Ashton Court Estate, Long Ashton, Bristol, Somerset
Just 10 minutes from the centre of Bristol, the Ashton Court Estate is the city’s biggest green space, with 850 acres of woodland and grassland and at its heart, a country mansion house which is now one of Bristol’s biggest art venues.
Ashton Court Estate is a place to go and stretch your legs, to walk among vast and ancient oak trees, and one of the highlights, in historic deer parks; it’s a chance to see red deer and fallow deer grazing in their enclosures, but you MUST keep to the waymarked paths and keep dogs on a short lead. You can go mountain biking and orienteering on the estate – there are trails for both, and if golf is your thing, you’re in luck because there’s a 9 hole flat course, a 9 hole hilly course, Foot Golf and Disc Golf. Another thing you’ll find here is a miniature railway which has regular open days, so that’s worth keeping an eye on if you’re a train buff, or if your kids are at that age.
The highlight of the year is the annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta which is a sight to behold indeed. Over 100 balloons from all over the world take to the skies above the city, taking off at dawn and dusk, and when it’s dark, they light up the sky in time to classical music.
Take a picnic or go to the courtyard café; there are car parks on the estate, which are charged, so make sure you’ve got a bit of change on you.
Ashton Court Estate is open Mon to Sat from 8.00 am. Closing times vary throughout the year.
To book golf call 0117 973 8508 All information correct at the time of writing