Why Conham River Park?
A beloved spot
The stretch of the River Avon at Conham River Park, or by Beese's Riverside Bar, is already a very popular site for swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and boating. Beese's itself has been around since 1846 and continues to operate the Conham ferry, allowing passengers to hop to either side of the riverbank.
There is proof of Bristolians' long-term affection for the area. Eastwood Farm (the grassy area on the Beese's side) was used as a landfill site in the 1970s. Later, there were plans to build a road across it. A group of local residents helped to rescue the site from both of these fates, and in 2008, Eastwood Farm was designated as a Nature Reserve.
Some images from the site.
Somewhere for everyone
The only existing body of water with Designated Bathing Water Status in Bristol is Henleaze lake, which is a private members-only lake (and has a very long waiting list). Clevedon Marine Lake also has regular bacteria testing, but is a 30 minute drive from the city.
Conham offers a free bathing site that is accessible by bike or foot for many Bristol residents.