Have you spotted the curious barrels positioned at various intervals around Bristol’s Harbourside? More than just an elaborate plant pot, each one actually marks a spot for the Bristol Treasure Island Trail – an app-guided walk that has been more than ten years in the making.
Paying homage to Bristol’s rich nautical legacy, the trail has been created by the Long John Silver Trust, a registered charity dedicated to celebrating Bristol’s connections with Robert Louis Stevenson’s famed book, ‘Treasure Island’.
The charity was initially created to raise funds for a sculpture of Long John Silver back in 2004, after ‘Treasure Island’ was chosen as the launch book for Britain’s Great Reading Adventure in Bristol.
Although the sculpture has yet to be commissioned and placed at its desired location in front of the Hole in the Wall (a pub that best matches the description of the Spyglass Tavern from the book), the trust have managed to get its educational walk off the ground.
Now, the Treasure Island Trail – which launched at the end of September – is a unique and fun way to experience Bristol’s maritime and literary past, offering an exciting, educational exploration for people of all ages.
Long John Silver Trust
The trail comes accompanied by a free app that guides you around the eight locations of the trail, giving you information about each spot along with snippets of 'Treasure Island' as you go. In short, it's a treasure hunt for the twenty first century!
Google Maps
The trail starts on King Street and then takes explorers on a journey around the Harbourside. You can view an interactive version of the map here.
It’s fair to say that we don’t do badly for family-friendly activities here in Bristol, but when it comes to city-centre adventures, this one ticks all the boxes as a good excuse to discover more of town at your own pace. Plus, it's a sneaky way to keep younger, shorter attention spans busy when you’re after a stroll without dramas.
Bristol Treasure Island Trail, look for the first barrel on King Street and use the app to guide you to the next destination.
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