Some of the pavements and paths are uneven in places - take care.
[1] From the car park, with your back to the doctor's surgery, turn right and walk to Astill Lodge Road. Turn right and continue forward along Astill Lodge Road, crossing two streets then passing Castle Hill Country Park on the right. There are some great views of Bradgate Park over to the right. Cross Grayswood Drive.
(A) Castle Hill Country Park was established in the 1980s and has an area of more than 80 hectares. It was split in two when the A46 trunk road was completed late last century. The park contains a wide variety of trees, a Bluebell Wood and Community Orchards. There are two scheduled monuments - Castle Hill Earthworks with a medieval fishpond on the east side and King William's Bridge on the west side.
[2] Cross Sharpley Drive. Go on for 25m and cross Astill Lodge Road just past the bus stop then go up the wide tarred path between houses.
[3] After 140m you come to a path junction at an open space (Astill Lodge Park). Turn left onto Churchbells Way and continue forward for about 150m.
[4] Turn right at the squeeze gate into Astill Lodge Park. Follow the path 120m to a path crossroads then go right then fork left past the ponds and play area to the end of the park. Note that the paths have many puddles during wet weather - good footwear is needed
(B) Astill Lodge Park is a fairly small park with a range of equipment for children. There is a small pond and areas of wildlife habitats. The grasslands that make up the bulk of the area are home to wildflowers. These encourage a wide range of insects which provide food for small mammals which, in turn, are food for the larger mammals such as badgers, foxes and owls. The park is managed by local volunteers and there is a park user group that meets regularly - phone 0116 222 1010 for details.
[5] Turn left onto Bennion Road and follow it, crossing Beaumont Lodge Road, to Astill Lodge Road.
[6] Turn left onto Astill Lodge Road to return to the centre. Cross over at the pedestrain island.