Gutsy Girls’ Top 5 Hikes near Bristol
Credit: Sarah Hewitt Photography
You probably already know that Bristol is fantastic for culture, nightlife and its food scene. An added bonus is that whether you live in Bristol or are just visiting, you don’t have to venture far out of the city to find some great hiking spots. If you’re after a pretty countryside amble, a trek through some spectacular landscape or an invigorating coastline walk, Bristol has it all within an hours’ drive (though in some cases, it does take longer by public transport).
Here's our round-up of what we think are the top five walks near Bristol, covering north, south, east and west of the city. Each one offers something different and you can reach all of them by either bus or train. Plus, most of them are dog friendly and include great pub, restaurant or café options for a post-hike lunch or a pick-me-up drink along the way.
Cheddar Gorge Viewpoint Loop (south of Bristol)
Distance: 4.7 miles
Approx. hiking time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Travel time from central Bristol: 40 minutes by car; 2 hours by bus (number 376 Mendip Explorer Bristol-Wells, number 126 Wells-Church Street, Cheddar)
Dog friendly? Yes, but it’s advisable to keep dogs on a lead at the viewpoint due to some sudden drops around the cliff edges. After the hike you can treat your canine friend at the village’s boutique bakery for dogs, Cheddar Paws Bakery!
Route: Cheddar Gorge viewpoint loop from Cheddar
Located in the Mendip Hills, Cheddar Gorge is the largest of its kind in England at 400 feet deep and 3 miles long. Starting out from the tiny village of Cheddar (yes, home of the cheese!), you’ll first encounter the incredible landscape on your approach, as the road that runs through the village is actually nestled between the huge cliff faces of the limestone gorge.
There’s a variety of walks you can do around the gorge and surrounding area but the Cheddar Gorge Viewpoint hike is definitely the most impressive. The ascent to the summit has got some striking sights along the way too – look out for the a great view of Lion Rock and the ancient Bake Hole cave towards the beginning of the walk.
The route takes you up through woodland and it is a steep, rocky path, but you’ll be rewarded with the fantastic scenes when you reach the top. From the top of the gorge you can see for miles across the green Mendip Hills, including the Cheddar Reservoir – a perfect view for a picnic (weather dependent!), and it’s a great place to admire the remarkable and unusual terrain as you look out across the gorge. Climb to the top of the Cheddar Gorge Lookout Tower for an even better view, and descend back to the starting point via the 274 step Jacob’s Ladder staircase!
Cheddar has a number of options for food and drink. The White Hart is an especially dog-friendly pub which we recommend!
Bath Skyline
east of Bristol
Distance: 6 miles
Approx. hiking time: 3 hours
Travel time from central Bristol: 50 minutes by car; 45 minutes by train (walk to Bristol Temple Meads station, 11 minute train ride to Bath Spa station, walk to Bathwick Hill at Cleveland Walk)
Dog friendly? Yes, but there are sometimes sheep and cattle on this route so keep your dog on the lead or under close control in areas where farm animals are present.
Route: Bath Skyline walk
Only a short train hop from Bristol, Bath is a pretty Georgian city which attracts millions of visitors every year. We recommend getting away from the crowds and seeing Bath from above for a totally different perspective. Bath Skyline walk offers panoramic views of the city within the surrounding countryside, where you can appreciate both the picturesque architecture of Bath and the rolling, tree-lined hills that encompass it.
One of the first exciting sights on this circular route is Sham Castle, a turreted Grade II listed building which dates back to the late 1700s. The walk then takes you through pretty woodland, across the remnants of an old tramway and over peaceful wildflower meadows.
Arguably the best view of Bath can be seen in the second half of the walk, at the foot of Lyncombe Vale, where you’ll see the honey coloured city buildings situated between the hills. The route rounds off by taking you through the tranquil Smallcombe Garden Cemetery and ancient woods before reaching the starting point back at Bathwick Hill.
The start/end point is a 20 minute walk from the city centre and there are lots of pubs, cafes and restaurants to choose from in central Bath for a post-hike meal or drink.
Dundry Hill Circular
south of Bristol
Distance: 2 miles
Approx. hiking time: 1 hour
Travel time from central Bristol: 25 minutes by car; 30 minutes by bus (672 Bristol-Church Road, Dundry)
Dog friendly? Yes, this is a popular walk for dog-walkers, but as you’ll be crossing farmland there may be sheep or cows around so you should keep your dog on a lead in these areas. It’s also worth noting that there are a few stiles on this walk which you may need to lift your dog up and over.
Route: Dundry Hill Circular
If you’re after a short hike with great views that’s not far out of the city, Dundry Hill is perfect. There’s a great dog-friendly pub in the village to start or end your hike with too: Dundry Inn, known for its Sunday Roasts (including good vegan options)!
This circular walk across the small village of Dundry’s hilltop has beautiful scenery in every direction – in fact, it has 360 views across Bristol, the Bristol Channel, the Mendip Hills, the Somerset Hills and even out to South Wales. The loop takes you through lush green fields, down a lovely country lane sheltered in greenery and across a quiet country road that takes you through the village and past its impressively tall church, which is just a stone’s throw from the Dundry Inn pub.
The walk starts out with views to the north and west, with the city of Bristol laid out below and the Bristol Channel and South Wales visible beyond (spot the Severn Bridge!). As you continue the loop to the west, you’ll come across stunning views of the Somerset Hills and the blue hues of Barrow Gurney Reservoirs at the foot of the hill.
Facing southward, you can see the Chew Valley, Chew Valley Lake and the rises of the Mendip Hills, a gorgeous patchwork view of the English countryside! As you continue you’ll get to admire more breath-taking scenes across the Somerset Hills and closer up, glorious rolling wildflower fields, before the loop ends with a wander through the pretty village (and, if you like, to the pub!).
Distance: 5.6 miles
Approx. hiking time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Travel time from central Bristol: 40 minutes by car, after the hike take the X5 bus Clevedon-Portishead to return to your car; 1 hour by bus from Bristol (X4 Bristol-Portishead); return bus 50 minutes (X6 Clevedon-Bristol)
Dog friendly? Yes, dogs are welcome on the coastal path, but keep an eye out for steep cliff edges along the way.
Route: Portishead to Clevedon Coastal Path
Blow the cobwebs away on this coastal hike that runs between the nearby seaside towns of Portishead and Clevedon, taking in spectacular views of the Bristol Channel and a lungful of fresh sea air. This shoreline walk is a nice rugged one – think wild, raw and beautiful!
You can begin the hike from any point in Portishead (you’ll just need to make your way down to Mariner’s Path on the coast), but we think a good place to start out from is the town’s pretty Lake Grounds, where you can grab a coffee or sandwich from the Lakeside Café before you set out. From here walk down Portishead’s Esplanade, the town’s seafront, before joining Mariner’s Path. If you’d prefer a sit-down meal before the hike, the Windmill Inn at the start of the coastal path is a great pub with fantastic views across the Severn Estuary to south Wales.
Roughly a mile into the hike, look out for Black Nore Lighthouse, a Grade II listed building that dates back to the late 19th century, when it used to navigate passing ships. This striking white structure sits at a brilliant viewpoint across the Channel, and there are several benches around the lighthouse if you want to give your legs a rest.
Continue to follow the coastal path south and you can’t really go wrong on this route! You’ll pass several shingly beaches, including Redcliff Bay, Walton Bay, Margaret’s Bay and Ladye Bay, each one a chance for spectacular sights (and photos) of the Bristol Channel and the coastal cities and towns of south Wales across the water.
From Ladye Bay, you’ll be able to see the silhouette of Clevedon Pier, the hike’s finish point, reaching out into the channel. Said to be the most beautiful pier in England, we suggest you buy yourself a stick of rock from the pier shop before strolling to the end and admiring the panoramic views out to sea. The Pier’s Glass Box restaurant offers tasty fish and chips (plus a vegan version) and lots of other food and drink options, before you hop on the bus back to Portishead or Bristol, depending on your mode of transport. Of course, you can always double the distance and hike your way back to Portishead the way you came if you fancy a longer day!
Alveston Alpacas Loop from Thornbury (north of Bristol)
Distance: 5.6 miles
Approx. hiking time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Travel time from central Bristol: 35 minutes by car; 55 minutes by bus (T1 Bristol-Rock Street, Thornbury)
Dog friendly? It depends. Although there is fencing between the path and the alpaca fields, if your dog is likely to get excited or uneasy around the animals it’d be best to leave them at home for this one. It’s also worth noting that there may be sheep or cows in the fields, and there are a number of stiles on the route that you might have to help your canine pal over.
Route: Alveston Alpaca Loop
Looking for something a little different? The village of Alveston, just outside Thornbury, is home to an alpaca farm, and this hike includes a segment that runs right between two alpaca fields so you can get up close to admire the animals. What could be better than a walk that incorporates these unusual, fluffy creatures?! As well as the alpacas, the route features mostly wide, open fields, lots of charming country lanes and quaint farmhouses, and begins and ends in the pretty market town of Thornbury, about 10 miles north of Bristol.
This circular hike covers both town and countryside, and is a good opportunity to admire bustling little Thornbury and its sense of historic England (it has a beautiful Tudor castle and a church that was built in the 12th century). Thornbury has lots of cafes, restaurants and pubs to choose from plus an array of quirky independent shops that you can check out either before you set off or as a nice way to round off your trip afterwards.
After leaving Thornbury, the walk takes you through the countryside that lies between the town and the village of Alveston, a former royal manor - and home to the Wolfridge alpacas! This route gives you an excellent view of the grazing animals, taking you down a track between two fields with woolly alpacas on either side of you. Once you’ve had your fill of alpaca watching, the hike loops out to the east and north across sprawls of green fields and farmland, down winding, tree-lined paths and quiet country roads: a quintessential slice of rural Gloucestershire!
The route closes with a picturesque view of Thornbury from above as you head down lush, sloped pastures, before navigating you back into the town. Why not go all out and treat yourself to afternoon tea at Thornbury Castle afterwards!
COMMUNITIES IN BRISTOL
Now you’ve got the hikes, who will you go with?
Check out the following Facebook groups to connect with like-minded women and meet new friends!
Bristol Hiker Girls
This is a meetup group for women living in Bristol and the surrounding areas to get together and go for a walk. It's a safe, friendly space to meet new friends, get some headspace and connect with nature.
BLACK GIRLS HIKE
Founded in 2019, Black Girls Hike U.K. provides a safe space for Black women to explore the outdoors. Challenging the status quo, and encouraging black women to reconnect with nature, we host nationwide group hikes, outdoor activity days and training events.
LOVE HER WILD BRISTOL
Love Her Wild Bristol, Somerset & Wiltshire group; a place for you to connect with other women in the Love Her Wild community close to home.
ADVENTURE QUEENS BRISTOL
AQ provides physical and virtual spaces for all women to connect, share and support each other; and practical information, tips and advice to better equip them in having outdoor adventures.
Gutsy Girls in Bristol
In June we will kick off our day events in Bristol and Bath again! We’ll be mountain biking, paddleboarding, rock climbing and much much more.
If you’re looking for an overnight adventure in the area check out our Cotswolds Hiking Weekend and Bikepacking Weekends!