[1] Cross Astill Lodge Road (take care crossing the road) and take the path in front to enter Castle Hill Country Park. After a short distance, before the notice board on the left, bear right along a mown path to enter the Castle Hill Quarter of the park through the metal gate. Keep left for about 50 meters to view the Great Oak
(A) The Great Oak is about 300 years old and is the only surviving example from that era.
[2] After a short distance bear right to take the mown path which passes through the gap in the trees. Just through the trees, bear left along this mown path and then take the right fork uphill where the track splits. Enter the wood on the wide track to the left.
[3] After a short distance turn first right, by the sign post, onto the woodland track. At the end of the track pass through the gap in front to enter the Little Hill Community Orchard.
(B) Little Hill Community Orchard was established in 2005 and comprises over 100 varieties of fruit trees including traditional Leicestershire varieties. It is located in close proximity to former orchards known to have been in existence hereabout in the early 14th Century, and associated with the neighbouring Castle Hill Earthworks.
[4] Take the path to the left by the trees along the bottom of the orchard and then, after a short distance, take the path through the gap in the trees on your left. Continue ahead on the uphill mown path to enter the site of the Castle Hill earthworks. (Take care on this undulating path - especially when it is damp underfoot.)
Keep straight ahead and continue down the hill towards the site of the medieval fish pond.
(C) The Castle Hill Earthworks is a scheduled monument and is misnamed because it is actually the site of a medieval monastic grange. It was associated with the Knights Hospitaller who originally cared for the sick and wounded pilgrims who visited the holy land in the middle ages. They then became a military order who protected pilgrims and were active in the Crusades. Their income from properties such as that on Castle Hill went to supporting the crusaders. The Knights were in this area from around 1240 to 1482, when King Edward IV exchanged a rectory in Boston for the Hospitaller’s Beaumont Leys property.
(D) The medieval fishpond was another source of food and income for the Knights Hospitaller.
[5] Approximately 100m before the fishpond turn right at the path crossroads, by the fallen log, and pass through the metal gate. Follow the path to the left, alongside the hedgerow, through Hill Ground Nature Area.
(E) The Hill Ground Nature Reserve is an area of hawthorn scrub and trees and grassland containing wild flowers and grasses – including the (locally) rare Grass-leaved Vetchling.
Follow the path down towards the bridge under the A46. (Take care along this path as it is used by horses and there are hoof prints which can be a potential trip hazard)
[6] Before the bridge, turn left and pass through the metal gate Continue along this path parallel to the A46 to the metal gate through which you entered the park. Turn left to follow the path to the start