Explore Charlecote's parkland this winter

Paddock and river at Charlecote on a sunny frosty day in winter

Enjoy frosty mornings or a glimpse of afternoon sunset when you walk through the parkland. The mown grassy paths are flat enough for wide-wheeled buggies in dry conditions and we'd always recommend wellies or sturdy boots.

Your visit is helping us preserve this ancient landscape that Shakespeare would have known.

You can find out more about our work looking after this special habitat and about our wildlife when you join a free guided park walk when you visit. We depend on our lovely volunteers to lead the walks - just ask what's happening on your way in.

Winter walk by the lake in parkland at Charlecote Park

Download our parkland walk 

Explore our historic landscape and learn more about what you'll see. The easy walk will take you up to an hour, depending on how often you stop to enjoy the wildlife and the scenery.

Pick up our tree walk guide or bird spotter sheet on your way in to discover more about what you see in the parkland.

Regular visitors can pick up our Winter Walkers' loyalty card from 6 January - collect 8 stamps to collect your free bacon or sausage bap.

A time to relax

Find picnic benches on the paddock by the river and choose your favourite spot. Visitors picnic here twelve months of the year - just wrap up warm! If you’re looking for peace and quiet, we’re always less busy out of school holidays.

Look out for herons swooping in to the bare treetops
Heron swoops in to tops of bare trees in parkland at Charlecote
Look out for herons swooping in to the bare treetops
Flooding can mean Charlecote is closed - please check before travelling

Severe weather closure 

If severe weather is forecast - heavy rain and flooding, strong winds or snow - we close some areas to visitors, sometimes at short notice. Find out why.

Charlecote’s historic fallow deer herd

There has been a fallow deer herd at Charlecote for centuries, and legend has it that a young William Shakespeare was prosecuted for poaching here. 

Tread quietly and leave your dog at home and they will stay still enough for stunning photographs. Please don't ever approach the deer to touch them. They are unpredictable wild animals and even our Ranger doesn't handle them.

Always look out for the deer in the parkland
Fallow deer on frosty day in winter near Charlecote Park house
Always look out for the deer in the parkland

Centuries of tradition

Have you noticed the traditional cleft oak paling fencing? This is a rural craft that we're delighted to be able to keep alive. The varied heights of the panels confuse the deer so that they don't jump over the fence, although they easily could.

Spotting the spotty sheep

The fallow deer happily share the parkland with our pedigree herd of Jacob sheep with their characteristic chocolate-blotch fleeces.

Did you know that George Lucy introduced the very first flock of Jacobs to England from Portugal in 1755?

The fallow deer usually get top billing, but our Jacob sheep have their own story to tell too
Jacob sheep at Charlecote on frosty day in winter parkland
The fallow deer usually get top billing, but our Jacob sheep have their own story to tell too

Caring for the environment

As part of the Higher Level Stewardship scheme we manage the parkland to ensure the widest possible environmental benefits.

We look after our ancient trees in the park and manage our rare fruit varieties in the orchard. Our annual Tree Survey checks the condition of every tree in the parkland.

Pick up a Tree Walk trail on your way in and find out more about some of our special trees.

Vital conservation work on our trees has been funded by raffle ticket sales
Lime avenue trees at Charlecote Park on frosty day in winter
Vital conservation work on our trees has been funded by raffle ticket sales

Where two rivers meet

Flowing through the park are both Shakespeare's Avon and its tributary the little river Dene. They add diversity to the wildlife in the parkland throughout the year, and you'll find benches where you can pause to see what's around today.

The family church

Your parkland stroll will bring you to St Leonard's church, rebuilt by Mary Elizabeth Lucy in memory of her husband.

Please note that there's no direct re-entry to the parkland from St Leonard's church
St Leonards church in parkland at Charlecote Park in autumn
Please note that there's no direct re-entry to the parkland from St Leonard's church

Please note that the gate is one-way and does not allow re-entry to the parkland. If you decide to pop in here before you've finished your visit, please call in again to Visitor Reception with your sticker and they'll re-admit you.

Dog walking in parkland at Charlecote Park

Dog walking at Charlecote Park 

We welcome well-behaved dogs in areas of our parkland and there's always somewhere you can get a hot drink too. Find out where you can enjoy Charlecote with your dog.