Among the Deer at Bradgate plus a Swithland Wood Loop
Bradgate Park lies just to the north-west of Leicester, and is a popular place of escape for the cityâs population. The spacious and diverse nature of the parkâs 840 acres (340ha) make it a great family venue, offering easy surfaced tracks and open grassy tracts through to more adventurous hillside paths across the heath, bracken and rocky outcrops. The Nine-day Queen. The centrepiece of the original park was Bradgate House, now just a few sorry ruins. It was built at the turn of the 16th century and was home to the Grey family. Henry Grey was created Duke of Suffolk in 1551, and because (through his wife) his three daughters were the grandchildren of Mary, Henry VIIIâs younger sister, they had a distant claim to the throne. But the distance grew considerably shorter when a dying Edward VI was persuaded to alter the succession to disinherit Catholic Mary, and instead the eldest of the three daughters, Lady Jane Grey, was proclaimed queen in July 1553 even though she was an unwilling player in events. Just nine days later the scheming Duke of Northumberland had her deposed and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Barely seven months on, the innocent 16-year-old girl was beheaded. According to legend, when the news of her execution reached Bradgate, her childhood home, the groundsmen lopped the tops of the oak trees, and to this day stumpy, pollarded oak trees scatter the park.
Doe, a Deer, a Female Deerâ¦ Although Bradgate Park was given over to public recreation in the 1930s, it continues to support a resident fallow and red deer population of around 300. Deer have been kept here since the 13th century and youâll probably be able to get some close-up views of the handsome creatures. Signs warn against feeding the animals, and it goes without saying that dogs must be kept under tight control when there are deer about. Bear in mind that deer, like sheep, can carry ticks, and in the summer months when the bracken and grass are high these irritating little mites can also transfer themselves to human skin. If you discover one on your person remove it carefully, but better still avoid getting bitten in the first place by wearing long trousers and a long-sleeved top, and making sure you check yourself and your children at the end of your walk. The park authority produces a helpful leaflet on the subject, available from the visitor centre.
While you're there: For more stimulating walking and another lofty country park viewpoint, visit Beacon Hill, about 3 miles (4.8km) to the north of Bradgate, near Woodhouse Eaves. There was once a Bronze-Age settlement around the 815-ft (248m) summit, and now you too can gaze over the Trent and Soar valleys in search of warring tribes, sabre-tooth tigers and ice-cream vans.
What to look for: In the centre of the park, next to the main path, is the ruined outline of Bradgate House. Built from the late 1400s, it was one of the first fortified mansions made entirely from brick, with two main wings and towers at the corners (the stumps of a couple are still standing), linked by a great hall that opened out into a courtyard.
Where to eat and drink: The Bradgate Park Tea Room, beside the car park, is open Tuesday to Sunday in summer and Thursday to Sunday in winter. The Deer Barn Tea Room at the visitor centre is open similar hours. The Post Office Tea Rooms and The Village bistro are both opposite the park entrance, and The Bradgate pub serves food lunchtimes and evenings.
Directions:
Enter the grounds from the large car park at Newtown Linford and turn sharply left on a wide track. Go through an open gateway and, ignoring paths off to the right, stick on the main route uphill (there are in fact two parallel tracks), keeping the parkâs boundary wall in sight on your left.
When you draw level with a large wooden swing gate in the wall, fork right. Go steadily uphill on a wide grassy ride through the banks of bracken, past a small plantation known as Tyburn, and soon you will see the prominent hilltop war memorial up ahead on your left. Follow the obvious grassy track all the way to reach the âsummitâ, then go round to the right of the walled plantation behind it to reach the folly known as Old John Tower. Although the centre of Leicester is only 6 miles (9.7km) away, the extensive views from this excellent viewpoint (695ft/212m) are predominantly rural, with large tracts of woodland scattered about.
Turn right, straight down the hillside, to a small circular pond in the bracken below. Take the left of three paths on the far side and continue to reach a track around a walled plantation known as Sliding Stone Enclosure. Turn left and walk along this track for 100yds (91m).
Take the path straight down to the gate in the wall on your left. Go over the stile for a long, straight farm track down to the road.
Cross this, and go through the gap in the wall for the short path straight ahead (not right), then turn left on to the main track through the woods, keeping the perimeter wall to the left in sight. Eventually you drop down to a small clearing with a wooden litter bin and three tracks going off ahead.
Take the one on the left (itâs behind the sign pointing right for horses), then within a few paces fork left again by a wooden post. Swithland Wood is a remnant of Charnwood Forest, once a medieval hunting chase and today full of mature oak, birch, lime and alder. Follow the direct route for 0.25 mile (400m) and, just after rounding a small hill, aim for the open field glimpsed ahead. Take the path along its left-hand edge and, at the end, turn left on a wider track to reach Swithland Wood North car park.
Go beyond the bar gate and turn right on a narrow path parallel with the road, which climbs beside a fence overlooking a flooded quarry. On the far side fork right to join a wider track along the woodland edge. This main route bears right and heads directly south through the lovely mixed woods for almost 0.75 mile (1.2km), and is helpfully indicated by yellow markers on posts that denote a horse-riding route. Ignore all other routes off left and right.
On the way you pass another fenced-off, flooded quarry where the much sought-after Swithland slate was quarried as far back as Roman times. It was only supplanted by the thinner and cheaper Welsh slate quite recently.
Eventually a field appears on the left. Go down the steps on the left on to a boundary path, then in 100yds (91m) cross the bridge and stile on the right over a stream. Turn half left across the wide field, aiming for the gate and stile in the far corner by Horseshoe Cottage Farm. Here turn left to walk the roadside verge to Hallgates car park, then re-enter Bradgate Park for the surfaced track ahead to the visitor centre and back to Newtown Linford.
Hike
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