Dog Walks: Ashton Court Estate

This week I’m looking forward to the Christmas break as it means some lovely, long, lazy days spent with my family – which naturally for me includes my dogs.

I consider myself very lucky to live in such a beautiful area of the world where there are some wonderful dog walks right on my door step – woodland, beach, moorland – take your pick!

Ashton Court Estate is one of my favourites as it incorporates both woodland and open space. I remember tramping the woods and hills around the estate with my family dogs when I was young – it’s a fantastic place for families and their dogs to explore.

One of my chief pleasures has been seeing the estate through my children’s eyes and seeing their excitement as we explore things and they see them for the very first time.

Here’s the details you need to enjoy discovering it for yourself:

How to get there

Ashton Court Estate is two miles from Bristol city centre. The main entrances are off the A369 Portishead Road at Kennel Lodge Road, for the mansion and centre of the estate, and at Clifton Lodge for the golf course and top of the estate.The Avon Cycle Way runs from Long Ashton through the estate to Clifton Lodge.

Address

Ashton Court Estate, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS41 9JN

• Opening hours: 8am daily throughout the year.
• Admission is free, although there is a charge for admission to some events which take place on the estate. Access may be restricted on some major event days.
• Parking is £1.20 per vehicle per day.

Disabled access information

Car parking

• Ten disabled parking bays in the Mansion House car park (access via Kennel Lodge Road)
• One disabled parking bay in the golf course/miniature railway car park (access via Clifton Lodge situated on the A369 Bristol – Portishead Road)
• Ten disabled parking bays in the Church Lodge car park (access via Ashton Road situated on the B3128 – by the Dovecote pub).
• Blue badge holders park for free in the allocated disabled bays.

Facilities

• Two disabled toilets open during daylight hours daily, located in the Stables Courtyard

General

• An outdoor attraction with difficult terrain and topography and may present difficulties to visitors who use wheelchairs, those with restricted mobility or who are visually impaired. Sticking to the roadways is advisable.
• The stables courtyard is an historic surface. It’s level but has a cobbled surface that may be uncomfortable for some visitors.
• No wheelchair access to the formal gardens.

Courtyard café

• Flat, but uneven surface
• Guide dogs and assistance dogs welcome.

For further information, visit the Bristol City Council website.

I will be posting details of some of my favourite walks in the local area, but would love to hear from you about special places you like to visit. Comment below!