It’s ideal for traffic-free scooting and cycling
The pretty trail around Chew Valley Lake in Somerset(Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)
Bristol Harbourside is a great spot for a summer bike ride with views of the water, but it’s not the safest of options for the less confident cyclist like myself.
There are crowds lining the water’s edge, usually with a few tinnies in hand, among other obstacles to consider.
I once got my front wheel wedged in the rut of the disused train track outside the M Shed, sending me flying onto my face while many others looked on in horror.
When Bristol Water recommended its own Chew Valley Lake as a lovely spot for a picnic or bike ride, then, I felt it was worth the trip across the county border into Somerset.
If a traffic-free lakeside trail is not enough to tempt you, perhaps the lure of award-winning fish and chips might justify it, as this is also home to Salt & Malt – the posh chippy that also has a shipping container at Wapping Wharf in Bristol.
It was there that we headed first, after parking up at one of the two car parks that serve Chew Valley Lake. It cost £2 for two hours and we paid via an app.
A short walk away we found Salt & Malt, which was open for eat-in diners but not for takeaway customers until 12pm. In the meantime we took our toddler on a little playground next to the restaurant, which has swings, a slide and some climbing apparatus.
You can watch the ducks and windsurfers while polishing off a portion of chips(Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)
By the time 11.55am arrived, we noticed people were already queuing outside the takeaway, so went to claim our place. A large cod and chips would set you back £13.50, a battered sausage £2.40 or the cheapest option would be a cone of chips for £2.
There are other options available on the takeaway menu, including kids’ meals priced at £7 including a drink which seemed like good value.
We had brought snacks but couldn’t resist sharing a chip box (£3.50), with a couple of sauce sachets priced at 20p each. We skipped the curry sauce as it seemed a bit pricey to pay an extra £2 for that.
Our chips were incredibly tasty and they joined us on our journey around the lake, which initially starts next to a road but winds round to be completely cut off from any other traffic.
The lake is popular with anglers as well (Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)
We didn’t bring bikes but our daughter loved scooting along the smooth path, which seemed to have been recently resurfaced. We saw other families on bike rides and others just on foot enjoying the views.
The lake is vast and we could see ducks, anglers and sailing boats in the distance. Bristol Water suggests a 2.7km trail along one side of the lake, linking up to Woodford Lodge restaurant, which has a lovely outdoor patio overlooking the water.
Its trail is said to be “all weather” suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. Dogs are allowed on one section of the trail, called the Grebe Trail, but must be on leads.
We didn’t cover the whole route but just walked from Salt & Malt to Woodford Lodge and back, but the views were still beautiful and it was not at all crowded despite it being a sunny weekend in June.
Back at the fish and chip shop, some people had set up camping chairs and blankets in one of the designated picnic areas outside. With the smell of salt and vinegar wafting on the breeze and views of the water, it felt like a day at the seaside without having to go to the coast.