An accessible walk at Croome near Worcester
This easy buggy and wheelchair friendly walk has refreshment and toilet stops on the way with great spots of interests such as the ice house, bird hide, house, lakeside and Temple Greenhouse to enjoy.
Map
Start:
National Trust Croome, Visitor Centre, near High Green, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR8 9DW
1
Leaving the RAF Visitor Centre turn left into the Wilderness Walk and follow the path to the church.
2
Walk to the front of the Church and follow the path to the right down into the Evergreen Shrubbery. Continue along the path past the Temple Green house until you reach the Dry Arch Bridge.
St Mary Magdalene Church
A church at Croome is first mentioned in 1283 and was dedicated to St James the Apostle. This church was close to the house but was demolished by George Coventry, the 6th Earl of Coventry, when he inherited the estate in 1751 and set about remodelling the house and landscape. He commissioned Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown to design the new house, together with a church and to landscape the surrounding garden and grounds. He appointed Robert Adam to design the interior of the house and the church and also to design some structures in the grounds.
3
Carry on under the bridge and turn following the path past the Grotto, over the bridge to the Island Pavillion, then over the second bridge. Continue around the lake untill you reach the wood and rope bridge.
The Island Pavillion
The Island Pavilion which stands on one of the islands in the lake, can be reached via two 18th-century iron bridges. The Pavilion has been carefully restored, having been badly vandalised during the years of neglect. The central plaque inside shows a Grecian wedding scene and is made of Coade stone.
4
Cross the wooden bridge, turn left and then right to go back under the Dry Arch Bridge, after a few yards turn right up the slight incline and then at the top left through the gate.
5
Go through the gate into the parkland and follow the path towards the court.
***When you reach the Court if you cannot face the climb back up please call into the Mansion House and ask one of the staff or volunteers to call you a shuttle which will take you back to the Visitor Centre***
The Croome 'River'
The river at Croome is not a natural river, it is part of a system of drainage designed by Brown to help drain the land, most of the area around Croome was a marsh. The 'river' is a representation of the River Severn and is almost a mile and a half long, it took 12 years to dig out by hand. Seen from the air the river looks like a serpent with the island in the lake forming the eye.
6
You may want to visit the Court, please feel free to do so, we have wheelchair climbers to get you into the house if you wish just ask one of the staff or volunteers.
If you wish to continue the walk please carry on past the Court to the right and follow the path to the rear of the house.
7
Carry on along the path until you come to a small iron gate, go through the gate and follow the path to the right up through the Home Shrubbery to the Rotunda at the top.
The Rotunda
The Rotunda sits in the Home Shrubbery, from where there are wonderful views over the parkland and river towards the Malvern Hills. Lancelot 'Capability' Brown designed the Rotunda, which was built between 1754 and 1757 as a comfortable relaxing 'garden room'. The interior plasterwork was created by Francesco Vassali, who did a lot of the work inside the house.
8
From the Rotunda follow the level path, past the Walled Gardens through the gate and across the road into the Church Shrubbery.
The Walled Gardens
The Walled Garden dates back to the early 18th century. It was altered by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, the famous landscape designer, as part of his grand design at Croome for George William, 6th Earl of Coventry in the 1750s. The garden was derelict for around 40 years. Since the year 2000, the Cronin's have privately funded the restoration project including the ‘Capability’ Brown dipping pond, two fully functioning glasshouses and rebuilt large sections of the perimeter wall.
9
On the right as you enter the Church Shrubbery is our Bird Hide where you can stop a while to see the birds. Carry on along the path, you will come to a crossroads, if you look right you can see the Ice House, carry on towards the Church and back out into the parkland.
10
Go around the front of the Church and follow the path back through the Wilderness Walk back to the Visitor Centre.
End:
National Trust Croome, Visitor Centre, near High Green, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR8 9DW
