Brunel Lock Road to Cumberland Bridge.

Brunel Lock Road to Cumberland Bridge.

Note all distances are my fairly inaccurate estimates.

The riverside at the western end of the docks is my starting point, although as this is a circular walk you can join it at any point of course.

The first view on the left is from the point on the bend of the river where the 'new cut' joins the original River Avon's path. Bristol Docks (or the floating harbour) is the old river way running through the city centre but no longer subject to the tide.

New of course is relative, as the 'new cut' is very nearly 200 years old. It was dug between 1804 and 1809 in an attempt to solve the problem of Bristol's very high tides.

I was told it was built by Irish labourers and Napoleonic French Prisioners of War. The French connection though seems to have little evidence supporting it.

Before this Bristol's ships were round bottomed to rest on the mud at low tide.

On the riverside there is a view point here, where the two Cumberland Basin bridges (The Plimsoll Swing Bridge and the fixed Avon Bridge) were opened back in 1965.

From the viewing point follow the riverside path, towards the large swing bridge (Plimsoll Bridge) and cross the small bridge on the left onto the landing island on which the swing bridge (Plimsoll) turns.

As the roads name (Brunel Lock Road) suggest the locks here, were built for the world's first ocean going liner, the SS Great Britain designed by Brunel. The largest iron vessel of its time.

Brunel as chief engineer of Bristol Docks, solved the problem of the 60 tonnes of mud that go through the lock gates every time they are opened.

Walk across the landing island, cross either of the lock walk ways and go East away from the Clifton Bridge.

Thats along the dockside and underneath the Plimsoll swing bridge. Just before the bridge hang on to the hand rail its a fairly narrow walkway for about 10' (3m).

After passing beneath the swing bridge the docks open up into Cumberland Basin itself, the outermost dock area, rather dominated by the tall red brick 'bonds'.

The 'bonds' were once bonded or duty free warehouses for wine and spirits, one now houses the CREATE Centre, Bristol's Environment Centre.

Walk along the dockside until you reach a small swing bridge, the Cumberland Basin Bridge.

Cross a usually quite roadway running across the Cumberland Bridge. Its a fairly quite road, unless the Plimsoll Bridge is swung open. Then it has a lot of traffic so watch out!