Contact Me: West of Bristol

Subject: West of Bristol
Posted: 26 Jun 2009 7:57 pm

Hi Mark
I've enjoyed looking at your site and gained much valuable info. Thanks
I intend to have a crack at LE to JOG next year by taking the coastal path and then carrying on up the Severn.
My question is why does no-one ever do this (ie go West of Bristol)?
I have read many accounts and walkers tend to go via the Cotswold Way or go over the border into Wales.
I realise that accomodation could be difficult for some walkers but I will be backpacking with my dog.

Am I missing something obvious?

Cheers
Pete

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Subject: Severn Way
Posted: 27 Jun 2009 11:28 am

Hi Pete.

No, I don't think you're missing anything obvious, and if I had my time again, I'd have cut out the Cotswold Way and headed straight for the start of the Severn Way too (I really loved the section of the Severn Way I did). I suppose people are understandably attracted by the Cotswolds, and Bath is a lovely spot, so going via the Cotswold Way does make sense; the other choice head for Offa's Dyke, which a lot of people like.

But no, I think you've got a great idea there, even if it is the path less travelled. Better for it, I say.

Good luck with the planning!

Best wishes,

Mark

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Subject: western route
Posted: 28 Jun 2009 10:22 am

Hi Mark.
Firstly many thanks for an excellent site, inspirational and informative, so at 55 it's time i stopped dreaming and got planning for lejog start next May. I intend following your scenic route which seems to pack in many interesting sights along the way. I had fancied including cheddar gorge which i have never visited but this put quite a bulge in the route.

Pete's post has prompted a rethink and i now see from Taunton i could go Bridgwater, cheddar and to get across the avon take the Clifton suspension bridge (some thing else i have never visited) then to the Severn way start isn't far and this will take me past the wildfowl trust at slimbridge.

Pete, hope to see you along the way.

Cheers J.P.

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Subject: Cheddar Gorge
Posted: 29 Jun 2009 9:44 am

Hi John.

Glad you like the site - thanks.

I have to say, your route sounds great. The bits that you're skipping from my route are, in my humble opinion, well worth skipping - I found the flat walking around Glastonbury to be fairly drab, and although Bath is delightful, I was less impressed by the likes of Midsomer Norton. And as for the Cotswold Way, it does meander around in an annoying manner and has lots of steep climbs, which is a bit of a distraction when you've still got hundreds of miles to go.

The Severn Way, though, is my idea of lovely walking, and if getting there takes you via Cheddar Gorge and the Clifton suspension bridge, then I can't think of a better way of turning the corner and heading north. If I had my time again, that's the way I'd go.

I'm quite jealous now!

Best wishes,

Mark

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Subject: West of Bristol
Posted: 5 Jul 2009 1:07 pm

Thanks for the reply, Mark.
I was interested to read of your plans, John. I am also 55 and my dog is a 6 year old border collie, so it seems an ideal time for both of us. I intend to start in early April 2010 so you may well pass us on the way.
My route would be to carry on right up the coast to Portishead then cross over The River Avon via the footpath next to the M5. From here you can pick up the Severn Way which takes you neatly over the M5 (again)and the M49 to meet The River Severn just North of Avonmouth.

Pete

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Subject: Bristol on the route?
Posted: 5 Jul 2009 6:45 pm

I chose to go through Bristol to join the Severn Way when hiking LE-JOG. It does reduce the Lejog mileage a bit to cut the corner, so to speak, as you transition from northeast through the West country to north through the Midlands. It took a few hours to hoof through Bristol.

When hiking JOG-LE, I arrived from Wales over the Severn bridge, and avoided Bristol by heading for Avonmouth. The Severn Way from the bridge to Avonmouth is NOT picturesque and nor a nice surface (as I remember it), and Avonmouth is "urban blight". But, as you say, there is a walkway over the Avon next to the M5, and since this is the only place you can cross the Avon between here and Bristol, your choice is "blighted" Avonmouth or "big-city" Bristol. Once you do cross the Avon at Avonmouth, you are in the country but still close to the motorway. Your route from here until you reach the Bridgwater area zigzags in places because there are a limited number of bridges crossing the various patches of water (irrigation or drainage canals) in the area. It gets very flat about 15 miles south of Bristol, and there's not much to look at until you are south of Bridgwater.

I don't regret taking those routes, but I can see why people (like Mark) avoid both Avonmouth and Bristol by heading more east.

Cheers,

Daryl
http://mylongwalk.com

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Subject: West of Bristol
Posted: 6 Jul 2009 12:36 pm

Thank's for everyones comments, it does look like avonmouth will be a contrast to the weeks approaching it, hopefully the route highlights will outweight lows.
It would be a stroke of luck to meet pete on the severn way (as per Daryl may's blog, if i get that far i will feel i've earnt my stripes and JOG will look a lot more realistic).

Pete's start along the coast sounds tough. For start date i have been working around national averages of temp/rainfall and daylight time, (and not arriving lands end on a bank holiday) does anyone see a particular advantage in starting earlier in the year.

I'm hopeing to wild camp as much as possible, plus YHA card and of course some cold/wet day's B&B may be irresistable.

Cheers J.P.

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Subject: When to leave?
Posted: 6 Jul 2009 1:38 pm

Hi John.

It all depends on the weather, and if there's one thing you can't do in this country, it's to depend on the weather. I did May to July and it was just right for me, but you could leave earlier without courting disaster. April can be a wet old month, though, so who can tell?

Avoiding Land's End on a bank holiday is an excellent idea, though. The awful traffic is much more reliable than the weather...

Mark

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Subject: West of Bristol
Posted: 6 Jul 2009 8:56 pm

Easter Sunday is on April 6th next year and I intend to set off shortly afterwards, when the campsites will all be open, even though I intend to wild camp as often as possible. This is one of my reasons for choosing the Coast Path even though I know it will be tough at times. (I have done the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and the Pennine Way and I found the former much more strenuous).
My main reason for setting off in early April is to avoid the really hot weather, in late June and July, as this is one of the few things that could pose problems for my dog. I also hope to avoid the midges as much as possible.
Incidentally, between 1961 and 1990 April was the driest month(as per "weatheronline.co.uk")
Thanks for your comments.

Pete

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Subject: April
Posted: 7 Jul 2009 9:38 am

Pete,

Wow, April was the driest month? I'd never have guessed that - lulled into a false sense of insecurity by the phrase 'April showers', I suppose.

The archives don't lie, so I guess April is a good time to leave after all, especially if it means you avoid the midges! Good luck...

Mark

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