This is a flat and very scenic circle on the edge of Bristol weaving together beautiful Leigh Woods, Ashton Court Park and Abbots Pool. Use the map OS Explorer 155, Bristol & Bath, ref: 555 730. It's about six miles / three hours walking.

Park in North Road, Leigh Woods, on the south-west edge of Bristol on the other side of Clifton Suspension Bridge. Cross the bridge from Bristol and take the B3129 straight on. Just before the lights and the junction with the A369, turn right down Church Road and reach a junction with North Road. Turn left. There is plenty of parking along the edge by an entrance to Leigh Woods National Nature Reserve. The walk ends by coming out from the woods and exiting at this point. From the other side – from the A369 Bristol to Portishead road – go straight over the traffic lights (ignoring the turn to Failand) and then turn left down North Road. Park along on the left by the entrance to Leigh Woods.

W ithout doubt, you will enjoy this glorious circle on the edge of Bristol taking in the contrasting beauties of Ashton Court Park with fine views, serene Abbots Pool and autumnal colours at Leigh Woods.

The George at Abbots Leigh is en route and welcomes walkers. It's a fairly easy walk on the flat on fairly dry paths and is ideal for autumn and winter. It should suit anyone who is reasonably fit, as well as the dog.

START

Cross North Road and turn left. Soon, turn right up Church Road. Pass a converted stone water tower on the right and, further on, the church. At the end, reach a junction and turn right, shortly coming to the main A369. Cross over to the castellated entrance to Ashton Court and enter the park.

1. ASHTON COURT

This very popular country park consists of 850 acres of woodland and grassland and at its centre is a gracious mansion, once the home of the Smythe family. Walk alongside the drive and the avenue of limes. On the right is one of two golf courses in the park. For some of the way through the estate we follow the Timberland Trail.

Ignore the first Tarmac drive right and, shortly after this, turn right on a track which starts out for a few yards as Tarmac and then becomes stony. It ascends gently. Near the top at a marker post, turn left. Follow the path on and it leads into woods.

2. WOODS

Go straight down through to a T-junction with a wide track. Turn right following a metal fence and continue all the way through the woods on this easy track. After a while you see entrances on the left into the deer park, but just ignore these.

3. BOARD

When you reach a large wooden board with several signs – wildflower meadow, deer park, bridleway – turn right on a track, now with open land on the left (also on the left but hidden at this point is Durnford Quarry). Climb a little, still keeping woodland on the right and continue on to a T-junction with a track.

Go more or less straight over through a kissing gate and then turn right through a rough grassland and wildflower meadow, part of a nature reserve. On the far side, go through another kissing gate and on to the edge of the golf course. Turn left down a path and then bear round to the right following marker posts. You now have the open land and golf course up on the right and woodland on the left. Continue along the edge and eventually after a few minutes the path turns left and takes you through an opening in the wall on to Beggar Bush Lane.

4. BEGGAR BUSH LANE

Cross the road, turn left and almost immediately turn right on a drive/track and follow the Timberland Trail. Pass cottages and, at the end, go straight ahead on the marked bridleway between fences. Start to drop down. Ignore the Timberland Trail which turns off left.

Continue on down through woodland on the track which leads to a lane. Go straight over, passing a parking area and information board. Follow the main path through a barrier and woodland and eventually reach Abbots Pool.

5. ABBOTS POOL

This beautiful tranquil beauty spot dates back to the 12th century when abbots from the abbey of St Augustine in Bristol dammed the stream to create the three fishponds. Walter Wills, the tobacco magnate, owned the property from 1915-1945 and landscaped the pond by raising the level of the dam. The Wills family also constructed the cascades below the dam.

At the end of the main pond, turn right on the stone dam wall. On the other side, bear left and climb on a fairly small path which then turns right and leads you to a junction with a main track. Turn right and soon leave the Abbots Pool area going up through a kissing gate by another information board. Pass cottages.

At the bend by Friars Gate and Abbots Way, fork left through a small area of woodland. Shortly, cross a Tarmac drive and continue straight on following the marked footpath.

Join a lane and maintain direction coming into Abbots Leigh. Pass on the left the old priory with a magnificent orangery and at the main road find the George Inn on the left.

6. ABBOTS LEIGH

Cross and go up Church Road opposite. Pass cottages and then enjoy a great view left over Portbury docks before reaching the church.

7. CHURCH

Opposite the church, turn right on the footpath into School Field on the Monarchs Way, which follows the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after defeat in the Battle of Worcester. This is a good spot for a picnic.

Down in the corner, cross a stile and continue on downhill, across a small valley and climb up the other side. Go through a kissing gate and carry on up. After a stile, continue on and reach a drive/track.

Take the stile opposite by a gate into a field and follow the left hedge straight on.

At the hedge corner, look across to the far side of the field and see a stile. The official right of way gets there by bending left at the corner and at the fence in the next corner, turn right up the fenceline and arrive at the stile. But there is clearly a well-worn path from the hedge corner which bears diagonally left across the field to the stile on the far side, cutting off a corner.

Cross the stile and come on to the main drive into Leigh Woods.

Turn left under a magnificent avenue of beeches. Ignore a small parking area on the right and continue on bending gently left to the main car park on the left.

8. LEIGH WOODS

Find an information board on the right and turn down the side following purple marker posts on a good broad woodland track. En route you will pass several small engravings on posts. Turn right following the purple marker and now just continue through this beautiful wooded reserve carefully following the purple trail which weaves its way through. Make sure you don't get lost!

9. POST 12

At post 12 (beetle), go through the wall and then turn right on a path and leave the purple trail at this point. Come to Post B (earthworm), and soon after this pass a dramatic wooden crocodile bench and come to a car park with a National Trust cabin. Pass it on your left and go through on a path at the side of a bungalow, keeping it on your right.

Reach an open area and go across and then right on the path which leaves the open area, becomes sunken and leads down to North Road and the start.

The George, Manor Rd, Abbots Leigh, Bristol BS8 3RP. Tel: 01275 372467.