Briham one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

I’m afraid I’m going have to fail this route because of one small section of the riverside path at Stapleton. Generally, it was an excellent route but at OS Grid Ref: ST 618 760, because I had stayed on the plotted route, I was faced with a choice of a scramble up a cliff path with a rather hairy descent (heading north) using all four limbs, or a crawl through a one-meter-high tunnel through the rock. The official Frome Valley Walkway uses the other side of the river at this point, with good reason! I can only presume that the previous three reviewers followed the Frome Valley Walkway, crossing two bridges, without noticing that they had gone off this Slow Ways route. I see that BriHam Two follows the correct route at this point, but I had already followed the cycle track out of Bristol by this time.

This route is easily navigable and mostly off-road, using two green corridors - the Bristol to Bath railway path and the lovely wooded valley of the River Frome, with a short road-based crossover between the two half way along. It’s an excellent way into or out of Bristol and you wouldn't know you were in a city for much of it.

In November, after a week of heavy rain, the Hambrook end was generally muddy underfoot but still perfectly walkable.

I recommend a couple of minor detours from the mapped route. In Frenchay, where the Frome Valley walk kinks briefly west away from the river, you can go through the National Trust-owned fields instead of using the short section of road. And at the Bristol end, the off-road alternative through Castle Park between Union Street/Broadmead and the Old Market roundabout cuts off a corner and Is much nicer.

I also recommend the Frome Valley Walkway website which gives lots of information about the northern part of the route and has a useful leaflet you can download. (NB It is actually possible to use the Frome Valley walkway to do the whole Bristol - Hambrook walk and it is about three quarters of a mile shorter. It is still an off-road route but you would be in the (interestingly urban) company of the M32 for some of it).

This is a very straightforward route from Bristol to Hambrook. The beginning part of the route follows the Bristol to Bath cycle path and is, as you would expect, very busy with cyclists! In contrast once joining the Frome Valley Walkway at Eastville, it is a pleasant riverside walk with a mixture of concrete and dirt paths. From Eastville to Frenchay is a very popular walking route with family's and dogs. There are public toilets and a great cafe at Snuff Mills carpark. In wet weather, some of this route can be very muddy and you need to be very careful as the river is often very high too. That said, it is passable for most of the time.
This is a great Slow Ways route to Hambrook (and beyond) as the Frome Valley Walkway continues through Winterbourne, Frampton Cotterell, Iron Acton, Yate and Chipping Sodbury.

Lovely scenic route comprising the Frome Valley Walkway and Bristol to Bath Railway Path. Some muddy sections and obstacles.

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