If you want some fresh air, or even fish and chips overlooking a lake - then here is your spot…read more Here is some information regarding this lake - About the reserve Breeding birds include great crested and little grebe, gadwall, tufted duck, shoveler and pochard. Hobbies often feed over the area in late summer. When the water level falls, the mud attracts waders such as dunlin, ringed plover and green sandpipers. Summer sees large populations of dragonflies hunting over the water. These include ruddy darters and, later in the summer, migrant hawkers. Wintering wildfowl include important numbers of shoveler, gadwall, teal and tufted duck. Goosander, great crested grebe and cormorant also occur in large amounts. The reedbeds are a vital autumn feeding station for reed and sedge warblers prior to their migration. The winter gull roost is a spectacular sight with up to 50,000 or more, mostly of black-headed, common and Mediterranean gull. Chew Valley Lake often attracts rare birds, including osprey, the scarcer grebes, and an American wader or duck appears most years. There is a visitor centre and cafe run by Bristol Water at the picnic site near the dam. The Chew Valley Lake Birding website contains frequently updated news and information on its birds and wildlife, access, maps, and the definitive Chew bird list

Chew Valley Lake is a large reservoir that was created to provide water for Bristol, but is also a…read morepopular recreation area in the Chew Valley just outside the city. It's a great spot for picnics, easy walks, and bird-watching. My only niggle is that you can't actually get down to the lakeside (unless you have a fishing permit, perhaps) - you can only get teasingly close along a parallel pathway. Far busier during the summer (or at weekends and during school holidays), if you venture to the lake on most weekdays you'll find you've got the place virtually to yourself, bar a few retired dog walkers. The lake is a protected area and a 'Site of Special Scientific Interest' because it's home to so many different species and important habitats - including more than 280 species of birds at the last count. There are two well-kept lakeside nature trails. The Grebe Trail is the most accessible of the two, with a hard surface suitable for people with pushchairs or wheelchairs, starting and ending at the wooded picnic area. The Bittern Trail (1 mile circuit), on the other hand, can get a bit muddy in parts in wet weather, although some of it is a raised board walk - and there's a bird hide where you can sit and watch the wildlife over the lake. You can take your dog to some areas, too - although there are lots of ducks around so if it's got the chase instinct (like mine has!) you'll need to keep it on the lead. Back at the car parking areas you'll find a landscaped picnic area and a café with indoor and outdoor seating areas. The café isn't great but it isn't bad either - serving up the usual hot and cold drinks plus snacks, basic meals and cakes. Car parks (free over the winter from October until April - then £1.50 throughout the summer, I believe) close at dusk, so don't get caught out and locked in! Note also that dring the winter the Lake is only open until 4:30pm.

Tucked away from the fast Broomhill Road traffic is an amazing river walk. Allow me to walk you…read morethrough it... Start off by turning (slowly - its very narrow) into River View. Notice that number 11 in this street is actually a church! Then there is a large free car park just here. At the entrance to the car park is a handy tea and snack shack which has seats out front but also if you nip behind the hedge you will find seats overlooking the River Frome which catch the morning sun. The shack has a resident scruffy terrier who patrols the car park off leash so please drive slowly here as well - he is very friendly so don't worry about him approaching your dog. You then walk down to the actual mill of its name. You can read a bit more about it with the notices - apparently named after the owner whose nickname was Snuffy Jack. The gardens here are newly planted and tended so you will see signs to keep your dog on lead through these bits but you can let them off when you get to the mill. The water goes over a weir and can look very pretty all year round. The walk then splits to high and low ground following the river until you get to a narrow bridge which connects this to the bottom of Vassell's Park. You can follow the river along right to Downend or you can go up towards Fishponds from here. Very popular on a weekend when the weather is nice, the paved walk is also hot with joggers in the early morning and evening. There will be a lot of dogs here at any time as well. They have waste bins by the car park. There is a very active Action Group looking after the whole of this area worth keeping tabs on http://snuffmills.blogspot.com

We are definitely spoilt for lush green spaces and beautiful walks in Bristol and this is one of my…read morefavourite. There is a large carpark and cafe at the entrance, the cafe is more of hatch selling sandwiches, ice creams and drinks so nothing to get excited about, but serves its purpose for a hot drink on a cold day or ice cream in the summer. You then enter passed the old mill and some gardens tendered by volunteers which are beautiful in the summer. You then come to the beautiful wooded walk along the River Frome. It's one of those walks that changes throughout the seasons and high/low tides but is always lovely. Wellies are definitely recommended during the autumn and winter months as it gets very muddy and I've even know it to flood entirely but that all adds to the fun. You can also take a path up to Oldbury court where you have lovely meadows, sports fields and a huge children's play park. It really does have everything!

Lamby Lake is a coarse fishery and fishing club in Cardiff, located within Parc Tredelerch, which…read moreis a wildlife area that's home to coots, swans, mallards and other birds as well as some beautiful dragonflies in the summer. The lake itself covers 10 acres and feels quite remote from the traffic and noise of the city centre, despite being easily accessible. It also feels quite windswept and a bit sparsely planted - although trees and plants are growing up and this aspect will improve. At the moment you can feel quite exposed to the elements there, though, so it's worth taking a few extra layers if you're stopping there for long! The fishery is run by a team of well-known local anglers with plenty of experience, and the fishing stock are growing fast and spawning well. Day tickets cost £6 and are available on the bank from the lake's 'bailiffs'. Enthusiasts can also get membership for £60 (or night membership for £150) - with 50% off for OAPs and children under 16. There are quite a few related shops nearby, including Gary Evans Tackle Shop, which is handy if you need to pick up a few things on your way to the lake.

This ancient National Trust woodland covers 180 hectares (440 acres) - so it's big enough to escape…read moreto, enjoy the peace and quiet of the woods, and explore woodland sculptures and some unusual trees. Not only is it a beautiful parkland with views of the Avon Gorge, but it's also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Site of Nature Conservation Interest and a National Nature Reserve. The network of hard-surfaced paths means it's fairly accessible, too. Look out for the timber framed barn, which was constructed fairly recently but using the same techniques as were employed in medieval times.

Up yonder past suspension bridge lies Bristol's emerald mystery. Swoop with rare peregrine falcons,…read morestroll with the kids or blow the cobwebs off your mountain bike like I did (it didn't even feel like exercise!) The woods are National Trust owned, crammed with wildlife and only a 15 minute saunter from Clifton. Pack a picnic and make for this site of Scientific Interest (and no, that doesn't mean UFO sightings!). Each avenue you find yourself on is lined with conifers, well-located benches and dizzying views over the Avon gorge. Great for an afternoon's game of good ol' fashioned hide'n'seek. I grabbed my coat and scarf and unleashed my inner child! How often can you say that?!

For anyone into fishing, Hendre Lake Park in the St Mellon's area of the city is well worth knowing…read moreabout. The whole park is centred around the big 10-acre lake - where you'll also often spot local school children enjoying some educational pond-dipping sessions during the week. It's right next to a substantial residential housing area, so tends to be well-used and is far from 'remote' - but it's a pleasant enough space for a walk and some wildlife spotting. There's been quite a bit of European Union funding given to the project, and the lake is constantly being improved to make the fishing better there. Most of the park falls within the Gwent Levels Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of all the rare and protected plants that grow in the area, particularly in the reens (which are historic ditches criss crossing the area). The lake itself is obviously used for fishing and by schools for environmental studies, but there are also pathways running around the edge for casual walkers and joggers.

The great thing about Bristol is that it's a thriving city with cosmopolitan restaurants and…read morenightlife, but you're still only a stone's throw from beautiful scenery and greenery. And nowhere is this more evident than the Downs, where you can walk up the hustle and bustle of Whiteladies Road and straight onto over 400 acres of rolling grassland. It says much about the place in our hearts that the Downs holds that as soon as the sun comes out, the first reaction of pretty much everyone I know is to head straight up there. A vibrant place, it's always filled with people playing games, enjoying barbecues, having a drink or just relaxing. There's plenty to see and do, too, with a huge football league held there on Saturday afternoons, the observatory, the rockslides and a café to name a few, plus the stunning views across the Suspension Bridge. A beautiful place and a big reason why I'm proud to be a Bristolian.

The Downs are a lovely area where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of Bristol city. Its…read morea good 30 minute hike uphill if you are planning on walking from the centre so it may be best to grab the bus. The number 9 bus goes from Temple Meads and the centre and drops you off right at the heart of the Downs which is helpful. I would recommend walking right to the furthest point where there is a viewing area. The views over Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge are stunning. There are many other little paths to explore which will take you to the river and other areas, but you will probably need a map to find them. Definitely worth a trip up here for the amazing views and a breath of fresh air.

Signposted from the M4, this is well worth a visit. There are seven miles of forest to explore,…read morewith several parking bays along the way where you can get out to walk along one of the marked paths, or have a picnic. There is also a fishing lake and a mountain bike trail. The views from the top are incredible! There's a fairly new visitor centre and cafe at the foot of the drive.

We've just spent a lovely couple of days podding at the campsite here absolutely breathtaking…read morescenery, spotless loos and showers, and really well thought out pod arrangements, all for £35 a night (minimum 2 nights). Loved the picnic table and bbq areas too if we come back to South Wales we'll definitely stay again. Gorgeous.

Last time I went past here they were kids sucking up balloon of laughing gas. All fine and legal…read more(just in case you were wondering) and I thought it was pretty funny to hear their squeaky voices. However, I realise that someone with small children might not like to have their kids see that, so don't go to Redland Park if this is the case. It's divided into two, with a fenced kids playground area and a grass area with a pretty rose bed. The kids area is really safe, with the fence keeping the kids in and the various equipment keeping them entertained. I should mention that there is a railway line bordering the park - there's a very high fence and loads of trees and bushes blocking it. The park attracts lots of mums with their kids (as well as a few from the local secondary school), which gives your kid ample opportunity to learn the importance of sharing! The grassy area is perfect for lounging around. It's on quite a steep hill so you shouldn't get disturbed by footballers. All that's missing is the nice view, which is blocked by some trees unfortunately (that's not to say I think the trees should be cut down, though). This half completes St. Andrews Park, making it a pleasant spot whatever your age.

There's something almost magical about the approach to Redland Green from Redland road, with the…read moretree lined street leading to the magnificent church of Redland Parish, which is utterly beautiful. It's one of my favourite roads in Bristol, the kind of place you could see being filmed for some sort of period drama as a result it's regal English beauty. The park itself is an equal gem, with a bowls court, tennis court, and really spacious hilly greenery to just relax on. They have a fayre on Mayday each year, which gives it a real buzz with all the stalls from local shops in the area - it's definitely a place to go at that time of year (right behind the may fair at Henleaze school!). It's a park for all ages, with a really nice vibe, a good size and in a nice neighbourhood - thumbs up all round.