Cumberland Bridge to Gas Ferry Crossing.

Cumberland Basin Bridge to the Hotwell Road.

Note all distances are my fairly inaccurate estimates.

The old lock cottages, the site of the original narrow pre Brunel lock I think are well worth a brief diversion.

To see them cross the waterway using the Cumberland Bridge (this too a swing bridge by the way). The old lock cottages are just on the far side of the bridge.

Old Lock Cottages 800x600 117K pop-up.

Walk down the roadway opposite the cottages to reach a ferry pick-up point with quite a good view of the Docks.

Then go back to the walk and continue along the dockside passing the old Pump House now a pub.

Beyond the Pump House is about ¼ of a mile of new dockside housing.

A mooring area for medium sized ships starts as the dockside runs beside Hotwell Road for about ¼ of a mile.

Usually moored here is the rather grubby mud ship (cleans mud out of the docks) Samuel Plimsoll, in the photo it has an early morning off watch crew too. Cormorants I think.

The photo was taken on the 28th February 2004 in the early morning.

534x800 pop-up photo - 26Kb.

A floating bar and restaurant ship, together with the Pride of Bristol and the Samuel Plimsoll are all normal residents here. With the huge catamaran Team Pimsec another recent visitor.

At the end of Hotwell Road, the docks make a near right angle bend. The ferry crossing point with details of ferry crossings and a landing stage, is about 50 meters further along the dockside.

Ferry Crossing: Hotwell Road to Maritime Heritage Centre.

The gas ferry (named after the old gas works) cross the docks between Capricorn Quay on the Hotwells side to the Maritime Heritage Centre. It gives a good view of the Matthew with the ss Great Britain behind as you cross.

Its now run by Bristol Ferry Boat Co.

As there is no timetable currently on the site, they e-mailed me this: -

Gas Ferry Timetable October 2005
April to October weekdays. 8am to 9.30am & 11.15am to 6.15pm.	November to March weekdays. 8am to 9.30am & 4.15pm to 6.15pm.
April to October Sat & Sun. 10:30am to 5:30pm.	November to March Sat & Sun. 10:30am to 4:30pm.

You arrive at the end of Gasferry Road, beside the Maritime Heritage Centre.

The ferry operates on demand during operating hours, just wave if its on the other side and you wish to cross!

In November 2005 a one way ferry crossing was 25p or £5 for a monthly ticket.