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Three of the Very Best Alternative Days Out Around Bristol

Living in and around Bristol, there’s always plenty of stuff to do within the city, whether it’s connected to art, music, food, or history. And, in the summer months, there’s a round of different festivals, such as The Balloon Fiesta, Pride, and the Harbour Festival, to look forward to.

But, sometimes, it’s nice to break free from city life for a bit and get out into the countryside. In every direction, there are beautiful landscapes to explore, and we have areas of outstanding natural beauty like the Mendips, the Cotswolds, and the North Wessex Downs only a short car journey away.

However, if simply going for a ramble in the country doesn’t inspire you, we’ve got a few suggestions of different activities and places to visit in Bristol’s hinterland.

Source: Twitter

Get spiritual

People travel from all corners of the world to sample Wiltshire's famous spiritual healing sites. Over a million people a year visit Stonehenge, for example. In 2014, Avebury was named as the UK's third most popular spiritual spot, with its sarsen stones spread around the iconic Avebury circle. Many of the stones have been broken up and have been used in people's homes around the settlement but the area has retained huge spiritual powers. Those in search of an entry into this world may be interested in trying out clairvoyant readings as well as visiting the sites. The word 'clairvoyant' comes from the French language - 'clair' meaning 'clear' and 'voyance' meaning 'vision'; this essentially means 'clear vision', a term that effortlessly describes the views over the wide open Salisbury Plain.

Alongside the Avebury Stone Circle is the West Kennet Long Barrow, a key feature of the area. The Neolithic graves date back to 3650 BC and have been used as a source of spiritual

enlightenment for 1,000 years. Protected by English Heritage, it is a site of huge importance to believers in spirituality.

Get magical

If you're a Harry Potter fan, you might be aware that many scenes in the Harry Potter franchise were filmed not too far from Bristol. The stunning country village of Lacock is a favourite among many tourists, not least because of the fact that Lacock Abbey and the streets of the village itself were used as filming locations for what has turned out to be one of the biggest film dynasties of all-time.

Busloads of tourists make the trip to the sleepy village on a weekly basis as part of the popular Harry Potter Trail Tours but, with one of the main destinations on our doorstep, it would be plain daft to go that far. Lacock Abbey is free entry, and besides the Potter pull, Lacock is a beautiful place to while away a day or two, with two classic pubs, the George Inn and the Red Lion, encompassing all the charm and class you would expect from CAMRA accredited pubs.

Get physical

In the afore-mentioned Mendips, we have one of the one of the UK's most awe-inspiring natural landmarks - Cheddar Gorge and Caves. It's a starting point for all kinds of climbing and caving activities and a great place to get acquainted with either of these sports.

Source: Cheddar Gorge via Facebook

Even if you're a complete beginner, you can have the opportunity to climb the cliff faces at Cheddar Gorge. With seven different ascents to choose from, there's something for every level and, if you book a climbing 'experience' through Cheddar Gorge, all you need to do is turn up wearing suitable clothing. They'll arrange the equipment and provide you with an instructor who'll teach you how to climb.

Cheddar's not just about what you see above the ground, of course, there's a whole underground cavern system to explore too. In a similar way to the climbing, it's also possible to book onto a caving trip too. Work your way through different caves such as the Sand Chamber, the Mushroom Chamber, and the Bottomless Pit. You'll leave the caves at Cheddar feeling that you've faced a challenge and come through the other side - an exhilarating way to spend the day!

This weekend, instead of staying within Bristol’s city limits and scratching around for ideas of what to do, get out into the fresh air and beautiful countryside and enjoy the novelty of doing something totally different.

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