Bristol: Community Farm and Cycle Path

First Bus services 40 & 40A to Long Cross Lay-by; Wessex services 501 & 502 stop near the roundabout with Kings Weston Lane.

The cycle path passing the City Farm is on National Route 41, Regional Route 10.

There is a small amount of car parking at the City Farm.

This walk starts at the Car Park of Laurence Weston Community Farm.

[1] Cross the car-park and walk towards the entrance of the Community Farm.

[2] Just before the Community Farm take the tarmac path – this is a cycle path - on your Left. Very soon you will see a round sign on the path : “Walk for Health – 200 metres”.

Follow this cycle path along, checking on the “Walk for Health” signs.

[3] Shortly after the 400 metres sign, turn left onto a wider path which comes from the right.

[4] Go through the gate (it has big boulders in front of it.) Do not cross over the road ahead (Campbell Farm Drive) but follow the pavement round to the right.

 [5] Cross the main road (Kings Weston Lane) at the traffic pinch point (be aware of the traffic as this is a busy road) and turn left to go along the right-hand pavement towards the roundabout.

For an extended walk (an extra 0.9 miles or 1.5 km - allow an extra 28 minutes): after crossing the main road at the traffic pinch point, go ahead onto the cycle path. Follow the cycle path along. You will soon see some more “Walk for Health” markers. The path runs through grassy areas with blocks of low-rise flats on your left and trees to your right. Continue until a wide path comes in from the left, just before a skateboard area on your right. Keep following the cycle path until, just after the “Walk for Health 1200 metres” marker. Where the cycle path turns right, you turn left and go through the barrier into a drive. At the end of this drive, you will pass a Saab car retailer “Economy Service Centre” on your right. Turn left onto Long Cross.(Opposite the bus stop at Playford Gardens is Kings Weston Roman Villa - see Additional 'Point of Interest' Information.) Continue along the left side of Long Cross up to the roundabout. Rejoin the main route (see [6] below.)

[6] Just before reaching the roundabout, there is a car park entrance. If the road is quiet, you can cross the road here, diagonally to the dropped kerb; otherwise continue and cross by the traffic island. (Be aware of the traffic as this can be a busy road.) Turn right to follow the pavement which curves left onto the road called Long Cross.

[7] You will soon pass a bus stop (No. 40 bus). Take the 1st left onto Saltmarsh Drive. The Community Farm is signposted. Follow the road around for 250 metres and take the 1st Left into the car park of the Community Farm.

A. Laurence Weston Community Farm

Lawrence Weston Community Farm is a community-managed project that aims to improve the quality of life for local people and its service-users. The farm does this by working with members of the local community, and others, to provide a range of innovative and exciting, educational, social, environmental, economic and recreational activities.

As well as providing opportunities to experience the daily delights of community farming and gardening, the farm also:

• Brings people and communities together - make new friends, volunteering and placement opportunities, activities for children and young people, a safe and secure public green space.
• Delivers education and skill development - hands on enjoyable learning opportunities, short course, accredited training, school groups.
• Promotes environmental awareness - recycling, composting, wildlife, gardens, ponds, woodland.
• Encourages healthy eating and exercise - wholesome food, exercise through gardening and practical work, cooking events.
• Produces fresh, affordable local food - vegetables, meat, honey, eggs.

B. 1) Cycle Path going to Pill (3 miles) and Bristol (10 Miles)

     2) " WALK FOR HEALTH"   Henacre Open Space - a 1900 metre measured route. You can use this route for walking, cycling and generally being active.This route is a flexible way to build towards your daily 30 minutes of activity. Distance markers have been drawn on the path on the path every 200 metres so that you can record the distance which you have walked.

C. Kings Weston Roman Villa

Kings Weston Villa was discovered during the construction of Lawrence Weston housing estate and named after the house on whose land it was sited. In 1947 work began on Long Cross, a road subsequently found to run straight through the Villa and which partially destroyed it in the process. Two buildings were revealed but only one, the Eastern Building, was fully excavated (1948-50). Finds from the site (items of domestic and everyday use including pottery, iron tools, bronze fittings and coins, and of personal adornment such as rings, pins and bracelets) are on display and in store at the City Museum, Bristol.

Kings Weston Roman Villa opens with a key from Blaise Castle House Museum (during opening hours) and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Admission is free; a £5 refundable deposit is required for the key.

Toilets are available in the Community Farm, when it is open: 

Tuesday to Sunday (Mondays only on Bank Holidays); Summer hours 9.30 - 4.30, Winter 9.30 - 3.30

No refreshments available on the route, but there are shops in Ridingleaze, opposite the bus stops at the Long Cross lay-by.