Watch a new documentary celebrating walking routes in Bristol
Posted on: 18 Jan 2022Discover some of the city's lesser trodden paths and hear the stories of people they have impacted.
A new documentary celebrating walking routes in Bristol, made by local filmmaker David Mathias, has been released. The 13-minute film follows three Bristolians as they travel along their favourite walking routes and explain the positive effect they have had on their physical and mental wellbeing.
Mathias collaborated with Slow Ways, an initiative set up during the first national lockdown in Spring 2020 attempting to create a network of walking routes that connect all of Britain's towns and cities.
Watch the documentary via Bristol Cable's website. Head to Slow Ways' website to find more information and local walking routes.
???? Many people have rediscovered the simple magic of walking since the first lockdown.
— The Bristol Cable (@TheBristolCable) January 13, 2022
Inspired by @SlowWaysUK, 'The Forgiving Path' features @BrisStepSista, Bertie Burnell, artist @HazelMountford and poet Penny Stapleton.https://t.co/V8YderJSel
Despite there being thousands of miles of paths connecting settlements across the country, a trusted and comprehensive network designed to help people walk off-road between populated places had not been developed before Covid hit.
Enter Slow Ways. Set up to make it easy for people to imagine, plan, and go on walking journeys, the project has mapped existing paths, ways, trails and roads to create a network of routes connecting cities, towns and villages.
There are currently over 7,000 Slow Ways that stretch for a combined total of over 100,000 kilometers, mapped by a team of dedicated volunteers during the first lockdown in Spring 2020.
When the project launched, a team of 70 helped test the idea. By winter 2020, 80,000 people had registered to help walk and review routes, and Slow Ways now has a vast library of collated information that is free to access (find it here).
Thank you ladies for another beautiful refreshing walk.. Positive vibes all around ????????????????????
— Bristol Steppin Sistas (@BrisStepSista) January 9, 2022
And thank you to the firemen for chatting us up ????????
Don't forget to tune into
BBC Radio Bristol at 8pm tonight ???????????? pic.twitter.com/vAtNnFXceY
Walking is known to improve physical and mental wellbeing alongside improving the environment and helping to tackle climate and ecological emergencies.
The Forgiving Path, a short documentary by David Mathias released via The Bristol Cable on Thursday 13 January 2022, follows three Bristolians as they walk local trails whilst detailing how spending time outdoors has positively impacted their lives.
The documentary follows nature enthusiast Sophie Brown and local walking group Bristol Steppin Sistas, the initiative she set up for women of colour to promote diversity outdoors and to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of its members.
The Forgiving Path also follows Hazel Mountford, who is thankful to be able to walk on two feet after suffering injuries in an accident that almost led to one of her feet being amputated, and Bertie Burnell, a recovering addict who has found sanctuary in his local Kingswood route.
Watch The Forgiving Path in full via The Bristol Cable's website. Visit Slow Ways' website for more information.
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George is a journalism graduate and writer passionate about music and culture. Get in touch via email at george@365bristol.com
