Words bring landmarks to life on a special tour

A GROUP of ten blind and visually impaired people from Bristol have been given a special complimentary trip – on a City Sightseeing open top bus.

It was the first time that the City Sightseeing company had run the free event and hope that it will encourage more blind or partially sighted people to try it.

The first group, from the Action for Blind People organisation in Bedminster, ‘saw’ the City’s major landmarks through the commentary of the guide on the City Sightseeing bus.

Action for Blind People organiser Claire Muskett, who herself is partially sighted, says the outing gave her members the chance to experience Bristol landmarks.

She said: “We try to provide blind and partially sighted people with practical support in all aspects of the lives and this is something they were really looking forward to.”

Warwick Hulme, who runs Bristol’s City Sightseeing operation, says the guides work hard to stimulate passengers’ imaginations.

He said: “It is the first time we had done this because we don’t want to exclude any section of society.

“It is a service that will always be free to those who are blind or partially sighted.”

In August the open-top bus service announced it was putting on a series of guided tours to mark 100 years of aviation in the city.

The second tour will run on November 27 and 28. The tour will take passengers to sights of significance in Bristol’s 100 years of aeronautical history. For more details visit