Walk passing by Iron Age Hill Fort, Echo Gate, Arbutus walk, Kingsweston Down and wildflower meadows.
Description
(S/E) Start at Blaise Cafe. With your back to the cafe, bearing slightly to your right walk across the open green
to the tree line. Keeping the woods on your left, continue over a small rise, and follow the field round, heading towards the wooden bench in the distance. At the bench turn to your right, proceed up the path entering the woods, passing a metal gate post. This is the remains of Echo Gate.
(1) At path junction bear left along a straight stony path known as Arbutus Walk. Continue along this path and turn right at the sharp bend. Follow the woodland path until you reach the junction with the route of the old Roman Road.
(2) At this point, turn right uphill onto Kingsweston Down. Continue into the centre of Down and turn right toward Hill Fort, crossing remains of ancient circular earthworks.
(3) From the Hill Fort go through a gateway located in the far left corner between the information board and bench. Follow the steps down arriving back at Echo Gate (1)
(1) Follow the tree line back to the Cafe.(S/E)
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 55 m - Blaise Cafe
- 1 : km 0.58 - alt. 81 m - Echo Gate
- 2 : km 2.44 - alt. 69 m - Old Roman Road
- 3 : km 3.99 - alt. 95 m - Hill Fort
- S/E : km 4.8 - alt. 55 m - Blaise Cafe
Useful Information
The walk follows defined woodland paths and grassland.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
Blaise Estate is a Grade II listed historic landscape with recorded human activity dating back 2,000 years. It became a ‘pleasure park’ to a variety of wealthy private owners and has been influenced through the landscape designer Humphrey Repton. It was purchased by the Corporation of Bristol in 1926 for £20,175.
The Heritage Lottery funded a project to restore this historic landscape and public park – an investment of approx £6.5 million. Visitor facilities including a café, play area and performance space have been introduced whilst the historic nature of the site has been conserved. These circular guided walks have been developed to provide reassurance and information for those who wish to experience all the estate offers. This includes spectacular views, the castle folly, lakes, scheduled ancient monuments, the 18th Century mansion, unique rock formations and designed landscape features.
Varying in length, all walks will contain relatively steep ascents/descents. Care should be taken on cliff edges and steep slopes.
Why not end your walk at the Cafe with a freshly made coffee and a slice of homemade cake. Open daily serving hot and cold snacks, drinks and a large variety of ice cream.
