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BEST VIEW DUNDRY
■ Some cyclists like to punish their limbs by taking on the steep climb from Bristol via routes like Dundry Lane or Queen’s Road. Normal folk take the car. But however you reach the small village of Dundry, the view is ample reward. Dundry sits on a ridge, on one side of which you can stare down on Bristol, taking in vast chunks of the city. You can also see both Severn crossings from here. Head a few hundred yards the other way and you can savour the North Somerset countryside, and on a clear day, see the Mendip Hills. And for those who like that sort of thing, you can also get a great view of planes coming in to Bristol Airport, and rate the pilot’s ability to touch down smoothly.
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BEST VIEW PERRETT PARK
■ Thousands gather in Ashton Court for the Bristol Balloon Fiesta every year (this year, August 7-10), but another piece of green space in the city is also rammed that weekend. Perrett Park, on the border of Totterdown and Knowle, is awash with families on picnic blankets during the mass ascent, because they know the colourful balloons will, more than likely, be carried right over their heads by the prevailing winds. But you don’t just have to visit this little green oasis during the fiesta to get a great view. From the highest point in the park, where it borders Sylvia Avenue, you can see Victoria Park and the city centre in the foreground, Ashton Gate and Ashton Court in the distance, and the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Houses on Sylvia Avenue don’t come up for sale very often, and when they do, they sell very quickly. Once you’ve seen this view, you will realise why.
BEST VIEW CABOT TOWER
■ When this iconic Bristol building was closed for repairs, the public were denied one of the best spots in the city to while away an hour counting how many different landmarks they could spy. In the foreground is the Floating Harbour, with the masts of the ss Great Britain likely to catch the eye. On a sunny day, the nearby Wills Memorial Building and Brandon Hill park positively sparkle, and even the imposing City Hall looks quite impressive. If the clouds stay away, you can also look across to Dundry, Lansdown and all points between. Cabot Tower is one of the few places, where, if you live in South Bristol, you can honestly say: “I can see my house from here.”
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BEST VIEW LOOKOUT POINT ON CIRCULAR ROAD
■ Bit of a cliché this one, but it is a remarkable spot and, on a warm day, there’s usually an ice cream van parked here to give you something else to do besides admire the view. On a strip of land between Circular Road and the fence that stops you plunging into the Avon Gorge, most people look left to get a view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge but also glance down on any passing boats that might be taking advantage of a high tide. But look the other way and you can see the houses of Portishead tumbling down towards the sea (figuratively), the cranes of Avonmouth and, if you’re lucky, right across to Wales. Of course, on a summer weekend you can also rest your back against the fence and watch people on the Downs playing football, throwing a Frisbee or just walking a dog. For those with a mischievous streak, watch out for people lighting barbecues, and time the gap between the flames igniting and council officials arriving to tell them off.
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from Friday, April 25, 2014
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