The Old Lake walk at Arlington Court
Get closer to nature at the bird hide and heronry on the most popular and established walk around the designed landscape of Arlington Court, including carriage drives to view the best of the estate.
Start point
Outside Old Kitchen tea-room, grid ref: SS611405Trail information
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Outside Old Kitchen tea-room, grid ref: SS611405
Stage 1
This walk is marked with signs with red arrows on them. From the tea-room walk down the tarmac road, following the signs to the Lake and Wider Estate. At the gates with herons on the top, keep left and follow the track down through Monkey Puzzle Avenue.
Stage 2
Continue along this track, through a gate and past a large information board (on your left). Keep on this track for about 500 metres.
Stage 3
If you'd like to try out our bird hide diversion, look out for a sign saying 'Bird Hide', which is on the right, pointing you down a track. Follow this along until you reach the hide. To return to the main walk just retrace your steps.
Stage 4
At the junction of two paths follow the red arrow to the right and to the lake. Just around the corner on the banks of the lake is Miss Chichester's Memorial Urn.
Stage 5
Walk alongside the Old Lake, cross the dam (look out for the bridge piers, part of an unfinished project from the 19th century) and then bear left.
Stage 6
Follow the track for 200 metres and then turn left to cross Smallacombe Bridge and into the parkland.
Stage 7
Follow the track through the parkland (bear slightly right) and uphill. You will reach the gate at the bottom of the Wilderness.
Ruby Red Devon cattle | © National Trust Images/Clive Whitbourn Stage 8
Follow the path up the hill, staying left at the first junction. Keep going up the hill, eventually reaching the bottom of the main garden. You emerge from the Wilderness next to the large pond, near the church. From here you can find your way across the garden to the tea-room.
The church of St James's (Not NT), Wilderness Pond and reflections in the garden at Arlington Court, Devon | © National Trust Images/Ross Hoddinott End point
Outside Old Kitchen tea-room, grid ref: SS611405
Trail map
Map of Arlington Court lake walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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