Copse. town by the Elton family. When the footpath Walk down the path through the comes into Marine wooded area until you reach the Parade, turn left formal garden area. In the middle is a and return to the rose gazebo dedicated to Lady pier and your Margaret Elton, who was president of starting point. Clevedon Civic Society from 1977 to 1995.

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