Things to do near Bristol?

mud-dodger

Any Bristol peeps about?
We'll be camping in the area at the end of the week, just wondering what there's to do in the area, walks, hills, tea shops or if there's any little known / poorly advertised gems that we could visit.
Also, any good bikes shops that I may happen to 'stumble across' whilst we're around?

Oh, and unfortunately won't be bringing either bike :oops:

Cheers Rob

jangle

Where abouts are you staying and what do you want to do?

Surf-Matt

Loads to do - can you get out of town at all?

Lots of parks, nice villages and all sorts nearby then Clifton for that posh urban village feel. Ashton Court is a nice big park just over the suspension Bridge, the Avon Gorge is worth strolling down (along the river) and there are loads of bike shops - some good, some hateful.

You could always look at the Somerset Secrets Guide we compiled for a client (this might be useful to anyone in Somerset) - hidden gems in the area although none are actually in Bristol.

http://www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/hom ... ts-secrets

mud-dodger

Sorry. yeah have a car so no prbs getting around.
staying at a campsite in Cheddar,'down there' till tuesday depending on the weather so maybe Wednesday.
Surf-matt...that was brilliant, thanks!

nicktheluddite

Bristol bike workshop on Colston Hill (up hill from Colston hall) is a no frills proper workshop place. Bike up by Habitat on Clifton Triangle must be recommended since I'm mates with one the guys there.
Join the queue for the Banksy exhibition at City Museum - it's meant to be great and is free. Park street has variety of trendy independent shops, Gloucester Road is one of the best sets of independent shops in UK.
Wells is quite a nice town, I've only had a brief visit to Glastonbury - purple capes and crystals was my perception but it's probably worth a look.

AyrshireBacon

mud-dodger wrote:

staying at a campsite in Cheddar

Would that be the Camping and Caravan Club site at Priddy? If it is then we were there in 2007.

craker

well, wrong side of Bristol, but canoeing down the Wye I've discovered is a very relaxing deal. Very. Aaaagh.

Google Symonds Yat & canoe and bring a sat-nav

Loads of family orientented stuff in the Forest of Dean btw (railways, caves, downhilling)

risi

Oooh, I leave jolly close to Cheddar.

The Swan Pub in Rowberrow is nice and there are some walks up on Rowberrow common. Walks also at Charterhouse (zoom out of the map a bit & you'll see it north east-ish of Cheddar. Well, there's all of the Mendips, really.

If you fancy a curry, the Shahnaz is really rather good.

A little further afield, and harder to find, is Annie's Tea Garden near Godney. That would come under the tea room & little known gem category (not in Surf-Matt's guide anyway). That's not far from Wells - already mentioned as a nice town. Indeed it is (at least the old centre part).

Bike shops: Bike in Clifton and Strada in Southville. The latter is the place to go if you like bike porn (Colnago, Pinarello and so on).

Enjoy.

jangle

Dracott Sleights is a nature reserve that had great views over the somerset levels and would be close to you. It is accessed by New Road (see map) and the parking is on the road, just after the gliding club. http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.263456,-2.741641&spn=0.025,0.025&t=m&q=51.263456,-2.741641

Just north of you will be burrington coombe and Beacon Batch, the highest point of the Mendips http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.312017,-2.740989&spn=0.025,0.025&t=m&q=51.312017,-2.740989. There is a car park on the road to the north and the view from here goes across to wales and the suspension bridge.

Wells is a nice place to go.

Hope the weather gets better for you!