Summary
A 2.5 to 3.5 hour walk exploring the countryside of southeast Bristol, taking in Maes Knoll, an iron age hill fort with spectacular views across towards the Chew Valley.
Distance: 5-8 km
Time: 1.5-3 hours
Total ascent: 147.8m
Starting point: Stockwood (Grid ref 618680) or Whitchurch (612676)
ViewRanger app: search "Maes Knoll Hands On Active"
I’ve included 2 start options: for the no 2 bus (about 10-15 minutes length added) and for the 376.
No 2 bus start:
Get off at Showering Road and walk back down the hill to the grassy triangle, following Craydon Road round to the left until you see the start of the cycle path
Go onto the cycle path and turn left
Follow the path around, it curves to the right
It will come out at Staunton Lane, turn right onto Staunton Lane and follow down to the A37, you will see the Toby Carvery!
Turn left onto the A37 and cross, you are looking for the first public footpath on the right ( about 100m) from Toby carvery.
No 376 start
Walk up the A37 from the Toby Carvery and cross, you are looking for the first public footpath on the right ( about 100m) from Toby carvery.
Both routes now join:
Take the footpath past some houses and you’ll come to a gate which takes you into fields
Once in the field, go left through the gap into the next field to the bridge
From the bridge, go straight up to the skyline
Then follow the edge of the hedge in the next field (on the right of the hedge), you’re looking for the yellow footpath signs on the posts :)
Straight across to the gate
Then up and diagonally left to the top left corner of the field
Take the gate on the left and walk up the field
Cross the track and follow the line straight across a few fields with gates (yellow footpath markers on posts)
You come out in a wide open field, you are aiming for the gate just down from the top corner
Turn right through the gate onto the main road (uphill) and walk along the road past several kennels and buildings until you come to a junction, don’t turn off, keep straight and a liitle way past on your right is the footpath up to Maes Knoll
Walk up hill on right side of hedge then turn left at the top, following the path until it bends right but don’t follow it right, take the gate on the bend on the left
Once through the gate, follow the track to the left uphill until a gate on the left where you can go across to the old mound or continue straight to the trig point then turn left to reach the mound.
Take in the view and catch your breath!
From the mound with the way you’ve come from behind you, turn left following the filed boundary until the first gate and path on your right
Follow the path to a road and turn right and downhill
To return to the No 2 or 376 (for linear route using No 50 skip ahead to No 50 directions)
Follow the road until you find houses, take first right (Longacre Road), right again (Holbeach way), turn right at junction end of Holbeach, follow down to Emmett Wood and at the end take footpath left over wooden bridge
Cut diagonally left across field to gate
Go straight across next field in line from gate to the row of trees, walk to the left of this row of trees that goes along a small stream
Cross a small bridge and follow field boundary to gate in right corner of field that you will recognise by houses by A37
Alternative ending for return by No 50 bus
From the point where you meet the road after Maes Knoll
Turn right downhill, after a short distance, there is a footpath into a field on the left, take a second to admire the great views back towards Bristol! Take the path by turning downhill and following the right hand field boundary and through a gate, following the footpath sign round to the left.
The path follows the top filed boundary then goes down hill from the top corner (signposted)
Continue to follow the footpath signs straight across a track between 2 gates then when greeted with a housing estate, follow your nose straight down (the signs disappear) then left down a small lane, this brings you out on Tanorth road, turn left and the No 50 bus stop is a short distance down.