Ashton Court estate and deer park
Ashton Court: 850 acres of parkland on the edge of Bristol, with a Tudor mansion, free-roaming red deer, two golf courses, and the Balloon Fiesta each August.
Ashton Court is the big piece of green to the south-west of the city, on the far side of the Avon Gorge and ten minutes by bus from Clifton Village. It is 850 acres of formal parkland, rough grazing and ancient woodland, bequeathed to the people of Bristol in 1959 by the Smyth family who had lived at the mansion since 1545.
Cost
Free to the estate and grounds. The mansion house itself is generally not open but is used for weddings and events.
What to see
A free-roaming herd of red deer in a fenced deer park at the north end of the estate. Two golf courses (pay and play). Ancient oak woodland with trees over 500 years old. The Tudor Mansion House, visible from the main drive. In summer, the estate hosts the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (second weekend of August) - one of the largest balloon events in Europe, free to attend.
How to get there
Number 80 bus from Cumberland Basin, fifteen minutes. Or a twenty-minute walk from Clifton Suspension Bridge across Leigh Woods. Car parking on site (£1 all day).
Access
Mostly step-free on the main avenues. Some rougher woodland paths. Accessible toilets at the main visitor centre. Mobility scooters can be booked in advance for the deer park.