Clifton Observatory, Camera Obscura and Cave

Situated beside the Clifton Suspension Bridge and accessed by a path up a small hill is the Observatory. The Observatory was originally a windmill built to grind corn and was later used as a snuff mill. Nowadays you can go inside to see the Camera Obscura. Installed around 1828 and still in working order, the Camera Obscura projects a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery onto a white surface inside a darkened room. After marvelling at this you can climb down a spiral staircase to Ghyston or Giant's cave to see the fantastic views over Clifton Suspension Bridge and Avon Gorge. The straircase is quite narrow so if you suffer from claustrophobia you might want to give this a miss.

On the slope below the Observatory, is a rocky slope worn to a sheen over the years by intrepid fun lovers using it as a slide. Take care if you decide to give this a try as you can reach quite a speed

Photographs below by N Hindmarch