Bradgate Park Walk – Complete Guide and Map

Welcome to the historical site of Bradgate Park, set in the rolling hills of Leicestershire. On this 7.3 mile (11.7 km) scenic walk, explore the history, discover spectacular sceneries, and get a chance to encounter wild deer. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to the Bradgate Park walk, including information on the park’s location and history, a detailed route with notable landmarks, and tips on how to make the most of your visit. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or a nature lover, you’ll get to enjoy a truly unique experience. So grab your walking shoes and let’s explore!

East Midlands might feel like it is the opposite side of the world for a Londoner, but it is only a 1 hour 30 min train journey from St Pancras. It takes us longer to get to Seaford, the trailhead of the famous Seven Sisters hike! It is time to get off the beaten tracks of the South East and explore a new territory.

Statistics of the Bradgate Park Walk

Logistics of the Bradgate Park Walk

Highlights of the Bradgate Park Walk

Bradgate Park Walk

So now we covered the basics. let’s get to the walk!

What is Bradgate Park?

Let’s start with a bit of history. Bradgate Park is a public park stretching across 830 acres and a former deer hunting ground. During the Middle Ages, it was part of the estate of the Manor of Groby. It went through many different owners over the centuries, the most remarkable ones being the Grey family who acquired the land in 1445 and owned it for 500 years.

But what made the Grey family so prominent?

It is in the very Bradgate House in the lower part of the park that Lady Jane Grey, also known as the 9-day Queen, was born in October 1537. Her stepfather, Duke of Northumberland, made her Queen of England and Ireland in opposition to Mary Tudor. However, the latter had more support and was proclaimed Queen by the Lord Mayor of London and had Lady Jane Grey executed for treason. She was fifteen years old.

In 1928, Charles Bennion, a local businessman, bought the estate and gave it to the people of Leicestershire.

Swithland Wood

We start our discovery of Bradgate Park with a stroll through Swithland Wood.

Adjacent to the park is Swithland Wood. It is hard to imagine that the 170 acres of woodlands were once open meadows used for farming. The site was abandoned following the Black Death, allowing trees to grow and colonise the land. Then, the woodlands belonged to the Grey family, who sold them to a timber merchant in 1921.

However, concerned by the deforestation, the Rotary Club of Leicester bought the land and opened it to the public. In 1931, when Bradgate Park was finalised, the two lands merged into one location under the same management.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the demand for slates was in full swing, leading to the opening of 2 quarries in Swithland Wood. The operations stopped in 1887 and both quarries were flooded and fenced to prevent access from the public.

As you walk through a patchwork of oaks and beech trees supported by a varied wildlife of butterflies, moths and birds, you pass a meadow and stroll along a stream before reaching a tree nursery. Surprisingly for a woodland under management, the forest is bushy and the paths narrow. I encountered some dog walkers regretting not wearing long-leg trousers because of the bramble, so I advise that you wear something that covers your leg to avoid the discomfort and red patches on your calves. Cross over the road and you arrive at Hallgates car park.

Cropston Reservoir

You are back at the car park. This time, take the main gate to enter Bradgate Park. Follow the tarmac path bordered on one side by a hill with a forested area on top and the other side by the Cropton Reservoir.

Opened in May 1871, the reservoir stretches across 100 acres (40.5 ha) of land adjacent to the park. It is fed by the River Lin, a water source running for 17 km from Ulverscroft to the River Soar. A stone wall separates the park from the reservoir.

Continue your walk on the main path and you soon arrive at the Memorial Wood, a peaceful and quiet place, perfect for reflection. You find totems made of oak trees from the estate. On them are bronze leaves with names and dates or other messages. You can order a leaf and get a personal message of up to 30 characters which will then be placed on one of the totems. It is a way to commemorate someone special or celebrate an event. You can also see the statue of a deer with a commemorative plaque.

Leave the Memorial Wood and instead of going back to the main path, walk up the hill on your right.

On your way to the top of the hill, you walk past Deer Park Wood which is where we saw deer for the first time on our walk. A couple of pictures later, retrace your steps back to the path and turn left after the stone wall.

Bradgate House

Walk on the footpath parallel to the stone wall. You pass by an ancient oak tree and as the vegetation leaves space to open grassland and patches of fern, you can see the Yeomanry Memorial and Old John Tower afar.

At the intersection, turn left and start walking down towards the ruins of Bradgate House. Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset, made the plan for the construction of a house on the estate but died before the work even began. It is his son, Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, who made it a reality. The house was finalised around 1520 and the Grey family inhabited it for 220 years. It is believed that Lady Jane Grey was born in this very house. After her execution in 1554, the estate became the property of the Crown and ten years later was restored to the family. They left the place sometime after 1740 and Bradgate House fell into decline.

When you walk through the remains, you start imagining what it might have looked like, where the fireplaces were and how huge the hall could have been. On the right of the ruins, is the chapel still standing. Venture inside and you find the tombs of Henry and Anne Grey, with no nose! It is believed that when the house was left unattended during the Civil War as the family joined the fight by Oliver Crownwell’s side, a pro-monarchy neighbouring family came to ransack the place and cut the nose on the statues as a mark of disrespect.

It is time to leave the site of Bragate House and walk to the main path below.

River Lin

At the intersection with the main footpath, we encountered deer, lying in the shade of a tree.

The tarmac path follows the course of the River Lin, the shortest river in Leicestershire. This part of the walk is perfect if the temperatures are scorching as you stroll alongside the fresh waterway and under the shade of exotic trees planted during Victorian times.

This spot is particularly popular and families gather on the bank of the river for a picnic whilst the little ones dip their feet in the river. Further down, a group of youngsters play softball, a woman sitting on her own reads a book, and a couple cuddles lying on a mat. You walk past a shallow waterfall, built with the intent to clear the silt from the water before it reaches the Cropstone Reservoir.

On the other side of the river, what you cannot see is the Deer Sanctuary. This part of the park is closed to the public to allow deer to roam freely without mixing with human beings.

Old John Tower

Turn around at the gate of Newton Linford car park and you start the gradual climb towards the Yeomanry War Memorial and the Old John Tower. It was the last time we saw deer on the walk.

This section is on open grounds with no shade. If you are going on a bright day, be warned that you will be baking! Make sure you get sunscreen and a head cover.

You walk past the bottom of the mount where the War Memorial is located. The 696 ft (212 m) tall obelisk was built in 1920 to commemorate the fallen from the Leicestershire Yeomanry during the Boer War and WWI. An additional bronze plaque was added after WWII.

Adjacent to the War Memorial is a tower with a side wall in ruin, called the Old John Tower. Built in 1784 for George Grey, 5th Earl of Stamford, its purpose was to offer an observation point to the horse racing tracks below. The side wall used to be longer but nowadays looks like a handle, giving the structure the shape of a “mug“. The tower is open to the public at specific times throughout the year, check the website for more information.

It is nearly the end of our journey through Bradgate Park. Walk down the hill and turn right at the Hunt’s Hill car park gate to go back to the starting point. The walk between the two car parks takes around 20 minutes.

Happy discovery!

What to do next?

Should you want to prolong your stay in the East Midlands, take bus 154 or a cab from Hallgates car park to Loughborough. The ride by car takes 15 minutes which is as long as the waiting time for it!

Once in Loughborough, you can take a look at All Saints Church. It is not sure when the church was built but it is said that a church was present at this location since the Saxon times. The major part of today’s church was built in the fourteenth century and underwent many modifications and renovations over the years.

A little bit further down Church Gate, you find the White Hart pub, a local public house with a beer garden. This is the perfect spot to end the day out with a refreshing drink and a hearty pub meal!

Bon appetit!

Map of the Bradgate Park Walk

Do you want to do this walk? Download the GPS map for free by clicking on the button below. Follow my guide to learn how to upload the map onto your navigation app.

Final Thoughts on the Bradgate Park Walk

In conclusion, a walk through the picturesque Bradgate Park will reward the visitor with many majestic views, old-world antiquities, and many interesting wildlife sightings. The beauty of Bradgate Park is undeniable. With vast acres of rolling hills, ancient trees, and a beautiful river, a walk at Bradgate Park is an exquisite experience.

And you, what is your favourite deer park? Let me know in the comments below.

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