Walk Reports 2016

Mobirise

Friday 29 April 2016

Blaise Castle

This was billed as one of our more challenging walks. In the event, although the distance was near the Footpaths Group’s upper limits and there was quite a lot of uphill walking, the underfoot was much better than expected and everyone arrived back at the finish line in fine form.

The walk started at the Blaise Castle car park. Having skirted the castle, we made our way down a long gulley through the woods. Here we followed a slow moving river past an old mill which had been transported there, when its original site was flooded for a dam. The swathes of white wild garlic intermingled with bluebells were breath taking.

Descending by a series of footpaths we eventually passed under the ‘Portway’ and reached the River Avon. On the way we sheltered from a brief rain shower but made good use of the stop to take a refreshments break. Thereafter it was sunshine all the way.

Once passed the interesting but muddy looking Roman Harbour we had fine views across the Avon. But in a reverse of what goes up must come down we then started the long haul back to the castle.

There was a lot to see along the way, for example botanical species, some poisonous and some very pretty, such as cowslips; ancient hill forts with archaeological surveys; a beautiful Georgian mansion with fine views across the Severn and Avon; quaint follies; lovely forests and a whole variety of birds.

Finally, having reached the top, we had the welcome sight of the car park some way below us across a wide meadow. At the end someone remarked how astonishing it was that Bristol had so much open space so near its centre. Except for the occasional glimpses of houses and a brief walk on a golf course we could have been hiking in the deep countryside.

As usual, the reward was a good pub lunch, this time in the refurbished Blaise Inn.

Distance: 5.5 miles approx.

Number attending 9

Report by Carol Wood
Photos by Malcolm Case

Mobirise

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