Cotswold Little Explorers

NEED TO KNOW

4.8 k /3 miles

HIGHLIGHTS: This short walk offers stunning views as far as the welsh black mountains on a clear . The walk takes you through a wide grassy meadow and leads you to the edge of the hillside, which opens up to gives you sweeping views of the Cotswolds hills, the Bristol channel and the black mountains.

The walk ends at the Old Lodge Play area where you can visit the café, where there is fabulous new play equipment for the children. Continue your visit by walking a short way down the hill to explore the rest of the estate, including the stately home, formal gardens, and several other walks through the terraced gardens.

PARKING: Parking is at National Trust Car Park,  SN14 8HY. Car park is chargeable of free for members.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? 1 hour

FACILITIES: There are toilets at the car park. The estate is chargeable to enter or free for National Trust members. Check their website for current prices.

EAT/DRINK: There are two places to eat and drink in the estate, there is a café located at the old lodge play area, and there is also a tea room in the house itself.

ACCESSIBILITY: This route is described as challenging for wheelchair uses. There are no gates/stiles or steps. there are some mild to moderate inclines/ declines at the end towards the old lodge play area. An ALL TERRAIN pushchair should be able to manage the grassy track. We saw lots of.stromg parents pushing kids in pushchairs but inguess it depends on how you are feeling, and what the ground condition is like if its been raining alot.

BEST FOR: Toddlers/Pre - schoolers and upwards. All terrain pushchairs should be able to manage the flat grassy track. No gates or stiles.

STEP BY STEP:

From the car park, head towards the main drive towards the estate. Instead of following the drive down to Dyrham House, instead take the grassy track off to the right and follow this track through a avenue of lime trees.

Walk down the avenue of trees until you come to a tree stump with a compass engraved on it. Follow the grassy path across the open field (this is signposted Prospect Walk). Follow this direction to the edge of the park land, ignoring any intersecting paths.

When you reach the edge, follow the path as it curves to the left as sweeping views of the hill open up in front of you.

Continue until you reach the large beech trees and topography map stone. Straight in front of you is one of the best views at Dyrham Park.

Continue to follow the path to left which will take you to the old lodge café and paly area. From here continue your visit by walking a short way down the hill to explore the rest of the estate, including the stately home, formal gardens and several other walks through the terraced gardens.

Alternatively, from old lodge follow the signposts along the road back to the car park past the east front, were you can take in a fabulous view of the Dyrham Park House and Estate.