BRISTOL PARKS [6] : ARNOS VALE
Number 6 in my series on Bristol Parks is set in Arnos Vale. As always, collect numbers on the way around the park for the final cache co-ordinates. Don't rush, enjoy your visit and take in your surroundings.
I have never been to Arnos Vale in all my years in Bristol and it is an absolute gem, like stepping into a secret world. I've been to a few cemeteries this last year and felt little, here it is a different story. In some areas of the site I felt moved and at peace and I hope you have a similar experience.
Terrain difficulty is a 3 rating as this is an hour's walk and the initial few stages are up hill.
Arnos Vale Introduction
Arnos Vale is a unique heritage venue, nature site and community space in the heart of Bristol with 45 green acres of spectacular Victorian garden cemetery. After decades of neglect, the local community came together to save this special site. The cemetery is now managed by Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust which is a charity who work to protect, manage and restore this magical place. Arnos Vale is a designated Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) and is home to a wide range of mammals, invertebrates, birds, wildflowers and reptiles. The site is managed expertly for people and for wildlife. This work focuses on conserving existing grassland, scrubland and woodland habitats and improving their quality to benefit wildlife and encourage biodiversity.
Over 300,000 people are remembered in Arnos Vale from Bristol and beyond. With four listed buildings, landscaped grounds and woodlands and an exhibition centre, a shop and cafe there is much to see and do. Arnos Vale has been open since 1839 and is still a working cemetery.
The cache
Start at the entrance (posted coordinates)
Head for the Garden of Rest 2 (Waypoint 1).
At the ring sculpture - our environment shapes our (one word) A
Head to waypoint 2 to one of Arnos Vale's most famous graves.
How many languages are listed that Roy spoke? B
Now head to Waypoint 3, the Great War Memorial information board.
What is the first nationality listed after British (number of letters) C
Take the footpath to the left, walk past the Exhibition Centre on your left and keep going until you reach Waypoint 4.
Here is a famous Bristolian, George Muller's grave. He was founder of which orphanage? (first word letters) D
Waypoint 5 is up the hill at the Community Garden, Top Lodge and Cemetery Road entrance.
Find the information board here. Wyatt's number of sons E
Take the path right of the Top Lodge under the over hanging trees and keep going to the Cross of Sacrifice (Waypoint 6)
Don't sit on the clue! Tillett's first name (number of letters) F
*At this point if you have time you can continue straight on to see the Natural Burial Woodland and the Arnos Park viewpoint.*
Take the left path at the Cross of Sacrifice to the wall, right until you go through a gap in the wall.
Down the steps and take a left and then the sloped path down to the right. Follow this windy sloped path down to a tree and t-junction.
Turn left and keep walking until you find an obelisk on your LEFT hand side behind a fence. (Waypoint 7)
This is where the first ever person (Mrs Briellat) was buried at this Cemetery in 1839. Letters in her first name G
Keep walking a few steps on and take the path to the right, walk along this path to an incredibly lavish, ornate grave (Waypoint 8).
This family spent £1k on the burial which in today's money is £60k! Letters in family surname H
Continue on to Waypoint 9.
How many types of bat feed in the trees I
Now make for the Cloisters at Waypoint 10
This is where World War II heroes have been laid to rest, a lot of which are women pilots from the Women's Auxillary Air Force.
On the entrance plinth find one of these heroes - Margaret Irene ? (number of surname letters) J
Finally head for the Anglican Chapel (Waypoint 11)
Number of distinct architectural styles K
Now it's time to calculate the final co-ordinates.
N51 26. (A-G)(D)(H-I)
W02 34. (B-C)(E-F)(J-K-G)
