Ashton Court and Leigh Woods
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This is a 13km walk taking in Leigh Woods, Paradise Bottom, Abbots Pool and the Ashton Court Estate. Situated just outside of Bristol in North Somerset, this walk contains a mixture of woodland and the open grassland of Ashton Court.
Leigh Woods is an ancient woodland, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It was originally designed by Humphrey Repton, and restored by the Forestry Commission after World War II, when much of it was felled for the war effort. Despite this, there are still some areas that retain the original woodland, such as the Giant Redwood, Weymouth Pine, Sweet Chestnut and Fulham Oak located within the Paradise Bottom Arboretum.
Moving west our lunch stop will be at Abbots Pool. Surrounded by Oak, Beech and Sycamore trees, Abbot's Pool was originally used in the middle ages by the monks from St Augustine Abbey in Bristol, to provide fresh fish. The landscaping of this popular beauty spot was completed by the Wills family in the 1920's.
After our lunch stop we will finish our day back in the grounds and landscaped gardens of the Ashton Court Estate. Whilst nothing can be seen of the original fortified 11th century manor, Ashton Court has been substantially re-modelled through its history, and is a mix of many different architectural styles, including gothic, Tudor, Victorian and Jacobean influences. There is also a large Deer Park to the north of the mansion house, where you may well be able to see the odd Deer or two!
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What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking.
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: Proper walking trousers. Breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Food & drink
Please bring snacks for energy, plenty of water for hydration and a packed lunch. There is a coffee shop at Ashton Court Mansion (where the walk starts/finishes) where you can purchase light snacks and/or ice creams.