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Bristol: To where the hangars were - and back.

Difficulty Easy Access

Walking time 31 minutes

Length 1.7km / 1.1mi

Route developer: Michael Broggio

Route checker: julie boston

Start location South Bristol Community Hospital
Route Summary An easy-access walk over Bristol's former airfield to where the hangars used to be - now a Rugby ground. Usually car-free and peaceful, but less enjoyable when there are car boot sales (every Saturday) or other events (visible from near the start.)
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

Several bus routes stop at the hospital, including First Bus routes 20, 36, 51, 75, 76 and 90, and Wessex 515.

There are a number of cycle paths leading to the hospital. Secure bicycle anchor points are available at the front of the hospital.

There is limited parking at the hospital site, which will need to be paid for unless you are a blue badge holder.

Description

Starting from the Community Hospital entrance, walk along the path to the right (away from the road) with the Leisure Centre and golden globe on your left. Dog-leg through the barrier.

[1] At the path “crossroads”, turn right onto the narrower path.

Safety note - at this point, look to the right.  If a car boot sale or other event is taking place, with many vehicles on the grass and path to the right, it may be preferable to leave this walk for another time.

[2] When you reach the tarmac runway turn right and walk along the runway; at the end, continue round to the right, along the broad path (a former taxi-way of the airfield.) The path curves gently to the right, then continues in a straight line.

[3] At a path junction, turn left onto the path which goes through a wide gap between bushes.

[4] Beyond the gap, the surfaced path widens, with grassy areas to the left. At the far end on the right, beyond a low barrier, is the rugby clubhouse & ca rpark.

[5] The return walk goes back along the path, through the gap, to the path junction at [3].

[6] At this point go straight ahead onto the broad grass path, if the surface is suitable for you. (If not, see the alternative route below.) The path heads towards the back of the hospital.

[7] when you reach the fence turn right and shortly left to follow beside the fence (around land currently being developed.) Where the fence turns sharp left, continue ahead along the grass path. At the tarmac path, turn left to reach the path “crossroads” [1] and turn left towards the start point at the hospital.

Alternatively, from [6] you can retrace the original route; turn right, follow the left hand side of the taxiway and the runway until, at [2], reaching the tarmac path to the left. Follow this path to the path “crossroads” [1] and turn left towards the start point at the hospital.

POI information

A. Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport, also known as Whitchurch Airport, was the main airport for Bristol and area from 1930 to 1957. When opened, It was only the third municipal airport in the country.

During the Second World War it was, for a time, the only operational civil airport. It enabled air connections to Lisbon, to Shannon and from there to the United States, and later to North Africa. The actor Lesley Howard was killed whilst on a flight from Africa to Bristol.

The airport closed in 1957, with services transferred to what is now known as Bristol International Airport. The runway was last used in 1993 when a Cessna light aircraft landed on it in emergency.

B. Site of a former running track, and hangars before that. St Bernadette’s Old Boys Rugby Club ground is where there used to be a running track (still shown on some maps.) Before that, there were hangars for the old airfield on the site. The track here used to be where aircraft taxied to the runway.

When the car boot sale is held, vehicles enter the (normally closed) gate beside the Rugby club, and drive along the taxiway path to park on the grass, leaving via the end of the runway.

Notes

Toilets & cafe available in the Hospital and also the Leisure Centre opposite. There is limited parking at the hospital site, which will need to be paid for unless you are a blue badge holder.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Brian Edwards for help in developing this walk.

  • Front of South Bristol Hospital & Hengrove Leisure Centre, at the start of the walk
    Front of South Bristol Hospital & Hengrove Leisure Centre, at the start of the walk
    By - Mick Broggio
  • Looking east from the mid-point of the runway - point [2] on the walk.
    Looking east from the mid-point of the runway - point [2] on the walk.
    By - Mick Broggio
  • Looking along the taxiway from the path junction at [3], to where the path goes through a gap between bushes.
    Looking along the taxiway from the path junction at [3], to where the path goes through a gap between bushes.
    By - Mick Broggio
  • The open space at point [4] - the far end of the taxiway, and the walk.
    The open space at point [4] - the far end of the taxiway, and the walk.
    By - Mick Broggio
  • At point [6] - the start of the grass path towards the Hospital.
    At point [6] - the start of the grass path towards the Hospital.
    By - Mick Broggio
  • Between points [6] and [7] - the grass path towards the Hospital.
    Between points [6] and [7] - the grass path towards the Hospital.
    By - Mick Broggio
  • Between points [7] and [1] towards the end of the walk - the grass path beside the fence.
    Between points [7] and [1] towards the end of the walk - the grass path beside the fence.
    By - Mick Broggio
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