Mid-Length Walking Feb Update

Paul Healey was our walk leader in February and we all enjoyed his 6 mile walk around Bradgate Park, Leicestershire. We parked at Hunts Hill (Old John) car park and were treated to a variety of terrain and views on our circular route. We passed through woodland, footpaths, a lot of mud (!!), saw deer in the deer park; had coffee by Cropston Reservoir and lunch on a rock outcrop below the ruins of Bradgate House, near to the main Visitor’s Centre at Newtown Linford. We were promised a steep incline at the end of the walk up to ‘Old John Tower’ – and steep it was as well, but well worth the climb for the 360 degree views of Leicestershire. On a clearer day we would have even seen Nottingham Castle apparently!! The tower is a folly, built in 1784 by the 5th Earl of Stamford. The circular stone tower replaced a former wooden windmill and stands on Bradgate’s tallest hill and one of Leicestershire’s highest points (690 ft above sea level).

The walk took the twenty-four of us 4 hours to complete and was very enjoyable. Thank you to Paul.
Our next walk is on: Monday 17th March to Chatsworth