LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

We booked our tickets a few days prior to our visit and arrived at the car park promptly for our timed entry. We parked in the overflow car park because the park was so busy due to the sunny weather and school half term. The park is huge, so no problem with it being busy. The visitors were scattered to the four corners. The house was not open, due to the Covid virus. With our face masks on, we booked-in at reception, then started exploring, using the one-way system introduced because of the Covid restrictions. We walked from the reception/café/museum buildings through bushes and trees of the Wilderness Walkway to the St Magdalene Church, point 5. Here the vista opened up to see a good portion of the park, in the valley. We turned right, steeply downhill to the gardens and picnic area, passing 'Statue of Pan', point 28, and the 'Temple Greenhouse', p27. Here was a good view of the house across the meadow. After a short visit to the 'Temple Greenhouse' we continued towards the lake passing 'Druid' point 26, to the 'Dry Arch Bridge', point 25. We passed lots of families enjoying their picnic amongst the cool shelter of the trees. We walked under the 'Dry Arch Bridge' to the lake and decided not to cross the bridge but walk around the lake in an anti-clockwise direction. We soon passed the monument to 'Capability Brown', point 24, and 'The Grotto and Sabrina', point 22. We walked alongside the lake to a bridge, crossing to the Island Pavilion. A swan was nesting on the lakeside, very close to the bridge, obviously used to the patter of human feet close by. Because of the many attractions around the lake there were more people in this area. Care was required to maintain social distancing, but almost every person played their part. We continued over another attractive white bridge where the path continued, passing Lakeside Urn, point 19. At the bridge near the Dry Arch Bridge, point 25, we didn't cross the bridge but turned right through the gate to a quiet grassy path in the meadow alongside the 'River'. As we passed the house we reached the Chinese Bridge, point 16. It was a very attractive bridge with lots of character, close to the front (south side) of the house. From the bridge we didn't take the path towards the house, but walked directly across the meadow on a green path, so we could take some photos of the complete house frontage in all its splendour. The straight path came to a stoned path following the curvature of a metal fence to a private garden. On the private side of the garden we were surprised to see an old children's roundabout with a notice explaining that the roundabout was installed while the house formed part of a Catholic boys school. The house repairs became too much for the school, which was when the National Trust became involved. We continued on the path, passing the monument to King George III, point 14, in the private garden, before walking uphill through the majestic trees to the Rotunda, point 13, at the top of the hill. We stopped for a while to admire the impressive building, which must have glorious views across the park. We didn't venture into the Rotunda, as many visitors did. Instead we turned left along a level path, passing a group of children playing on the low branches of a tree. Soon after the children we stopped at a seat to watch the world go by. When we continued we passed the monument to 6th Earl of Coventry and soon after the Nave of St Magdalene Church, before turning right to the Ice House, point 7, and the car park. When we reached our car we unloaded the picnic and the folding chairs. This was another excellent adventure at a National Trust site. Highly recommended, even if the house is closed to the members.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start & Finish: at Croome Park National Trust.