At a Glance:
Distance: 15 miles
Time: 20 minutes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Postcode: LE6 0HB
Lunch:
The Old Bulls Head, Woodhouse Eaves
LE12 8RZ
Bradgate Park, Newtown Linford
| At 840 acres, Bradgate Park is Leicestershire's largest country park. It was given to the people of Leicestershire in 1928 by Charles Bennion. Below is an interactive satellite picture of the park showing the car parks and main features. | |||
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Interactive aerial photograph of Bradgate Park |
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A tarmac path connects the two main car parks at Newtown Linford and Cropston Reservoir. This path runs along the course of the river Lin and is ideal for young children to cycle on. It als makes the park accessible. The river meanders along the base of the valley and flows through a series of shallow pools with weirs between. | ||
| River Lin near Newtown Linford car park | |||
| The vegetation is predominantly grassland with heath and bracken and there are several small woods and some fine examples of aged trees in the area near the path. The many rocky outcrops in the park are Pre-Cambrian in age (older than 540 million years old) and some important fossils were found here in the 1950s. |  |
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| An aged Oak at Bradgate Park | |||
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Along the path you will often see red and fallow deer (often very close), rabbits, squirrels, and other wildlife. There are large numbers of waterfowl and rooks in the park. Because of the deer, ticks can be a problem in the long grass and bracken in the summer - dogs are most likely to be affected but they can bite people as well!
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| Deer enjoying the spring sunshine | |||
Old John Tower folly, a well known Leicestershire landmark, stands on the ridge of high land. This was built in 1784 and is well worth walking to for the view. This is a fairly easy walk for young children and takes about an hour from the Newtown Linford car park. There is also a car park near the Old John folly, at Hunts Hill, for those who prefer not to walk as far. |
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| View from one of the woods up to Old John | |||
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Alongside the tarmac path, about halfway between the two car parks, is the ruin of Bradgate House, which is famous as the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey. The chapel and one tower remains, but the walled area of the house is not normally accessible to the public. There is also a country park shop, refreshments and information point (off Newtown Linford car park). As well as a tea room adjacent to the visitor centre. |
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| Ruins of Bradgate House | |||
| We recommend the Old Bull's Head in Woodhouse Eaves for lunch - we sat in the garden area as it was a nice day but the contemporary interior is lovely as well. The staff were friendly and helpful and the food was good (the kids had empty plates as well!). See www.theoldbullshead.co.uk | |||
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Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 0HP Copyright © 2009 G Howling | All Rights Reserved |
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