Countryside Walks

27 walks, which explore the magnificent cities, towns and countryside around Bristol and beyond, allowing you to experience a truly stunning range of landscapes including; imposing coastlines, windswept estuary, meandering wooded river valleys, beautiful rolling countryside and low-lying vales.

You can visit the glorious City of Bath or venture into the Cotswolds and Mendips, all protected for their outstanding natural or architectural beauty. The walks explore the area's industrial and farming past and visit an array of market towns, small peaceful villages, natural habitats and historic sites and features.

All the walks have been designed to be accessible by public transport from Bristol. Use the trip planner on the right to plan your trip.

Maps, Clothing and Equipment

We recommend the use of a suitable Ordnance Survey map to supplement the information on the walk cards. The 1:25,000 scale Explorer series is particularly useful as public rights of way and field boundaries are shown.

Many of the routes can be muddy and challenging, especially in the winter months. Stout walking boots and waterproof clothing are therefore recommended.
Selecting a walk

The walks stretch out in all directions from Bristol, from the city and its urban fringe to deeply rural areas. A range of circular and linear walks are offered, some use the same bus or train service on the outward and return journey, others return on a different service. The walks, which range in distance from 1 1/2 miles to 9 miles, have been designed to accommodate people with different levels of fitness and mobility.

From short stile-free walks over easy-going terrain, to more challenging routes with steep climbs and rough surfaces; there is something to suit every preference.

To help you select a walk each route has been graded according to the following scale:

• Very easy  (1) - Level or very gentle ascents or descents with no stiles or other climbing structures. Accessible to wheelchairs, pushchairs and people with limited mobility.
• Easy  (2) - Easy ascents and descents, occasional rough surfaces with few stiles or other climbing structures.
• Easy to moderate  (3) - Occasional ascents or descents, which may be long but not steep. Stiles and other climbing structures are encountered and some surfaces are rough and muddy.
• Moderate to hard  (4) - Several ascents and descents, some of which are steep. Rough surfaces and numerous stiles or other climbing structures are encountered.
• Also shown is; distance and walking time.

Download the routes:

• 1 - Cribbs Causeway to Botany Bay - 3.5 miles, 2 hrs, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 388 Kb)

• 2 - Seamills to Clifton Down Station - 5 miles, 2hr 30mins, Moderate / Hard 4 (pdf, 451 Kb)

• 4 - Congresbury / Iwood Circular - 3 miles, 2hrs, Easy 2 (pdf, 555 Kb)

• 5 - Dundry Slopes Circular - 3 miles, 2hrs, Moderate / Hard 4 (pdf, 243 Kb)

• 6 - Bradford-on-Avon and Avoncliff Circular - 4.5 miles, 2hrs, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 243 Kb)

• 7 - Swineford Circular - 5 miles, 2hr 30mins, Moderate / hard 4 (pdf, 516 Kb)

• 8 - Willsbridge Mill Circular - 6 miles, 2hrs, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 243 Kb)

• 9 - Marshfield Circular - 6.5 miles, 3hrs 30mins, Moderate / Hard 4 (pdf, 256 Kb)

• 10 - Bath (Sham Castle) Circular - 5 miles, 2hr 30mins, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 242 Kb)

• 11 - Pensford to Keynsham - 5.5 miles, Walking Time: 2hr 30mins, GRADE: Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 493 Kb)

• 12 - Portishead - Clevedon - 6 miles, 3hrs, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 378 Kb)

• 14 - Frome Valley Walkway - Hambrook to City - 6.5 miles, 3hrs, Easy 2 (pdf, 582 Kb)

• 15 - Aust to Thornbury - 6 miles, 2hr 30mins, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 517 Kb)

• 16 - Severn Beach Circular via Aust and Northwick - 7 miles, 3hrs, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 429 Kb)

• 17 - Long Ashton to Wraxall - 5 miles, 2hrs, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 598 Kb)

• 18 - Sea Mills to Shirehampton - 5 miles, 2hrs 30mins, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 599 Kb)

• 19 - Yatton and Cadbury Hillfort Circular - 2.5 miles, 1hr 30mins, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 507 Kb)

• 20 - Yatton Station to Congresbury Circular - 3.5 miles, 2hrs, Easy 2 (pdf, 575 Kb)

• 21 - Cheddar Valley Railway Walk - Winscombe Circular - 7 miles, 4hr, Hard 4 (pdf, 601 Kb)

• 22 - Cheddar Valley Railway Walk - Yatton to Winscombe, Easy 2 (pdf, 403 Kb)

• 23 - Woodspring, Sand Bay and Kewstoke - 7 or 9 miles, 3 or 4 hrs, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 230 Kb)

• 24 - Banwell and the Lox Yeo - 4 miles, 2hrs, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 216 Kb)

• 25 - River Avon Trail - 8 or 5 miles, 3hr 30mins or 2hr, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 315 Kb)

• 26 - Sodbury Round - 5 miles, 2hr 30mins, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 369 Kb)

• 27 - Bristol & Bath Railway Path - 4.5 or 8 miles, 2 or 3hr 30mins, Easy 2 (pdf, 507 Kb)

• 28 - Old Down Circular - 3.25 miles, 1hr 30mins, Moderate / Hard 4 (pdf, 363 Kb)

• 29 - Whitchurch to Keynsham - 4.5 miles, 2hr 30mins, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 335 Kb)

• 30 - Chew Valley Circular - 2 miles, 1hr, Easy / Moderate 3 (pdf, 353 Kb)