Briwic two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked this from Wick to Bristol on a freezing cold but beautiful morning. The route out of Wick is through the very pretty Golden Valley, which includes a flight of steep steps. After this the route is entirely on roads or metalled paths.

It is easy to navigate, fairly flat and (apart from those steps leaving Wick) accessible. There are a couple of crossings of major roads, but I did not find them a problem - with good sight lines and regular breaks in the traffic.

Once on the Railway path, there is almost no navigation to do - just keep going! The cafe at Warmley is nice, and there are other places to take a rest and refreshments just off the path.

I do find walking along old railways fairly dull on the whole. There are no views, and you don’t really get a feel for the places you walk through. This is no different - great for cycling, easy but boring walking. Still, this is no barrier to this being a fine slow way, but I’m looking forward to walking the alternative.The tunnel was good fun, mind.

The route into Bristol is a good one, and passes by The Barley Mow, one of my favourite pubs (closed this morning though!).

Overall - a fine slow way, if a bit dull!.

Although it seems like a big loop north to use the Bristol Bath railway path on the map, this popular off-road multiuser superhighway is so very easy to navigate, pleasant to walk, unobstructed and well surfaced all the way that it is actually an excellent and highly efficient way to get out of Bristol to the east. The initial route out of central Bristol through Castle Park and along the dockside, passing near the back of Temple Meads station, is also a good one.

Where this Slow Way falls down a little for me is at the Wick end, where it goes an unnecessarily long way round, even though it is an enjoyable walk. I note that the previous reviewer didn’t bother with the last bit and took a more direct way into the village from the west. I assumed that the extra loop round to the east would because it would be wheel-friendly (much of this route is very good for wheels) but it does include a short section of stepped woody path, so it’s not for that reason.

If I used this route another time I would be tempted to switch to Briwic one on the way into Bridgeyate at approx. w3w panic.reform.tops and head across the fields, or do as the previous reviewer did and switch to Hamwic two at approx. w3w vague.range.claim at the western edge of Wick. The first of these options Is about a mile shorter and the second saves nearly half a mile.

That all said, it is very enjoyable. For those who don't know the Bristol Bath cycle path, it does include a few hundred metres of drippy tunnel at Staple Hill (lit though, and atmospheric) and, as the previous reviewer stressed, it can be busy. Watch out for speeding cycle commuters who seem to think the path is their personal race track. The path passes a big Morrisons supermarket in Fishponds and, as has already been said, there is a good cafe at Warmley.

Once off the cycle path the Slow Way takes quiet roads, with a crossing of the busy A420 at Bridgeyate (no pedestrian crossing here but it is a safe place to cross). You can cut off a bit of a corner by walking across the little piece of grassy common once across the road. The road up towards Wick has light traffic, is generally wide or has big grass verges, and has plenty of views around. The last section into the Village is through a lovely wooded nature reserve.

Re buses back into Bristol. Reviewers of both Briwic slow Way options so far have suggested that you can’t get back into Bristol from Wick by bus. This is currently true for a Sunday but Monday to Saturday it is possible. At the time of writing (Jan 23) there is the 35 bus but only 3 a day go direct all the way into town on weekdays only. The rest of the time, it mostly only goes as far as Kingswood, where you have to change to another bus.

Very easy to navigate as the majority of the route follows the Bristol Bath bike path: this can get busy so make sure you keep to the left at all times. The route is mostly concrete and fairly flat. Cafe stop at Warmley provides the perfect half way stop with hot drinks, homemade cakes and a loo in a tardis!
About a mile on from Warmley the route deviates from the bike path and takes you along mainly narrow lanes past farms and stables.
On entering Wick, which you can see from the top of the hill, I deviated from the set route: having been on concrete a lot I decided to head down the footpath (photos 9 and 10). This took me around the back of the houses and along the pretty, meandering River Boyd. It’s easy to get back onto the set route from the end of the path and photo 13 shows the point where you can rejoin the set route at the junction with the High Street. Continue along here for half a mile or so and finish at the Rose and Crown pub for a welcome drink and meal - perfect!
Unfortunately no buses go back to Bristol from here so make sure you have alternative plans to head back….

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