Bristol: A short walk to the shops and back

First Bus services 40 & 40A run to Long Cross Lay-by; Wessex services 501 & 502 stop near the roundabout with Kings Weston Lane (stops labelled Moor Grove, SW-bound or Broadlands Drive, SE-bound.)

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

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

This walk starts at the front entrance gate of Laurence Weston Community Farm.

[1] Walk straight ahead, towards and through the car-park, to the road (Saltmarsh Drive).

[2]  Cross the road, turn left and after 20 metres turn right onto the right-hand path through Bury Court Close. Continue straight ahead as far as the main road ahead.

[3]  Cross the road (Long Cross) at the traffic island (be aware of the traffic as this is a busy road) and turn right to follow the pavement round to the left into Shortlands Road. Half way along, take the path diagonally left. This goes through the grassy area and eventually curves round to the right as it reaches Ridingleaze House (B). 

[4]  Cross the road at the pinch-point and turn left. Walk along the pavement past the shops as far as the Co-op supermarket at the end.

[5]   Cross the road to the pavement outside St Peter’s Church, and turn left to go back towards the grassy area, now on the right. Take the first path running diagonally over towards the lay-by with bus stops.

[6]   Cross the road using the two zebra crossings, and turn left. Walk along the pavement until the end of the grassy area on your right. (Be aware of the traffic as this is a busy road). 

[7]   Turn right onto the path  running between the grass and a tall edge on your left. This continues between the houses. At the end of the path, you reach Saltmarsh Drive. Turn left and walk along until opposite the car-park for the Community Farm.

An alternative route is to continue along the pavement in Long Cross until you reach Bury Court Close, where you turn right and walk down to Saltmarsh Drive opposite the Community Farm car-park.

Cross over, and walk through the car-park and along the path to the Community Farm.

A. Laurence Weston Community Farm http://lwfarm.org.uk      Tel: 0117 938 1128

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.

The farm is particularly interested in combating social exclusion and providing a safe and supportive environment in which people can flourish and contribute positively to their community.

The People's Building houses the office, toilets, classroom, kitchen and community room. The Animal House provides a home for all the large animals and most of the small animals. There is a small apiary where the bees make delicious honey, a secret garden complete with poly tunnel, Water Vole Woodland Walk, an outdoor soft play area for the summer months, picnic area, the animal village that is home to our small animals, the volunteer cabin, an orchard, duck pond, compost heaps, out door pig pen, chicken coup and three large paddocks.

The Community Farm is open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday (Closed on Mondays, but open for Bank Holiday Mondays); Summer hours 9.30 - 4.30, Winter hours 9.30 - 3.30

B The Customer Service Point at Ridingleaze is where you can access council services in person; you can pay council tax and rent bills , discuss tenancy issues, hand in documents that have been requested, report a noise complaint or antisocial behaviour, apply for concessionary travel card or blue badge and much more.

If you do not have your own computer, you can access a number of our key services online at a Self Service Point - a  computer kiosk connecting you to the council free of charge. You can make automated payments, applications and requests, and browse the council website.

Free telephones connecting you to council services are also available.

Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 9am to 5pm; Friday 9am to 4.30pm; Wednesday closed.

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 (cafes, etc) available on the route, but there are several shops in Ridingleaze. There are seats along the paths between Long Cross & Ridingleaze.