Bristol Harbourside

brue
brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
1000 Comments
edited January 2014 in Your stories #1

If you've ever wondered why the Baltic Wharf CC site is so popular here are a few reasons. The site sits between the fast flowing River Avon with it's massive tidal flows and the Bristol Harbouside. Avonside leads to cycle ways, walks and parkland and a good view of Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge. Harbouside, through a gate in the site, leads towards the city, meandering past a marina, rowingclub, Bristol Old Vic Scenery building and Aardman Animations the path reaches the SS Great Britain. Launched in 1843, designed by Brunel, it's  a huge  iron clad ship once powered by steam propeller. The entry ticket to this wonderful ship and museum is a replica of the Liverpool to Melbourne ticket. Your weekly rations are noted including, 6 gills of lime juice to keep scurvy at bay, you're now a "Limey!"

The gruelling journey is depicted in the museum, brought to life by the realities of steerage class on board the actual ship. It's a fascinating tour.

From various points on the harbourside there are ferries to take you to points of interest, museums, cafes, historic buildings, theatres and shops. There's another boat to look at too, a replica of Cabot's "Matthew,"  Bristol really is a city for intrepid explorers!

Comments

  • royandsharont
    royandsharont Forum Participant Posts: 735
    100 Comments
    edited January 2014 #2

    I really want to visit here Brue but at the moment don't want to commit ourselves to booking dates in the UK too far in advance so we shall have to just wait and see if we are lucky to have space when we want to go.

    The coloured houses in the photo remind me a little of the similar coloured, but very old, houses on the river side in Girona in Spain where the Picasso museum is located.

    I spent 6 weeks down on the Avon in the hot summer of 1976 berthed in Avonmouth. I was on a very modern ship built for multi-purpose cargoes and as a result of the design and the heat all our New Zealand lamb was defrosting and we ended up with a writ
    being tied to the mast preventing us from leaving port. They thought we were a foreign ship I think because it was Scandinavian built and nothing like a typical UK ship. One day we shall get there! Thanks for the info.

    Regards, Roy

     

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2014 #3

    Better than York in my view Brue.

    peedee

  • hanszinderfaan
    hanszinderfaan Forum Participant Posts: 17
    edited January 2014 #4

    A few years ago we stayed at Baltic Wharf during the Bristol Harbour Festival in August. We then moved on to to a rally the following week for the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. One of the best breaks we ever had. You have to book well in advance though ( early December when bookings open up)

  • rovingabout
    rovingabout Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited April 2014 #5

    I believe the Bristol Baltic site will be closing sometime, as the land is wanted by Bristol City council for a school, and  read that the CC is hoping to relocate to another part of Bristol. No further info. available at present.

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