The view across the gorge is stunning.

There used to be a turnpike at the top of Bridge Valley Road to collect tolls from visitors arriving at the Downs.

Walk up the hill opposite (Ladies Mile) and almost immediately take the footpath on the left into the woods.

This area was named by the Victorians as Fairyland - it is an area of secondary woodland particularly good for birds.

It is a good spot to stop and listen for birds. Jays or long-tailed tits are frequent visitors here.

Jays are very active in autumn - you can see them mainly in the tree tops - flying across to Leigh Woods, collecting acorns and then burying them on the Downs.

There are several Black Pines, growing beneath them are Bristol Rock Cress - a plant that is approximately three inches in diameter with waxy green leaves.

It produces silky flowers in March, pinkish-white in colour that turn creamy white. These rare plants are also found in the Alps.

The area became covered in trees once sheep stopped grazing here in the 1920s.

Look across the gorge - you may see one of many rock slides. In places the rockface is quite unstable. It is one of nature's trick to make sure trees don't take hold.

Much of the rockface above the Portway is netted off and the road is closed for inspection annually to remove any rocks that might fall on to the road below.

The paths were laid out in the woodland originally by the Victorians. As you venture further in you'll come into a open space popular for picnics.

Listen out for song thrushes between November and March.

When you get close to the cliff edge make sure you keep young children and any pets close in tow as the fence is loose in places.

Now you have got to the Peregrine Falcon watch point. To the left you can see the Suspension bridge and to your right Avonmouth and the M5 ahead of you is Leigh Woods.

If you are lucky you may see a peregrine falcon.

The falcons have bred here since 1990.

Falcons are the fastest bird of prey - they can reach speeds of up to 180mph. This is a good spot to watch as they circle, hunting for food.

There is only one pair breeding in gorge because they are very territorial. They will feed on other birds - anything from goldfinch to mallard duck

The female is the larger of the two - the male is about a third smaller - this is most noticable when they are flying together.

Peregrine falcons have powerful and pointed wings. They are slate grey on their back, have a white chest with black barring and a helmet of dark feathers

At the observation point you may get close enough to see details.

Also look out for buzzards, sparrowhawks, jays, kestrels, gosshawks, jackdaws, red kite, herons, gulls, ravens and cormorants in the gorge.

The cliff face falls away almost vertically but the 90m tall vegetation on the edge makes it deceptive.

At the peregrine falcon viewing point, cross Circular Walk and head across the Downs.