If you’re looking for a Sunday stroll, a pub walk or an escape to the beautiful British countryside, I’ve compiled the 7 best walks near Bristol. From the Cotswolds to the Mendip Hills and the Brecon Beacons, all suggested walks will let you escape the hustle and bustle of the city and explore stunning scenery near Bristol. Find country walks, woodland walks, river walks, coastal walks, hill walks and mountain walks to suit your fancy.
Contents:
1. Country walk in the Cotswolds: Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury & Little Sodbury
2. Woodland walk in the Cotswolds: Wotton-under-Edge to the Tyndale Monument
3. Country walk in Somerset: Dundry Hill
4. Coastal walk in Somerset: Sand Point
5. Hill walk in the Mendip Hills: Crook Peak
6. River walk in the Wye Valley: The Devil’s Pulpit
7. Mountain walk in the Brecon Beacons: Sugar Loaf
1. Country walk in the Cotswolds: Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury & Little Sodbury
Location: Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire – 12 miles from Bristol
Walk difficulty: Intermediate, with one short but steep ascent
Time: 3 to 3 ½ hours
Distance: 7 miles (11 km)
Recommended pub: The Royal Oak in Chipping Sodbury
Located near Bristol, this country walk offers a peaceful escape to the stunning Cotswold countryside and the three villages of Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury and Little Sodbury. This circular walk leads you from one village to another along delightful country lanes and through rolling fields, and follows parts of the Frome Valley Walkway, the Cotswold Way and the Monarch’s Way.
Country views from Old SodburyStarting at the medieval market town of Chipping Sodbury, this Cotswold walk first takes you along the Frome Valley Walkway and the River Frome to the village of Old Sodbury. There, you can enjoy the striking scenery of the Cotswold escarpment, the Frome Valley, the Severn Vale and the Bristol Channel. This country walk then follows the Cotswold Way to the hill fort of Old Sodbury and the hamlet of Little Sodbury, before leading you back to Chipping Sodbury along the Monarch’s Way.
Find the Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury & Little Sodbury walk guide.
2. Woodland walk in the Cotswolds: Wotton-under-Edge to the Tyndale Monument
Location: Wotton-under-Edge, the Cotswolds – 20 miles from Bristol
Walk difficulty: Intermediate, with one short but steep ascent
Time: 2 to 2 ½ hours
Distance: 5 miles (8 km)
Recommended pub: The Star Inn in Wotton-under-Edge
This Cotswold walk offers spectacular scenery of the Cotswold Hills, the Frome Valley, the Severn Vale, the Bristol Channel and South Wales. A popular walk from Wotton-under-Edge, this woodland walk follows the Cotswold Way from the market town to the historic Tyndale Monument.
Cotswold views from the Tyndale MonumentThe Wotton-under-Edge walk first climbs steeply up Wotton Hill where you can enjoy breathtaking views of both the quaint town and the Cotswold Hills. This woodland walk then follows the Cotswold escarpment and leads you through the serene woodland of Westridge Woods before reaching the Tyndale Monument. There, you can enjoy further spectacular views of the Cotswold Hills, the Severn Valley and the Brecon Beacons.
Find the Wotton-under-Edge to the Tyndale Monument walk guide.
3. Country walk in Somerset: Dundry Hill
Location: Dundry, Somerset – 6 miles from Bristol
Walk difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 to 1 ½ hours
Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km)
Recommended pub: The Dundry Inn in Dundry
Just 15 minutes from Bristol, Dundry Hill offers a serene escape to rolling hills, charming country lanes and lush fields. The Dundry Hill walk boasts stunning scenery of the Somerset Hills and lovely views of the city of Bristol. This is the perfect country walk to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy Bristol’s surrounding countryside.
Somerset scenery from Dundry HillStarting at the delightful village of Dundry, this Somerset walk begins with a leisurely stroll along country paths and through verdant fields. In the first section of this walk, you can enjoy gorgeous views of Bristol and the Bristol Channel. This country walk then leads you further up the Dundry Hill where you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Somerset Hills.
Find the Dundry Hilltop walk guide.
4. Coastal walk in Somerset: Sand Point
Location: Sand Point, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset – 22 miles from Bristol
Walk difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 to 1 ½ hours
Distance: 3 miles (4.8 km)
Recommended refreshment: Sand Bay Tea Rooms in Kewstoke
Located on the Somerset coast, the Sand Point walk features rocky paths, rugged landscapes and stunning coastal scenery. To the sound of crashing waves and to the smell of salt, this circular walk leads you along the beautiful South West coast and offers the perfect coastal escape near Bristol.
Walking along Sand PointThe Sand Point walk takes you through lush grassland first and then along the coastal path and through a charming secluded cove to the rugged limestone headland. Throughout this coastal walk, you can enjoy lovely views of the Bristol Channel, the Severn bridges, the South West coast and South Wales.
Find the Sand Point walking trail on nationaltrust.org.uk.
5. Hill walk in the Mendip Hills: Crook Peak
Location: Compton Bishop, Somerset – 20 miles from Bristol
Walk difficulty: Intermediate, with one long ascent
Time: 2 ½ to 3 hours
Distance: 6 miles (9.7 km)
Recommended pub: The New Inn in Axbridge
The Crook Peak walk in the Mendip Hills offers the perfect escape to rocky hills, lush countryside and spectacular scenery. Located near Bristol, this circular walk is one of the best walks in the Mendip Hills. The only drawback is the close proximity of the motorway and the hum of traffic disturbing this peaceful escape.
Views of the Mendip Hills from Crook PeakThe Crook Peak walk takes you through quaint villages, verdant fields and lush woods to arresting rocky peaks. In the second section of this walk, as you walk along the Mendip escarpment, you can enjoy breathtaking 360° views of the Mendip Hills, the rolling hills of Somerset, the Bristol Channel, North Devon and South Wales.
Find the Crook Peak walk guide.
6. River walk in the Wye Valley: The Devil’s Pulpit
Location: Tintern, Wye Valley, South Wales – 22 miles from Bristol
Walk difficulty: Intermediate, with one long ascent
Time: 1 ½ to 2 hours
Distance: 3.5 miles (5.6 km)
Recommended pub: The Rose & Crown in Tintern
Nested in the heart of the Wye Valley, the Devil’s Pulpit is a stone set in the hill across from Tintern Abbey. This landmark enjoys striking views over the arresting abbey and the enchanting valley. Legend has it the devil preached from the stone to tempt the monks.
Views of the Wye Valley and Tintern Abbey from the Devil’s PulpitStarting at Tintern Abbey, the Devil’s Pulpit walk first follows the River Wye and crosses the old railway bridge. Following the Offa’s Dyke trail, this river walk then takes you through the forest and up the steep hill to the Devil’s Pulpit. From there, you can either continue along the Offa’s Dyke trail or head back to Tintern Abbey.
Find the Devil’s Pulpit walking trail in the Wye Valley guide.
7. Mountain walk in the Brecon Beacons: Sugar Loaf
Location: Abergavenny, Brecon Beacons, South Wales – 46 miles from Bristol
Walk difficulty: Intermediate, with one long and steep ascent
Time: 2 ½ to 3 hours
Distance: 4.5 miles (7.2 km)
Recommended pub: The Grofield Inn in Abergavenny
A peak of the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons, Sugar Loaf boasts lush meadows, heather-clad hills, rocky paths and awe-inspiring scenery. The Sugar Loaf walk is one of the best walks in the Brecon Beacons and offers the perfect mountain escape from Bristol.
Hiking Sugar Loaf in the Brecon BeaconsThe Sugar Loaf walk first leads you off the beaten path through sheep grazing meadows and across a wooded valley. This mountain walk then climbs Sugar Loaf’s gentler (and quieter) ridge. At every step of this walk and especially from the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, you can enjoy magnificent views of the Brecon Beacons, South Wales, the Bristol Channel and South West England.
Find the Sugar Loaf walk guide.
Explore more: Walks in Bristol
If you’re looking for a walk closer to Bristol, you can also escape the hustle and bustle of the city by enjoying its green spaces. From trendy Harbourside to stately Ashton Court and hidden Snuff Mills, explore Bristol off the beaten path and find the top walks in Bristol.
Views of Bristol from Ashton CourtShare this guide:
Pin this for later:
