Ancient tree walk at Croft Castle near Leominster
A gentle wander into the heart of Croft's parkland taking in the Spanish Chestnut avenue planted in the formation of the Spanish Armada around 350 years ago and the 1,000 year old Quarry Oak along the way.
There are stunning views across the Herefordshire countryside and an array of wildlife can be seen, including the occasional fallow deer throughout the year.
Map
Start:
Croft visitor reception SO45119 65659
1
Start at visitor reception and head towards the exit drive. Walk through the gate to the left of the cattle grid and keep walking down the exit drive until you come to a way-marker on your right. Walk through the gate here and into the front meadow.
2
Follow the mown path through the meadow towards the lake, keeping the church behind you.
St Michaels and All Angels church
Still a working parish church containing 12th and 14th century architecture and the 15th century tomb of Sir Richard Croft.
3
Follow the mown path alongside the lake.
Quarry Oak
At 1,000 years old the Quarry Oak is one of the oldest trees at Croft and sits in the gulley just after the lake.
4
Continue through the chestnut avenue and head across the field away from the castle. Enter the small gateway into the field in front of you.
Chestnut avenue
This was the original formal approach to the castle. A story says sweet chestnuts were taken from captured Spanish vessels and planted at Croft between 1580 and 1680 to represent the formal battle plan of the ships at the Armada.
5
Enter through the gate into the field and carry on towards the top of the field, keeping the fence on your right.
Hawthorns
A little mystery; these very old Hawthorns are planted as though within an orchard. One explanation is they were the rootstock plants for a medlar tree orchard and when they died the rootstock took over.
6
Walk through the field towards the castle. Looking to your left you can see 400-500 year old chestnut trees and also newly planted ones grown from their seeds.
7
Continue to walk towards the castle through the front meadow. Keeping the terrace wall on your left, you'll eventually come to a wrought iron gate. Walk through this and up the castle drive to the Gothic arch to finish the walk.
William Oak
Keep an eye out for the 500 year old oak tree named after Sir William Croft who supposedly died under this tree after being shot in the Civil War.
End:
Croft visitor reception SO45119 65659
