Walk Instructions
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EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK ‘FROM BRYCGSTOW TO BRISTOL IN 45 BRIDGES’ COPYRIGHT: JEFF LUCAS / BRISTOL BOOKS 2019 WALK INSTRUCTIONS These instructions are to guide you from bridge to bridge, and they begin and takes you through some delightful and varied scenery. I urge you not where it seems most appropriate to start the walk — at Bristol’s first to miss this out! The section from Avonmouth Bridge to Clifton takes bridge. They are not intended to be a guided tour of the whole city, but you over some rough ground and parts of it it can be very muddy in wet some items of significant interest that you pass along the way are pointed weather. Sensible shoes are a must. out. The walk is circular, so you could choose your own preferred starting Much use is made in these instructions of compass directions, so it (and finishing) point if this would be more convenient. Many people will is a good idea to take a compass/GPS. And just to be clear, “Downstream” be tempted to omit the long Clifton–Avonmouth–Clifton “loop” along = same direction as flow of river, “Upstream” = opposite direction to flow the course of the Avon, but this section of the walk is richly rewarding of river. The walk begins at Castle Green. Before you start, Harbour being drained of water in the event of a take a look at the ruined St Peters Church. Note 7. Cross Valentine’s Bridge, then immediately bomb hitting the lock gates. how (in the absence of other buildings) it gives an turn right and continue along Glass Wharf to excellent all round view of the environs. It is likely Meads Reach Bridge (6). 12. At the time of going to press, both Brock’s that the Saxons made a settlement here and thus You will pass a pair of tall grey funnel shaped Bridge and St Philip’s footbridge are not open began Bristol. Now make your way down to the objects next to the water — this is an artwork called to the public, pending further development southwest corner of the park, to Bridge Street. “The Freetank” by Roger Hiorns and refers to the on Temple Island. For the time being divert glassmaking history of this area. accordingly to reach Temple Meads Relief Line 1. From Bridge Street cross Bristol Bridge Bridge. (1) to Victoria Street 8. Cross Meads Reach Bridge and continue On your way across, upstream on your left you see straight on towards the train sheds of Temple 13. Cross Brock’s Bridge, turn left. After 200m one of Bristol’s newest bridges, Castle Bridge. This Meads station in front of you. In 200m when you you arrive at St Philip’s Footbridge (10). Cross will be the last bridge you cross if you do the whole reach the street called “Friary”, turn left and walk the bridge and turn right along the riverside path walk. Until the Second World War Victoria Street up a ramp towards Temple Meads station. until you reach the Temple Meads Relief Line was Bristol’s main shopping street. Just ahead on You pass across the open end of a car park in Sir Bridge (11). Take the stairs to your right and the right is the enormous grey bulk of the Robinson Matthew Digby Wyatt’s extension (1871–8) to cross over the bridge. Building (1963), Bristol’s first high–rise office Brunel’s original train shed (1839–41) which is block, followed by a small row of gabled houses on the other side of the timber partition wall at the 14. Walk uphill to Bath Road. Turn left onto Bath dating from 1675 (the date of 1485 on the wall far end. Road (note the fine early 19th century signpost refers to a previous building). You will pass some called the Three Lamps) and follow it towards fine restored Victorian buildings on your left. 9. Enter the station through the door with the Bath. sign ‘Booking Offices’ above, then immediately After about 200m, on the right you pass the 2. Walk along Victoria Street for 150m and leave through the main doors on the right. Walk Thunderbolt Pub with the spiky barge boards, a turn left into Counterslip. Follow Counterslip down Station Approach to Temple Gate. Grade 11 Listed Victorian pub formerly called the and cross St Philip’s Bridge (2) on the left The glass canopies of the station front Wyatt’s Turnpike, named after the Totterdown Turnpike pavement. 1870’s building in reddish stonework. Brunel’s gate (long demolished), located near where As you cross the bridge you see Temple Bridge original station building, in light grey stonework, travellers entering the city along this road had upstream on your right, and behind it, Valentine’s is on your right, after the opening with “Passenger to pay a fee. A few metres further on that side is Bridge. Shed” above it. On the other side of the carpark is Summer Street, which gives an interesting view up the handsome Jacobean–style former headquarters to Holy Nativity Church (1883, rebuilt 1958) with 3. Immediately after St Philip’s Bridge take the of the Bristol and Exeter Railway (1852–4) its distinctive green copper spire. stairs to your left down to the waterside and walk designed by S C Fripp. On the left you pass Totterdown Bridge which towards Castle Park for 200m until you arrive at you cross later. 50m further on, opposite the bus Castle Ditch Bridge (3). 10. Cross Temple Gate at the traffic lights, stop, is a fine Victorian Italianate tenement building, From here you now have a good view of Castle turn left and follow it to Bath Bridges — East and following that is a long handsome Victorian Bridge a little way downstream. and West (7) (8). Cross western Bath Bridge terrace row with attractive stone decoration on the (newer, uninteresting), then follow the loop triple height bay windows. 4. Cross Castle Ditch Bridge then turn right. of the roundabout back and cross eastern Bath Follow the path till you reach Queen Street, turn Bridge (older, interesting). 15. Leave Bath Road by veering left and enter right and follow it to Passage Street. Turn left From the bridge, looking east, you can see Temple The Paintworks, “Bristol’s Creative Quarter”. onto Passage Street (which becomes Narrow Meads station and the major railway bridge that In 200m turn left at a big colourful 3D sign with Plain) and follow it to Temple Way. carries the platforms. PAINT in large white letters. At the river, turn Just before Temple Way on the left is the church right and walk upstream for 200m to Sparke of Sts Philip and Jacob. Parts date from around 11. After crossing both sides of Bath Bridge, Evans Park Bridge (12). 1200 but it was very altered in the 18th and 19th turn right onto Cattle Market Road and pass centuries. underneath the platforms of Temple Meads 16. Cross the bridge into Sparke Evans Park and station. On the other side of the platforms (the descend the ramp. 5. Turn right onto Temple Way. Keep on the Cattle Market would have been on the left here) A short detour in the park of 100m downstream right side and follow it to Temple Bridge (4). cross the road and continue on the small path (going west) will bring you to a copse, on the east St Philip’s bridge is downstream, and Valentine’s towards Brock’s Bridge(9). side of which is a (very dilapidated) Edwardian Bridge can be seen upstream. A few metres along this path, as you approach bandstand, with some fine decorative cast iron Brock’s Bridge, you pass a channel cut into the columns and corbels. 6. Cross the bridge and at the end of the riverbank on your right, blocked with debris. This parapet wall take the ramp on your right, down was Totterdown Lock, which was the entrance from 17. At the bottom of the Sparke Evans Bridge to the water. Turn right and walk underneath the the river into the far eastern end of the Floating ramp turn right and follow the path upstream bridge. As you emerge, walk between the two red Harbour. There was a bridge over the entrance (east) out of the park to the St Philips brick pillars and in about 200m you will arrive at channel called Feeder Road Bridge. The channel Causeway Bridges (East and West) (13) Valentine’s Bridge(5). was blocked in World War II to prevent the Floating (14). Take the upper path underneath both EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK ‘FROM BRYCGSTOW TO BRISTOL IN 45 BRIDGES’ COPYRIGHT: JEFF LUCAS / BRISTOL BOOKS 2019 bridges then take the steps on the left up to street footpath to Silverthorne Lane, and turn left. level. Immediately on your left is an impressive stone built 37. Cross Cumberland Road and carry straight Victorian Factory/Warehouse. on along the left side of Redcliffe Way. Turn left 18. Cross the east bridge on the upstream into Guinea Street and follow it to Bathurst side first. Make your way clockwise around the 26. Follow Silverthorne Lane left around the Basin Footbridge(26). roundabout by crossing three busy roads, and corner, where it intersects with Gas Lane and then cross the western downstream bridge. At Kingsland Road, but cross over to the pavement 38. Cross Bathurst Basin Footbridge and turn the end of the bridge use the traffic lights to turn on the right side of Silverthorne Road. left to walk along Bathhurst Basin to Bathhurst right and cross the two roads.