Ashton Court, Leigh Woods & Ham Green
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This is a 20km (12.5 mile) walk taking in Leigh Woods, Paradise Bottom, Ham Green, 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.
Today's walk starts and finishes in the the grounds of Leigh Woods. The older sections of these woods were 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 that can all be found within Paradise Bottom ancient arboretum.
We then move on to the landscaped gardens and parkland 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 herd of Deer.
As we leave Ashton Court we head north towards 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.
From here we head out across the fields of Lower Failand towards Ham Green and then follow the River Avon Trail back until we reach the 18th Century Arboretum of Paradise Bottom and from here head back up to our start point in Leigh Woods car park.
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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 sometimes a coffee van at Leigh Woods (where the walk starts/finishes) where you can purchase sweet snacks coffee\Tea.
There are no shops on this route, so please ensure you pack enough snacks and drinks for the walk.