Walk in Bristol
with Richie
Richie's Tips for a good walk
My personal tips and advices to a short or long walk.
1. Make a Plan
Before you start your walk, make a plan.
Collect the informations, what you need ( Weather forcast, Opening times, prices and others...)
Don't just make a plan, make minimum three plans .
Why is it important?
Bristol is in England, so the weather can change hour by hour.
Example: You would like to visit a park when you start to go there it is a drizzly day, the weather forecast says it will be a sunny day, but once you get there, the rain start to falling.
The opening hours of the chosen place can be change, because the day , when you can visit the place is bank holiday, or started a restauration in the place and closed events can also vary.
You can be disappointed in the place, what you visit or you can finish the visit quickly. Because of the many visitors you can not enjoy the walk or visit.
These can easily happen, but to avoid this, I try to help with this site, but can be happen, what I like in the visited place, you don't like it, because everyone has got different opinion.
When you make a plan, you try to choose places, that are close to one another, so you don't have to waste any time to traveling.
Good idea to choose places, what you can visit , if the weather changes , because you don't spoil your day.
Example:
You would like to visit the Brandon Hill and Cabot Tower, and make a few good pitures.
When you arrived there, the rain start to falling, and the Cabot Tower is closed for visitors. What you can do now?
Need to search a good place near to the park, where don't disturb you the weather, like the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
It is very close to the park, you can dry there, they has got a lot of interesting collection, you can drink a coffee or eat a snack, and when the weather is changing again, you can go back and make the pictures.
Or you can walk to the M Shed museum, you can check their collection about Bristol, and if you can go to the M Shed's terrace, what is indoors, you can make a few good pictures about the Harbourside, like this ;)
Don't interest the museums and galleries?
Just check the Cathedrals, Churches, Restaurants, Pubs, interesting places , what is indoor and close to the Brandon Hill and enjoy your day. :)
Don't forget, just need to make a few plans, and you can't waste your time, and your mood to the walk can be good..
2. Clothing
1. Shoes
The first and most important thing for a walk is a good shoe. If you are going for a long journey, do not choose shoes that you wear for the first time.
The shoe, what you bought in the shop, and you felt good and comfortable can make problem after a few kilometers walk, because it can break our feet.
Before you go to a longer trip, you need to use the shoe to
a few short trip, because your feet need get used to the shoe.
In addition to the comfortable aspect, it is important to be practical. It's a good idea to buy shoes that are waterproof with slip-free sole, and if you want to go to a good restaurant, gallery, or museum after a walk in the wet park, and you don't want to go there in dirty or muddy shoes, you should wear shoes that are easy to clean.
2. Clothing
The clothes should always be comfortable and I would recommend the layered clothing.
I should note here, that the jeans anyone says anything, I think it is not comfortable for a trip.
The thin jeans is light, but unbearable in the heat, retains water in the rainy weather and dries slowly.
It is perfect for casual wear, but when you go to a park or a Nature reserve, you go to a place ,where you have to walk a lot or maybe you have to climb, I don't recommend it.
I saw quite a few people trying to climb on jeans to the top of Brandon Hill at 30 degrees ...
You can find clothes, what are perfect for hiking and leisure clothes in the shop, luckily there is an assortment of them.
One of my favorites is a trouser , that can be used during a summer season, which can be made short. Lightweight, comfortable and extremely practical.
3. Jacket
The choice of jacket is my main consideration to be waterproof jacket with a hood.
I like wearing lightweight jackets, it is better to dress in layers, and if the weather changes, I can remove the excess clothes.
It is easier to carry a lighter jacket if you do not have a backpack. ;)
4. Backpacks
The backpack is especially good for smaller and larger trips.
You don't have to carry in your hands the excess clothes and accessories , what I mentioned above, and if you want your tours cheaply, you can bring sandwiches, foods and liquids in your backpack ,that are indispensable to your trip, because you will lose energy and you must also be protected from dehydration.
The backpack , what I prefer, as is the other recommended clothes, primarily waterproof.
On the side of the bacpack, it's good to have a pocket for fluids, so you don't have to stop your walk in every 10 minutes and looking for fluids in the backpack ,if you are thirsty.
It is important to fit the backpack to your back and place the center of gravity on each side of your body, so that carrying a packed backpack is not a cause of scoliosis or physical pain.
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5.Any other practical things
Here are some of the things that can be good, if we take to the backpack, when we go to a trip.
Baseball Cap - Do a good service, keep your eyes from the sunshine or can save from the rain, and enhance the look from your hood
Sunglasses - I don't think I need to write down why it can be good, if you have.
Adhesive plaster - always good if you have, you never know ...
Smart Phone - Gives you a lot of help
Phone Charger - I have often found that my phone is almost completely discharged due to picture making. I recommend the Power Banks , these are small, lightweight and do not require electrical power.
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3. Travel
The travel is one of Bristol’s unsolved problems.
They’re trying to fix it, but in a city what is big like this city , it’s not an easy task. Everything is easily accessible from the city center, but if you are not at the center... it is not simple.. The buses are often inaccurate, there are times when a bus is missed a bus stop due to a bus failure, it is especially annoying if you are in a city center where only one bus goes to the center, and you need to wait more then a half hour.
4. Make it Cheaper
Therefore, I recommend that you find out in advance, not only how your journey originates from the center, but also how you get back to the center. Avoid Sunday trips to places where buses run less often, because on Sundays it can be less frequent.Please check, maybe there is a train station in the area, where you waana travel. It's a little more expensive, but it's useful if you need to wait too much for a bus and Uber isn't around the neighbour ( the train cheaper as the Uber). Go cycling, there are plenty of cycle paths in Bristol, just sometimes the paths are too steep.
If you wanna make a cheap trip, use a backpack.
You can take to the backpack the drinks and foods what you bought in the shop, or you made at home. I know, sometimes it is uncomfortable, like when you go to the top of a hill, but if you are on the top of the hill, and you are hungry, you don't need to leave the fantastic view because of it. If you don't want it, use our site's Good to get here or the Google Maps, and you can find a few good places, where you can eat and drink cheaper.
In Bristol and the surrounding area, most museums and parks are free, you only have to pay for smaller amounts of exhibitions, of course there are exceptions. That is why I offer them two discount and "free entry cards":
1. National Art Pass Card
Annual membership lets you enjoy free entry to over 240 museums, galleries, and historic places across the UK, as well as 50% off major exhibitions. All for £73 annually or £45 for Under 30.
Most importantly, you’ll help Art Fund support these vital spaces that bring us together and enrich our lives.
If it is interest you, because you like to visit museums, galleries and historic places, here is the National Art Pass's Official website: https://www.artfund.org/national-art-pass
2. National Trust Membership Card
With National Trust membership you can enjoy:
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Free entry (on pre-booking) to some of National Trust gardens and parklands as they reopen
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Free parking at most of National Trust coast and countryside car parks (pre-booking required for a small number of car parks) as they reopen
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Members' Handbook, full of information about National Trust places
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National Trust Magazine three times a year, packed with inspiration, interviews and news
Plus, when all of National Trust places and car parks reopen:
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Free entry to over 500 special places, including National Trust houses
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Free parking at most National Trust car parks
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If it is interest you, because you like to visit National Trust houses , gardens, parklands,coast and countryside here is the National Trust 's Official website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/join-us