It was a cold but sunny day as 12 members of the Group made the trip to Bristol Harbour, starting at Wapping Wharf by the replica of the 'Matthew'.

With Carol leading us, we proceeded on a clockwise direction around the harbour, first taking in the steam crane and a line of railway wagons, including a splendidly restored War Department tank wagon, before passing the entrance to the Great Western dockyard, home to the SS Great Britain.

Next on the route was a succession of docks and marinas, before resuming the harbourside walk alongside some dockside redevelopment, towards the Underfall Yard and the Cumberland Basin end of the harbour. The Harbour Authority were doing an exercise testing their Oil Spill recovery equipment, which at the time we passed, wasn't going so well.

At the Underfall Yard we noted various boats undergoing repair, and maintenance work being undertaken on the Patent Boat Slip next to the pumphouse, where the group paused for coffee, cake and bacon buns.