Located a mile from Clifton Suspension Bridge, in Abbot's Leigh, the tranquil Abbots Pool and Woodland is a hidden gem on the edge of Bristol, in North Somerset.
At the heart of the woodland are a series of ponds which date back to the Middle Ages when they were used by the abbots and monks from St Augustine Abbey in Bristol to provide fresh fish whilst they were staying in their rest-house nearby.
In the 1920s, the woodland and pools came to the possession of tobacco magnate Walter Melville Wills who had the area landscaped by James Pulman & Sons.
A small stone bridge as well as much of the stonework around the dam and cascade was constructed out of Pulhamite - a combination of concrete and local stone which is also used in the gardens of royal residences such as Sandringham and Buckingham Palace.
After the death of Walter Melville Wills in the 1940s, the pools and the majority of the woodland surrounding the Pool were passed onto the North Somerset Council (NSC). They manage the area alongside Abbots Pool Volunteers and the Abbots Leigh Wildlife Group.
The site received the Local Nature Reserve (LNR) status from Natural England in 2012.
The area is home to an abundance of wildlife including deer, bats and birds.
Here are 22 photos from our visit to Abbots Pool:
1. Pools
Below the pool, there is an extended sequence of small trout pools separated by the cascades.
2. Waterfalls
The stonework surrounding the stunning and soothing cascades from the main pool is also made of Pulhamite. They were also built by James Pulman & Sons when Abbots Pool was owned by Walter Melville Wills.
3. Public Path to Abbots Pool
If travelling from the centre, the X4 Badgerline leaves visitors about a 14-minute walk from the nature reserve. Please note, there's no pavement throughout the majority of Sandy Lane so watch out for any passing cars. Walk through the public footpath and follow the public bridleway to reach the nature reserve.
4. Bridleway
The bridleway running through the woodland links Manor Road and Sandy Lane and forms part of the National Cycle Network Route 334. It is believed to have also been used during Roman times.