Walk stats
- Distance3.2 km · 2 mi
- Elevation+188 m
- Duration1 hr
- DifficultyModerate
- Route typeCircular
- TerrainWoodland paths, field tracks and quiet lanes; one sustained climb
- Best seasonSpring for bluebells, or crisp autumn days
- DogsDog-friendly; watch for livestock on farmland sections
About this walk
This short but sharp circular loop starts and finishes in the village of Portbury, climbing steadily out of the settlement and into the leafy calm of Prior's Wood. With almost 200 metres of ascent packed into just over three kilometres, it is a satisfying leg-stretcher that rewards the effort with woodland shade and glimpses of the surrounding North Somerset countryside.
From Portbury, tracks lead up towards the wooded slopes, passing close to Conygar Hill and the quiet hollow of Bullock's Bottom. The route threads through Prior's Wood itself, where mature broadleaves make for cool, dappled walking, before curving back down past the fringes of Birch Wood and the small settlement of Caswell.
The descent returns you to Portbury on quieter lanes and paths, closing the loop in around an hour at a steady pace. It is a compact walk that manages to feel properly rural despite its proximity to the Bristol fringe, and the mix of woodland, hill and hamlet gives it more variety than the modest distance suggests.
Route map
Route line drawn from OpenStreetMap footpath data. Numbered markers are waypoints on the route; amber star markers are points of interest a short detour away.
Waypoints along the route
2 waypoints along the way
- 1
Portbury (start and finish)
- Start / finish
Start and finish of this circular route.
- 2
Prior's Wood
Worth a short detour
Points of interest just off the route, look for the amber markers on the map.
Conygar Hill
~468 m off the route
Bullock's Bottom
~208 m off the route
Birch Wood
~372 m off the route
Caswell
~389 m off the route
Route & waypoint data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).