Walking at Belton

As the days get shorter walks through the gardens and parkland reveal a palette of autumnal colours from pale yellow and gold to rich auburn and mulberry. Bring the family and gather leaves for some wild art or go on a scavenger trail. Now is also the time to witness the drama of the rutting season as Belton’s bucks clash antlers in their bid for dominance. Another highlight is a walk in the woods and the view from Bellmount Tower, which you can reach from Five Gates Road.

From crisp, bright, frosty days to atmospheric, misty mornings, Belton is a delight in winter. On these quiet days, Belton deer are often very close to the house and make for great photo opportunities. At this time of year, one of the best views is from top of the slope to the Old Wood. Here you'll find a bench where you can sit and gather your thoughts as you look across the park to the house.

After the early sign of spring with white blankets of snowdrops, the Pleasure Grounds become carpeted in swathes of daffodils, pale-yellow primroses and delicate blue scilla during March and April, but gradually give way to bluebells in May. Enjoy a stroll along the Statue Walk and discover Belton's box plant maze, replanted from a 1902 drawing after the original was taken up, having become overgrown after the second world war.

The Italian Garden and classical Orangery were designed by Sir Jeffry Wyattville circa 1820. A summer stroll here will reward you with a vibrant display of dahlias and lush herbaceous borders. Fragrant lavender beds form part of the parterre planting in the Dutch Garden which leads towards Belton's famous sundial and gently sloping Pleasure Grounds.

Pick up a Tree Trail from the garden entrance to discover Belton’s remarkable array of specimen trees. The gardens are home to an impressive age range of trees, with exotics, natives, conifers and broadleaves, brings vibrant colour and striking sculptural form to the gardens.