Walk 4 20th June Oldbury Power Station to Portishead

 Looking north to the start of today's walk Oldbury Power Station. Little did we know it but today's walk would be one of our longest - approximately 16 miles. It would involve three bridges - The First and Second Severn Crossings and the Avonmouth Bridge. It would also involve some rock climbing!

 Looking South to the First Severn Crossing.

 It's getting nearer!

 Curious earth formations, caused by the river's tide and current (definitely not ant hills)! 

 The sheer cliffs at Aust - at this point we had gone wrong (but hadn't realised it). We should have been proceeding with caution along the top of the cliffs and not as we were, walking at their base. WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU TAKE THE SAME ROUTE AS US. IT IS NOT SAFE AND YOU ARE WELL ADVISED TO STICK TO THE SEVERN WAY.

 The First Severn Crossing from just below The Service Station at Aust.

 This is the dangerous bit - it doesn't look very high but we had to scramble partway up the cliff - treacherous and very difficult to get any purchase with our feet. If we had fallen - we would have crashed onto rock. DO NOT DO AS WE DID. 

 Still climbing up the cliff.

 The view from the cliff.

 Approaching the underbelly of the First Severn Crossing.

 Graffiti underneath it!

 Out the other side.

 Leaving the bridge behind us.

Moving towards The Second Severn Crossing.

 Approaching the underside of The Second Severn Crossing.

 Right underneath.

 Leaving it behind.

 After a long and very dreary walk through Avonmouth (the A403 through Avonmouth is the busiest, nosiest, dirtiest road - a stark contrast to the peaceful banks of the Severn), we start our assent of The Avonmouth Bridge. 

The views from the top are not for the faint hearted! As neither Julie not I like heights, we did not look left very often.

From the end of the The Bridge we continued our walk on the cycle path that leads straight into Portishead. We enjoyed a delicious glass of Pilsner in a restaurant/bar opposite Waitrose! It was so delicious we forgot to take a photograph of us there!