Dog walk at Penrhyn
Explore the varied castle grounds with your four-legged friend (on a lead please).
Map
Start:
Penrhyn Castle car park, grid ref: SH603717
1
Leave the car park and head through a stand of mature and semi-mature oak trees. In spring you'll walk through a sea of flowers.
Bursting with life
Oaks support more wildlife than other tree species. Mixed grasses and wildflowers grow beneath the trees: you might see spotted orchids, vetch and field woodrush
2
Follow the grass path as it curves round a small mixed woodland known as the Lime Grove. Oak, lime and sweet chestnut of varying ages grow here with an under-layer of box, bay and holly. Ferns abound here.
3
Cross over the mown walkway. Flanked by fine specimens of trees and shrubs, it's known as the Broadwalk. There's a fine view of the Castle Keep and Library Carrel from here.
4
Walk down the Heather Slope into The Dell. The Heather Slope faces south west into the prevailing winds and several mature oak and beech trees have been uprooted here.
The Fungus Den
The Dell holds a 'fungus den' of decaying timber and a small marshy area. These provide the right conditions for parasitic fungi, beetles and other moisture-loving invertebrates to thrive.
5
As you cross the Old Drive, the original entrance to the Castle, pause for a moment and imagine Queen Victoria's grand entrance when she visited in the Castle's heyday. You can still see some of the original setts or cobble stones.
6
Follow the path to the Bog Garden - a wonderland of exotic water-loving plants like gunnera and reedmace. The path leads past a rustic wooden belvedere to a wooden boardwalk. Take the steps up to the Walled Garden. If you have a dog with you, bypass the Walled Garden by heading back to the Old Drive and turning left along the yew hedge. This joins up with the path out of the Walled Garden.
7
You can take a botanical world tour in the Walled Garden, which has plants from all over the globe. Wander around the formal paths till you are ready to leave, then go out through the door opposite the one you entered by.
Upper Terrace
The beds and ornamental ponds in the upper terrace have a wide range of habitats, especially for birds, pollinating insects and water creatures. There's lots to see in this colourful garden all the year round.
8
Carry on along the path to a brick stable then turn right up the slope to the ruined chapel. Every castle needs a romantic ruin and this is Penrhyn's. Its setting amongst redwoods, firs and cedars adds to its gothic atmosphere.
9
Follow the path to the left under some yew trees and between the stable block and the disabled parking area. At the corner of the Castle, follow a broad grass path to the boundary fence and Fox Hollow.
10
The path follows the fence line through the Elysian Fields with their magnificent coastal and mountain views. Remember to look right as well for an imposing view of Penrhyn Castle. The path takes you back to the car park where you started your walk.
Flower meadow
This open area has drifts of bulbs in the spring and many species of wildflowers and grasses throughout the summer. Daffodils, ox-eye daisy and meadowsweet all thrive here, offering a perfect place for nectar-gathering insects.
End:
Penrhyn Castle car park, grid ref: SH603717
