Park Seat circular walk at Croome near Worcester
A clear day rewards you with far reaching views across the Worcestershire countryside to Croome's outer eye-catchers and follies in the distance. This circular walk will guide you around our 'Capability' Brown landscape.
Map
Start:
National Trust Croome, Visitor Centre, near High Green, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR8 9DW
1
From the Visitor Centre, follow the path through the Wilderness Walk shrubbery to a gate which brings you to the top of Church Hill. Walk around the front of the church and pass through a metal gate into Church Shrubbery. Follow the path eventually passing the bird hide on your left.
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.
2
Follow the path, crossing a tarmac road. Continue along the path until you reach the Rotunda. Just beyond there are some steps leading down to a metal gate into the parkland. Go through the gate and follow the sign to Park Seat.
The Rotunda is a Grade 1 listed building designed by 'Capability' Brown in the 1760s.
3
Keep walking along the ridge of the field which has great views of the Malvern Hills on your right. You will see Park Seat in the distance in front of you.
Park Seat was designed as a viewing station in 1770 by Robert Adam. It earned the nickname 'The Owl's Nest' due to its long-time resident.
4
From Park Seat walk down the slope towards the river. Keeping the river on your left follow the path back to Croome Court which you can see in the distance.
The river (which is actually a lake) is 1¾ mile long, designed by 'Capability' Brown and is entirely man-made. It is thought to be a reconstruction of the River Severn, which lies at the edge of the Croome estate. Autumn is a great time to enjoy picking blackberries. There are blackberry bushes near the Chinese Bridge as you approach the house.
5
At Croome Court follow the gravel path up the hill back to the Church and Visitor Centre.
End:
National Trust Croome, Visitor Centre, near High Green, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR8 9DW
