Once a year the Bristol Balloon Fiesta is held at Ashton Court and is a great day. The Ashton Court…read moreestate is set in 850 acres of land and the gardens are great to roam in, even if it isn't the Balloon Festival. You could spend all day walking around, admiring the wonders of nature. There are deer enclosures dotted around too. The Balloon Fiesta attracts over 150,000 visitors but the park is great all year round. Enjoy activities such as cycling, Golf pitch and putt, horse riding, deer-feeding walks and have a look at the miniature railway.

Ashton Court Mansion is not open to the public but hosts functions such as corporate activity days,…read moreweddings receptions and dinners. It is owned by Bristol City Council and they have struggled to invest the amount of money this mansion needs to be restored fully to its former glory. The rose garden is really lovely in summer. Last summer I went to a performance of Taming of the Shrew here in the walled garden. It was a case of bring a picnic and a blanket and chairs, sit back and enjoy the show. It was such a perfect spot for some outdoor theatre and luckily the sun gods were shining on us. There wasn't a very large crowd, so you could almost feel like you were a lord or lady of the manor sitting out in your gardens enjoying some light summer entertainment. The old stables area of the mansion has public toilets, a cafe and the stables bistro restaurant. The visitor centre is located on the ground floor and there is a lovely exhibition space on the first floor.

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?!

In Ashton Court Estate you will find this pitch and put course on a hillside. It takes a bit of…read morefinding. At the main entrance (that is, where the gatehouse is, not down in the hill around Bedminster) go straight along the road and then take the first right, going up the hill. You'll come to a little car park and a slightly desolate looking hut. The hut is where you can hire clubs and balls (remember not to smack it into the bushes...) and get putting. It's run by the council, which means its a) cheap and b) not full of stuffy old men, the two usual vices of a golf course. Give your ball a thwack and follow it round the course, nobodies going to judge you. The only downside I can think of is that things can get a bit congested, especially if the weather is even vaguely nice. You may have to wait a little while, or have people queueing up behind you, to use one of the holes. Making golf a bit less of the pursuit of old men at country clubs, the pitch and put golf course is a great way for those of us that think golf looks like a lark to give it a try.

I used to hate golf until two of my mates practically dragged me across the bridge to Ashton Court…read morefor some pitch and putt. What can I say? I was almost instantly seduced by the satisfying feeling of smacking a little ball as hard as you can with a massive piece of metal, and the faraway sound of ball on deer. It's great value - £6.50 gets you 18 holes and a great view across the whole of Brizzle and beyond on a fine day. The only problem is that, when the sun's out, it can get pretty busy, and there's nothing guaranteed to give an amateur the yips more than a queue of people staring and tutting as you continually swing and miss at the ball off the tee. One tip: the course on the Bristol side of AC offers more variation, and there's even one par five hole where you can get your wood out and give it a real thrashing.

Worth a visit if you are in the area. The suspension bridge is quite majestic especially if you see…read moreit from the woods there. You can also travel across it by car for one pound, aswell as walk across it. The area around is located In Clifton which has beautiful houses and parks and walks around. There is an observation tower which also offers great views aswell as a cafe..

It's a must visit if you're in Bristol ,the area is so beautiful,the views is gorgeousread more

My firends live pretty close to this place and to them it is called the 'Futuristic Park' because…read moresome of the faqcilities in this place truly are futuristic. As well as this the park boasts a very generous amount of open space, along with tennis courts, a bowling green and football pitches which on the weekend tend to be inhabited by a number of the local football teams. This place is great to chill out and enjoy a lazy sunday, with some picnic snacks , a frisbee and your mates. The 'Futuristic Park' is great, if maybe a Health & Safety nightmare - genuinely as good as it gets!

If you are fond of vast green spaces, you'll enjoy Greville Smyth Park. Situated alongside the…read moreriver Avon, and in view of Clifton Suspension Bridge, it is the perfect place for a summer picnic, or indeed, a winter stroll. Once owned by Lady Greville Smyth, owner of Ashton Court Estate, the park now belongs to Bristol City Council. It is one of my favourite rural spots in Bristol, and I especially love picnicking here in the summer. If you happen to be in the area and fancy a nosh-up in the park, I'd recommend you pop across the road to North Street's renowned Southville Deli and pick up a few delightful treats. Then you can find a spot under one of Greville Smyth Park's many Weeping Willow Trees and sit and watch the world go by. Nice...

This is a very concealed park, despite it being quite large, and having a beautiful tower at the…read moretop of it! Seemingly only known by the locals, I feel there should be more signs towards it so the tourists can find it easier, as it really is a park not to be missed when visiting Bristol. The park is a big hill that gets higher and higher till you get to the top, which is where Cabot Tower is. Perfect for summer barbeques, leisurely walks, or sitting on one of the benches staring out into the amazing view. You can see for miles out, on a clear day. It is a wonderful park that everyone should visit at least once, and after that once, I'm pretty sure you'll keep coming back!

Brandon Hill is a patch of greenery between Jacobs Wells Road and Park Street. A blessing for…read moreBristol it has got a little bit of everything. At the peak is Cabot Tower, for your dose of history. This is free to enter and well worth the climb for the incredible views of Bristol. Although you only have to get half way up the hill to see South Bristol spread out before you like a tablecloth - an doable climb even if you're not the fittest of people. As well as getting an education, you can have some fun and experience a bit of a nature. There's a children's play area and a basketball hoop (which are few and far between in Bristol). There's usually someone on the basketball court and I've had a few good games, mostly with students. The only downside is that the courts very small, and you'll often find yourself losing your ball in the buses down the side. Nature comes courtesy of various little reserves that have been set up. They've got a little pond that's chock-a-block with frogs spawn in the spring. I think it's a sight of special scientific interest for something or other too, but I'm afraid exactly what escapes me at the moment. Either way, it's nice to have something really wild right in the centre of the city.

Manor Woods would once have been part of the estate belonging to the Manor House in Bishopsworth…read more In the Valley part there is an expanse of grass that has been left long to let the gorgeous and unusual wildflowers do their thing. In spring the woodland path is absolutely covered in wild garlic, the smell is divine. This is an old Semi-Natural Woodland, in another month the bluebells and ramsoms should have bloomed in the wood, everything is a bit late blooming this year, it should be glorious. I did the woodland walk in winter also and it was stunning, though we did have an interesting time trying to return by the river path, very slippery. There is a picnic table by the woodland spot. There are other picnic spots by the river, although if it has been wet, watch out as they ground can be boggy in places. Sadly lots of rubbish gets dropped around, there aren't many bins. When I go for a walk here I make the effort to clear up some rubbish left behind, its a shame to see such this stunning suburban nature park ruined by crisp packets and empty beer cans. I've heard an owl and woodpeckers, there are lots of fat woodpigeons and you can see innocent baby rabbit scampering around the grass in spring.

This is the extremely plush leisure centre set up by former pro tennis player David Lloyd. If this…read moremeans nothing to you, he's the less good brother of former British number one John Lloyd, who also wasn't that good though he did get to marry Chris Evert back in the day, so he must have been doing something right. As you'd probably expect, the main focus here is tennis - indeed they probably have the best facilities in the city here, with more courts than you can shake a racquet at and lessons on offer. I've only used the gym and these are also top notch, with every gadget you can think of (the running machines are even equipped with individual TV screens with Sky Sports to entertain you while you slog away). This is, of course, very expensive though - I only went because I was given a free pass - and unless you have a real devotion to tennis or fitness and live near Ashton, it's probably not worth the expense or the journey.

This place is a top rank health and fitness establishment…read more The changing rooms are spacious and well kept. The lockers have ample room to hang your shirt and store all your belongings. The floor tiles were nice and warm as well. Heated? Maybe, or perhaps my feet were just particularly cold ... (email and ask me about heat transfer if you like, I used to teach Science....) The swimming pool is about 20m so not quite long enough for my liking but more than ample. They have a couple of lanes set aside for dedicated lengths and the rest of the pool is open for a free swim. To add to the luxury of the pool area there is a spa/hot tub, sauna and steam room (Me like the steam room!). The shower area in the changing rooms are also well kept. Their is a great machine that shakes your swim wear almost dry in a few seconds (I call him Shakey) to prevent your bag from getting soaking wet. Nice touch. The gym itself has a large array of cardiovascular machines including steppers, treadmills and various other contraptions. There is also a choice between free weights or machines depending on your preference. The club room serves food/drinks and has a few bigscreen TV scattered about the place with sports or news on show. There are a couple of PC's available not to mention the wifi setup. Being a David Lloyd centre it is big on racquet sports so there are squash, badminton and tennis courts aplenty. The centre boasts a large car park and is right next door to the park and ride so it is fairly well set up for commuters and drivers. The downside of this fitness paradise ---- Expense! I am not a member (I'm allowed in while my local pool is being repaired) but I am told the monthly fee can be as much as £80 a month. Who knows? You know it is going to be expensive though when a company doesn't list its price on their own website! This aside, it is still the best fitness/leisure centre I've ever been to.

Cabot Tower is a tower in Bristol, England, situated in a public park on Brandon Hill, between the…read morecity centre, Clifton and Hotwells. It is a grade II listed building. The tower was built in the 1890s to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the journey of John Cabot from Bristol to land which later became Canada. It makes for a pleasant walk through the park, although a steep climb if you go to the top.. Lovely views of Bristol once you are there.

When I asked where we were going, I was told to see the Folly. Who doesn't love a good folly? Turns…read moreout my friend was talking about Cabot Tower. The park surrounding the tower is lovely, even a dreary November day. The tower allows great views of the city. The only problem is getting up and down on a busy Sunday. The steps are narrow and I may have slipped and thought I was going to die. Definitely worth a tour around and hopefully you won't have to pass folks on the stairs as you go up and down.

Amazing amazing amazing. A tremendous historical mansion owned by the Gibbs family, who were the…read moreowners of the S S great Britain. Come for a visit to see how the filthy rich used to live. Gorgeous grounds and a cute garden store and restaurant are also here. The national trust is doing a fabulous job. When you walk around the house you are delighted and entertained by staff members in full costume and in full character of the family members and servants. This helps transport you in time and makes for a magical visit.

A beautiful nineteenth century mansion in Wraxall. It is in the process of being restored by the…read moreNational Trust so things can seem a bit haphazard with a temporary cafe and people pottering around inside the house itself doing cleaning and other jobs. This adds to the charm though, rather like visiting an archaeological dig while it is in progress. The parking is also rudimentary but adequate. There is a small bus from the cafe area down to the house itself which is useful for those with small children or mobility problems as the walk is a bit steep in places. The house itself is beautiful and a real gem of Victorian gothic baronial architecture and design. The chapel in particular is lovely. Be warned that access is by timed ticket and they tend to run out very quickly at busy times like weekends and bank holidays so turn up early if you want to see the house. The gardens are lovely in their own right though with a huge expanse of lawn that is just begging to be lazed around on. There is also a kitchen garden with occasional sales of produce.