14 Mar 2021
An enormous walk today, or at least it felt enormous. My feet are sore, anyway. I started off recreating a couple of local historical photos in Hotwells, but then headed for my traditional walk along the towpath in the Avon Gorge to the far extreme of Leigh Woods, up and through the woods to the height of the Suspension Bridge, finally crossing into Clifton Village for a well-deserved vanilla latte.
I say "traditional" because this used to be a very regular route for me, first walking, years and years ago, and later jogging—this route combined with a circuit of the Downs on the other side used to be my way of making sure I was fit to do a half-marathon (I did six of them in total, between 2010 and 2014).
I miss the routine of this walk, even though it's a long way and it used to pretty much wipe me out when I did it—I'd come back home and collapse and do very little for the rest of the day. But perhaps that's what Sundays are for, and I should try to remember that.
Doing this walk regularly was quite a meditative experience. Not so much of that today, but once I got to the further extreme of the towpath, where the roar of the Portway traffic on the other side of the river dwindles and I turned into Leigh Woods to climb ever closer to birdsong and further from rushing cars, I did seem to recapture a little of the feeling of previous walks. (I would say my mind cleared, but I was mentally singing along to Life Without Buildings' The Leanover for most of the wander. There are worse songs to have stuck in one's head, though; it's a great track...)
Anyway. Apparently the walk made me more likely to ramble in words, too. I'll stop now :)
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Leigh Woods forest woods
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Text Recognition Tags: Clean up after your dog Welcome to Kay Leigh Woods Leigh Wsos hes sanetng ter eryone, whetwo much to eplon and lats ot wid to dhcover n foot ar hook, thare's A growing history This section of the bal is stoep and rocky and uneven. Yeu may whth to dnnt ing ing s Discover wildtu Paradioe Bottum Clean up after your dog Welcome to Kay Leigh Woods Leigh Wsos hes sanetng ter eryone, whetwo much to eplon and lats ot wid to dhcover n foot ar hook, thare's A growing history This section of the bal is stoep and rocky and uneven. Yeu may whth to dnnt ing ing s Discover wildtu Paradioe Bottum
I bought a vintage post card from eBay this week. It's a well-known photo of the Hotwells landing stage, showing what's likely to be a P&A Campbell paddle steamer moored there. (Just yesterday I snapped a photo of their buoy on display at Underfall Yard with its information sign.) It was posted from here to Canada in 1936, and has now returned via a presumably quite circuitous route.
Local journalist Maurice Fells (really local—I could probably hit his house with a well-flung teacake from here) notes in The A-Z of Curious Bristol (£) that:
For tens of thousands of people, the pier at Hotwells was the starting point of their day trip as they boarded steamers with names like Glen Avon, Glen Usk and Britannia. The salty tang of the sea was never far away as the steamers headed for Ilfracombe, Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Portishead on the Devon and Somerset coast and Barry, Porthcawl and Tenby in South Wales.
The landing stage is long-abandoned. A variety of economic issues, including fuel prices, the increasing prevalence of the motor car, the construction of the Severn Crossing giving easier access to Wales, and the collapse of Clevedon Pier during safety testing in 1970, which prevented larger pleasure boats from stopping at the resort, all led to dwindling trade.
I went to have a poke about there today, not staying for long as it's a cold day and the wind was biting. I couldn't reproduce the postcard's view—you'd need to risk life, limb and presumably a trespass prosecution—but I did try to judge the rough viewpoint and angle of the photo by lining up with Rock House, the Colonnade and the Suspension Bridge and snapped a photo looking back to where the original photographer would have stood on the pontoon.
This Bristol City Docks history page has many good photos of the landing stage and the nearby Port and Pier Railway line (whose tunnel I was in the other day) and the Hotwells Halt railway station, which was just the other side of the suspension bridge from here.
Well, I think that's what it says.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Hotwells Avon Gorge river avon hotwell road landing stage pontoon
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Text Recognition Tags: Post Card Address Only 5NE PENNY For Correspondence Bruilob 29/6/3l Dear Ein Hlonele, Had a lovely trif, Bruslol is Jual oeean 25 Amroth an. off banforild ave Tronts htato nt banada olaad Wonderful.rgrowring. Erns Mother is up and downolairs, and she is Soieilid oung Emma r Franh arrivid Set last at 8-0e f6m. Love from Menr fack us all, Post Card Address Only 5NE PENNY For Correspondence Bruilob 29/6/3l Dear Ein Hlonele, Had a lovely trif, Bruslol is Jual oeean 25 Amroth an. off banforild ave Tronts htato nt banada olaad Wonderful.rgrowring. Erns Mother is up and downolairs, and she is Soieilid oung Emma r Franh arrivid Set last at 8-0e f6m. Love from Menr fack us all,
28 Jan 2021
With very little photography, and no new streets. Still, I did manage to buy milk at the "Simple Cow" vending machine—and "simple" is very definitely false advertising; it took me bloody ages to work out how to use the thing—and snap the new ACER/SEPR piece down in Cumberland Piazza.
It was not simple. But now I have some clue what I'm doing I might manage it better next time.
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19 Jun 2021
I hadn't really planned to go out for a wander yesterday; I just got the urge and thought "why not?" (Well, the weather forecast was one possible reason, but I managed to avoid the rain, luckily.)
I wanted to finish off the A369—as it turns out I may still have a small section to go, but I've now walked the bulk of it out to my one-mile radius—and also a few random tracks in Leigh Woods. I'm still not really sure that I'm going to walk them all, especially after discovering today that "the map is not the territory" applies even more in the woods, where one of the marked tracks on the map wasn't really that recognisable as a track in real life... I'm glad I'd programmed the route into the GPS in advance!
Anyway. A pleasant enough walk, oddly bookended, photographically at least, by unusual vehicles. Leigh Woods was fairly busy, especially the section I'd chosen, which was positively dripping with teenage schoolkids with rah accents muttering opprobrium about the Duke of Edinburgh. I'm presuming the harsh remarks were more about taking part in his award scheme than the late Consort himself, but I didn't eavesdrop enough to be certain...
Long Ashton Parish Council, I'm assuming. I love a local noticeboard. Though the pop-up cafe sounds interesting, I don't think I've ever had a good coffee in a church. Clearly the devil has the best caffeinated drinks.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Leigh Woods forest woods
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Text Recognition Tags: LAP.C. LEIGH WOODS Yar MeUtrary Do you come here often? Pop up Cafe Thank you Pue-Up LAP.C. LEIGH WOODS Yar MeUtrary Do you come here often? Pop up Cafe Thank you Pue-Up
06 Jun 2021
The track on the map doesn't tell the whole story of this walk with Lisa around and about Clifton, Berkeley Square, Brandon Hill and the harbourside, because the batteries on my GPS ran out while we were on the roof of Trenchard Street car park, it seems. Oh well. I think I did most of the area I was interested in finishing off around the University; there were only a few new bits around Brandon Hill that won't be on the track, and I can easily do them again.
Still, technology woes aside it was a nice walk, albeit a bit warm for climbing all those hills, and sat on the harbourside watching the world go by for a while, too. It was good to see the Bristol Ferry Boats carrying people around again, especially.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Clifton Covid charity oxygen
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Text Recognition Tags: BRISTO,L FOR INDIA he person i dying every two minutes due to COVID and lacs Akdy over 130,000 individuals in India have lost their las to Covid's deadiy second wave. We cannot let this catastrophe continue. Thampaign has been set up by a group from the Univershy afistolinamed "B isto i for india" rasing funds to get Gesperately needed supplies of Oxygen concentrators to patients and covid warriors in Inda SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CAMPAIGN Ctate row to help us send at least 20 concentrators the 4 most affected states of India gen concentrators produce oaygen and can pa hundreds of patlents. Ohe single concentrator saving multigle IN Bristol can and Bristol will BRISTO,L FOR INDIA he person i dying every two minutes due to COVID and lacs Akdy over 130,000 individuals in India have lost their las to Covid's deadiy second wave. We cannot let this catastrophe continue. Thampaign has been set up by a group from the Univershy afistolinamed "B isto i for india" rasing funds to get Gesperately needed supplies of Oxygen concentrators to patients and covid warriors in Inda SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CAMPAIGN Ctate row to help us send at least 20 concentrators the 4 most affected states of India gen concentrators produce oaygen and can pa hundreds of patlents. Ohe single concentrator saving multigle IN Bristol can and Bristol will
I went to have a peep at the giant sinkhole that's opened up in Canynge Square—ironically, having recently discovered the gardens were public I'd had the (triangular!) square on my list to re-visit for a few days, but now there's no entrance to the gardens due to the danger. The area was well fenced-off for safety, but I tried to get a couple of photos from behind the barriers.
I also explored the area around Camp Road, an real melange of architectures, one of the most mixed-up areas I've seen in Clifton, in fact, and confirmed my friend Claire's suspicion that an earlier snap of a sign from Manilla Road was in fact for a fire hydrant. Nice.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Clifton Village
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Text Recognition Tags: Dear negbour od 14 aund 1 ene unknoun tomeit the extensebuling wo ur wy on the house t to umber, damag ringwide truc/orry the d t eoistently parked at the te for seeal wee ng and aown and iemrahing ut you to ask i you can al e regivtration number of any detavsal regarding thê truck, bu yourself have hat yeur demaged recently as lythis ne an isolated moa rm what remenber itwosa uck wth aopen ar ba end for toading up scatfording etc, uimilar to this steckiel Wiknson The driver contacted my partrer aver the interc o seek the owner before breakin offand SL alter being informed the persen te wistalng too couid put him in comt with me herefore ey that if this persan has degnother cars uch as yours. he is kely t repeat behavidur in the future and nat act to infem you 00 have had amy dimage to yaur car recently or an emember and share any details of the Tack in question or if you saw what haupened t would be enainouly acoreciated f you would Lotact me va teatical 0766994321. Orvamall at simonmattheapayne@nai.com Althe best, Mecry Christmaes and stay sale Smbeumbi The Fosseway Dear negbour od 14 aund 1 ene unknoun tomeit the extensebuling wo ur wy on the house t to umber, damag ringwide truc/orry the d t eoistently parked at the te for seeal wee ng and aown and iemrahing ut you to ask i you can al e regivtration number of any detavsal regarding thê truck, bu yourself have hat yeur demaged recently as lythis ne an isolated moa rm what remenber itwosa uck wth aopen ar ba end for toading up scatfording etc, uimilar to this steckiel Wiknson The driver contacted my partrer aver the interc o seek the owner before breakin offand SL alter being informed the persen te wistalng too couid put him in comt with me herefore ey that if this persan has degnother cars uch as yours. he is kely t repeat behavidur in the future and nat act to infem you 00 have had amy dimage to yaur car recently or an emember and share any details of the Tack in question or if you saw what haupened t would be enainouly acoreciated f you would Lotact me va teatical 0766994321. Orvamall at simonmattheapayne@nai.com Althe best, Mecry Christmaes and stay sale Smbeumbi The Fosseway
02 Dec 2020
This may be the very first time I've gone for a One Mile Matt wander and not actually gone down any new roads, trod any new steps. I just wanted a coffee, frankly, so I went the same old way to Imagine That in the marina and back again.
This is the current plan to replace the caravan park
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom baltic wharf
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Text Recognition Tags: BALTIC WHARFI NEW HOMES FOR BALTIC WHARF Hew the propesed deveinpmemt cend oek frem the Flating Harter WHAT IS PROPOSEO FOR BALTIC WHARF? WHY DO WE NEED MORE NEW HOMES? Goram Homes, Bristol City Council's housing company, has partnered with Hil to propose transformational plans for Baltic Whart This would provide approsimately 165 new homes, including 406 affordable. It is widety acknowledged that the curent housing crisis has led to the under provision of housing and particularly atfordable housing within Bristol. Although much is being done in the City to address the crisis, there are key issues with affordability, rough sleeping, and lack of social housing Bristol currently has over 13,000 famlies on the affordable housing register and a further 710 people in temporary accommodation. The aim is to create a vibrant destination on the Floating Harbour with homes, retail, restaurants and commercial spece, one that is well connected to local walking and cycling routes, seamiessly integrates with the historic setting and capitalises on the waterfrort setting with expansive views across the lamous Bristol townscape. Comparing house prices in Bristol to those in other Core Cities in the decade between 2008 and 2018 indicated that Bristol had the highest average housing costs of all the Core Cities in this period, and also the highest percentage Increase - over S6, compared to a UK average increase in costs of just over 32 The site is the Boltik Wharf Carian Club, The site is owned by Bristol City Counci and as part of the overarching ambition to deliver high quality homes, this site has been identified as a site capable of providing bomes for Bristal. GORAM HOMES 出Hill Goram Homes was founded in 2018 as part ol an initiative from Bristol City Counci, wich the ambition to increase the provision of nea hemes in the city and to meet affordable housing requirements without compromising on build quality Goram Homes is a subsidary of Bristol Holding Ltd, HIl is an award-winning 5 star housebuilder, creating a range of beautiful and awardwinning new homes across the south of England. They are a leading partnership developer, delivering distinctive and award-winning new homes, having been named Housebuilder of the Year, medium and large, in 2018. which is wholly owned by Bristol City Council Goram is set up to deliver mised tenure housing on a joint ventune basis and our share of profit wil feed back into the funding of council servicel BALTIC WHARFI NEW HOMES FOR BALTIC WHARF Hew the propesed deveinpmemt cend oek frem the Flating Harter WHAT IS PROPOSEO FOR BALTIC WHARF? WHY DO WE NEED MORE NEW HOMES? Goram Homes, Bristol City Council's housing company, has partnered with Hil to propose transformational plans for Baltic Whart This would provide approsimately 165 new homes, including 406 affordable. It is widety acknowledged that the curent housing crisis has led to the under provision of housing and particularly atfordable housing within Bristol. Although much is being done in the City to address the crisis, there are key issues with affordability, rough sleeping, and lack of social housing Bristol currently has over 13,000 famlies on the affordable housing register and a further 710 people in temporary accommodation. The aim is to create a vibrant destination on the Floating Harbour with homes, retail, restaurants and commercial spece, one that is well connected to local walking and cycling routes, seamiessly integrates with the historic setting and capitalises on the waterfrort setting with expansive views across the lamous Bristol townscape. Comparing house prices in Bristol to those in other Core Cities in the decade between 2008 and 2018 indicated that Bristol had the highest average housing costs of all the Core Cities in this period, and also the highest percentage Increase - over S6, compared to a UK average increase in costs of just over 32 The site is the Boltik Wharf Carian Club, The site is owned by Bristol City Counci and as part of the overarching ambition to deliver high quality homes, this site has been identified as a site capable of providing bomes for Bristal. GORAM HOMES 出 Hill Goram Homes was founded in 2018 as part ol an initiative from Bristol City Counci, wich the ambition to increase the provision of nea hemes in the city and to meet affordable housing requirements without compromising on build quality Goram Homes is a subsidary of Bristol Holding Ltd, HIl is an award-winning 5 star housebuilder, creating a range of beautiful and awardwinning new homes across the south of England. They are a leading partnership developer, delivering distinctive and award-winning new homes, having been named Housebuilder of the Year, medium and large, in 2018. which is wholly owned by Bristol City Council Goram is set up to deliver mised tenure housing on a joint ventune basis and our share of profit wil feed back into the funding of council servicel
21 Nov 2020
A rather more wide-ranging weekend wander with Sarah and Vik, taking in some mock Tudor bits of Bedmo (I should note that I've subsequently been corrected to "Bemmie", but I'm an outsider and have been calling it "Bedmo" for short for decades...), a chunk of Ashton, a path up Rownham Hill called Dead Badger's Bottom(!), The Ashton Court estate, a bit of the UWE campus at Bower Ashton, and some of the Festival Way path.
Tags: Ashton Court Estate Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Rownham Hill*. Ashton Court
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Text Recognition Tags: RUNNING DAYS 2020 MARCH 29th APRIL 12th, 13th & 26th Fri Bth, 10th, " 7th, 21st Sth, 1 MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST 2 Wed 26th 18th st (Halloween) day running days are rom 1pm unti TPALY For Halloween, pleane dress up RUNNING DAYS 2020 MARCH 29th APRIL 12th, 13th & 26th Fri Bth, 10th, " 7th, 21st Sth, 1 MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST 2 Wed 26th 18th st (Halloween) day running days are rom 1pm unti TPALY For Halloween, pleane dress up
15 Nov 2020
My friend Sarah mentioned the high tide and I managed to drag myself out early, though still a little late. We nearly drowned in torrential rain, but the weather changed quickly and we ended up walking over to Bedminster in sunshine.
I have since worked out how to use the milk vending machine, and very nice milk it is, too.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Hotwells milk simple cow vending machine
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18 Apr 2022
I didn't really set out with a theme of flowers and gardens in mind for this walk. I just fancied heading up to Clifton Village to get lunch. As it turned out, though, Spring was springing, so a minor theme emerged as I started off with the graveyard flowers of Hope Chapel and wandered up to see the beginnings of the new wildflower garden at Clifton Hill Meadow.
There's been some commotion on Nextdoor about the recent appearance of this sign. Lots of people who have been letting their dogs off their leads in the churchyard for decades have been rather up in arms. I'm not sure there's actually much danger of the rozzers issuing ASBOs or fines to the locals for that kind of infraction, though.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Clifton Village Clifton St Andrew's churchyard birdcage walk Lime Walk
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Text Recognition Tags: ㅅ Keep dogs on leads and clean up after your dog Notice of a public spaces protection order (PSPO)- All dogs must be held on leads and it is an offence not to clean up after your dog Anti-Social Behaviour Crime And Policing Act 2014, Section 59Notice is hereby given that Bristol City Council (the Council) in exercise of its powers under Section 59, 63 and 72 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 The Act, being satisfied that the conditions set out in section 59 of the Act have been met, made the following Onder City Of Bristol (Dog Control) Public Spaces Protection Order 2020. A Fored Penalty Notice may be issued to a person who a comitable or authorised person has reason to believe has committed an offence in relation to this One offering the person to whom it is issued the opportunity of dischinging any lability to conviction for the offence by payment of a fiend penalty Scene dog fouling provisions and the Exclusion Zones de not app assistance dogs Further information about the PSPO and the front of the Onder can be found at Public Space Protection (PSPO)-bristol.gov.uk ㅅ Keep dogs on leads and clean up after your dog Notice of a public spaces protection order ( PSPO ) All dogs must be held on leads and it is an offence not to clean up after your dog Anti - Social Behaviour Crime And Policing Act 2014 , Section 59Notice is hereby given that Bristol City Council ( the Council ) in exercise of its powers under Section 59 , 63 and 72 of the Anti - social Behaviour , Crime and Policing Act 2014 The Act , being satisfied that the conditions set out in section 59 of the Act have been met , made the following Onder City Of Bristol ( Dog Control ) Public Spaces Protection Order 2020 . A Fored Penalty Notice may be issued to a person who a comitable or authorised person has reason to believe has committed an offence in relation to this One offering the person to whom it is issued the opportunity of dischinging any lability to conviction for the offence by payment of a fiend penalty Scene dog fouling provisions and the Exclusion Zones de not app assistance dogs Further information about the PSPO and the front of the Onder can be found at Public Space Protection ( PSPO ) -bristol.gov.uk