South Bristol Circular walk 2 - Brislington Village to Whitchurch

Public transport: for this section of walk from Brislington Village to Whitchurch.

Several bus services stop at Brislington Square, the start of this section of the walk. Services 177, 178, X39, 338, 339 & 349 run from central Bristol, stop near Temple Meads Station and continue to various destinations, with stops near to (but not inside) the Brislington Park & Ride car park.

[Note that the 904 Bath Road Park & Ride bus service does NOT stop at Brislington Square.]

Other less frequent services to Brislington Square are 36, 57, 67, 513 & 514.

In Whitchurch, at the end of this section of the walk, services 375 & 376 (Wells - Bristol) stop at the (Maes Knoll) bus stops in Bristol Road.

[1] Walk uphill to cross the footbridge over the A4; turn right into Runnymead Avenue and take the first lane on the left (West Town Court.) At the far end, cross over to continue along West Town Lane. Turn left into Hungerford Road. After ¼ mile, turn right opposite Hungerford Social club into Hungerford Gardens. After 80 yards, join the path ahead through an open space with Knowle Golf Club on the right hand side. Continue for ½ mile to a path junction; continue ahead, climbing up the flight of steps to reach the Stockwood Open Space viewpoint at the far end.

(A) Stockwood Open Space Nature Reserve is owned by Bristol City Council and leased to the Avon Wildlife Trust. Previously a farm typical of the region, it exhibits a mosaic of habitats that are of high value. It is a Regional Wildlife Site (RWS) for its unimproved neutral grassland, ancient woodland and plant species which are locally and nationally notable. The reserve hosts a good diversity of invertebrates and is listed on the Invertebrates Sites Register. For more details, see http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/stockwood.htm

[2] Turn right to follow the tarmac footpath with the rear of houses (numbered 31-17) on your left and continue ahead, alternating grass & tarmac stretches, passing 49-41, then 21-13 and 10-24. Turn left to reach Sideland Close. Turn right, passing 7 & 9 on your left, and turn left along the path to reach a road (The Coots.) Turn right, then right again into Harrington Road.

[3] Turn right just after The Harvesters pub and follow the lane to a footpath (with a Scout Hut on the right.) Continue through a narrow zigzag metal barrier (2 ft wide - see photo) to reach an open space.

Alternative if the gap is too narrow:- from the pub, continue along Harrington Road, turning right at the T junction and continue (passing 53-19) then turn right along a short path; turn left to the open space.

Walk across the open space to cross over Craydon Road. Continue with the rear of red brick houses on your right hand side, then ahead on a short narrow path through a thicket to emerge onto Stockwood Lane.

[4] Turn right and in 80 yards turn right through a metal kissing gate into the meadow. Follow a footpath diagonally left to the far left hand corner (just to the right of a house with a dormer window.) Follow the path and drive ahead. Turn right onto Staunton Lane, continue to reach the Bristol Road A37 at traffic lights (no pedestrian phase.)

[5] To cross safely, turn right, walk 150 yards to the pelican crossing, then return, crossing Maggs Lane to reach Church Road and St. Nicholas Church.

There are shops and food outlets near the start, and public houses along the route and at the end.

The South Bristol Circular Walk was designed by Bob Emerson and Neil Burlton of Bristol Group of the Ramblers Association with funding and assistance from Bristol City Council. Updated May 2010. This section developed as a stand-alone walk in 2013.