Walks & Rides in North Somerset.

Collated by Mary Mason.

A contemporary report 1824.

1. A voyage down the Avon, to Kingroad, may be taken either in a light boat with sails, which would give time for a deliberate view of its varied margin of wood and rock, or on the deck of one of the outward bound steam vessels as far as the river`s mouth. Opportunities for return the same day occur most frequently with a flowing afternoon tide, or land conveyance from Lamplighter`s Hall.

2. Leaving Bristol and the road to Henbury on the left hand, with the White Hart Inn on the right, ascend Westbury Hill, and proceed onward to Crib`s Causeway, 5 miles; East Compton 6; Redwick 8; Marsh Common 9; Aust 11 miles.

3. From Stoke`s Croft pass through Horfield to Filton 3½ miles; Almondsbury Hill 6; Alveston 10; Thornbury 11; its Castle 11½ miles. Return by way of Littleton upon Severn, Elberton, Olveston, Tockington, and Almondsbury, descending its hill, to the six mile stone.

9. Ride over Redcliff Hill, through Bedminster (the Common of which presents a beautiful bird`s eye view of the Hotwells) to Bishport; passing Dundry on the right, to Northwick, Chew Magna, Chewstoke and East Harptree, 11 miles.

10.Through Bedminster, straight onward to the nine-mile stone, turning to the right for Wrington, 10½ miles, the birth place of Locke.

11. In Bedminster, turn on the right for Ashton. Ashton Court is on the right of the road, the church on the left. Go through Long Ashton, to Flax Bourton, Farleigh, West Town, Brockley and the Combe, 9 miles. (This may suffice for one day, but intending either two days, or a week)

Pass onward to Congresbury, 21 miles, Puxton, St. George, Worle and Weston-super-Mare, 12 miles. Here is an Hotel, kept by one who was butler to the Mayors of Bristol for several successive years, a Library, Baths and society enough for ample illustration of what a commercial life in Bristol may produce in the way of good taste in recreation and general intelligence.

12. Cross the Avon at Rownham Ferry; ascend the hill to Leigh Down; pierce the Wood, and view the circumvallations of an ancient military station, opposite to that of Clifton Down. (This alone, with a camp tea equipage, might serve for a thirteenth afternoon, on foot.) Ride to Failand, Wraxall, Clevedon Court and Clevedon. Return through Walton, Weston, Portishead, Portbury, Abbot`s Leigh and Leigh Down to Rownham. The Lodge on the summit of Leigh Down, with four Ionic colums, is the approach to P. J. Miles, Esq`s mansion, the successor of Leigh Court, the Royal retreat of 1651.