Worcestershire & Herefordshire

Croft Castle ancient tree walk

Ancient trees on the walk up to Croft Ambre Croft Castle, Herefordshire. — Ancient trees on the Croft Castle estate, Herefordshire | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

An enjoyable stroll through the fields around Croft Castle, taking in some of the ancient trees on the estate, including an avenue of chestnuts and the 1,000-year-old Quarry Oak. There's also a chance to visit the medieval church of St Michaels and All Angels.

Near to

Croft Castle and Parkland

Start point

Croft visitor reception, grid ref SO45119 65659

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1.5 (km: 2.4)

Duration1 hour to 1 hour 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Flat paths and parkland. For further details, see the Terrain section.
**Not suitable for wheelchairs. For further details, see the Access section.
***Dogs on leads are welcome. For further details, see the Facilities section.

Access to walking trails

All our walking trails are within the parkland at Croft Castle, so you'll need to pay the admission fee or present your National Trust membership card to access them.

Address
Croft Castle, Yarpole, Nr Leominster, HR6 0BL
Directions via Google Maps
By train
The nearest train station is Leominster, 7 miles from Croft Castle.
By bus
There are bus services from Ludlow to Hereford, passing close to Ludlow train station and Leominster. Get off at Gorbett Bank for a 2¼ mile walk to Croft Castle.
Cycling
For cycle routes, search the Sustrans website.
Sustrans website
By road
The entrance is off the B4362, north at Cock Gate between Bircher and Mortimer's Cross. The property is signposted from the A49 between Ludlow and Leominster and from the A4110 at Mortimer's Cross. Postcode for satnav: HR6 0BL.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leads and under close control at all times as livestock graze in the woodland pasture.
Car park
There is a car park 100 yards from the walk starting point.
Toilet
There are toilets with baby-changing facilities near the tea-room.
Play area
There is a traditional play area and a natural play area at Croft Castle. Children's trails are available during holidays.
Tea-room
The Carpenters tea-room at Croft Castle is open from 10am to 4pm.
Total stages: 7
Total stages: 7
Start point
Croft visitor reception, grid ref SO45119 65659
Stage 1
From visitor reception, turn right and go through the gate, following the track around to the left.
Stage 2
Continue along the left-hand track, marked as the green route, keeping the farm buildings on your left.
Stage 3
Go through the gate to enter the field. Head towards the bottom of the field, keeping the fence on your right.
Stage 4
When you reach the end of the field, follow it round to the left through the hawthorn trees, again keeping the fence on your right.
The Spanish Chestnut Avenue at Croft Castle, Herefordshire | © National Trust Images/Robert Morris
Stage 5
Head through the gate into the next field, following the green markers.
Stage 6
Keep following the mown path. You will pass the castle and the church on your left. Here, you can either go through the gate near the church to get back to the castle or carry on ahead along the drive to the car park.
St Michael and All Angels medieval church on the Croft Castle estate, Herefordshire | © National Trust/James Dobson
Stage 7
Exit the meadow through the gate. Walk through the gate to the right of the cattle grid and keep walking down the drive until you reach visitor reception.
End point
Croft visitor reception, grid ref SO45119 65659
Trail map
The ancient tree walk at Croft Castle, Herefordshire | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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The East, or Entrance, front of Croft Castle, Herefordshire

Place

Croft Castle and Parkland

1000 years of power, politics and pleasure in an intimate family home

Trail

Croft Castle Pokehouse Wood walk

A long woodland walk taking in the River Lugg – a Site of Special Scientific Interest – some ancient trees and the old bridge that was part of the original approach to the castle.

Evening sun through trees at the top of a hill at Croft Ambrey, Croft Castle, Herefordshire

Trail

Croft Ambrey walk at Croft Castle

A ramble through fields and woodland, a circuit of Croft Ambrey Iron Age hillfort, then back to your starting point via the outskirts of the picturesque Fishpool Valley.

A stone building in the woods at Croft Castle, Herefordshire

Trail

Croft Castle Fishpool Valley walk

Discover this historic landscaped valley with its chain of dams and pools, carefully planted trees and architecture such as the icehouse, grotto, pumphouse and limekiln.