Bristol: St George Park and Plummers Hill

By bus take the 6 or 7 alighting at Gordon Rd.  Stretford Rd is on the south side of Whitehall Rd.

Alternatively take a bus to St George Park on Church Rd and walk through the park to Park Crescent, cross Park Crescent to Stretford Ave and then left into Stretford Rd.

By car please note there is limited parking on Stretford Rd and the part outside the Beehive centre is one way.  It may be easier to park on Park Crescent or Stretford Ave.

With your back to the Beehive Centre turn right to walk past St Ambrose Church.  Turn right to Stretford Ave.  At Park Crescent (the road between you and St George Park) turn left.  On the corner of Congleton Rd cross Park Crescent to join the tarmac path leading into St George Park.

[1]  Inside the park turn left where the footpaths cross.  As you walk you will see the lake on your right. Continue along the path and leave the park as the path continues down an alley.  Continue down the alley with N J Autos on your right and garages on your left.  Carry straight on along a paved path past a metal bollard into an area of new housing.  Continue on the path as it bends to the left.  When the path ends turn right past No. 63 then immediately left.   

[2] This is Snowberry Walk.  Follow Snowberry Walk up bearing left in front of No. 7 to exit on Whitehall Ave.  Turn right and cross Whitehall Ave at the dropped kerb. Turn left into Alder Drive.  Note the WASP noticeboard sponsored by the St George Neighbourhood Partnership.  Almost immediately take the footpath on the right just before the road bends right.  There is a sign on the left saying 'Plummers Hill 85 - 77'.  You will see the grass of Plummers Hill Open Space sloping upwards ahead of you.  At Plummers Hill turn left and look for the next gap in the railings then cross at the dropped kerb.

Plummers Hill can be a busy road and cars do drive along it as some speed.  Do take care crossing it.

Turn left and just after 130 Plummers Hill turn right into Plummers Hill Open Space passing through the metal kissing gate.

[3] Follow the tarmac path past well concealed allotments.  When the path splits take the right fork.  Take a moment to look around.  You have only climbed a short distance but you already have a view.  Walk a few yards further and you will see on your right in the distance, the Wills building at the top of Park St.  Follow the path into Crown Hill.

[4] Turn right down Crown Hill, cross Plummers Hill and turn left.  Cross Whitehall Ave and continue on Plummers Hill until you reach Hudds Vale Road.  Turn right into a footpath on the righthand side of Hudds Vale Rd.  You are now approaching a converted workhouse.  Turn right at the end of the path passing between pebble dashed bollards.  At the end of the path turn left in front of garages and follow the path back into St George Park.

[5] Take the middle path which gently slopes downhill with the lake on your left.  At the end of the lake before the raised mound that was the site of the old bandstand take the path that bears right towards the tennis courts

An alternative is to pass the bandstand mound on its left  and continue to the park cafe next to the children's play area and then return later to the original route.  To access toilets continue past the cafe out through the gate of the park on Chalks Rd, turn left into Church Rd and the toilets are on your left.

Turn right in front of the tennis courts and follow this path up to Park Crescent.  Cross Park Crescent and turn left and then right into Stretford Ave.  Turn left into Stretford Rd and continue back to the Beehive Centre.

A. This hawthorn and elder hedge is often full of birds singing and butterflies.

B. A culverted stream runs under the grassy area alongside Hudds Vale Rd protecting it from future plans for building.

C. Former workhouse that later housed Avon Tin Printers and more recently has been refurbished to become flats and studios.  Old photos can be seen on Flickr.  One includes the prefabs that have now been demolished and replaced by a modern housing estate http://www.flickr.com/photos/fray_bentos/386049375/

D. St George Park is a Victorian suburban park with many fine trees, a lake, a skateboard and cycle activity area, a dog-free children's play area and a kiosk cafe.

This walk can be done easily with a pushchair.  

Issues for a wheelchair are:

- the slope up Plummers Hill Open Space

- the speed of traffic when crossing Plummers Hill.

- the large metal kissing gate giving access to Plummers Hill - it does open enough for standard wheelchairs to negotiate but would not be suitable for large electric buggies without a key.  A key can be obtained from Bristol Parks by telephoning, in advance of your visit, on 0117 922 3719.

- the path leaving Plummers Hill Open Space to Crown Hill is very narrow in parts.