North Somerset Walks

Pill means tidal inlet, small harbour or creek. The original name of the village was Crockerne Pill, meaning ‘pottery wharf’ after the large-scale pottery (crockery) industry which thrived here in the middle ages.

Walk information Distance: about 1¾ miles Difficulty: easy, with a short climb to the top of Watchhouse Hill Duration: about an hour at a leisurely pace Refreshments and toilets: shops in the precinct, and you can use the toilet in the Community Resource Centre if you ask Map: OS 154 Explorer

Pill sits on the southern banks of the River Avon and has a long history, from its pottery-making days to the pilots guiding ships up the water. Meander along the riverbank and then up onto Watchhouse Hill for glorious views all around during this short walk.

Pill means tidal inlet, small harbour or creek. The original name of the village was Crockerne Pill, meaning ‘pottery wharf’ after the large-scale pottery (crockery) industry which thrived here in the middle ages. Pill has been a maritime community since the 13th century and was home to pilots, the men who guided boats safely up the Avon Gorge to Bristol. The pilots were in competition with each other to intercept incoming ships, which led to the design of a new boat – the Pill Pilot Cutter – now regarded as one of the finest wooden boats ever built. However, in 1918 the pilots decided to stop competing and share out the work. From the shopping precinct, walk down the steps to the grassy area leading under the railway bridge and towards the creek. At the creek there is a monument to commemorate the Methodist preachers who sailed from Pill to America in the 1770s.   Click HERE for full details and FREE PDF copy