National Trust - Leigh Woods — Attraction in Abbots Leigh

Update. Car parking charges have been introduced. Contactless payment, machine operative from 7 a.m. slow at printing ticket £2 for 2 hours. NB this is a Forestry England site, NT members have to pay. Great for a bit of peace & quiet & so close to the city. Dogs love it here especially running through the fallen leaves & foraging for blackberries. I am happy for them to be off the lead except when the cattle are out on the camp grazing or in spring when deer have babies hidden. Car parking fine especially earlier in the day as gets pretty busy at weekends, cyclists not always terribly aware of animals running free so if going at the weekend go earlier in the day. Be warned parking charges likely to be introduced. Good views over Avon Gorge & Stokeleigh Camp is not to be missed - a wonderful 2000 year old iron age fort. Lots of ancient trees, lovely wild flowers in Spring including bluebells, violets and ochids. My only gripes are the poor trail markers (too few & far between) am often asked for directions, not enough benches deeper in the woods & failure of some dog owners to pick up their dogs' poo left on main paths (often in poo bags, surely better to stick & flick) & others to take their rubbish home with them especially those who have bought drinks from the coffee van. Cups often discarded in the woods. Shameful. There are no rubbish bins or toilets at all. One dog waste bin in the car park. Wellies recommended in...

Leigh Woods is by far my favourite place in Bristol! I have been for walks/picnics there many times... The wood does not look that large on the map but we always seem to find something new there every time. I have been going there for over 2 years and the other week me and a friend found the "Green Barn", a lovely wooden barn deep in the forest that we somehow missed all this time. The wood is old and beautiful, and is home to many different types of trees. It is far from a homogeneous forest... The character of the wood changes as you walk through it, making for an interesting walk.

Noteworthy spots include the Clifton Bridge view point, the Iron Age fort, the playground (for kids), the rocky slope (you can climb a fence and walk down it) and of course, the Green Barn. There are lots of tracks for mountain bikes as well, if you are that way inclined. There are several paths down to the river as well, allowing you to walk through the forest and then walk back into Bristol along the river under the bridge, if you want.

It shocks me how many people in Bristol that have lived here and never even heard of the woods... So get yourselves down there people for a splendid retreat from the noise and stink...

There's something for everyone! Love hiking? Have a dog? Love picnics? Have a bike? You'll feel right at home. Leigh Woods is a beautiful woodland area and a popular destination for walkers, cyclists, and nature lovers alike, offering stunning views of the Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge.

The woods are home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and badgers. There are also a number of interesting historical features to be found, such as the remains of a Roman villa and a 17th-century ironworks.

It is a great place to visit for a leisurely stroll or a more challenging hike. There are a number of different trails to choose from, ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate. The woods are also a great place to take a picnic or have a barbecue, with plenty of spots to...