So 2020 sees another trail featuring Aardman’s characters from Wallace and Gromit. This one though is much shorter and all the sculptures are at the Mall at Cribbs Causeway.
Before lockdown we managed to find them all within a couple of hours.
This is The Wensleydale Kid. This sculpture was in a shop window with glass in front, which made it difficult to photograph.
Featuring Wallace, Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Feathers McGraw, The Grand Adventure will see 15 sculptures pup-up in various locations around The Mall – launching on Saturday, 24 October. You’ll be able to travel around the world visiting brand new designs, as well as firm favourites from previous trails, each representing a different country.
Walking up the steep slopes to the Clifton Observatory you can find 14. The Wensleydale Kid.
Complete with hat, this cowboy themed Wallace looks a lot like Woody from Toy Story.
I like the description from the sculpture page which is all old west in style.
Howdy, y’all, and welcome to Bristol’s very own slice of the Wild West, sponsored by Darcy Associates. Painted by artist Paula Bowles, you can bet ‘The Wensleydale Kid’ is decked out in the whole wrangling kit and caboodle. Cowboy hat? Check. Cowboy boots? Check. Bandana? Check. Horse? Erm… looks like a park bench will have to do for now! Yee-haw! So pony-up and skedaddle over to Clifton Observatory to meet this buckaroo! Giddy’up!
In the heart of Clifton Village you won’t find the Queen of Hearts, but you will find a Mad Hatter’esque Wallace in 11. Wallace in Wonderland having a cup of tea in The Mall Gardens.
Complete with a cup of tea, Wallace could have just come from the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, but there was no dormouse to be found.
Sitting on his own on the Downs near to the water tower is 46. George.
As the description says “perhaps fresh off of a jousting match or just back from slaying a fire-breathing dragon” we find George (or Wallace) encased in armour with a cup of tea.
Though this was one of the first sculptures I saw, at the first attempt, it was really hard to park close enough, so we left him for another day. There was more room on a later date, so found a parking space and took some photographs.
I really like the coat of arms on the cup complete with Gromit and Feathers.
Probably supposed to be guarding the Bristol Harbourside, 17. Long John Wallace seems to be enjoying a cup of tea, no doubt laced with rum.
It’s sometimes the little touches that make these models special, notice the parrot (which I missed when I was there), the wooden leg, but also the gold tooth.