Pram friendly walks

STOKE PARK ESTATE PRAM FRIENDLY WALKS IN BRISTOL

It's essential to have some good stroller-friendly walks up your sleeve as a parent. Somewhere you can escape to when you need to get out of the house with a newborn, or when you need to nap the baby while you let your older children burn off some energy. BADOCK’S WOOD

Accessible trails with well-maintained paths and easy terrain make the following routes great stroller-friendly walks in and around Bristol. STOKE PARK ESTATE

You might not know it by name, but Stoke Park Estate is the one with the big yellow castle (Dower House) that is visible from the M32 on the way into Bristol. Despite the of busy road, the estate’s vast open space, views across the city and little lake, make for a lovely pram friendly walks, especially in the sunshine.

There are three walks to do in the park, but for buggies you’re slightly limited to the linear path, accessible from Parnell Road or Duchess Gate opposite Broom Hill. Parnell Road is great route in, as you can find somewhere to park and then marvel at the clock tower set amid a grassy square, before going to explore the estate. BADOCK’S WOOD BADOCK’S WOOD

This is a relatively unknown nature reserve in North Bristol. Park on Lakewood Road, or if you have a double buggy, the Doncaster Road entrance is the recommended option as the gate can be a bit of a squeeze. If you’ve come in via Lakewood Road, follow the tarmac path with the River Trym on your left as it trickles through the valley floor, past trees that are up to 400 years old. When you come to a fork in the trail, you can choose to go left or right to follow a circular loop. We chose to go up past the open green playing fields, past wild flower meadows and follow the path round past Badock’s Wood primary school before meeting up with the River to return to Lakewood Road.

If it’s warm enough, or you have brave kiddos and a change of clothes, the river is shallow and fun to paddle in.

A nature reserve of former farmland in South Bristol, Brislington way with wildflower meadows, hedgerows, ponds and woodland. Along with vast stretches of green, there is a pram friendly trail all the way round. Park at Hungerford Gardens BS14 8XX where you can easily see the entrance and playground. From here you can follow the path alongside the golf course, until you reach the open meadows. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on lead.

STOCKWOOD OPEN SPACE

SEVERN BEACH

Next to one of Bristol’s well-known bridges, the Prince of Wales Bridge or Second Severn Crossing as it’s known is this quaint little village called Severn Beach. It takes about 25-minutes to drive from Bristol, or you can catch a 40-minute train ride from Bristol Temple Meads to this South Gloucestershire village. If you’re going by car, head towards Station Road BS35 4PL to park on the street. From here it’s easy to get onto the pram friendly flat concrete path that goes around the coastline in both directions.

If you turn left away from the bridge you’ll follow alongside the shingly beach with views across to Wales, Flat Holm Island, the lights of Portishead and industrial Avonmouth. Or, take the concrete promenade North – under the M4 bridge – for one mile to discover a protected saltmarsh where thousands of birds stop by on their annual migration. The flat pathways are perfect for buggies and little ones on their bikes and scooters.

For a post buggy walk refuel, try Shirley’s Cafe for fish and chips and a cuppa or plan ahead.

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1/2 garlic clove, crushed • Zest and juice of 1 lemon • 1/4 tsp chilli flakes • 1 tsp red wine vinegar • 1/2 tsp caster sugar • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper • 2 tsp capers, drained • 200g pack Greek Feta cheese • 225g pack piccolo tomatoes, halved • 1/2 cucumber, cut into 2cm chunks • 1 small red onion, finely sliced • 10 pitted black hojiblanca olives • 7 mint leaves, roughly torn

Method

1. First, make the marinade by combining the olive oil, oregano, garlic, lemon juice and zest, chilli flakes, vinegar, sugar, pepper and capers. 2. Put the Feta in a small dish and pour over the marinade.

3. Chill for at least 1 hour, or longer if you have time, turning it occasionally.

4. To serve, arrange the tomatoes, cucumber, onion and olives on a plate.

5. Position the Feta in the middle, drizzle over the marinade and scatter over the mint leaves.

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DARK & STORMY COCKTAIL ICED PEPPERMINT What you need WITH CUCUMBER • 1 lime AND MINT • 5ml dark rum What you need • 1 dash of bitters • 125ml alcoholic ginger beer • 1 peppermint infusion bag • 2 tsp caster sugar • 1 sprig fresh mint • 3 thin cucumber slices • 20g raspberries

How to make

• Cut 2 or 3 thin slices from 1 lime and set aside • Squeeze the juice from the rest of the lime into a small bowl • Half-fill a cocktail glass with ice, then pour over the lime juice, 15ml dark rum and a dash of bitters • Stir to combine, then top up the glass with 125ml alcoholic ginger beer • Add the slices of lime before serving How to make

• Put the infusion bag in a tall, heat-safe glass and pour over 200ml boiling water • Leave to steep for 3 mins, then remove the infusion bag • Stir in the sugar until dissolved, then add the mint, cucumber and raspberries • Top up with ice to serve juice. Timing excludes freezing