There's a new trail in town! Gromit is back in Bristol for Gromit Unleashed 3, and he's got a fab new range of disguises.
The new trail, which started on the 30th June and runs until 31st August, follows shortly after last winter's release of Bristol based Aardman's latest Wallace and Gromit film, 'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl'. My kids loved that over Christmas.
And with that in mind, this third instalment of the Gromit trail has the theme of movies, and includes appearances of Wallace, Feathers McGraw and even Norbot. I know we'll be heading to The Mall at Cribbs Causeway to see the Woody themed Gromit.
Nick Park, Aardman founder, has designed 2 Gromits himself, and others have been created in collaboration with Sir Paul McCartney, Pixar, Richard Curtis, Oliver Jeffers, Jorge R. Gutierrez, Peter Lord, as well as local artists.
The Gromit trails raise millions of pounds for Bristol Chrildren's Hospital, with hundreds of thousands raised when the sculptures are auctioned at the end.
Where can you see Gromit in 2025?
This year you can download an app of the trail for £2.50, or pick up a paper map from a range of locations. The paper maps are free, but they suggest a £1 donation - and it is such a good cause. You can see the full list of locations here, including Cheddar Gorge.
The first Gromit Unleashed trail was all the way back in 2013 - and we've got various models of Gromits from way back then. Then they did Shaun in the City in 2015, followed by Gromit Unleased 2 in 2018. So there's been quite a gap before Gromit Unleashed 3 in 2025 - but the Pandemic caused quite a gap for a lot of things. And Bristol had other trails in that time, such as the unicorns in 2023.
Was Gromit Unleashed the first trail of big sculptures?
Trails around towns seem to be a common occurrence now a days, with The Great Waddle of Worcester featuring penguins in 2024, and The Swans of Wells in 2012 with each swan representing a year of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
The first trail of this type seems to be "Land in Sicht" by Swiss artist Walter Knapp, which then went worldwide and was called "CowParade" in 1998. The first I know of in Bristol was in 2011 when the Wow! Gorillas trail was launched. Apparently Bristol has a strong connection to gorillas because they had a gorilla at Bristol Zoo, Alfred, who became the oldest gorilla in captivity. Money raised went to the zoo, who had a reputation at the time for doing a lot to help primates.
The Gromit shown in the photo with this article is an original one, currently outside the Children's Hospital in Bristol.
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