Frome riverside walkway


The Frome valley riverside walkway forms a green corridor from the Bristol harbourside for about twenty miles to the source of the river Frome in Dodington Park near Chipping Sodbury on the edge of the Cotswolds. Last week our walking group covered the first five miles from the centre of the city  east through the inner city with its graffiti and litter on through Eastville Park and Oldbury Court estate to Frenchay. The green corridor means that otters, bats, foxes squirrels and rabbits can often be seen in the heart of the city.  Part of the walkway is close to where we live and we  often spot cormorants, kingfishers and herons waiting to catch something for their dinner.

We met at the statue of John Cabot on Bristol Harbourside.  In 1497 John Cabot sailed from Bristol to discover Newfoundland on the other side of the Atlantic. The river Frome used to meet the Avon here and in medieval times it formed the north part of the castle moat. In the 13th Century Bristolians dug a wide trench to allow boats to come into the centre of the city. This was known as St. Augustine’s reach or the great ditch.

Where did the river Frome go?

Old photos show boats tied up in what is now the city centre. If you walk across the centre you will see a pub called the Drawbridge and a catholic church named St. Mary’s on the Quay. You might be puzzled as all you will see is a busy road.  The river Frome was taken underground and huge underground reservoirs were dug as part of a flood prevention scheme. For the first part of our walk  the river was far below our feet  and it was difficult to believe that Bristol has a second river.

It did emerge briefly before disappearing again under the M32. However once we had crossed the motorway we were able to follow the riverside walk for five miles to Frenchay.

The river Frome with grafitti on the stone work.
The river Frome emerges briefly.

If you want a gentle stroll from the heart of Bristol I recommend the Frome walkway (Click my link to download a free map of the walk and find out more about the history of the area.) After walking through the rubbish and graffiti of the inner city and through the subway under the M32 we arrived at Eastville Park.  The name Frome is supposed to come from the old English for fast flowing and the river although quite shallow and little more than a stream lives up to its name.

Eastville Park

Eastville park was a people’s park made for the working class. They used water from the river to create a boating lake and there was even an open air swimming pool. Unfortunately the swimming pool was bombed during the second world war and never restored. The lake is no longer used for boating but you can play bowls or tennis. Every Saturday morning the park hosts a park run.

The lake now attracts a variety of birds.  After flowing through the park  the river flows into yet another park known to locals as Vassals Park or to mapmakers as Oldbury Court estate.  A group of volunteers known as the Frome fairies regularly don waders and clear litter from the lake and river to ensure it stays clean and fast flowing.

On the other side of the river there are allotments where gardeners can grow vegetables. We had a short detour at Wickham Glen to find the house where Thomas Cromwell held a council of war before the parliamentarians took Bristol during the civil war.

Oldbury Court Estate

The entrance to the Oldbury court estate is known as Snuff Mills and is the site of an old mill owned by Snuffy Jack. The nickname derives from his habit of chewing snuff. The mill has been partly restored and the gardens around it are maintained by volunteers who have won several awards for their efforts. We paused for a snack at the small kiosk.

River Frome Oldbury Coourt Estate Bristol
The river Frome last winter

As you follow the river through the estate you can see the remains of several quarries. Pennant sandstone was quarried here and can be found in many local buildings. The estate was owned by the Vassall family who employed Humphry Repton to design the grounds. When the house became too expensive to repair it was pulled down and the estate sold to the city council who created a lovely park. Away from the river there is a large children’s adventure playground and another cafรฉ.

Oldbury Court Mansion

It is possible to find traces of the original mansion which was close to the playpark. The rather puzzling circular path close to where the icecream van usually parks was originally a carriage turning circle in front of the house. You can find the remains of a walled kitchen garden and the terraces of the formal gardens beneath the undergrowth. There are several unusual trees that were planted by the original owners including, cypruses and giant redwoods. If you follow the stream you will find the remains of ponds and cascades.

We finished that stage of our walk with a well earnt drink in the White Lion at Frenchay. Over the next few months we completed the whole twenty miles of the Frome walkway.


15 responses to “Frome riverside walkway”

      • I did enjoy the article, I really should have said so, very local to me, I walk the Eastville park to Oldbury Court section with my dog regularly. Don’t mean to be pedantic but there’s no E in Humphry ๐Ÿ˜‰

  1. Hi Anne, I enjoyed your post especially the way you entwine the historical details with the description of the walk itself. Looking forward to reading more of your posts.

  2. Hi Anne, I came here via Jo. This walk in Bristol looks like it has lots of wildlife and pretty views, but you had to get through the litter and graffiti to get there. I’m glad you enjoyed the natural area. Looks like a lovely walk. ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. I do like the sound of the Frome fairies ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ A lot of beach cleaning goes on around here to try and keep the area beautiful. I know Bristol quite well and it’s a cracking city. I have a good friend out in Yate and have been city walking a time or two. The city has a fascinating history. Many thanks for sharing.

  4. I had no idea of such walks like the Frome walk from the heart of Bristol. I’ll download that map you linked to for when I next take a day trip there. It looks lovely! It’s a good finishing point at the pub too ๐Ÿ˜‰
    Caz xx

  5. Thanks for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 2!

  6. Thanks for linking up at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty 40! Shared โ™ฅ

  7. Hi Anne, First time visitor to your blog and pinned this interesting post. Trying to walk more, but it has to be mostly indoors. Tucson too hot right now to walk outside. Visiting you from the Wed. AIM Link Party, where I posted Top Reasons to Practice Gratitude with Tips to Help You Do It

    • I am glad the local council had the foresight to create green corridors to enable wildlife to cross the city safely.

  8. Hi Anne, Your heading photo is stunning! All of your photos depict a beautiful, green, lush area. Five miles is a significant hike. Amazing how many animals you see in the green corridor. Your made me smile with the finishing with a “well earnt drink.” ๐Ÿ™‚