Cumberland Basin and Bristol's Floating Harbour

Overlooking Clifton Suspension Bridge and the River Avon as it flows west towards the Bristol Channel, Cumberland Basin comprises of a series of locks, roads and bridges and forms the entrance to Bristol’s Floating Harbour. It will also be the starting point of our walk.

The attached map gives an idea of the area and the different kinds of locations along the way. It is not my intention for the group to walk around together in one large group, as I would expect everyone may want to follow their own particular interests, but I am more than happy to suggest places of interest.

There is an excellent choice of hostelries all along the route where one can stop for a proper lunch, or just a coffee and a snack, and where the group can have a chance to socialise.

The suggested walk will travel along the banks of the Floating Harbour, passing by Underfall Yard, the SS Great Britain, the Matthew, Wapping Wharf, the M Shed, Bathurst Basin, Redcliffe Back and Castle Park. There are opportunities, for example at the SS Great Britain, to take a small ferry (£1.30) across to the opposite bank at Brunel Quay to take in a different views across the water. Or, there are the Bristol Ferries, which ply their trade from the Cottage pub near Underfall Yard all the way along the Harbour to Temple Meads Station. At the time of identifying the walk there was an all day Ferry ticket for £10, however I believe the prices have gone up since then and I’m not sure the all day ticket applies any more. Single journeys, say from the M shed to Castle Park, for instance can cost up to £6.

There is ample parking nearby, £4 for 4 hours at Brunel Lock Car Park, which will be our meeting point, or free if you are a Blue Badge holder. As the walk will gradually move east away from the parking adjacent to Cumberland Basin, towards the city centre, you may wish to consider parking further along the route, perhaps near the SS Great Britain on Gasferry Road, where the cost is £5.60 for 5 hours. I anticipate spending approx 2-3 hours in and around Cumberland Basin and perhaps another 3+ hours exploring the Floating Harbour. Timings are only advisory, you are free to spend more or less time in any of the locations along the route.

Obviously, this Inland Water is in an urban setting, but I think the vast range and variety of photographic opportunities on hand should make for very enjoyable day. And, if you get a bit tired pacing the pavements, why not let a ferry take the load and go for a wee ride?

Please note, both myself and co-leader, Steve, much prefer in person feedback meetings and hope that those opting to come on this walk will be prepared to come to that meeting. Having done four of the previous TWT events, where our feedback events have all been in person, we particularly enjoy being able to meet up with our fellow photographers to view, discuss and handle A3 prints, as well as see them on screen, and of course, it is a much more sociable occasion than on Zoom. Since the sale of RPS House, we no longer have the free use of the Education Room, so there will be a cost to the feedback meeting which would be in the region of £5-10 depending on the numbers attending. Confirmation of the feedback meeting location will be forthcoming once the bookings have been made, but it will be in Bristol.