The following locations are from upstream to downstream. We didn't check-out the source on our trip along the river, but we've since learnt that it is in the grounds of Doddington Park, which were landscaped by Capability Brown. The house and estate are owned by Richard Dyson (of vacumn cleaner fame). However, the source is at the edge of the estate and a public footpath run close by. Although Dyson is known as an engineer, he trained as an artist and continues to have an interest in the arts: it might be worth approaching him!
Hope this helps......................
Name: ‘Grass Verge’
Location: St.John’s Way, Chipping Sodbury, at north-eastern edge of town
Description: A broad grass verge skirted by road on one side and river on the other. There are two clumps of young trees, a wooden bench overlooking the river, and a bridge which crosses into open fields. The spot is on the Monarch’s Way – a signposted 615-mile footpath that approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester.
Suitability: Features like the bridge, groups of trees and bench all help make for distinctive areas to which sounds could be mapped. Use could also be made of some of the area over the bridge since, although it is private farmland, is on a public right of way.
Access: No obvious parking around, no distinctive landmark to head for so not so easy to find.
Name: 'Tesco'
Location: Chipping Sodbury/Yate, running east from Link Road (B4059), parallel to Kennedy Way (A432)
Description: This short (ten minute) but tranquil riverside walk is to be found in an unlikely situation; over the road from a Tesco superstore, sandwiched on one side by a busy dual carriageway and on the other by a housing estate.
Suitability: The main drawback is that there is little room to play with, just the path itself, and so sounds could only be placed along this path and experienced linearly.
Access: Good: free parking at start of walk
Name: Jubilee Park
Location: in the heart of Chipping Sodbury, where the river runs behind the main street, this park lies between Brook Street and Quarry Road.
Description: A picturesque and peaceful park, planted with ‘memorial’ trees, running along the northern bank of the river between two bridges (at Brook Street and Quarry Road). A pathway also runs along the opposite bank. There is a wooden footbridge at one end of the park. A path from Quarry Road end leads into the ‘Ridge Wood’ nature reserve.
Suitability: Great. It’s a lovely peaceful spot, and central too. There are three bridges to play with, plenty of space in the park to lay out a soundscape, and public access to both sides of the river at once (which, we found, is unusual).
Access: A large free car park is located off Wickwar Road, next to St.John’s church, from which there is a path along the river (see photo) to Brook Street (about 5 minutes). There is little parking space at either end of the park itself.
Entrance from Brook Street
Jubilee Park
Footbridge at Quarry Road end
Bridge at Quarry Road
Footpath on opposite bank to park
The bridge at Brook Street
Path from St.John's towards park
Name: ‘St.Mary’s Park’
Location: a public park running along the south eastern side of the river between Templar Road and Church Road, Yate.
Description: This park is surrounded by housing on three sides, with St.Mary’s church and primary school on the fourth. The river is mostly hidden from the park by trees along its bank but there is also a footpath along the river and this is accessible from several points. This leads to a footbridge and (passing between a couple of houses) the path remerges in another open space on the other bank (see photo).
Suitability: a really good mixture of features: clumps of trees, paved paths, riverside path, large open areas.
Access: parking in adjoining streets.
path away from river towards St.Mary's
(river is behind trees to left of picture)
Another open area of other side of river
Name: ‘Goose Green Fields’
Location: Nature Area at corner of Goose Green Way (B4059) and railway line.
Description: the river here, coming from the east, makes a right angle turn south in this corner of scrubland. It is bordered by a main road to the north, and rail line to the south –with a housing estate to the south and west. Behind the railway is a grubby industrial estate.
The area is owned and managed by South Gloucestershire Council in partnership with the Wildlife Trust. It’s spawning site for frogs and toads.
The river and a riverside path run south from here along a narrow green corridor that is sandwiched by the railway on one side and the industrial estate on the other. It’s a bit grim; the river is full of rubbish – but maybe something can be made of that.
Suitability: Not the prettiest spot; but large enough to do something with, and with features such as a tributary joining the river, as well as clumps of trees, footbridge and several paved paths.
Access: via Oak Close, off Greenways Road (at its western end). Street parking.
housing estate behind
path to Goose Green runs between industrial estate and railway
rubbish in river
Name: Algars Manor and Chill Wood
Location: path to Chill Wood and Tubbs Bottom Weir begins at Algars Manor on Station Road, running south of Iron Acton
Description: The location is a Local Nature Reserve. It consists of a riverside path through ancient woodland, running along the river from Algars Manor, to Tubbs Bottom Weir and, above it on a knoll, the ancient woodland of Chill Hill. The manor had a mill (recorded in the Doomsday Book and working until the late 1800s) and the mill race and pond can still be seen. Tubbs Bottom Weir was build for flood defence. There is a bridge over the weir and crossing it leads to Chill Wood (owned and managed by Iron Acton Parish Council). The wood is full of bluebells, not yet out. There is also a small cave here.
Suitability: The riverside walk is very scenic and the woods are quite magical. There’s a bit of everything here: bridges, pathways, a mill race, enchanting (if not enchanted!) woodlands, a cave, and flood defences. The Frome is especially ‘busy’ here. Lots of potential. Highly recommended.
Access: Nowhere much to park. There is also access to the weir along a farm track.
Bluebells in Chill Wood
View from Chill Wood to Tubbs Bottom Weir
Tubbs Weir
Disused Mill Race
along Frome path
Mill Pond at Algars Manor
The bridge at Algars Manor
noticeboard with map
Name: Centenary Field
Location: Mill Lane, off Church Road, Frampton Cotterell (close to St.Peter’s Church)
Description: This large open area lies just off the Frome, but the river is easily accessible from both ends. It celebrates 100 years of the local parish council. It is used as a nature and recreation area. There is currently a project to attract barn owls to nest here. Mostly open ground, there are also groups of trees planted around the stone-walled periphery. At the far end is a ‘wheel’ sculpture which commemorates local iron mining during the nineteenth century.
Suitability: Big open public space, with distinct boundaries and points of interest like the sculptures and clusters of trees. There are a number of foot-trodden grass pathways too. Ideal.
Access: easy to locate, parking on Mill Lane
View towards St.Peters
View to The Wheel
Map
St.Peter's and allotments
NB: over the road from the church are more public green areas which could be incorporated:
Name: Huckford Viaduct
Location: off Hicks Common Road, Winterbourne
Description: A steep path leads under the viaduct and down to the river below it. Here is the old Huckford Quarry (stone from which was used to build the viaduct), now a local nature reserve which runs along one bank of the river.
Suitability: Lots of interest: the pillars of the viaduct, the river passing through it, the dense woods, cliff faces and intricate pathways of the quarry nature reserve.
Access: steep but good path down from the road; paths in the nature reserve could be muddy and slippery but otherwise quite manageable
Quarry-River-Viaduct
New locations added 21st April
Name: 'The Kidney Bean'
Location: From Eastville Park, a ten minute walk upstream along the Frome Valley Walkway. Or, follow Wickham Glen, off Park Road in Stapletonp down to Wickham Bridge.
Description: At the heart of this area is a kidney shaped peice of open land, running along the river:
To the south of it is a footbridge:
And beyond that, a weir:
To the north of the 'kidney bean' is Wickham Bridge:
Interesting features include steps up into the woods and a picnic area at the edge of the river: Suitability: Picturesque, peaceful, plenty of interesting features like bridges and weir - and a good sized open space to play with. Plus, its a clearly defined site. Recommended.
Access: There are several ways to get to it: from Eastville Park, from Snuff Mills, or from Stapleton. There's plenty of free parking within ten minutes walk of the site.
Name: Eastville Park
Location: off B4469/Fishponds Road, Bristol
Description: The River Frome runs through the northern side of the park, where there is also a man-made lake (once a boating lake). Shame you can't now take a boat out on it: Phill and I were very excited at the possibility of producing the first 'on-water' pervasive experience -a truly immersive experience, should the boat capsize!
Suitability: There's potential but there isn't an open expanse of land to play with, just paths skirting the river and lake, and limited space otherwise. The lake and river are distinct from the main park area, seperated by a steep woodland, and so this seems to put the main park area 'out of bounds' for us.
Access: Good. Free parking at eastern end of park
Name: Riverside Park 
Location: off St.Paul's Roundabout, M32/A4320
Description: The Park is sandwiched between the M32 and the Frome. Despite this, it is fairly peaceful: a bank of high ground shields much of the park from road noise. There is a nice mix of features: trees, gradients, riverside path, other paths through the park. In the middle of the park, is a bridge crossing the Frome which takes pedestrians into another peice of parkland, which contains a distinctive tump.
The park has both urban and rural aspects to it: there's grafitti art on a bridge but also clumps of wild flowers.
(church is over M32)
riverside walk with groups of trees
from pedrestian bridge in middle of park
M32 footbridge
this embankment reduces traffic noise and provides some high ground
looking over bridge to additional park area (and tump)
the strange tump!
Suitability: Good mix of features: bridge, high-low ground, trees, open spaces. Also the most city central site: beyond here the river disappears underground. Recommended.
Access: Good central location, easy to find, but parking poor.
That's all folks!
