Badminton Woodland and Parkland - Miles Without Stiles

Turn left from the car park to the main street, and left through the village. Take the road out of the village towards Little Badminton for approx 500m. There is a right-hand bend and no pavement, so take care.

After five minutes pass the distinctive Slait Lodge 1 and go through the bridleway gate next to the double gates on your left. Head alongside the wood and across the field towards a distant barn. It is the hangar of the landing strip used for the Badminton Horse Trials, held every spring.

Nearing the hangar bear right onto a track passing the remains of Plague Cottage into a shallow dip 2. Climb briefly and turn left onto a signed bridleway with a hedge on your right. This takes you to Seven Mile Plantation 3.

Here go through the trees and turn right on a wide path between trees. It is a permissive bridleway, you’ll see the signs. Head north for 1 kilometre. When the path nears the busy A46 road on your left look ahead for a diagonal track crossing yours 4.

Here turn right through a wide gate leaving the trees on a wide field-edge track heading south east.

Walk straight ahead along field edges on a wide grassy track. After crossing a concrete farm track (private) carry on with a low wall and hedge on your left, through a gate, a second gate and down to a tiny bridge and up to a public road 5. Go through the gate, cross the road and turn left to walk along the verge (facing the traffic) towards Little Badminton.

At point 6 (opposite Upper Slait Lodge and a gate into the park) the road turns square left. Follow it uphill into the village past a red phone box and turn right into Church Lane.

The churchyard is large but the church is small. Follow the lane downhill round the rough green and an old dovecote on your right, past a small pumping station.

Just before Upper Slait Lodge turn left through a double gate into Badminton Park 6. It is a deer park so dogs should be on a lead.

Take this metalled drive gently uphill and as it levels out you’ll see Park Pond on your left, with a glimpse of the big house beyond.

Approaching a lodge with a crest 7 fork left between stables and farm buildings to the estate office, then straight ahead back to the village hall.

Note: You can cut half a mile off the walk by skipping the tour of Little Badminton. At point 6 simply turn right into the deer park.

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