Bristol by foot — wonderful walks and runs in the city
Hiking Collection by Blue Earth Summit
12
Tours
20:08 h
67.6 mi
3,800 ft
Bristol is an endlessly fascinating place to explore on foot. Few cities in Britain can rival its blend of history, cosmopolitan buzz and spectacular outdoor spaces.
From the centre’s vibrant Old City and bustling Floating Harbour, to the grandeur of the Avon Gorge and the scenic beauty of Ashton Court, Leigh Woods and Henbury Gorge, there’s so much to explore. Meanwhile, its forward-thinking and progressive nature makes it the perfect host for the Blue Earth Summit.
Blue Earth Summit is a movement. A dynamic mix of communities, redefining how we work and driven by a love for the outdoors. Each year, we bring together makers and mavericks, founders and futurists, adventurers and investors, for three days in one of the most radical cities in the world. Join us in Bristol between 11th and 13th October 2022.
This Collection features seven hikes and five runs that explore the best the city has to offer. Bristol is a hilly place, so you can expect the occasional uphill pull. This means you are often rewarded with panoramic views across its urban sprawl.
Some of the routes begin or end at Propyard, while one of the hikes starts and ends at the Wave, Bristol’s inland surfing venue. Others are easily accessible via a short train journey from Temple Meads, either beginning at Clifton Down station or Montpelier station. Meanwhile, a few of the routes begin from car parks and can also be accessed via bus services from the city centre.
You’re never far from a place to grab a bite to eat or a drink during these Tours, so there’s no need to carry much in the way of supplies. Stopping for street food or to visit an independent cafe or cosy pub is actively encouraged. Bristol has some of the finest and most varied offerings in the country.
All of the runs feature at least some sections on rough, earthy paths, so footwear that can cope with both road and rugged trails is preferable to standard running shoes.
So, get out there and enjoy the sights, sounds and flavours of this wonderful city.
On The Map
Tours
- 02:145.47 mi2.4 mph75 ft75 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
With such a rich maritime and industrial history, it should come as no surprise that an exploration of Bristol's Floating Harbour is a fascinating outing.
However, its heritage sites arguably play second fiddle to the buzz found along the waterfront. Here, street food stalls, cafes, bars, pubs, restaurants…
- 01:052.51 mi2.3 mph175 ft150 ftEasyEasy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Leigh Woods occupies the high plateau on the western side of the spectacular Avon Gorge, giving Bristolians an easy escape into nature from the city.
This beautiful Tour takes you on a grand loop, exploring the plateau's diverse broadleaved woodland and open glades. Viewpoints across the gorge towards…
Sign Up To Discover Places Like This
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
- 02:225.57 mi2.3 mph300 ft275 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
This is a beautiful little stroll that’s remarkably green considering its location in southeast Bristol. It's full of secret spots, such as the Beese's Riverside Bar and the tranquil Nightingale Valley.
From the village car park, follow the river east using the Fisherman's Path alongside the river. The…
- 01:243.06 mi2.2 mph350 ft350 ftEasyEasy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
The Ashton Court Estate is one of Bristol's most beautiful greenspaces, a sprawling country park with 850 acres (344 ha) of woodland and grassland, complete with a deer park, hiking trails, MTB trails and other activities too.
This Tour does a scenic loop of the estate, starting from the main car park…
- 02:195.23 mi2.3 mph450 ft450 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
This is a beautiful loop taking in much of one of Bristol's most wonderful greenspaces: the Blaise Castle Estate. Fascinating architecture, astonishing hidden viewpoints and sublime natural beauty combine to make this a glorious outing.
From the car park at Henbury Lodge, follow the tarmacked path past…
- 02:205.30 mi2.3 mph425 ft425 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Bristol's most famous natural and human-made sights are the Avon Gorge and its iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge respectively. This wonderful Tour gets to know both intimately, revealing the gorge’s majestic scenery and crossing Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s famous bridge.
You start and end at Clifton Down…
- 02:215.48 mi2.3 mph325 ft325 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
This Tour takes you from the Wave, Bristol's inland surfing destination, to the pleasant village of Almondsbury, which rewards with a stunning view across the Severn Estuary.
From the Wave, head around the camping field and wander alongside Over Brook. At the T-junction, turn left and continue along the…
- 01:288.60 mi5.9 mph375 ft550 ftIntermediateIntermediate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This run takes you on a journey across Clifton Suspension Bridge and down to the Pill Path alongside the River Avon. You follow the river for a while, before turning back and running back into the city centre along the southern bank of the Floating Harbour. There's a mixture of road running and trails…
- 00:454.12 mi5.5 mph350 ft375 ftIntermediateIntermediate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Henbury Gorge is a hidden gem and a riot for trail runners. Set in the magnificent Blaise Castle Estate, it blends beautiful scenery, surprising viewpoints, Bristolian folklore and rough, rugged trails. This is a proper trail run, not one for standard running shoes.
From the Henbury Lodge car park, cut…
- 01:268.44 mi5.9 mph375 ft550 ftIntermediateIntermediate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This long run combines sections of trail running and road running by heading across the Clifton Suspension Bridge to seek out Ashton Court's parkland and woodland. It returns into the city along the northern bank of the Floating Harbour, taking in many historical and cultural sights.
From Clifton Down…
- 01:177.01 mi5.5 mph500 ft500 ftIntermediateIntermediate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This is an interesting out and back run that explores Purdown, a hill that's home to the Stoke Park Estate and one of Bristol's most conspicuous landmarks, the Purdown BT Tower. It rewards with glorious city views and interesting woodland trails.
The run begins from Montpelier station and follows the…
- 01:086.79 mi6.0 mph175 ft175 ftIntermediateIntermediate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A lot of Bristol's most spectacular running routes are also quite hilly, often including some pretty punishing uphill sections. Not so on this lovely out and back, which explores some of the River Avon's most beautiful spots.
From Propyard, follow the Avon's feeder canal east, before rejoining the river…
Like this Collection?
Collection Stats
- Tours12
- Distance67.6 mi
- Duration20:08 h
- Elevation3,800 ft
You Might Also Like
Hiking Collection by Kit P
Hiking Collection by Dan Hobson
Hiking Collection by deuter
Hiking Collection by Ana Carmen