Bower Ashton is an interesting little area just south of the river from me—in fact, the Rownham Ferry used to take people over from Hotwells to Bower Ashton, operating from at least the twelfth century to around the 1930s.
It's a strangely contradictory little area, with a cluster of old and new houses sandwiched in between the busy A-roads and significantly more industrial area of Ashton and the bucolic country estate of Ashton court roughly east to west, and also between Somerset and Bristol, north to south.
I've been around here before, mostly poking around Bower Ashton's arguably most well-known bit, the Arts faculty campus of the University of the West of England, but I'd missed at least Parklands Road and Blackmoors Lane, so I initially planned just to nip across briefly and wander down each in turn. On a whim, though, I texted my friends Sarah and Vik in case they were out and about, and ended up diverting to the Tobacco Factory Sunday market first, to grab a quick flat white with them, extending my journey a fair bit.
To start with, though, I nipped to a much more local destination, to see something that you can't actually see at all, the Gridiron...
(I also used this wander as a test of the cameras in my new phone. I finally upgraded after a few years, and the new one has extra, separate wide and telephoto lenses compared to the paltry single lens on my old phone. Gawd. I remember when speed-dial was the latest innovation in phones...)
As on our last jaunt, we've left the city behind and stepped into Somerset.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Bedminster Ashton Ashton Gatehouse
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Text Recognition Tags: Welcome to BRISTOL CITY AND COUNTY Welcome to BRISTOL CITY AND COUNTY
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.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Clifton Village Clifton Clifton Hill Clifton Hill Bank Clifton Hill Meadow
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Text Recognition Tags: Welcome to Clifton Hill Meadow and Wildflower Lawn We to add which grobe Theate h how to w 2001. The c wakenya March 2002. Over t 0 flow and fy ata of t What will happen on the site Clifton Hill is changing We're working with the council to transform this slope www into a wildflower meadow and wildflower floral law. betrie Espress but we will soon stat The week and the grap prothesof 2011 Feyete the C when we propawower made the becomes to fe of powiad of coa tour, de dona pm the cap sed my led to help on the gord They are w Swach the So that owner, and the ம து போட்ட விலொ That the be wh Apinating w the to the we Do you want mor wildflowers? DVD WEST BRISTOL CLIMATE Welcome to Clifton Hill Meadow and Wildflower Lawn We to add which grobe Theate h how to w 2001. The c wakenya March 2002 . Over t 0 flow and fy ata of t What will happen on the site Clifton Hill is changing We're working with the council to transform this slope www into a wildflower meadow and wildflower floral law . betrie Espress but we will soon stat The week and the grap prothesof 2011 Feyete the C when we propawower made the becomes to fe of powiad of coa tour , de dona pm the cap sed my led to help on the gord They are w Swach the So that owner , and the ம து போட்ட விலொ That the be wh Apinating w the to the we Do you want mor wildflowers ? DVD WEST BRISTOL CLIMATE
With a special Platinum Jubilee celebration on offer, too. I imagine The Mall Gardens will do that rather well.
The "Brigstowe Village Band" is a whimsical name. Brigstow—the bridge at the meeting point—is the origin of the modern "Bristol". Apparently they're "modelled on the village bands of Thomas Hardy’s day when local musicians played for all the local gatherings and celebrations."
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Text Recognition Tags: MALL GARDENS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (MGRA) SOCIAL PROGRAMME 2022 The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations and MGRA Summer Garden party with a Jazz band. Sunday 5th June 12pm-6pm. All Welcome. Bring your own picnic, drinks and friends and family Musical evenings in the top Mall garden. Tuesdays 6.30 for 7.00pm 5th July City of Bristol Brass Band 12th July Sion Singers 19th July Brigstowe Village Band 26th July Csilla's Chums (local African band; tbc) (Bring snacks, picnic and friends and family; ALL Welcome) Drinks and Canapes in October; (MGRA members only) 6.30-8.00 pm; at a member's house(date and venue tbc) (Please bring a bottle) Carols around the piano (MGRA members only) Mince pies, snacks and Prosecco 6.30-8.00pm Tuesday 20th Dec. West Mall (Please bring a bottle of Prosecco or white wine) DO JOIN THE MGRA Further information or queries contact: Shu Sandhu Re Social Programme email protoksandhu@gmail.com Jan Smith Re Membership of MGRA email-stuma.com MALL GARDENS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION ( MGRA ) SOCIAL PROGRAMME 2022 The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations and MGRA Summer Garden party with a Jazz band . Sunday 5th June 12 pm-6pm . All Welcome . Bring your own picnic , drinks and friends and family Musical evenings in the top Mall garden . Tuesdays 6.30 for 7.00pm 5th July City of Bristol Brass Band 12th July Sion Singers 19th July Brigstowe Village Band 26th July Csilla's Chums ( local African band ; tbc ) ( Bring snacks , picnic and friends and family ; ALL Welcome ) Drinks and Canapes in October ; ( MGRA members only ) 6.30-8.00 pm ; at a member's house ( date and venue tbc ) ( Please bring a bottle ) Carols around the piano ( MGRA members only ) Mince pies , snacks and Prosecco 6.30-8.00pm Tuesday 20th Dec. West Mall ( Please bring a bottle of Prosecco or white wine ) DO JOIN THE MGRA Further information or queries contact : Shu Sandhu Re Social Programme email protoksandhu@gmail.com Jan Smith Re Membership of MGRA email-stuma.com
19 Aug 2023
It's been a long while since I did one of these walks.
I'm thinking of finishing up the project by walking one or two last bits of road, thus being able to declare with all honesty that I've done my best to walk every public road within my mile (and quite a few alleyways besides.) As a prelude, and just because I felt like it, I decided to drag out the camera and GPS on this little wander to the local shops.
Also looking nice and fresh since my last wander is the pair of community noticeboards, with a plethora of local news.
I found out recently that I was a winnner of one of the Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association 500 club prizes, which, alongside my membership, is a fun way to give money to the local organisation that puts up these noticeboards and does so much else for the community.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Clifton Village Hotwells Clifton
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Text Recognition Tags: Howells and Cliftonwood Community Association (ACCA) community cond Useful local information Cond Local Pang Vefa Avon and R Ay GTA abyQMalaw De Oy He PO De 30 G F PAD Lesson for t FRA Obag w BATANGA to your whatapang Var JOE MICKS GUITAR TEACHER BUTHORE.COM y Gramgenee07504 ty PO Box 200 Online Coaching and 61100 TW utrition Quidance Fra ersonal Training sessions LONDRE om prope tech y and get aang d 222000 Get Fit, Be Healthier, Be The Best Version Of You! www.top be and reach SOF ing out to Our sto Quran We have ww Facebook Tutir @COtt G35 Top for my on or stop you A O 07564375433 @w tabourside and Satu Action Fraud ALERT AF Google .***. of St DAS y Th y AudionFraud SA 13304 W 15. Ch Lifeskitts LEARNING FOR LIVING Guing which includes working wilt amal and active safatyti Wysan bes the fe WELCOME SPACE at CLIFTON LIBRARY activitating January 2635 (10 ng WELCOME SPACE We are currently looking for people to help us deliver safety education to children via our enginteractive village based in central Bristol www50 Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association 500 CLUB RESULTS 2023 1 mn m Hot drinks Relax GAMES CRAFTING Films CHAT Wellbeing Newspapers Study KAPHY TABLE TENNIS Hasting which includes opening and sing talk with the c sporting teachers re The 100 Challe Join us for a tester heut Wednesday 12th April is the next scheduled taster hour please contact the email below for more information and to book your place OLLYW4 Hvat e ang pag Apt Now swight Robert C con Nowhe CIP ad NC Nowe Man No for 2 yr y dece ww OXO AUTY New THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE YOUR 300C SUCTIONS A HANG POSLE POES THAT HELPO THE LOCALE EVERY MONTH WE HAVE UNCLAIMED PRIZE HONEY THAT COULD YOUR CLUB FOR THE CHANCE TO BE YOU NAM NAD OF NO WINNER OWN AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY SCAN ME bile PR COURE Ap C Te qu 700 Emetas T Com You to t You fost d Shpaloaph we would love to make oef regularly vegade ba ne Beinart Art & Art haling p A you missing making an DEMENTIA SAFEGUARDING SCHEMEL www.beinartotive.c 4 Ben sad fin BEWARE PROSITY Criminals are adapting! there are many where you ca weket M -Tudo que fa thoshwade - pada poleg oniks and li MA ART whick - server creaty PCRIME and the deving the vers If you're not sure, research more! www Having a baby? - PRACTICAL and EMOTIONAL support is available for you in the cala in pomancy, birth and pomnically Sear Roma Helen Whit ANME PROCITY O Howells and Cliftonwood Community Association ( ACCA ) community cond Useful local information Cond Local Pang Vefa Avon and R Ay GTA abyQMalaw De Oy He PO De 30 G F PAD Lesson for t FRA Obag w BATANGA to your whatapang Var JOE MICKS GUITAR TEACHER BUTHORE.COM y Gramgenee07504 ty PO Box 200 Online Coaching and 61100 TW utrition Quidance Fra ersonal Training sessions LONDRE om prope tech y and get aang d 222000 Get Fit , Be Healthier , Be The Best Version Of You ! www.top be and reach SOF ing out to Our sto Quran We have ww Facebook Tutir @COtt G35 Top for my on or stop you A O 07564375433 @w tabourside and Satu Action Fraud ALERT AF Google . *** . of St DAS y Th y AudionFraud SA 13304 W 15. Ch Lifeskitts LEARNING FOR LIVING Guing which includes working wilt amal and active safatyti Wysan bes the fe WELCOME SPACE at CLIFTON LIBRARY activitating January 2635 ( 10 ng WELCOME SPACE We are currently looking for people to help us deliver safety education to children via our enginteractive village based in central Bristol www50 Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association 500 CLUB RESULTS 2023 1 mn m Hot drinks Relax GAMES CRAFTING Films CHAT Wellbeing Newspapers Study KAPHY TABLE TENNIS Hasting which includes opening and sing talk with the c sporting teachers re The 100 Challe Join us for a tester heut Wednesday 12th April is the next scheduled taster hour please contact the email below for more information and to book your place OLLYW4 Hvat e ang pag Apt Now swight Robert C con Nowhe CIP ad NC Nowe Man No for 2 yr y dece ww OXO AUTY New THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE YOUR 300C SUCTIONS A HANG POSLE POES THAT HELPO THE LOCALE EVERY MONTH WE HAVE UNCLAIMED PRIZE HONEY THAT COULD YOUR CLUB FOR THE CHANCE TO BE YOU NAM NAD OF NO WINNER OWN AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY SCAN ME bile PR COURE Ap C Te qu 700 Emetas T Com You to t You fost d Shpaloaph we would love to make oef regularly vegade ba ne Beinart Art & Art haling p A you missing making an DEMENTIA SAFEGUARDING SCHEMEL www.beinartotive.c 4 Ben sad fin BEWARE PROSITY Criminals are adapting ! there are many where you ca weket M -Tudo que fa thoshwade - pada poleg oniks and li MA ART whick - server creaty PCRIME and the deving the vers If you're not sure , research more ! www Having a baby ? - PRACTICAL and EMOTIONAL support is available for you in the cala in pomancy , birth and pomnically Sear Roma Helen Whit ANME PROCITY O
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 :)
This used to be nigh-impenetrable forest. I saw a deer here once, probably the only time I've seen a wild deer in Bristol, though I understand they're quite common.
Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom Leigh Woods forest woods
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Text Recognition Tags: Welcome to Leigh WoodsE Welcome to Leigh WoodsE
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