Leicester - Castle Hill Country Park

First Bus 74 or 26 from City Centre

Centrebus 55 from City Centre

[1]  With your back towards the entrance turn right towards the car park, cross the road and turn left to walk to Wilkinsons.  Turn right and take the path over Rutherford Road (Beware of traffic from the left)

[2]  Pass under Bennion Road and then turn right to take the footpath under Boston Road.

[3] Take the first path on the left at the Castle Hill Country Park sign.  Continue along the path.

[4] Before you reach the road bridge (A46) turn right at another Castle Hill sign. Where the path forks, take the left path and climb the hill.

(A) As you climb the hill, Bradgate Park - Old John Folly and the War Memorial - can be seen to the left - see below.

[5] On reaching a path intersection, take the path to the left and follow the path as it turns to the right.  The path can be muddy in wet conditions.

(B) You will have a view of Bradgate Park including Old John folly and the obelisk shaped War Memorial and you will see the village of Anstey.  Old John Folly and the War Memorial can be seen prior to waypoint [5] as mentioned above.

Alternative route: On reaching the path intersection [5] above, continue straight on using the tarmac path.  There will be houses on your right. Before reaching a primary school take the grassy path on your left.  Turn right on to the path (at the bench) to bring you back to the main route [waypoint 6].  This might be a sensible option when the ground is very wet.

[6] Continue straight on where a path crosses (by a bench) and shortly after continue past some wooden bollards.  Continue over the grassy field.  At this point keep to the left of the gate and bear right to continue ahead with the wood on the left. 

[7] Pass through the gate at the end of the wood and turn right on the path from the A46 footbridge. Continue straight on into the urban area.

[8] On reaching the urban area take the left path at a fork.  Continue ahead to Astill Lodge Road.

[9] Cross Astill Lodge Road and continue on the path to Astill Lodge Park.

[10] Follow the path ahead through the park to exit at Bennion Road.

[11] Cross Bennion Road and continue forward  into Beaumont Park.  Pass through the car park and follow the path into the park (there are sports pitches on the left).  The path will join a road at the rear of the leisure centre.

[12] Turn right onto the road then left into Beaumont Way then turn left to reach the entrance to the leisure centre.

(A)  Bradgate Park

A gem of rural Leicestershire situated within Charnwood Forest and on the edge of the National Forest and preserved for your enjoyment and appreciation. Bradgate Park & Swithland Wood Country Park is open to visitors on every day of the year – from 7.45am until dusk.  Parking in five different car parks situated at key locations around the boundary of the Estate.  The main entrance is in the village of Newtown Linford (by church).  Walk into the Park along the tarmac carriageway, through the impressive wooded “Little Matlock” gorge, alongside the River Lin, past the Ruins of Bradgate House and along to the Deer Barn Tea Room. Follow the extensive network of paths to get off the beaten track and explore.

(B)  Old John Tower

This Folly or Prospect Tower was built in 1784 by the 5th Earl of Stamford. The circular stone tower replaced a former wooden windmill (which had been made unsafe in an earlier storm) and stands on Bradgate’s tallest hill and one of Leicestershire’s highest points – some 690 feet above sea level.

Constructed in local granite stone with two circular rooms, one above the other, connected by a narrow spiral staircase and complete with timbered floor and three glazed and shuttered windows on first floor, slate fireplaces and castellations around the top of the structure.  The windows and castellations may have been incorporated a few years after the Tower was built.

Lord Stamford and his guests would have used the Folly to watch his horses gallop around the racecourse laid out at the base of the Hill, to enjoy the magnificent views over his Estate and as a vantage point to watch fox hunting (another of his favourite sports) across the Park and neighbouring countryside.

By 1792 an archway was attached to the Tower and the legend of Old John Tower’s beer mug outline was born.

The Tower is periodically open as part of the Country Park’s Guided Walks programme.  The Hill, on which the Tower stands commands fine views across Leicestershire and surrounding counties.

Created by Mark Hewitt