Walking trail
Belton Park walk
Belton Park is rich in wildlife and covers about 1,350 acres, of which 750 acres is designated deer park.
Explore the park and woodland with historical highlights
The route passes key features of ancient woodland, highlights built structures and wildlife habitats and points out the site of a deserted medieval village.
Map
Start:
Belton House main car park, grid ref: SK928391
1
Make your way from the Visitor Reception Building towards the south face of Belton House. As you look at the mansion, you will see a gate on the right that leads to the gardens and another gate that leads into the parkland, go through the gate into the parkland.
Belton House
Belton House is the former home of the Brownlow family and is often cited as being the perfect example of an English country-house estate. The seventeenth-century Carolean treasure house contains fine collections of porcelain, silver, paintings and books. Why not pop in when you have finished your walk?
2
Follow the tree line all the way to a gate in a wooden fence, and go through the gate. Make your way across the parkland towards the brow of the hill. You may notice Bellmount Tower in the distance. The tower was completed in 1751 and designed as both a focal point and a viewing tower.
Bellmount Tower
Seen from across the parkland during the walk, the tower was completed in 1751 for Viscount Tyrconnel as a focal point and viewing tower. It consists of a room reached by a spiral staircase. It often opens for exploration on selected Sundays through the summer each year, see events information for details. Reach Bellmount Tower from the car park on Five Gates Road.
3
Turn right and head towards Old Wood and pick up the woodland path. Even on maps of the estate dating back to 1690, this area of land is referred to as ‘Old Wood’. The herd of around 300 fallow deer often seek sanctuary in Old Wood so please take care not to disturb them, especially during June when they are fawning.
Fallow deer
Look out for the direct descendants of the wild deer herd enclosed here in 1690. They have large, flat antlers and can be a variety of colours. Young are born in June and then hidden in the grass by their mothers to protect them from predators. If you find one, please don’t touch, as human scent will make them more vulnerable to attack.
4
Along the path, you’ll eventually see the fence line that denotes the edge of the golf course. Head right and follow the fence line around the edge of the golf course. You will see the Alford Monument within the golf course to your left, created in memory of Viscount Alford, son of First Earl Brownlow.
Alford Monument
Built in memory of Viscount Alford. The Latin inscription reads: "Farewell, my dearest son. Among these trees, once fortunate in aspect, I, your weeping father, place this here, offered in your name with a prayer".
5
Continue to follow the fence line and make your way towards the Lion Gates.
Lion Gates
These gates once marked the main route into the Belton estate and originally stood by the main road to Lincoln.
6
With your back to the Lion Gates, head left and towards the River Witham. You're now walking around the site of the deserted medieval village of Towthorpe. Look out for signs of earthworks and evidence of the ridges and furrows associated with medieval farming methods.
Towthorpe village
Towthorpe is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 but is thought to date from much earlier, as pre-historic and Saxon artefacts have been found in the area. Today there's little trace of the village, although earthworks can be seen on the western side of the river.
7
Walk beside the river bank to look out for examples of river features such as an oxbow, riffle, meander, pool or flood plains. Then head towards a small wood. At the edge of the wood, turn right and follow the path to a kissing gate.
Towthorpe Hollow Ponds
You’re now beside Towthorpe Hollow Ponds. They were created around 1820 and have been a haven for white-clawed crayfish since special reefs were built in 2009.
8
Make your way towards the old carriageway and head north through the gate and back onto the oval in front of the house. We hope you’ve enjoyed your walk around Belton Park.
End:
Belton House main car park, grid ref: SK928391
