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Forest of Avon
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Woodlands
• Ashton Court Estate
• Ashton Hill Plantation
• Bishops Knoll
• Bithams Wood
• Blaise Castle Estate
• Leigh Woods
• Lower Woods
• Tower House Wood
• Weston Big Wood

New Woodlands
• Abbots Wood
• Little Down Wood
• Lower Knole Farm
• Mannings Wood
• Meadow Drive Farm
• Overscourt Wood
• Warmley Forest Park
• Wheat Hill Farm
• Wooscombe Wood

Local Nature Reserves
• Avon Valley Woodlands
• Eastwood
• Goblin Combe
• Golden Valley, Wick
• Huckford Quarry
• Lawrence Weston Moor
• Manor Road
• Patchway Gorse Covert
• Ridge Wood
• Royate Hill, Eastville
• Stockwood Open Space
• Three Brooks
• Troopers Hill, St George
• Wapley Bushes
• Willsbridge Mill

Heritage Sites
• Ashton Court
• Blaise Castle
• Oldbury Court

Country Parks
• Avon Valley Country Park
A National Community Forest Partner

Blaise Castle

For information about Blaise Castle Estate, please contact the Estate Office on
0117 353 2268 or email brlsmjh@bristol.gov.uk

PhotoAnother stunning historic park, Blaise Castle Estate has much to offer the visitor throughout its 650 acres of parkland. With a deep wooded limestone gorge, dramatic scenery, and ancient monuments steeped in folklore, Blaise Castle Estate is one of the most magical and romantic areas in the Forest of Avon with plenty to do for children as well as adults.

How to get there... Located on the North-West edge of Bristol by Henbury, Blaise Castle Estate’s main entrance is on the Kingsweston Road, B4057.

Natural Habitats - The estate has several different woodlands to explore, some of which are semi- ancient with rich natural habitats containing many rare species of birds, butterflies and flowers. The Calcareous Grassland is one of the most impressive natural habitats on the estate – situated on the Kingsweston Down, this stunning wild flower meadow is a real sight to behold in spring and summer.

PhotoDays of Legend - Blaise Castle Estate has an extensive range of scenic pathways that run along the many streams of the gorge around Hazel Brook. These walkways are studded with sensational views and points of historical interest. You can see Lover's Leap, (the dramatic precipice towering above the gorge), the 'Giant’s Footprint', 'Goram’s Chair', (the Giant’s resting place – an immense limestone rock group), the 'Robber's Cave', 'Earthworks' the Iron Age fort and the mysterious fairy tale cottage the 'Inner Lodge' – a beautifully crafted, unique wooden house.

All of these sights can be found easily from the trails of the estate, making for a really enjoyable and interesting exploration that will capture children’s imaginations – handy for motivating them along the way!

PhotoThe Castle - Within the estate is the Folly, a small Gothic castle built on the top of Blaise Hill in 1766, which was once used as a Summerhouse for entertaining, complete with it's own kitchen and drawing room. The folly is now a romantic ruin, open to the public on Sundays throughout the Summer.

At Blaise Castle Estate you can also see the 18thCentury Stratford Mill, a Woodman’s Cottage and the Blaise Hamlet Cottages, (just outside the Estate), owned by the National Trust, not to mention the elegant Estate House. This was built in Bath Stone in 1796 for the Harford family and is complete with a 'natural' style of garden landscaping which makes the most of the dramatic scenery surrounding the estate.

PhotoThe Museum - The House is now home to a fascinating museum of everyday life – the Blaise Castle House Museum, which is open April 1st – October 31st, 10am-5pm, Saturday- Wednesday with free entry for all. You can see Humphry Repton’s original 'Red Book', which contains the beautiful drawings and paintings from the landscaping of the estate, as well as a picture gallery, and lots of antique domestic equipment, toys and games, costumes and textiles.

For Kids - There is much for children to do in this part of the estate, which include excellent children’s play parks – one is ideal for the under five’s and the other will happily entertain kids of up to twelve and has plenty of picnic benches.

Sport – There are cricket and football pitches in the estate, (to book call 0117 922 2789), and a two mile horse trail, running from Kingsweston Road car park to Kingsweston Down. For more information on particular sports, leisure activities and walking routes through the estate, click on Sport and Leisure
 
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