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Bristol: Wellspring, Walled Garden and Wild flowers

Difficulty Easy Access

Walking time 40 minutes

Length 2.1km / 1.3mi

Route developer: Angela Smith

Route checker: Susan Acton-Campbell

Start location Wellspring Healthy Living Centre
Route Summary A circular walk from the Wellspring Healthy Living Centre in Barton Hill, Bristol passing the Walled Garden and including a small section of the Bristol to Bath Railway Path, a wildflower patch and some wonderful mosaics.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

The Wellspring Centre is at the end of Beam St.

The 36 bus which runs between Bristol Centre and Withywood goes along Avonvale Road and stops near Beam Street.
 
There is parking by the Wellspring Centre but it is often very full and you may have to find on-street parking. Please park with consideration for local residents.
 
If one wanted to start and finish the walk at a different point Lawrence Hill Station is very close to way point [7].  Trains run frequently from Temple Meads to Lawrence Hill.
 
 

 

Description

[1] With your back to the Wellspring Healthy Living Centre cross the road, turn right and cross the car park.  Cross the green space to the Urban Park and go through the red gate.  Follow the curved path through the children's play area and then straight ahead towards high rise blocks of flats.  Go through the right hand red gate to exit the park and turn right along Church Street. 

[2] At the top turn left into Barton Hill Road.  Cross Queen Ann Road and continue along Barton Hill Road.  On your left you will see the Walled Garden.  If it is open it is well worth taking a little detour to have a look round.  Immediately past the Walled Garden turn left onto a path.  Follow the path and take the first turning left at the lamp post marked P15.  Continue, passing some swings and a seesaw on your left.  Continue on the path down beside Barton Hill Primary School fence to come out on Jarvis Street.  Turn right onto Jarvis Street and then left onto Barrow Road and cross the railway bridge.

[3] Cross Barrow Road at the pelican crossing and continue past the mini roundabout along Barrow Road.  Cross Chancery Road and continue passing the Big Yellow Storage on your left and Playspace on your right. 

[4] At the end of the pavement near Playspace, cross the road and take the cycle/footpath on the left.  Turn right onto the footpath.  This brings you out alongside the very busy St Philips Causeway (A4320). 

From now until you leave the Railway Path at Lawrence Hill you are sharing the path with cyclists.  To avoid accidents please keep to the lane designated for walkers and where this is not clear keep to the right of the path so you are facing oncoming cyclists.

Cross the bridge and continue to the traffic lights.

[5] At the traffic lights turn right onto another cycle/footpath.  This curves round to the right to join the Bristol to Bath Railway Path.  Turn left towards Bath.  Continue on the Railway Path until you reach a road bridge over the path. 

[6] Go under the bridge and immediately left up a ramp to Lawrence Hill.  At the top of the ramp turn sharp left onto Lawrence Hill and cross the bridge. 

[7] Continue to the traffic lights and cross over.  Turn right and immediately left into Ducie Road.  Continue along Ducie Road, crossing the mosaic bridge and continuing up the slope.  Keep left and at the top turn left into Morley Street by the Barton Hill Settlement Community Hall.

[8] Cross over Morley Street and turn right into Strawbridge Road.  At the far end of this cul-de-sac continue on the path into the green space ahead.  Take the left hand path which brings you back to the Wellspring car park.

POI information

A. The Walled Garden.  Barton Hill Walled Garden is open on Wednesday to women and young families from 10am-5pm and on Friday is open to all from 10am-4pm.  This is a former vicarage garden that is now used for a neighbourhood growing project.  It gained a Green Volunteer Project award in 2011.

B. As you walk along St. Philip’s Causeway over the bridge note the Barrow Road Bridge plaque.  Below this bridge there was once the biggest railway yard and sidings complex in Bristol. 

C. Wildflower patch on green space by tower blocks.

D. Mosaic bridge

E. Mosaic on wall outside Barton Hill Settlement Community Hall.

Notes

There are toilets in the Wellspring Centre.

There is a cafe in the Wellspring Centre on Tuesday lunchtimes.

This walk should present little difficulty to someone with a child's buggy.

Possible issues for wheelchair users:-

- there are a number of kerbs at road crossings

- the slope up to St Philips Causeway

- the narrow pavement on Ducie Rd.

 

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • Entrance to Wellspring Healthy Living Centre
    Entrance to Wellspring Healthy Living Centre
    By - Angela Smith
  • Inside the Walled Garden
    Inside the Walled Garden
    By - Angela Smith
  • Wildflower patch next to the Railway Path
    Wildflower patch next to the Railway Path
    By - Angela Smith
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