Bristol: A loop around Beachley Walk in Shirehampton

First Bus services 40 & 40A run between Cribbs Causeway and Old Market via Shirehampton High Street.

First Bus service 41 runs between Avonmouth and Old Market via Shirehampton High Street.

Wessex service 502 runs between Shirehampton (Dursley Road) and UWE Frenchay via Station Road and Shirehampton High Street.

For all these routes, the stops nearest to the Health Centre are at Shirehampton Green.

Wessex service 501 runs between Avonmouth and Abbey Wood MOD via St Mary’s Road, Waverley Road and (part of) Shirehampton High Street. From Avonmouth, the nearest bus stop for the Health Centre is in St Mary’s Road, opposite the cemetery. From Abbey Wood, the nearest stop is in Shirehampton High Street at Priory Gardens.

There is a public car park in Waverley Road (behind the Health Centre.) There is a Health Centre car park for patients, but as part of Pembroke Road is one-way, it can not be accessed from Waverley Road.

This walk starts from Shirehampton Health Centre, in Pembroke Road.

[1] Walk to Pembroke Road and cross over. Go straight ahead to walk through the drive in front of St Mary's Church to the High Street. (Should the drive be closed or blocked, an alternative route is to turn right, with the church on your left, and walk along the pavement to the footpath on the left which runs past the back of the church to the High Street.)

[2] At the High Street, turn left.  (Take care when crossing Waverley Road and the filling station forecourt.)  Continue along the High Street, passing the Tithe Barn (A) just after the filling station, and crossing Priory Gardens and the arched entrance to Penlea Court.  As you walk down the slope, you can see the Bristol Conference Centre (B) on the other side of the road.

[3] Follow the pavement and fork left into Old Barrow Hill.  The road slopes up, but only for 40 yards or so.  At the top, cross the road and turn right into St. Tecla Close; there are a couple of seats where the roadway bends right

[4]. Follow the road to the right, then swing left along a path which runs between bungalows and through a gateway.  Go down to the left to join a wider level pathway and continue on it to the left, with open grassland and a playground on your right.

The path follows the hedge, and at a gate ends at Beachley Walk; continue along the right-hand pavement, passing the Beachley Walk Community Day Centre (C) on your right and continue as far as the road junction.  (To get to the playground you saw, turn right along the path just after the Beachley Walk Centre.)

[5] Cross over both roads (Beachley Walk and Old Barrow Hill), and walk up the path towards Jim O'Neil House (D). When you reach the fence just beyond the main entrance, follow the fence left, then turn right along the surfaced path through the grassland (with the rest of Jim O'Neil House on your right.)

[6] When you reach the road (Orchard Crescent) turn left and walk along the road for 20 yards, passing a house called The Paddock, to reach the pavement. Be aware that the road may be busy at school start and finish times. Keep going along the left-hand pavement and continue left as Orchard Crescent joins Saint Mary's Road.  Opposite is Saint Mary's Walk, leading to Shirehampton Primary School (E).

[7] When level with the entrance to Shirehampton Cemetery (F) cross the road (taking care, as it is a bus route and can be busy) and turn left to continue in the same direction but on the right-hand pavement.

[8] Follow round to the right into Priory Road then immediately cross over to go down a surfaced access road (between the road name sign and a garage.)

[9] At the far end, cross the road (taking care, as Waverley Road can be busy) and turn left to walk to the junction. Keep on the pavement, turning right into Pembroke Road. The Health Centre is a short distance on the right.

(A) The Tithe Barn. This 15th century barn, a Grade II* listed building that was once threatened with demolition has been restored to its former glory after an award-winning £1.2 million refurbishment and was re-opened in 2012. It is owned by St Mary’s Church and is being developed for use as a community centre with five separate meeting spaces.

The refurbishment has seen a hidden oak roof restored and opened up and become an integral feature of the ancient building. The original, full height entrance to the barn has also been recreated as well as the construction of a single-storey extension to the rear of the building to provide additional meeting space in the form of an orangery.

(B) The Bristol Conference Centre. This is a Grade II listed building, designed by F Bligh Bond & built in 1905..Formerly the British Telecom Training Centre, and before that the Post Office Regional School, it is now a privately-run conference centre and wedding venue, etc.

(C) Beachley Walk Community Day Centre (used for a playgroup and other community activities) is overseen by Bristol City Council. Contact Phone number: (0117) 9822142. Activities include:

Station Road Preschool (Phone number 07757547193, 

Families In Touch (a community group for families with children under 8 years old, which runs throughout the year on Friday mornings),

Dragon Club (a social evening club (Mondays) for adults with learning difficulties, providing social education, leisure and recreational opportunities to enable people with learning difficulties to gain greater independence, confidence by encouraging opportunities for involvement, integration within the club and community) and

Bristol North West Food Bank.

(D) Jim O'Neil House - sheltered housing for the elderly.

(E) Shirehampton Primary School

(F) Entrance to Shirehampton Cemetery

Toilets and baby changing facilities are available in the Health Centre, when it is open: Monday - Friday 8.30am - 6.30pm; some Saturday mornings.

Refreshments (cafes, pubs and shops etc) available, mainly in the High Street.