The walk from Blaise Castle to Kings Weston in Bristol is a great way to enjoy fresh air, exercise, and a bit of history, poetry, and sculpture. Plus, you might get a nice cup of tea and cake at the end! Let me share the highlights in case you want to take the walk yourself.

We began our journey at the car park of Blaise Castle Estate, which was bustling with locals enjoying a family day out. When my kids were little, the café was just a small hatch, and the playground was quite basic. Now, thanks to lottery funding, the park has a modern steel café with a waterfall on one side, poetry on the glass windows, and a quirky scrap metal dog guarding it.

Before we started the main walk, we took a detour to visit a hamlet of charming thatched cottages with names like Oak and Sweet Briar Cottage. Built in 1811 for retired workers of the Blaise Estate, these cottages are now owned by the National Trust and are still occupied.

As you push open the wrought iron gates, you step into a picturesque world of old England, imagining a serene rural life. It’s easy to spend a whole sunny afternoon here, with two children’s playgrounds, the free Blaise Castle House Museum, and a wander around the old churchyard where the famous black slave, Scipio Africanus, is buried.

We returned to the car park and continued our walk past children playing towards Blaise Castle House Museum. Turning right, we climbed the wooded hill to see the ‘castle’ at the top. This folly, built in the 1790s when the estate was redesigned by Humphry Repton, was once a summer house. It’s closed now, but sometimes the Friends of Blaise open it to the public. Opposite Blaise Castle is a viewpoint overlooking the limestone gorge and the suburbs of Bristol. Another path beside the stream at the bottom of the gorge is a walk for another day.

We descended the hill, heading southwest, then climbed again onto the ridge leading towards Kings Weston, our destination for tea. The landscape here opens up into a broad ‘ride,’ historically used for horseback riding. Nearby is a stable where I used to take my children for gentle trots.

We walked along the open ride, passing joggers, hiking groups, and families with all-terrain buggies. On our left, we could see the heart of Bristol through the trees, and on our right, the Severn Bridge. After half an hour, just beyond a radio mast, the path narrowed, and we came to a green-painted bridge over the main road.

Update March 2024: The green bridge is currently under repair, so you’ll need to walk down to the road to access Kings Weston House.

Once across the bridge, we turned right and passed an arched folly before strolling down the wooded avenue to catch a glimpse of Kings Weston House. Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1710, the house has served various purposes over the years and is now used for weddings, conferences, and Sunday lunches. Depending on the event, you might be able to wander into the elegant hall and admire the family portraits.

We settled into the Kings Weston House café, decorated with brightly painted tiles and photos of the house throughout the seasons. An open fire crackled in the stone fireplace as we chose between a traditional Victoria sponge and a lemon drizzle cake with our tea. You can also have lunch on the terrace, although the view is now of the industrial landscape of Avonmouth rather than rolling countryside.

The walk from Blaise Castle to Kings Weston House took us over an hour, allowing for photo stops and enjoying the views. On the way back, we walked briskly and made it in only 30 minutes. There was just enough time to appreciate a bit more poetry before heading home.

If you’d like to try this walk, click on the map image below to find the locations mentioned. Use your favorite route finder website and enter the postcode BS10 7QS.

Happy wandering!