Bristol: A walk round the old airfield

Several bus routes stop at the hospital, including First Bus routes 20, 36, 51, 75, 76 and 90, and Wessex 515.

There are a number of cycle paths leading to the hospital. Secure bicycle anchor points are available at the front of the hospital.

There is limited parking at the site, which will need to be paid for, unless you are a blue badge holder.

Starting from the South Bristol Community Hospital entrance, turn right to walk away from the road, then immediate right along a path marked ‘Hengrove Plaza’. The Leisure Centre and golden globe are on your left. Zigzag through the barrier which you will find as you descend the path.

[1] At the path crossroads keep straight on along the broad path.

[2] When you reach the tarmac runway turn right and walk across the runway and forwards along its left-hand side for a few yards until a path comes in from the left.

Alternatively, if you continue ahead through the barrier for a few yards, the Play Park is on the right, with toilets & a café, and the Skateboard Park is on the left

[3] Turn back to the left onto this path, and follow it as it as it curves around the playing fields, eventually with a wood on the left. There are benches along the path, a parallel path through the wood where children can play, and across the playing fields there are views of Dundry Hill.

[4] Turn right along the broad tarmac drive and continue until it reaches the far end of the runway, where you curve round to the right.

Safety note - if a car boot sale or other event is taking place, vehicles use this drive - and may not be as aware as on a road.

[5] Cross the runway diagonally to reach a path which runs back to the path crossroads [1] where you turn left to return to the start.

Alternatively, from [5] you can walk back up the runway and retrace the original path via [3] and [2] - or even do another circuit!

A. Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport, also known as Whitchurch Airport, was the main airport for Bristol and area from 1930 to 1957. When opened, It was only the third municipal airport in the country.

During the Second World War it was, for a time, the only operational civil airport. It enabled air connections to Lisbon, to Shannon and from there to the United States, and later to North Africa. The actor Lesley Howard was killed whilst on a flight from Africa to Bristol.

The airport closed in 1957, with services transferred to what is now known as Bristol International Airport. The runway was last used in 1993 when a Cessna light aircraft landed on it in emergency.

B. Five large hangars were built on the north side of the airport during the war. Paved taxiways and the east-west runway, 3048 feet long, were completed by the end of 1941.

Toilets & cafe available in the Hospital and also the Leisure Centre opposite. The Play Park, which also has facilities, is officially only open to adults when accompanying children.

Thanks to Brian Edwards for help in developing this walk.