Avon Gorge Afternoon Tea Walk

This is an amazing walk where you literally walk from the bustling heart of Bristol out to the National Nature Reserve of Leigh Woods – where it’s hard to believe you are so close to the City.

You’ll begin at Millennium Square, heading along Bristol’s floating harbour past cafes and the reminders of Bristol’s maritime past before your route eventually opens up to grand views along the Avon Gorge towards the Clifton Suspension Bridge. 

Once at the end of the floating harbour your route joins the Avon Gorge towpath which takes you right underneath the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge and out towards the Severn Estuary. The gorge is 350 feet across at its base and the cliffs either side rise up to 300 feet, making this one of the most impressive canyons in the country. It’s a gently undulating path passing the exposed rock faces of the Gorge before skirting the bottom of Leigh Woods National Nature Reserve. 

After a mile or so along the towpath you will turn off into Leigh Woods where there’s a gentle climb past the aptly named Paradise Bottom to the tea rooms at Brackenwood garden centre. Not only are there tasty cakes to be enjoyed but the garden centre is a lovely place to look round in its own right. 

We have built in time for a cuppa and will arrange minibus transport (included in your price) for your return to Millennium Square.

Please bring your own water. Café refreshments not included. There are public toilets at the start and the end of the walk and at Brackenwood Garden Centre.
 

How it works:

Buy your ticket in advance: Buy your ticket here in advance – you can buy for friends and family too. We’ll email your tickets plus send you more information closer to the day including what to bring and travel arrangements.

Make your own way to the walk meet point: Many of our walks have good public transport links, but if you’re needing a lift email us at info@letswalkbristol.co.uk and we will pass the message on to other walkers booked onto your walk. If you’re wondering about the health and safety issues surrounding car sharing there’s some helpful information on the Liftshare travel happy website: https://liftshare.com/uk. 

Meet your guide: Your walk guide will be at the meet point to welcome and register you. We have an amazing team of experienced, insured guides who have designed some fabulous walking routes and who will be able to share interesting information with you along the way. They will also have details of any health/medical notes you told us about when you registered.

Nordic walking? This walk is open to both Nordic and regular walkers, so bring your poles and enjoy the day. There won’t be a pre-walk Nordic warm-up so if you’d like to do your own we’d recommend you arrive a bit early. 

Looking after your health and safety: Your health and safety is important to us and we have the following provisions in place on this walk: A requirement for everyone to complete and bring a Covid-19 declaration and waiver in order to participate. A limit on walker numbers to 16 people. A walk assistant to help should anyone in the group need to drop out for any reason. 

Don’t forget to book onto our evening socials for afterwards! 
We’ve two great Evening socials organised so you can meet up with others, continue to enjoy the Festival and experience Bristol’s vibrant culture. Underfall Yard is a working boat yard with a stunning view across the harbour. Toto’s is a trendy wine bar on the harbour front with a great private terrace. There’ll be food, music and plenty of outdoor space for you to enjoy.
 

Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Regular
Time: 1 – 3:30pm (Brackenwood) Pick up at 4:30pm (Back to Millennium Square)*
Meet: Millennium Square, Bristol BS1 5LL
Cost: £14
*Time has been built in for a cuppa at the cafe/walk round the Garden Centre before you are driven back via minibus to Millennium Square.