Ashton Court Estate

Deer, oaks and open grassland

Around 200 red and fallow deer graze the estate's two deer parks. Bristol City Council asks visitors to keep their distance, never touch or feed them, and use a long lens for photos. Some of the oaks are more than 700 years old, and much of the estate is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, including 78 hectares of hay meadow, so parts are roped off in summer to protect wildlife.

The mansion at its heart

The Grade I listed mansion has been part of the Bristol skyline for centuries. A manor here appears in the Domesday Book, the Smyth family took it on in 1545 and the city bought the estate in 1959. Much of the house now stands empty, and a community trust is raising money to restore it and open it up in phases. For now it is used for weddings, filming and events rather than day visits.

How to spend a day here

Printable council walking routes cover the deer parks, the mansion and gardens, and the woods. There is mountain biking, a golf course, FootGolf and disc golf, and National Cycle Route 33 passes through. The Courtyard Cafe and Golf Cafe serve food, and the Coach House sells takeaway coffee and ice cream on busier days from spring to autumn. Each August the estate hosts the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

Highlights

• Deer park with around 200 red and fallow deer
• 850 acres of woodland and grassland
• Oak trees more than 700 years old
• Grade I listed mansion
• Home of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Good to know

• Pay-and-display car parks at Church Lodge, Mansion House and Clifton Lodge; Blue Badge holders park free.
• Dogs must be on a short lead near deer and ponds and kept out of roped conservation areas in summer.
• X3 and X4 buses from the city centre stop about a 10-minute walk from the Mansion House car park.

Frequently asked questions