Shropshire & Staffordshire

Wildlife walk at Attingham Park

Swan on the river at Attingham Park, Shropshire — Swan on the river at Attingham Park | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

This circular walk starts in the Stables Courtyard at Attingham Park and follows the Deer Park walk and centuries-old routes in the beautiful parkland of this great estate and by the River Tern.

Near to

Attingham Park

Start point

Visitor reception, Attingham Park, Atcham, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4TP. Grid ref: SJ5501109896.

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2.5 (km: 4)

Duration 45 mins to 1 hour

Dog friendly***

*Grass, hoggin (compressed sand and gravel) and woodland paths, uneven in places, on mainly level terrain with a few short inclines. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Uneven terrain, can be muddy in wet weather. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Keep dogs on leads outside at all times except in designated off-lead areas. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Address
Attingham Park, Atcham, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4TP.
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Shrewsbury station is 5 miles (8km) away.
On foot
0.5 miles (0.8km) along drive from main gates. Please note there may be cattle grazing in the parkland.
By bus
Shrewsbury to Telford route. Please check routes with Arriva buses, then walk 0.5 mile (0.8km) along drive from main gates. Please note there may be cattle grazing in the parkland.
Arriva buses
Cycling
Find your route on the Sustrans website. Please note there may be cattle grazing in the parkland.
Sustrans
By road
The main entrance to Attingham Park is on the B4380, in the village of Atcham 4 miles south-east of Shrewsbury. Follow brown directional signage to the main gates and on to one-way access drive through front parkland. Please note there may be cattle grazing in the parkland.
Rough and uneven terrain, with slopes. Can be muddy in wet weather.
Designated parking
Car parking is free (disabled bays available).
Accessible toilet
Toilets are in the Stables Courtyard, Bothy and Brewhouse.
Steps/uneven terrain
Accessible route and/or map
For buggies (in muddy conditions) and mobility scooters, at step 5 follow the right fork labelled 'short cut' through the gate which takes you along the bank of the Tern to rejoin the walk at point 8.
Powered mobility vehicle
Mobility scooters are available to borrow (first come, first served).
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Visitor reception, Attingham Park, Atcham, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4TP. Grid ref: SJ5501109896.
Stage 1
From the car park make your way to visitor reception and through the Stables Courtyard bearing left towards the walled garden. As you walk towards the Walled Garden you are on part of the Mile Walk, a hoggin path.
Stage 2
You will pass the Walled Garden on your left as you continue along this section of the Mile Walk.
Stage 3
At this point the path splits: bear left, following signs for the Deer Park Walk.
Stage 4
Cross the cable-stayed bridge over the River Tern.
The River Tern and the bridge
The River Tern is only 30 miles long, and flows into the River Severn about a mile downstream. Its source is considered to be a lake in the grounds of Maer Hall in Staffordshire. Attingham is host to around 5 miles of river, featuring beautiful stretches of the Severn and Tern. Ponds are a haven for wildlife of all sorts, from ducks, swans and otters to dragonflies. The cable-stayed bridge provides improved access for buggies and mobility scooters, and was built in 2009 with funding from Natural England.
Stage 5
At this fork in the path carry straight on up a gentle incline to continue with the walk. At further forks in the path follow signs for the 'Deer Park Walk'. For buggies (in muddy conditions) and mobility scooters, follow the right fork labelled 'short cut' through the gate which takes you along the bank of the Tern to rejoin the walk at point 8.
Stage 6
After walking through the woodland the path opens out along the top of the deer park, with the woodland on your left and the deer park to your right. During parts of the year sections of the deer park may be closed; please follow any signed diversions.
Stage 7
Keep walking along the grass path with the woodland on your left, until you get to the Repton oak.
The Repton oak and wildlife
Originally marking the boundary between the parishes of Wroxeter and Atcham, this old oak is now one of the wonders of Attingham Park. This venerable tree is thought to have started life in the reign of King Edward III (1327–1377). Old trees are havens for wildlife, bats, birds, insects, mosses and lichens. There are five species of bats at Attingham including over 1,000 pipistrelle bats. Barn owls, ravens and buzzards are the top predators here – can you spot any flying over the deer park?
Stage 8
A short while after passing the Repton oak the path will begin to lead you down the hill towards the mansion. Go through the gate, across the bridge and turn right to take a look at the ice house. Please note: there is no light in the ice house and it is lit by natural light from its entrance. Be careful walking down the narrow uneven steps into the ice house. After you've been inside follow the path passing the mansion on your right-hand side and continue to bear right, past the tea-room and toilets before turning left to return to the Stables Courtyard.
End point
Visitor reception, Attingham Park, Atcham, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4TP. Grid ref: SJ5501109896.
Trail map
Map route for Attingham Park wildlife walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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