The best things to do outdoors in Bristol during lockdown

Bristol is renowned for its vibrancy and creativity, but the opportunity to explore its numerous attractions is on hold. However, there are still ways to get out and about in a city which benefits not only from a variety of outdoor spaces and interests, but also its proximity to Bath and the Somerset countryside.

1. The street art trail

‘Where the Wall’ aims to give a contemporary culture experience and encompasses the Bristol street art made famous by Banksy and other graffiti artists. You can still enjoy the city’s street art by purchasing its self-guided tour (wherethewall.com/self-guided-tours/), which offers more than 30 years of street art history set in 13 different locations. It’s narrated by John Nation, “the godfather of urban art”, costs £10, and can be run on two devices at the same time; you have 24 hours to complete the tour, which takes in College Green to Harbourside and Stokes Croft to Park Street, and covers legendary Banksy images such as ‘Mild, Mild West’. Stop off for a takeaway at Caribbean Croft (caribbeancroft.co.uk).

Alternatively, try a Sculpture Trail of the city (outdoorswest.org.uk) with a 2.5-mile circular walk beginning in the city centre at the statue of Neptune on Broad Quay. It takes in sculptures and artworks both old and new; one statue now missing from the tour is that of the merchant/slave trader Edward Colston, which was toppled by protestors in the summer.

Feeling hungry? Head to St Nicholas Market for takeaway dumplings from Eatchu (eatchu.co.uk), or tuck into falafels and pitta bread from Eat a Pitta (eatapitta.co.uk).

2. Stately homes and woodland walks

Tyntesfield (nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield), which lies to the west of Bristol, is a wonderful National Trust property, the grounds of which are still open (although pre-booking is essential). Set around a Gothic Revival house with its soaring pinnacles and crenelated towers, the lovely landscaped gardens, parkland and kitchen garden can be explored through various way-marked routes. The Victorian estate was largely built for merchant William Gibbs on the profits of importing guano (used in fertiliser) – so now you know. The Cow Barn Café (hot and cold snacks and drinks), the Pavilion Café and Griddle Pod are all open on a takeaway basis.

Another National Trust site well worth a wander is Leigh Woods (nationaltrust.org.uk/leigh-woods), a gorgeous woodland plateau with striking views of the Avon Gorge and Brunel’s magnificent Clifton Suspension Bridge. Follow the marked paths through the ash and oak trees and here you will also find Stokeleigh Camp, an Iron Age promontory fort. Great for hide-and-seek and there are some natural play areas too. There is no car park at Leigh Woods. The George (georgeinn.pub), two miles away at Abbots Leigh, does takeaways Thursdays to Sundays, including a Sunday roast.

3. On your bike

Anyone who lives in Bath or Bristol knows that the hills can test the best of cyclists. But pedal between the two cities and you are ensured a flat, traffic-free 14-mile path (sustrans.co.uk). Naturally, it’s open to walkers and runners too and is the most pleasant way of getting between the two cities. The Bristol and Bath Railway Path was constructed between 1979 and 1986 on the track bed of the former Midland Railway, which closed for passenger traffic at the end of the 1960s. Pack some snacks for the ride as some of the cafés en route are closed during lockdown, and take the train back if you don’t want to cycle both ways.

In Bristol itself, have a go at less strenuous, three-mile Bristol Docks Loop (cycleplan.co.uk). Start at Bristol Cathedral and go over Prince Street Bridge before joining the path at the wharf for views of SS Great Britain. This will take you to the River Avon; take the same route back. Fancy a trip further afield? Then tackle the Bristol to Portishead route (cycleplan.co.uk; 11.2 miles each way) beginning at Queen Square passing the River Avon and Avon Gorge before you head along a short stretch of tree-lined road to Portishead and on to the shoreline overlooking Wales and the Bristol Channel.

4. Big on Brunel

Explore the genius of that bold engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and his relationship with Bristol, with a Brunel Walk, an easy three-miler along Harbourside (ssgreatbritain.org). It begins in Brunel Square, next to the SS Great Britain and continues via Underfall Yard, Brunel’s tubular swing bridge, a seating spot that offers views of the suspension bridge, the Pump House, Pero Bridge and Wapping Wharf, where you can pick up a coffee or pre-order a takeaway from the likes of Pizzarova (pizzarova.com), Salt Malt (saltmalt.com) and Mokoko Coffee & Bakery (mokokocoffee.com).

Also stepping back in time, to the south of the city, take a wander around the wooded Arnos Vale (arnosvale.org.uk), a Victorian garden cemetery, just off the Bath Road. Opened in 1837, it was designed to look like a Greek Necropolis, takes up 45 acres, and offers – even in winter – a restful blend of wildlife and architecture. A place to investigate tragic tales and Victorian funeral etiquette. Afterwards, cross the road to Paintworks and grab a takeaway and a drink at Bocabar Bristol (bristol.bocabar.co.uk).

5. Roam the downs

Grab a coffee at the East Village Cafe (eastvillagecafe.co.uk) in elegant Clifton Village and then head up to Clifton Down, or, if want to go further, Durdham Down, spacious areas of protected parkland. If it’s windy take a kite as it’s the perfect spot. Numerous novels have been written with Bristol as a backdrop – the Visit Bristol website has a lengthy list in a blog (visitbristol.co.uk). So wrap up well, park yourself on a bench on the Downs on a sunny winter’s day, and take the opportunity to flick through a few pages of the likes of Treasure Island (Long John Silver was a Bristol man, who kept an inn in the Docks), Angela Carter’s The Bristol Trilogy, Helen Dunmore’s historical thriller Birdcage Walk or David Olusoga’s A House Through Time, which follows his TV series on a house in Bristol at 10 Guinea Street.

Other parkland that’s ideal for a healthy dose of fresh air includes Ashton Court Estate (ashtoncourtestate.com), with its 850 acres of woodland and landscaped gardens; you can pick up a coffee and a takeaway at the Courtyard Café. Or there’s Blaise Castle Estate with its woodland trails – the castle (mentioned in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey) is in fact a folly, and there’s a café here too.