Capacity
12
Ashton Court Estate has been a manor house since the 11th century and it is also a national Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI), covering 850 acres of woodland and wildflower-rich grasslands, designed by Humphry Repton, with ponds and ancient oak trees, some of which are over 700 years old. In front of, and adjacent to the Mansion House there are also some well-tended formal gardens. The estate has been home to a deer park for over 600 years (one of the oldest in the country), with around 200 red and fallow deer helping manage the land. Many other wildlife species can be found in and around the estate, including orchids, lesser horseshoe bats, great crested newts, skylarks and saproxylic beetles. It should be noted that the deer can often be found at more than 
100-200m from the fencing, so long lenses of 200mm upwards would be recommended if you are hoping to capture close-ups. Aside from being a popular destination for dog walking, there are woodland walks, mansion and garden walks plus deer walks. For the more sports minded there is also golf, Foot Golf, Disc Golf, mountain biking, Aerial Adventures and in August and September the estate plays host to the Bristol International Balloon Festival and the Bristol International Kite Festival. For those interested in architecture, the Mansion House displays an eclectic mix of different styles, including Gothic tracery windows, Renaissance windows, a Victorian Porte cohere, Tudor mullions and pseudo-medieval battlements. In short, Ashton Court Estate offers a multitude of photographic opportunities.
There is ample parking in the Mansion Car Park, costing £3 for up to 5 hours, which should be enough for our purposes. There is no charge for Blue Badge holders. Clothing and footwear should be appropriate for the weather on the day, but in addition to the gardens, we do anticipate walking through woodland and grasslands, so footwear should be appropriately robust. The Meeting Point will be outside the Courtyard Cafe, which is close to the Mansion itself, at 9.30am.
Walk Location
51.444622197299, -2.6368728842111
Walk Directions
There are several walks that attendees could take, so it may be advisable to view the attached maps to familiarise oneself of the different areas of the estate.
My suggested walk would take us, after the Mansion and gardens, in a westerly direction towards the Ashton Court Plantation, past the Fallow Deer Park towards Clarken Combe Wood, then back to Keepers Wood and on the Golf Café for a spot of (late) lunch and a chat. Specific details on suggested walks can be discussed on the day, and with two cafes on site there will be no shortage of refreshments and bathrooms available. The map of the woodlands walk gives an overview of the whole estate, but you may wish to focus on the mansion and the gardens, or the deer parks.
Accessibility
Depending on how far attendees wish to walk, the planned walk would be between 2.5-3.5 miles and take anything from 3-5 hours, with a lunch break at the Golf Café shortly after the halfway stage. Shorter walks are very possible, as can be seen from the attached maps, but can be discussed on the day. Access around the Mansion House and gardens is on gravel paths, so is wheelchair accessible, if perhaps a little bumpy in places. Beyond the Mansion and gardens, there is a tarmac road to the higher part of the site, and the Golf Café, although it is uphill and probably not suitable for unmotorised wheelchairs.
Feedback Meeting Type
In Person
Feedback Talk Date and Time
Feedback Talk Address
RPS House
337 Paintworks
Arno's Vale
Bristol
BS4 3AR
United Kingdom
Feedback Talk Location
51.443887139906, -2.5645995140076
Feedback Talk Directions
The feedback talk will be at RPS House - 337 Paintworks, Arno's Vale, Bristol BS4 3AR Buses from Bristol city centre to Paintworks are: nos, 1, X39, 349 & 522. If coming by car, parking is suggested in Arnos Vale Cemetery, a 5 minute walk away, very close by the Paintworks, but on the opposite side of the Bath Road.