Brandon Hill Park, Bristol, Somerset
Brandon Hill Park is Bristol’s oldest park and possibly the hilliest too, so if you come here make sure you’ve got sensible shoes on. Hills generally mean good views and that’s certainly what you get here, with a fantastic vista of the city and the harbourside. The park is popular with local folk for picnics and family trips; it’s easy to find a quiet spot to spread your rug and tuck into your cucumber sandwiches, and when you’ve finished you can take the kids to the playground, go and look for frogs and newts in the pond, or have an amble around the 5 acre nature reserve.
Right in the middle of the park is the Cabot Tower, a striking 105ft monument in red sandstone and cream Bath stone, built in Victorian times to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s voyage from Bristol to North America. When it’s open to the public you can climb the twisty-turny steps to the top where the views are even better.
The best time to visit Brandon Hill Park is from March to August when the flowers are out and you can follow the Tree Trail with everything in leaf. There’s no car park and on street parking close by is very limited, so the best way to get to the park is on foot. It’s only a 10 minute walk from the city centre anyhow and it gives you an opportunity to explore the streets a little.
All information correct at the time of writing