Nostell Menagerie Garden Walk
Take in the peace and tranquility of lakeside paths and discover the enchanting Menagerie Garden.
Admire the magnificent autumn colour over the lakes
This walk is particularly stunning in autumn when the landscape becomes coloured with flame reds and burnt oranges as the leaves begin to turn and fall. Look out for the distinctive acers in the Menagerie Garden, golden hazel and cut leaf beech trees along the pathways and carpets of conkers, acorns and pine cones in the woodland.
Map
Start:
Stable Courtyard, grid ref: SE404174
1
Follow the footpath opposite the garden entrance signposted 'lakeside walks'. This path will lead towards the back of the house and you will have glimpses over the lake towards the Menagerie Garden.
2
Go through the small gateway and follow footpath on the right. Look out for Barny's gravestone, one of the Winn's dogs. At the bottom of the slope follow the path to the right.
3
You are now in the area of the gardens known as the Pleasure Garden. At the bottom of the slope you will enjoy views of the Boat House and Lower Lake.
Boat House and Lower Lake
The Winn family kept a small boat in the boat house and would have enjoyed boating on the Lower Lake. Views across the tree-lined lake from here on a sunny autumn afternoon make for fantastic photo opportunities.
4
Continue along the footpath where you will pass Druids Bridge. Glance back for a view of the Obelisk then scale the steps. To avoid the steps branch left away from the lake, then keep right until you see the Middle Lake.
5
You will now see the Middle Lake. Turn right and go over Swiss Bridge to continue your lakeside walk, admiring the magnificent autumn colour reflected on the lake.
Autumn colour over the lakes
From the Swiss Bridge you can see both the Middle and Lower Lake divided by a cascade, the small stone bridge you can see is the restored Druids Bridge.
6
At the fork in the path you will take the route that branches out left along the lake to the large cedar tree with views to the bridge. You will then come to the Gothic Arch, the entrance to the Menagerie.
Gothic Arch
The Gothic Arch was built along with the development of the Menagerie Garden between 1759-61 on the site of a medieval quarry. If you take a closer work you will notice evidence of pebble dashing both inside and out, this is original and would have once covered the entire building. Bats roost in the crevices of the arch today.
7
Through the magnolia trees and beyond the colourful acers find the Menagerie House, built as a keeper's house with garden room. Hidden in the trees behind is the ice house where ice was stored, once collected from the lake. The ice house structure is now unstable and therefore not safe to enter.
The Menagerie Garden
Did you notice the cock fighting pit, now a pond and home to both smooth and great crested newts? Beneath the large holm oak tree there are the remnants of a stone lion. The garden was once home to a large black eyed lioness which was once reported as lost in 1882. This and other animals were kept in cages along the quarry wall.
8
Leaving the Menagerie Garden you will pass by the dell. From here return to the lakeside path and route back, passing golden hazel and cut leaf beech trees. Retrace your steps over the Swiss Bridge then turn right up the hill and back to the courtyard.
End:
Stable Courtyard, grid ref: SE404174
