A dog-friendly walk around Snuff Mills

Frome Valley Walkway - Eastville Park, Bristol

Links \| Next \| Previous \| List Sites \|	by Christine Wyndham-Thomas
See Landranger map 172 Bristol, Bath/OS Pathfinder 1167(ST67/77) (Ref: 6175 & 6377) THE FROME VALLEY NATURE TRAIL has and still can be described as a fairyland on the outskirts of Bristol. The gurgling of the River Frome, the chirping of the birds, and the pleasant sight of so many varied blooms at different times of the year, all combine to express MOTHER NATURE at her most radiant. click here to see the area of Eastville in relation to Bristol. You'll see Bristol positioned at the bottom and looking towards the top, you'll see Eastville and the weir, which is the area where you want to begin this walk. The river outlined next to the weir is the River Frome. If you want to travel by bus then take the No.5 from Bristol City Centre. It stops close to Eastville Park, then outside Snuff Mills, and then The Common at Frenchay. From Eastville Park to Snuff Mills is approx. 1.5 miles and is an extremely historical walk. Eastville Park was created in 1899 as part of the Victorian movement for recreation and health. Your dog can be let off its lead if well behaved and is not a threat to the squirrels, ducks, nor swans. Make your way to the end of The Lake and go to where the path crosses - you take the left-hand one. This will take you through a wooded area and across your first bridge. Carrying straight on takes you along a lovely serene river walk. The weir here once served Lathbury Mill. Carry straight on until you have crossed the second bridge. If you don't want to deviate at this point, go directly to paragraph B. Half way up the steps, to your left lies an old Ice House that used to serve the Manor House, but is now Colston School. click here to see whole page to see the whole area being talked about in the rest of this page. If you go to the end of the steps and turn right you will come out onto Colston Hill. Going to the top of Colston Hill will bring you out behind Stapleton Church - the spire of which is quite a landmark. The church was built from Pennant Stone, obtained from the Broom Hill Quarry at Snuff Mills, and was completed in 1857. As going up Colston Hill leads to a main road it would be advisable to put your dog on its lead. Going to the bottom of Colston Hill you will come to a fork where the road branches off to your left. This is Wickham Glen. Going to the top of Wickham Glen will take you to the main road but going to the bottom of Wickham Glen, brings you to Wickham Bridge - Bristol's oldest bridge: having been built during the medieval period.	Just as you near the end of Wickham Glen but before reaching Wickham Bridge you will see a field - this is the large field described in the following paragraph - which you can also get to if you don't follow the 'deviation' but carry straight on after crossing your second bridge. *paragraph B* From the second bridge take the road directly ahead. You will enter a large field with a table and bench near the river. Nearby are nettles that are there to attract certain insects, which will then attract certain birds. The setting is ideal for a picnic. It also provides a tranquil atmosphere should you just want to read, study, or spend a little time with your thoughts. The gateway ahead leads to the forks to Wickham Glen and Wickham Bridge, as described above. Crossing Wickham Bridge you will come to the second of the forks. The road ahead will take you along Wickham Hill. If you decide to go along this road then put your dog on its lead. The left fork goes in the direction of Snuff Mills. If you decide not to go up Wickham Hill but to carry on to Snuff Mills then go to paragraph D below. A short distance along Wickham Hill brings you to historical Wickham Court - first turning on your right - it was here that Oliver Cromwell and General Fairfax held a Council of War before the attack on Bristol in 1645. There is actually a plaque on Wickham Court to this effect. You can either go back down Wickham Hill and on to Snuff Mills, or back to Eastville Park from the way you came, or you can turn left and go down Blackberry Hill and cross the road at the bus stop, turning left then take the first right into River View. Blackberry Hill is extremely dangerous, as you will see for yourself, so be careful when crossing! paragraph D A short distance on you will enter Blackberry Hill. BE WARNED - this is an extremely dangerous road so have your dogs on their leads well before you reach here. I always make sure that Pippin, Benji and Lucky are on their leads just as I reach the place where the path narrows - just before the last house on the right - because there is a stile at the end of here, leading to steps going up onto Blackberry Hill - and this road is extremely dangerous, so take care! From Blackberry Hill you can either go back the way you've just come, or make it a circular walk by going left once you're on Blackberry Hill, and going to the bottom of the hill, and then turning first left. This is Park Road and you just carry on straight along this road, eventually coming into Bell Hill - at the bottom of which will bring you to Averay Road, across Stapleton Bridge, and to Eastville Park. Alternatively, cross the road, turn left, then take first right into River View - which will bring you to the entrance of Snuff Mills, where there's a little tea place for you to enjoy some refreshments. next : Snuff Mills

by Christine Wyndham-Thomas

See Landranger map 172 Bristol, Bath/OS Pathfinder 1167(ST67/77) (Ref: 6175 & 6377)

THE FROME VALLEY NATURE TRAIL has and still can be described as a fairyland on the outskirts of Bristol. The gurgling of the River Frome, the chirping of the birds, and the pleasant sight of so many varied blooms at different times of the year, all combine to express MOTHER NATURE at her most radiant.

click here to see the area of Eastville in relation to Bristol. You'll see Bristol positioned at the bottom and looking towards the top, you'll see Eastville and the weir, which is the area where you want to begin this walk. The river outlined next to the weir is the River Frome.

If you want to travel by bus then take the No.5 from Bristol City Centre. It stops close to Eastville Park, then outside Snuff Mills, and then The Common at Frenchay. From Eastville Park to Snuff Mills is approx. 1.5 miles and is an extremely historical walk.

Eastville Park was created in 1899 as part of the Victorian movement for recreation and health. Your dog can be let off its lead if well behaved and is not a threat to the squirrels, ducks, nor swans.

Make your way to the end of The Lake and go to where the path crosses - you take the left-hand one. This will take you through a wooded area and across your first bridge. Carrying straight on takes you along a lovely serene river walk. The weir here once served Lathbury Mill. Carry straight on until you have crossed the second bridge. If you don't want to deviate at this point, go directly to paragraph B.

Half way up the steps, to your left lies an old Ice House that used to serve the Manor House, but is now Colston School.

click here to see whole page to see the whole area being talked about in the rest of this page.

If you go to the end of the steps and turn right you will come out onto Colston Hill. Going to the top of Colston Hill will bring you out behind Stapleton Church - the spire of which is quite a landmark. The church was built from Pennant Stone, obtained from the Broom Hill Quarry at Snuff Mills, and was completed in 1857. As going up Colston Hill leads to a main road it would be advisable to put your dog on its lead. Going to the bottom of Colston Hill you will come to a fork where the road branches off to your left.

This is Wickham Glen. Going to the top of Wickham Glen will take you to the main road but going to the bottom of Wickham Glen, brings you to Wickham Bridge - Bristol's oldest bridge: having been built during the medieval period.

Just as you near the end of Wickham Glen but before reaching Wickham Bridge you will see a field - this is the large field described in the following paragraph - which you can also get to if you don't follow the 'deviation' but carry straight on after crossing your second bridge.

paragraph B

From the second bridge take the road directly ahead. You will enter a large field with a table and bench near the river.

Nearby are nettles that are there to attract certain insects, which will then attract certain birds.

The setting is ideal for a picnic. It also provides a tranquil atmosphere should you just want to read, study, or spend a little time with your thoughts.

The gateway ahead leads to the forks to Wickham Glen and Wickham Bridge, as described above. Crossing Wickham Bridge you will come to the second of the forks.

The road ahead will take you along Wickham Hill. If you decide to go along this road then put your dog on its lead. The left fork goes in the direction of Snuff Mills.

If you decide not to go up Wickham Hill but to carry on to Snuff Mills then go to paragraph D below.

A short distance along Wickham Hill brings you to historical Wickham Court - first turning on your right - it was here that Oliver Cromwell and General Fairfax held a Council of War before the attack on Bristol in 1645. There is actually a plaque on Wickham Court to this effect.

You can either go back down Wickham Hill and on to Snuff Mills, or back to Eastville Park from the way you came, or you can turn left and go down Blackberry Hill and cross the road at the bus stop, turning left then take the first right into River View.

Blackberry Hill is extremely dangerous, as you will see for yourself, so be careful when crossing!

paragraph D

A short distance on you will enter Blackberry Hill. BE WARNED - this is an extremely dangerous road so have your dogs on their leads well before you reach here. I always make sure that Pippin, Benji and Lucky are on their leads just as I reach the place where the path narrows - just before the last house on the right - because there is a stile at the end of here, leading to steps going up onto Blackberry Hill - and this road is extremely dangerous, so take care!

From Blackberry Hill you can either go back the way you've just come, or make it a circular walk by going left once you're on Blackberry Hill, and going to the bottom of the hill, and then turning first left. This is Park Road and you just carry on straight along this road, eventually coming into Bell Hill - at the bottom of which will bring you to Averay Road, across Stapleton Bridge, and to Eastville Park.

Alternatively, cross the road, turn left, then take first right into River View - which will bring you to the entrance of Snuff Mills, where there's a little tea place for you to enjoy some refreshments.

next : Snuff Mills

Frome Valley Walkway - Eastville Park, Bristol

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