Walk along Cumberland Road, heading downriver towards the bridge. Cross over the old railway, and walk over the old iron latticework bridge. It's pitted and rusted, but it's in pretty good nick considering it's probably about a century old. Big chunky beams and rivets, painted grey and stained red-brown from the rust. Follow the path alongside the river, crossing under the Plimsoll swing bridge. There's a bench there with a really great view of the bridge, and across the river the houses of Hotwells and the des res manses up on the cliff.
But don't stop there. Keep walking, you will go past the police mounted and dog unit. Presently, you will pass under the beautiful bridge, suspended in the air hundreds of feet above your head. You can get a really great view of the underside of the bridge, with the criss-crossing supports underneath the roadway. You can also get a great look of the huge brickwork structure supporting the nearest end, and imagine the vaults and chambers within.
Keep walking, dodging puddles and cyclists and joggers. After about 20 minutes or so, you will come to a big landslide, with one huge boulder, and a series of smaller rocks and debris. Make sure no-one is coming, and climb over the rubble pile. There's a smooth section of exposed rock, probably caused by the landslide, but don't try and walk up this, instead go up up the little rocky path beside it. Gloves are useful to help with grip as you scramble up the slope.
Now this is where it gets tricky. You used to be able to just carry on walking up to the spot, but they've put in a big chain link fence secured to the cliff face with bolts. What you have to do is hold on to the fence, and pull yourself across the top of the exposed rock face, and up to where the fence ends. Now all you have to do is squeeze past a few brambles, and sit and have a well deserved rest on the big flat rock up there.
It looks kind of precarious, but actually it's totally solid and has been there for at least ten years that I know of, so it's unlikely to careen down the hillside with you sitting on it. Anyway, up here you have your lunch and ponder the world, while watching the cars stream past on the Portway below. The rock isn't really visible from the road, and there's plenty of foliage cover in the summer. It's so much fun to just watch the traffic and occasional people, and wonder why they never look up in your direction. I love it, it's got to be the most secluded and private place in the whole of the city. There isn't anyone around for half a mile and no-one knows you are there. It's a great place to go to when you feel overwhelmed by city living, and even one of the many parks isn't secluded and natural enough. You can sit up there on top of the world, and chill. I always feel great after doing this little adventure, though I don't do it that often.
Now as for getting back down, don't try and go back down the way you came. There's a path going further up towards the top of the cliff that's pretty easy to spot from the rock. Be careful going up there though, as it's a sheer drop down to another old quarry on the other side. Once you get up to the top, there's a path that winds back down towards the river, it's quite steep and hard work, especially if it's muddy. Or, you can go right and walk through Leigh Woods and come out at Ashton Court, then you just have to walk across the suspension bridge back to Clifton. It's pretty fun to see it from above and below in the same afternoon, using just your own two feet.
Make sure to enjoy the view, and keep a look out for the deer!
