A city walk through Leigh Woods Walk in a nutshell A tour around some of the south-west’s most beautiful and historic woodland, including an array of rare plant and animal life and stunning views of the Avon Gorge, the Clifton suspension bridge and Bristol itself. The route is not too hilly, and there are some alternative surfaced routes for buggies and wheelchairs, but forest terrain can be uneven, and it is fairly easy to get lost (although not for long). Be aware, too, that some of these trails are also used by cyclists.
Why it’s special Even before Brunel’s great memorial, the Clifton suspension bridge, made it easy to cross Avon Gorge, Bristolians had been escaping to Leigh Woods for centuries.
Directions 1 From the car park follow the waymarkers for the red and blue routes downhill. The red trail turns off right at the foot of the slope; keep to the blue trail, passing a house on your left. 2 Carry on along the track, and when Sustrans cycle route 41 goes right, continue straight ahead to Paradise Bottom. Follow the gravel path past a pond to a small car park. 3 Follow the path behind the information board, heading downhill through the old arboretum towards another pond. Go around the pond, climbing back uphill. Go through a gate then turn left back on to the main track you came along. After 300m turn left down Sustrans route 41. Head downhill towards the river Avon until you reach the cycle path beside the river.
The peace and beauty to be found among the trees here is the best possible antidote to city life, while the flora and fauna, the iron age hillfort at Stokeleigh Camp, and even the bridge itself create many points of interest.
4 Turn right and follow the path upstream. After half a mile you’ll see Clifton suspension bridge. Turn right through the arch under the railway 180m before the bridge and follow Nightingale Valley up the North Road entrance to Leigh Woods.
With a natural play area near the National Trust office, equipped with swings, balance beams and climbing logs, it is also an excellent place to bring children.
5 Take the left entrance from the road back into the wood and follow the blue trail up to Valley Road. Turn right on Valley Road and head towards the National Trust office. Follow the Sustrans trail past the left end of the office to a stone wall. Keep the wall on your left and leave the blue Sustrans path. Walk on until you reach the purple trail marker post 18. 6 Follow the purple waymarked trail through the wall and carry on until you reach the copper beeches of Coronation Avenue at post 21. Turn left to get back to the main road and the bus stop or turn right and follow the road back to the car park.
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