Woodchester Park Circular - Riders and Striders

Route in a landscaped park with lakes suitable for all terrain type scooters.

Distance

6.5 miles / 10.46 km

Duration

3.5 hours

Difficulty

Unsurfaced paths, basic fitness

Mobility aid rating

Stile free

Shape

Circular

Route description

The woodland route within the National Trust Woodchester Park near Stroud starts and ends at the Tinkley Gate café, and visits the Mansion. Route is largely on broad hard tracks with very few ascents or descents once the track is reached via the newly created “Zigzag Path”.

Tramper hire: Pre-book with the park.

Woodchester lies near Stroud in a special part of the Cotswolds with a host of secluded valleys making a complete change of scenery from the familiar rolling hills.

This ramble is set in a deep wooded valley with a string of five lakes, created in an1819th century landscaped park with a nod to Capability Brown, home to an unfinished mansion planned as a retreat by a Victorian gentleman whose ambition was greater than his bank balance.

Enjoy the clean air and peaceful surroundings with spectacular trees including redwoods starting from the modern café to the Mansion with its intriguing history. The route descends twice to lake level presenting an opportunity to test your photographic skills before a return to the cafe and car park.

Be aware: Mobile signal non-existent in some parts of the park.

Woodchester Park Video

Start

Address

Tinkley Gate National Trust Car Park GL10 3UH
View start on Google Maps

OS Grid Ref

SO814008

What3Words

name.explorer.propelled

Public toilets

Step free toilets at Tinkley Gate café. On open days additional toilets available behind the Mansion.

Refreshments

Tinkley Gate café.

Travel Info

Car parking: Free to NT members and Blue Badge. (£3 to non-members). Public Transport: None. GCC Robin is a bookable bus service. It is recommended to book a few days in advance 0345 2638139 or online.

Navigation

Park in Tinkley Gate car park and make your way to the café. With your back to the café head across the grass or take the path to take the zigzag path downhill 1 to a broad track heading east down the valley 2. Stay on this track for approximately 1¼ miles/2km passing three lakes on your left. (You will see NT Tramper waymarks as you go along but where these turn left (at 7) continue ahead following NT Red Route markers).

At the end of the third lake the track descends to a dam 3. Cross the dam then turn left and up a short climb to a broad track 4. Follow this track for approx. 1½ miles/ 2.4km – you can disregard the Red Route waymarks which soon leave on a path to the right – just stay on the main track until you reach The Mansion (not National Trust), with its picnic area and toilets (open Fri-Sun from Easter to Halloween) 5.

After your visit to the Mansion retrace your route and now follow the NT Tramper waymarks which will lead you to the dam below Middle Pond 6. Cross the dam and turn right 7 and continue along the track back to the Zigzag Path and café.

Route media