Worcestershire & Herefordshire

Parkland walk yellow trail at Brockhampton

A view of a clearing between rows of damson trees in the orchard at Brockhampton, with a gated wooden fence and a view of the countryside beyons — The Damson Orchard at Brockhampton | © National Trust Images / Andrew Butler

This is a challenging but enjoyable walk around the Brockhampton estate's Grade II-listed parkland. The many veteran trees here are home to a variety of wildlife, while work has been carried out around the lawn pool to open up some of the original views to and from the Georgian mansion house.

Near to

Brockhampton

Start point

Car park at Lower Brockhampton. Grid ref: SO688559

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2 (km: 3.2)

Duration2 hours 15 mins to 3 hours 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*This walk comprises a variety of surfaces and gradients. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**This trail is not suitable for some people with reduced mobility. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs are welcome, with conditions. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Come prepared

This route can get quite muddy in wet weather, so make sure you bring suitable footwear.

Toilet
There are two sets of toilets at Lower Brockhampton – one close to the courtyard/manor house, and the other near the welcome kiosk on the main driveway.
Picnic area
There are numerous places to enjoy a picnic on the Brockhampton estate, notably in the damson orchards next to the mansion house.
Shop
Located in the courtyard at Lower Brockhampton, Brocks Books sells a huge range of second-hand titles.
Kiosk
The Granary kiosk, in the Lower Brockhampton courtyard, serves a range of snacks and refreshments, with both indoor and outdoor seating available.
Total stages: 7
Total stages: 7
Start point
Car park at Lower Brockhampton. Grid ref: SO688559
Stage 1
Walk out of the car park entrance and fork left, following the yellow markers into the field that runs parallel to the drive. Walk away from the manor (remembering to turn around and enjoy the view), and go through the gate at the other end of the field.
Stage 2
Follow the path down into the woods. At the stream, turn right, following the yellow markers. The path runs alongside the drive before turning left back into the woods. Cross over the stream and take the right fork through Lookout Wood.
Stage 3
When you get to the road, follow it to the right. Continue up the hill, past the car park to the chapel.
Brockhampton Chapel
This Grade II-listed chapel was designed by the architect George Byfield and built around 1799. One of the first churches in Herefordshire to be constructed in a Gothic-revival style, it's well preserved and retains many of its original fittings, including its gallery, pews and pulpit. Although the chapel is located within the Brockhampton estate, it's not managed by the National Trust.
Stage 4
After exploring the chapel, turn left into the field and follow the path that skirts around the building. When you reach the road, turn right and follow it for a short distance before turning left into the field.
Historic parkland
In 1769, shortly after Bartholomew Barneby built the mansion at Brockhampton, Thomas Leggett was commissioned to produce a layout for the parkland. His ambitious plans, which included a serpentine lake and extending the grounds by 400 acres, were never realised, but the Barnebys still sculpted the estate. Bartholomew and his son John planted trees, took out field boundaries, and converted arable land, orchards and hop grounds into designated land. By 1829, the parkland consisted of around 100 acres, mostly east of Brockhampton House.
Stage 5
Follow the path through the field and into the next field. You'll cross over the driveway and into a third field. Look out for the sheep and cows that graze the estate.
Stage 6
You'll enter a wooded area, where you'll see Lawn Pool in front of you. Continue on the path around the pool and cross the stream. Begin descending the hill through the field. Don't forget to have a break and admire the views.
Lawn Pool
Looking up at Bartholomew's mansion, this tranquil, triangular pond is one of the woodland's most distinctive features. The first record of there being water in this spot is in Thomas Leggett's 1769 parkland design, in which he proposed the building of a serpentine lake here. However, we're not sure if the current pool is an amendment of his design or a pre-existing landscape feature that Leggett was proposing to extend.
Stage 7
When you come to a path, follow it to the left, back into Lookout Wood. Cross the stream and continue until you reach the road. Follow the path as it runs alongside the road, down the hill and through the woodland. Pass through the gate into the field towards the manor house.
End point
Car park at Lower Brockhampton. Grid ref: SO688559
Trail map
Trail map for the yellow walk at Brockhampton Estate, Herefordshire | © National Trust
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01885483363

brockhampton@nationaltrust.org.uk

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