SUGGESTED SHORT WALK
THE WALK
■Elvaston Castle and its grounds are a delight and should not be missed. The castle and country park has over 200 acres of woodland, parkland and formal gardens and is the home of the Elvaston Local Nature Reserve.
THE ROUTE
■From Elvaston Castle car park walk back towards the entrance. Then a few yards before reaching the road, turn left down a wide tree-lined path. At an intersection of tracks stay on the tree-lined path that soon starts to curve sharply to the left.
■Ignore all minor paths to the left, and continue along the same track as it bends sharply towards Elvaston Castle. Continue past the path signed to the car park. Just before reaching a bridge turn left along a path by Elvaston Lake which was created by William Barron with man-made islands and rockwork.
■Continue along the path with the lake on your right and follow it around to the other side past an old mill. Before walking up a slope to the gothic-style castle designed in the early 19th century by the architect James Wyatt, for the 3rd Earl of Harrington.
■Walk into the courtyard at Elvaston Castle and go to the left into the gardens. On your right, a path leads to St Bartholomew’s Church with its fine perpendicular west tower. Marks can still be seen on Sir John Stanhope’s tomb, made by the Roundheads’ swords.
■With the castle behind you walk down the central path and follow it out of the formal garden through a wooded area. To reach the elaborate blue and gold, castiron Golden Gates. These were acquired by the Earl as a “spoil of war” having reputedly been taken from the royal palace at Madrid to Versailles and then to Elvaston.
■Here you turn left along an estate road. But only for a short distance before going to the left again along a wide access track that twists and turns. Before running alongside the high garden wall of the old English garden. The garden was redesigned in the 1970s and is a good place to relax and enjoy the environment.
■Go to the right at the end of the garden wall and walk a short distance along an access track. Before turning left along a path that runs close to the B5010. This will return you to the road into the car park where you started the walk.
REFRESHMENTS
■Wyatts at Elvaston Castle is a café located within Elvaston Castle. For more information: Telephone 01332 987623
■The Harrington Arms, 4 Grove Close, Thulston is a short distance to the south of Elvaston. For more information: Telephone 01332 571798.