What with a pandemic raging on, spending time outdoors has never seemed so appealing.
This is why, with the announcement that Blue Islands is restarting flights between Jersey and Bristol, we’re taking a look at some of the city’s loveliest outdoor spaces.
From leafy parks to woodland, outdoor visitor attractions and more, Bristol is blossoming with green spaces to escape the crowds and employ some real social distancing. There are walking and cycling routes galore, too, and outdoor activities to suit all ages and energy levels.
You don’t have to travel far to find a little patch of nature, with more than 400 parks within the city. Venture a little further and you’ll find the surrounding countryside of Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds and The Mendips.
Visit Bristol: what you need to know
When planning your trip be sure to check that any facilities you might need, such as toilets and car parks, are open before arriving. If you plan on visiting an attraction, check its open hours online beforehand – you may need to pre-book a time slot.
Face coverings must be worn in enclosed public spaces in England, including shops, supermarkets, railway and bus stations and airports, in taxis, and museums.
Whether you are looking to enjoy a lazy picnic lunch, entertain the kids, or take a breather from business travel, check out our guide to six of the Bristol’s best outdoor spaces, and stay safe.
Brandon Hill Nature Reserve
Despite being located in the city centre, this place is a haven for wildlife, with beautiful flowers, a pond, and plenty of birdlife. In the middle of the park is Cabot Tower, a 105-ft tower which provides stunning panoramic views of the entire city.
Wild Place Project
(Image Via Visit Bristol)
Explore the big outdoors with 50 acres of woodlands, wildflowers, gardens and meadows, plus a huge array of exotic wildlife from giraffes, zebras and cheetahs to lemurs and meerkats. Bear Wood is a must see, with its raised walkways from where you can observe bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines roaming below.
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre
(Image via Visit Bristol)
Lying to the east of the Severn Estuary, this reserve boasts lagoons, meadows and grasslands which are home to thousands of wetland creatures. Get up close to rare and exotic birds, mammals and the largest collection of amphibians in the UK.
Old Down Country Park
(Via Visit Bristol)
This award-winning attraction is set in 66 acres of open space, gardens, woodlands and is ideal for families, with its play areas adventure playground, trampolines, and Fairy Garden.
Bristol Zoo Gardens
There are more than 400 species of exotic and endangered animals from across the globe at Bristol Zoo Gardens, including a 32-stone gorilla called Jock and and two majestic lions, and it’s all set within award-winning gardens spanning over 12 acres.
(Feature image: Brandon Hill Nature Reserve via Visit Bristol)
