We made a stop at Clifton and the famous suspension bridge as the museum there was one of the places we could pick up a paper map. The Mall being open far too late in the day for us sculpture trailers!
It’s £1 to go over the bridge and once you are in the queue to go over it’s very tricky to sop and pull over. There are parking spaces, however they are in a lay by opposite the museum and on the other side of the road. We managed to throw the car down a very steep street and park up on the side of the road in a designated spot. My small collection of parking tickets started here.
The Bristol Barker
The sculpture is at the start of the bridge, maybe my eyes hadn’t adjusted to the spotting of sculptures just yet, however I found him tricky to spot straight away. It may have been the coffee cart just off to the side that drew more of my attention.
The sign for the toll and the museum in the background. You can just see the parked car where the small layby is for the museum.
My advice would be to park on the streets before the museum. The area has a bit of a steep hill, however it is accessible on pavement and for dogs.
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is currently undergoing maintenance. This is going to be a regular occurance on this trail as I think most of the sculptures around the outskirts of Bristol have at least one roadworks, traffic lights or some other work going on around them.
I’m attempting to cut around the barriers as I upload images, however just be aware that there are many times where we sat in a queue waiting for a light to change to move past some road works on our journey.
Mr Darcy
(People and bench in the mid distance have been erased for privacy)
What a wonderful photo! I know, thank you.
Mr Darcy is at the Clifton Observatory. An historic museum that overlooks the bridge. It is up a very very steep slope at the top of a hill. There are pathways up to the observatory and they are well maintained tarmac. However, I had a struggle to get up there!
I do feel like it was worth it though.
Also, shout out to the couple of ladies who were interested in us buzzing around the sculpture and came for a look before one exclaimed “Oh no! He is definitely not Mr Darcy! He isn’t handsome at all.” Somewhere, I would love to see a stop motion Pride and Prejudice with Wallace and Gromit.
I will say, this was by far the better parking place as the spots at the bottom of the hill, by the road are completely free for a few minutes. Long enough to struggle up the hill, catch your breath and snap a photo, then launch yourself back down the steep slope and dart around the swarms of midges that always seem to congregate around wooded areas.
Another shout out to the people who, after taking photos of Mr Darcy, then went and sat themselves on the bench behind, so that they would be in every single photo of the sculpture.
We moved onwards, hunger and breathlessness caused us to move out of the city, more towards the edges again, in order to hunt down some refreshments and a place to rest.
Much as I like to sit in cafes and watch the world go by, the parking around Bristol is expensive. As it is in most cities. So our plan was to find a big supermarket or drive thru that we could park the van up and take a seat for a time.
Super Ply
(people have been erased for privacy)
We headed out towards Bedminster and Southville.
First making our way to Ashton Court Estate. Not an estate that we thought, like Brabazon. An actual country estate that has been converted into a leisure area with bike paths, walking paths, golf courses and a miniature railway. The sculpture is just outside the cafe and is in a perfect place for accessibility and for dogs. There are also toilets and plenty of benches if you need to take a pit stop on the trail.
The is probably my least favourite sculpture. I can see the vision and I can see the effort taken to create a wood effect. However the overall effect is lacking. Especially compared to some of the other Feathers sculptures that are available.
Nemesis
Nemesis is at the Ashton Gate Stadium, home to Bristol City football club. Accessible and dog friendly and lovely positioned in reach of the car park or entrance if you are walking into the area.
Scone with the Wind
Located outside Storysmith, an independent bookshop. Getting to this sculpture was a little bit of a hassle via car. The location is on a very busy high street which backs onto streets of terraced houses. Plus we came through on a very busy Friday evening which meant it was almost impossible to find somewhere to park nearby. We circled the streets for a few minutes and finally got a space big enough for the van and could nip out for a quick photo. It was a very quick photo, snapped between waves of pedestrians and locals.
Perhaps one to grab early morning, or not at a weekend evening. It is accessible, however, it is very busy with people and cars.
Spellbound
(cropped to protect privacy)
Spellbound is located in Victoria Park. A park that has a couple of roadworks being done in the surrounding streets and was probably one of the hardest to get to and locate. The sculpture is tucked behind the children’s play area. Which is why the photo is so cropped as it is impossible, unless you go very early or very late, to snap a photo without getting someone in the background. Yes, it was a Friday evening in Summer, however I do have to voice a small concern as I hopped out of a van, phone in hand and snapped a photo of a statue. No dog or child in hand that a person visiting the park may have. Also, I have to mention the terrible parking situation. There is none. You throw the car onto the street and hop out. Oh, and the trainline cuts along one side of the park so you have to turn around on yourself to get back out of the area.
And with Spellbound found, after a good hour of driving around and praying the sculpture wasn’t at the top of the hill, we agreed that our collective brain power was exhausted and a good night’s sleep would be needed. It was back to the campsite for a good rest and some pizza.
