Trooper’s Hill today is a nature reserve near the centre of Bristol, in St George. It is steeply hilly and undulating, with rocky outcrops and mini cliffs as a result of mining for coal, copper, clay and slate at various points over the centuries. It is mostly covered with grass and heather and is an excellent oasis of wilderness in the middle of a bustling city.
At the top of the hill there’s a large chimney which apparently used to be a copper smelter back in the 1700s.
Being one of the highest points in the city, there’s a fantastic view southwards, wrapping round from the east over Kingswood, to the west over Clifton. I didn’t have the right equipment with me to make a panorama, but this view is more-or-less southwards over Hanham.
Jonathan Gazeley 