Travel / Days out
An A-Z of summer daytrips
Ashton Court Estate, Bristol. Pack a picnic basket and make a day of exploring the woods, footpaths and deer park.
Brown’s Folly, Bath. Hidden in the trees near Bathford is this folly, which affords stunning views of the surrounding hills.
Chepstow, South Wales. Just a short hop over the Severn is this sweet town, dominated by its castle, with commanding views of the Wye.
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View of the Wye from an ivy-covered window in Chepstow Castle
Devizes, Witshire. Stroll around the famous flight of locks up Caen Hill, or hire a canal boat for the day and learn to operate the lock gates yourself.
Easter Compton, South Gloucestershire. The quiet country lanes and footpaths around Easter Compton and Pilning offer dramatic views over the Severn bridges.
Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Track the deer and wild boar that call the dense pine forest home and mess around in a boat on Mallard’s Pike Lake.
Sunset amongst the pines in the Forest of Dean
Gibraltar. A direct flight from Bristol Airport will take you to a home away from home. This rocky peninsula has been a British Overseas Territory since 1713.
Highbridge & Burnham, Somerset. Take the train to the coast and explore Burnham-on-Sea, a pretty resort with miles of beach.
Miles of sandy beach at Burnham-on-Sea
Iron Acton, South Gloucestershire. Potter around the chocolate-box cottages, country pubs and tiny shops of Iron Acton and Chipping Sodbury.
Jack’s Green, Gloucestershire. Venture deep into the Cotswolds to discover picturesque Painswick and its surrounding beech woods.
Keynsham, Somerset. Pick up the towpath along the river Avon for an idyllic stroll. Keep your eyes out for birds like herons and kingfishers, and for bats at sunset.
Llanthony Priory, Black Mountains. Stroll through the dramatic ruins of this priory, founded by Augustinian monks in the 12th century.
The dramatic ruined priory, flanked by mountains
Monmouth, South Wales. A pretty market town with an impressive bridge and castle. Nearby Symonds Yat is a renowned beauty spot.
Nempnett Thrubwell, Somerset. A tiny village with one of the West Country’s particularly weird names, immortalised in a song by The Wurzels. Visit nearby Blagdon Lake for a spot of birdwatching.
Oldbury Court Estate, Bristol. Pick up the Frome Valley Walkway and meander along the river eastwards towards Frenchay, or west to Snuff Mills and Eastville Park.
The weir in Oldbury Court Estate
Penarth, South Wales. Accessible by train, or via a nice walk around Cardiff Bay, the pier is an elegant piece of Victorian engineering. Stand at the end and wave at Weston.
Quantock Hills, Somerset. From Over Stowey, make your way up through the woods and keep an eye out for birds of prey catching thermals overhead.
Wild ponies roam the Quantocks
Radstock, Somerset. The mining town of Radstock has a fascinating museum, and the spoil heap in Writhlington is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for the fossils unearthed.
Stanton Drew, Somerset. Visit the Neolithic standing stones just outside the village, and then head over to Pensford, with its impressive viaduct.
Troopers Hill, Bristol. A haven for wildlife and a peaceful spot in the heart of the city. If the ferry is running, it’s a short hop to Beese’s for refreshments too.
The distinctive chimney atop Troopers Hill
Uley Long Barrow, Gloucestershire. One of the UK’s best preserved Neolithic burial mounds. Crawl inside the 5,000 year-old structure, or eat your sandwiches on top.
Venice, Italy. Swap the river Avon for some Venetian canals with a direct flight from Bristol Airport. Forget the map – getting lost is all part of the fun.
Wotton-under-Edge, Stroud. Pick up the Cotswold Way footpath towards North Nibley and climb Tyndale Monument for a spectacular view.
The view of North Nibley from Tyndale Monument
Exmoor, North Devon. Venture into Devon and ride the funicular railway in Lynton, or stay on the eastern edge and visit Dunster, a mediaeval village with a stately castle.
Yeovil, Somerset. Use Yeovil as a starting point to travel further south and explore Dorset, including the Cerne Abbas Giant and Chesil Beach.
Zadar, Croatia. Fly direct from Bristol Airport and land in a lively city on the Dalmatian coast. Go island hopping, visit one of the five national parks or relax in a café.
Read more: Things to do in Bristol this summer 2017
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