Thornbury Wayfinders

It was a group of hardy perennials, which turned out for the Walking Well walk on the first Tuesday of December, so I decided to explore the new path that had been installed in Crossways Wood aka The Bluebell Wood. I noticed the new bridge over the stream in the wood as I was driving past last week, and I assumed it had been put in by Trust Green the company that are taking over the open spaces around the Miller Homes estate when it is finished.

We got there by going up Gillingstool to the Black Horse, then following the ghost of the main road into Thornbury via Sibland Farm. We then walked up the Crossways Stream Walk to the footbridge leading to the Cheviot Drive bus stop on Morton Way. The new bridge is immediately opposite the bus stop, suggesting a less energetic way of getting there. The path through the wood is well marked – a silver lining to the felling of ash trees suffering from dieback – and leads to a similar footbridge near the kissing gate onto the Hacket. This path will be a major asset when the bluebells come out in spring and provides a pleasant walk now among the fallen leaves.

From here, we took the newly improved path between the Miller Homes estate and Hacket Farm. This path will eventually come out near the Grovesend traffic lights, but, at present, the path is still blocked as the building of the estate continues. Luckily, there is pleasant diversion alongside Cleve Wood. It was a bit slippery and difficult for those who are no longer fleet of foot; but this group is made of stern stuff and we are all willing and able to help each other over difficulties.

We were rewarded by great views over the Severn Vale, including Oldbury Nuclear Power Station and two of the churches in the Thornbury benefice, namely, St Mary’s and S Arilda’s.

We could have got a bus back into town from the Grovesend roundabout, but were up for an easy walk through the Streamleaze open space – well planted with trees, including a baby giant redwood – to bring us out at the back of Gillingstool Primary School and a short walk up Bath Road to the Rock Street car park and a well earned coffee at Hawkes Hoiuse.