Chris Sperring MBEWildlife

Escape the mud on this Portishead circle

I AM taking you this month to a very different environment along the Severn Estuary and I have designed it to be good underfoot – so no more tiring mud and wet! So, welcome to this very varied circle from Portishead which combines a leisure marina, commercial docks, a wildlife reserve and a high density living area. It takes in a walk along the Severn estuary by Portishead Lake Grounds and then up through woods or along the side before dropping down to the state-of-the-art lifeboat station and the fascinating Marina and Port Marine, fashioned out of the old docks and industrial area.

We continue along the estuary through Portbury Nature Reserve with wonderful views across the Bristol Channel to rocky Denny Island, Wales and to Portbury Docks ahead. Watch the shipping as it makes its way to and from port. To finish we circle back to Port Marine development in Portishead and follow the marina edge. There are lots of refreshment options, if open, particularly at the marina. Apart from going uphill through East Wood near the start, if you choose that option, the going is virtually flat and free of too much wet and mud. It is not a very rural ramble but is beautiful, exhilarating and interesting. You won’t be alone, particularly at weekends, but there should be plenty of room for social distancing.

Please be aware of Covid restrictions before setting off and if necessary keep the details and do the walk at a later date.

PARK: Portishead Lake Grounds, where there is a cafe and toilets.

START: Head to the edge of the estuary and turn right, already getting great views across to Wales. Continue all the way along soon nearing the headland and the 30ft lighthouse just off Portishead or Battery Point built on a metal pyramid. Reach the highly coloured outdoor pool and go up steps on the left side.

1. BATTERY POINT

This leads you up to Battery Point headland and a good viewing point to watch shipping along the estuary. There is an interesting information board. Out in the estuary is tiny, rocky Denny Island (same name as the island in Chew Valley Lake!). Continue on and pick up the hard surface path. Reach a notice board about Battery Point East Wood and Nature Reserve.

2. EAST WOOD

CHOICES: 1. You can go up steps into East Wood and continue on up more steps after crossing a road; then carry on along the good path on the narrow wooded ridge to the end. Take steps down to reach the road. Turn left and soon arrive at the back of the Royal Inn, formerly the Royal Hotel. 2. Leave out the hill: follow a path left in the wood and stay round fairly near the edge until you join a quiet lane and continue on this with the estuary on your left, going alongside some of the well sited homes. This leads to the Royal.

3. ROYAL INN

It is a symbol of public enterprise, and thought to be the only seaside hotel built by a public authority in Britain during the 19th century. Bristol Corporation built it in 1830 as part of the aim of developing a seaside resort near Bristol. This site was chosen for the hotel because of its amazing views. Until the pier was finished in 1868, visitors arrived by steamer and were taken ashore by rowing boat. It is now a popular family-run pub with a large garden overlooking the Channel.

Drop down steps to the Portishead Lifeboat Station, opened in 2015. Continue along the edge where the earliest housing development for the marina took place and go along past Portishead Pier towards the entrance to the docks and marina.