Olveston - Tockington - Old Down - Olveston

Sean Meek

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A short and easy walk in South Gloucestershire, close to the outskirts of Bristol, exploring three villages and the countryside in between them.

The walk starts from the church in Olveston, at the heart of the village, which was built in 1170, but had its steeple destroyed by lightning in 1605. The church was rebuilt with the tower that stands today and the stone left over was used to build the pub opposite, the White Hart. With the Aust Ferry Crossing only two miles further on, this was a popular stopping point for mail and other coaches when tidal or other river conditions made it impossible to cross to Wales.

The walk heads around Olveston Court, on the edge of the village, which was once a fortified manor-house with a moat. What remains of the Court is now privately owned. Leaving Olveston, the walk heads across fields to Tockington, characterised by the village green surrounding the main road junction at the centre of the village.

Being close to the Severn Estuary, it is a mostly flat walk, but there is a hill to climb towards the end through woodland to reach Old Down, the final village on the walk. However, you are rewarded as you descend back again to Olveston, with fantastic views across to the Severn and the bridges.

England - South West England - Gloucestershire - Countryside

Features

Church, Food Shop, Great Views, Pub, Woodland

11/2/2018 - Karen Halesowen

Two of us walked this route yesterday. All good. 3: Lots of bullocks in field! They were inquisitive, grouping round us as we negotiated the stile into their field... but they moved away once we were in! 17: We didn't see the sign for Sheepcombe Break Community Woodland so either we missed it or it wasn't there! 18. Somehow we missed the T Junction where we should have turned left. We carried on and came out of the woods on Hazel Lane. Easy to get back on course though. 19. The phone box has recently been removed. An enjoyable walk. Thank you, Sean!

5/26/2015 - Fran Brealey

Enjoyed this walk yesterday. The section through the woodland is difficult to follow, since there are so many paths. But if you keep going uphill you will get out of the trees and into the village of Old Down without mishap. We made the walk a bit longer by diverting to Elberton and back near the end.