It is a good route taking you through nature and hills, but at the same time this route is not wheelchair friendly, not for someone facing high asthma, not with kids, and some places are not horse friendly. In the middle, there are few pubs/groceries, which is good. We had to take a small detour as few paths were blocked, and on certain situations, there were no paths, so we had to walk on the road with the cars coming....

Jimeet Shah

This is a very pleasant walk out of Bristol, making very good use of the well established Bristol & Bath Railway Path and the Frome Valley Walkway. Great walk with no complaints!...

Tony Or

It is tempting to take this option, but the stretch nearest the railway was inaccessible due to locked gates, so I have followed the road option taken by the other two Brifil routes....

Alan Morris

The railway path, while a great transformation, can be more difficult to walk in a relaxed group because of the number of cyclists. It's wonderful to see how well used this path is, but it could be easier walked solo or in a pair rather than any more than that. The walk along the river is really nice, with plenty of seating areas where you can have breaks or a meal if you've brought a packed lunch....

Ingrina

- on leaving Oakham Farm, don't go up the tarmac lane, but look for the start of the footpath immediately to the left, which at its start goes parallel with the tarmac lane...

Alan Morris

really fun time!...

Tamara P

The route out of Portishead along the marina is better than the other options because there is more to see than on the path along the little canal and the new section of coast path allows less walking along the Sheepway road....

Mockymock

Having headed up Marlcombe road I would heed a warning here, you get the opportunity to follow a lane on the left at traffic lights in Easton in Gordano, but route suggests carry on up Marlcombe road BUT THERE IS NO PATH ON THIS VERY BUSY ROAD, for a while, then you can pick one up, before you turn left at Easton cricket club! I carried on for sake of this route review but would recommend diverting left up St George’s hill at traffic lights if you don’t want to walk in bus lane for 200 + metres, however, there is then an option to take footpath (easy to miss) on right but route suggests stay on road for a few more metres, but then remember to take opportunity to get off the road signposted ‘nature reserve’, follow well walked path and opposite the ‘Rudleigh’ pub (sadly closed down) cross road and head through middle of cricket club field towards Pill....

Russ Millward

When it's open please comment on this review and I can delete it from this route....

Slow Ways Cristie

An excellent walk mostly along good footpaths and cycle paths. The occasional road section but generally with pavements and always safe. Highly recommended for anyone in the area looking for a good walk....

jamiekirk

The former railway line shared-use route out of Bristol was very pleasant, and included a bit of classic Bristol street-art....

Mary Oz

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....

Mary Oz

The Concord Way between Constable Road and Bennington Way is closed off while development work goes on...

Jenny S

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

panifex

We did this walk around the time when much of the country had been dealing with heavy rain and flooding, so some stretches of the route were quite muddy and waterlogged (see photos). Despite being quite flat, the route offered some great views out across the Bristol Channel and covered a good mix of open country, villages and parkland. Apart from the mud, the route felt 'easy going' with only one short, easy ascent and nothing that proved to be difficult under foot....

Chris Melia

I can't see any good reason for wanting to walk along the main road through Long Ashton (unless you were going there)....

Steven Melia

Going north … the section from Ashley Hill towards the allotments is not cyclable and would be a challenge in a wheelchair. At the moment (2023-24) it then diverts under the railway and up Boiling Wells Lane to Muller Road. Many cyclists have to walk the last section; I imagine it would be impossible in a wheelchair....

AngusG

From Portishead, I walk alongside a drainage channel on a nice off-road path, and then I walk through a wetland nature reserve. I cross the road using the former railway bridge of the disused railway line. I'm glad the route didn't try and cross the road using the official green dotted lines on the OS map. (Before walking under the viaduct, I divert uphill to look at the former Pill railway station – there are plans to reopen a station here for passengers by reopening the line to Portishead. I guess this may affect this route but they would probably have to maintain foot and wheel routes. I also took a diversion to the Anchor pub for some lunch, but returned to the route where I left it.). In the park to the east of Pill I have to walk the path that is slightly to the north along the brown spots line on OS, not along the tunnel, which is below and inaccessible, and in use by occasional goods trains. The path is a little bit lower and I could imagine it occasionally floods and there is no easy escape, so don't do it in bad weather with high tides....

Mary Oz

I’m afraid I’m going to fail this route because I think the dual carriageway crossing of the A4174 is likely to be dangerous at most times. The final route to Bristol Bus Station from Temple Meads train station passed some interesting places too. Potentially a great route, but not with that awful road crossing....

Mary Oz

We rejoin the Festival Way to cross the railway into Flax Bourton, then use another footpath to reach the housing estate by the railway. Beyond the houses we rejoin the cycle track again as it runs alongside the railway through fields. Another field path takes us to a lane where we turn right, then cross fields to reach the edge of Nailsea....

Hugh Hudson

We follow the road to its end by the bridge over the river Frome, then follow the Frome Valley Way under the M4 and the A417 to a T junction where we turn right into a small housing estate. We follow the road left to a bridge where we cross the river, and follow the Frome Valley Way again. We follow Stapleton Road up the hill then use the cycle track which continues under and alongside the motorway for some distance into Riverside Park, where we take the right hand path then return to the river and follow Wellington Road, then the paved path to Champion Square....

Hugh Hudson

The second diversion from Station Rd, involved a reasonably steep ascent up to Ashley Down Rd, and a very steep descent down to Mina Rd, where it rejoins the official route...

Brian

As a result c15% of the route can’t be walked. An alternative route on Ashley Down Road was found. The route is mostly through built up areas and easy to follow....

Ros p

Since March 2023 the Concorde Way cycle path has been closed (it is expected to be closed for at least a year). As a result about 10% of the route can’t be walked and a diversion around Ashley Down Road had to be made. The route itself is very accessible for wheels and on footpaths so very little mud....

Ros p

A beautiful flat easy walk, lovely scenery with 2 nice pubs to stop and have a relaxing drink while overlooking the river. I would definitely walk it again and recommend it to others....

Edyth Thomas

Lovely walk with beautiful scenery, very relaxing being by the canal with plenty of wildlife along the way also 2 lovely pubs to sit, relax and enjoy the countryside....

Samantha Johnson

Fantastic walk, relaxing beautiful and varied scenery from water, cottages, greenery....

Serena Tyler

With a mixture of countryside, river views, Path runs alongside part of the Kennet And Avon Canal farm animals, two pubs for resting Main road leading back to the bus stop to Bristol The public paths through the countryside are very well kept...

Sophie Brown

Past Snuff Mills the tarmac path stops and the path becomes harder to walk and care needs to be taken not to slip on the steps...

Ros p

I think Panifex has made a correct suggestion, of a route not having to cross this road. 2 ) A further route which continues along the riverside path, all the way to the A4175, this would be a walk of 8.40 mi, compared to this walk of 7.30 mi...

Brian

I found it relatively easy to use paved road options to the west side of the route, which run in the same north-south direction as the plotted route. I found the route easy to follow and safe....

Tim Ryan

This is a way from Winford to Bristol but it's not easy to follow....

Slow Ways Darren

This route is mostly off road, offering great alternatives to walking on the busy roads with some lovely surprises that you would never normally know were there when you are driving or on public transport. We started this route with a lovely lunch at a pub in Winford -a great way to start the walk. After a short road walk the route then brings you out to the A38 which you have to cross which is the only hairy bit but you have to wait for safe crossing and the cars are speedy so be careful....

Lara

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. 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. 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. 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)....

Mockymock

As one of the previous reviewers mentioned, it isn't necessary to cross the A4174 - coming from Keynsham, stay on the left of the road until you get to a footpath which takes you under the bridge....

panifex

I know this route well as I live near Bristol, The route is very pleasant following the valley of the river Avon....

Tony Parsons

I stopped for a picnic next to the car park in Conham River Park, which has toilets and benches and is roughly halfway along the route. There's also some good blackberry picking between Netham Park and Conham River Park for keen foragers....

Katherine

I found it easy to follow and pleasant route in and out of the city....

Tim Ryan

A great walk - much more varied than I was expecting given that so much of it is along cycle paths. Easy to navigate and no styles. Definitely good enough to be in the slow ways network!...

panifex

However, traffic free section between Lockleaze Road and Bonington walk currently closed....

Hilary Cooling

Quirky urban route at first then delightful Frome valley...

Hilary Cooling

A pleasant fairly direct route on Festival Way, quiet roads and traffic free paths....

Hilary Cooling

This is a stunning route from the coast along the River Avon to the bus station at Bristol....

Slow Ways Darren

live in the Bristol area and have never walked from Portishead into the city......

danravenellison

If you are walking into Bristol from the east it's a great way to enter the city. If you are local, it's worth getting the train to Bristol or Keynsham and walking back to the other again. it's worth walking the extra KM to go this way I'm sure....

danravenellison

A walk of contrasting city and countryside along the river Frome....

Nick Wainwright

A more direct route which follows the Frome Valley Walkway....

conoroneilluk

When we reached the river Avon we diverted from the route in order to enter Bristol over the Suspension Bridge. Highly recommended....

Dommo

On two occasions it was impossible to follow the suggested route due to locked gates: these are the section parallel to Allison road (which should be used instead) and at Dixon Business Centre (which should not be entered at all, instead continuing along Dixon Road)....

StraylightTravel

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....

Sally P

This route will get you from Nailsea to Bristol safely and some of it is a good walk but it makes an unnecessary detour south up to Farleigh through a load of arable fields when there is a nicer direct path across Backwell common and then follows the road all the way through Long Ashton when, as the previous reviewer pointed out, there is an off-road alternative along the Festival Way cycle path south of the village. I will post an alternative version....

Mockymock

Quite a lot of it is on the well-signed Festival Way cycle path which is wheelable and obstacle free, including the whole stretch from Long Ashton to Bristol. This route uses the same off-road option as Naibri one. The second, more direct and wheelable option is to continue on the Festival Way....

Mockymock

If I was walking to Bristol from Nailsea, I would follow the cycling path (Festival Way) till Ashton Road, follow the main road till the next exit, pick up Canada Way and finish as described...

Hildegard

A lane leads up to a short section of road - the Sheepway - which is a fairly quiet road used by local buses - and an off-road cycle track (route 26) takes you from there to Pill. Pill has a small shopping precinct and pubs, and there the route joins the popular River Avon Trail which meanders several lovely miles to Bristol along the course of the river and through the craggy limestone gorge....

Mockymock

Note that you can follow the signed Concorde Way cycle path between Muller Road and the bottom of Dovercourt Road (it goes along Petherbridge Way past Aldi and over the footbridge - what3words pushes.others.fence to hints.often.noses) instead of using the rather cage-like narrow path around the back of Lidl. Its nicer....

Mockymock

This is suggested as an alternative to Winbri One to avoid walking along main roads and the two dangerous road crossings that mar that route. The route continues towards the busy A4174 bypass and takes a permissive (signed) route on the west side of the road to the safe underpass where Colliers Brook passes under it....

Mockymock

This walk is fine at the Winford and Bristol ends but not good between Barrow Common and the River Avon, with too much walking beside main roads and two dangerous road crossings. The route is lovely going over the hill between Winford and Barrow Common with huge views and mostly follows the regularly walked and well signed Monarch’s Way with kissing gate, stile and gate access. After this the route takes an unnecessary walk along the pavement beside the busy A369 to get to the River Avon when there is a slightly quicker off-road route along the Festival Way cycle path instead (signed from the end of the road to Bower Ashton and Ashton Court Park)....

Mockymock

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....

Mockymock

And also to note for the time being - not sure how long for - the section of cycleway between Constable Road and Bonnington walk in Lockleaze is closed while houses are being built adjacent to it, so there is a diversion up a neighbouring road which makes it a less pleasurable (but still direct) ride here....

Mockymock

This rating in no way reflects the quality of the whole route but it is a no from me as currently mapped because part of the suggested way along the A369 east of the motorway junction has no pavement and is dangerous....

Mockymock

The section on the A369, next to easton in gordano by J19 is unpaved this can be avoided by following the B road in Easton in Gordano, although the road is still busy and care should be taken. The section from Pill to Bristol is fantastic!...

fran77

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....

Tracie_Bennett

Varied and enjoyable route along the River Avon through East Bristol to rise very slightly to reach Wick at the western end of the Cotswolds. The walk is flat most of the way through or round plenty of interesting and attractive green spaces, (Bristol has many parks and green public spaces), including Netham Park, Conham Park, touching on Dundridge and skirting just outside Magpie Bottom, nature reserve....

Harriet B

Some of the paths have motorcycle gates on them, which may restrict wheelchair access. I attach a photo taken at Millennium Green in Northville....

conoroneilluk

A mostly off-road route....

conoroneilluk

Straightforward and accessible urban route, making the most of local green spaces....

Aishling

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

Aishling

After Broomhill the route encounters a number of barriers that could limit access including kissing gates (e.g. to access the field above Victory Park and the fields between Ironmould Lane and the A4174), deeply rutted and muddy tracks (notably sections of Ironmould Lane, Brislington), rough grassy sections (e.g. the fields above Victory Park and beyond Ironmould Lane), a road crash barrier and several stiles (e.g. woods between the A4174 and Durley Park) and numerous steps (e.g. woods between the A4174 and Durley Park). After Wick Road Library the current route takes an passage/ alleyway behind the houses on southerly side of Allison Road – however, towards where this joins Sherwell Road a large padlocked gate blocked access causing a return to Allison Road. The current route (and OS map) suggests that there is a well-defined route along field boundaries above Victory Park. On Brislington Trading Estate the current route (and OS map) suggests a through-route from Dixon Road to Hulbert Close. It is recommended that the Slow Way instead continues along the entirety of Dixon Road and then turns up Broomhill Road to reach Ironmould Lane. The OS map and current Slow Way shows the route from the end of Ironmould Lane to be across the first field. On reaching Keynsham the current route diverts from the High Street along Charlton Road and then a passageway adjacent to the carparks on Ashton Way before turning down Rock Road to reach Temple Street and the Clock Tower....

Peregrinating Paul