Two visitors, one in a tramper outdoor mobility vehicle, on a footpath next to a river. — Exploring at Croome | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Worcestershire & Herefordshire

An accessible walk at Croome

This easy buggy and wheelchair friendly walk with toilet stops on the way, with great spots of interests such as the ice house, bird hide, lakeside and Temple Greenhouse to enjoy.

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Total steps: 10

Start point

National Trust Croome, Visitor Centre, near High Green, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR8 9DW

Step 1

Leaving the RAF Visitor Centre turn left into the Wilderness Walk and follow the path to the church.

Step 2

Walk to the front of the church and follow the path to the right down into the Evergreen Shrubbery. Continue along the path past the Temple Green house until you reach the Dry Arch Bridge.

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, 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.

Step 3

Carry on under the bridge, turn right and follow the path past the Grotto, over the bridge to the Island Pavillion, then over the second bridge. Continue around the lake until you reach the wood and rope bridge.

Step 4

Cross the wooden bridge, turn left and then turn right to go back under the Dry Arch Bridge. After a few yards turn right up the slight incline and then at the top left through the gate.

Step 5

Go through the gate into the parkland and follow the path towards the house. *When you reach the house, if you cannot face the climb back up, please call into the house and ask one of the staff or volunteers to call you a shuttle which will take you back to the Visitor Centre.

The Croome 'River'

The river at Croome is not a natural river, it is part of a system of drainage designed by Brown to help drain the land, most of the area around Croome being a marsh. The 'river' is a representation of the River Severn and is almost a mile and a half long, taking 12 years to dig out by hand. Seen from the air the river looks like a serpent, with the island in the lake forming the eye.

Step 6

If you want to visit the house, please feel free to do so. We have wheelchair climbers to get you into the house if you wish – just ask one of the staff or volunteers. If you wish to continue the walk, please carry on past the house to the right and follow the path left to the rear of the house.

Step 7

Carry on along the path until you come to a small iron gate. Go through the gate and follow the path to the right up through the Home Shrubbery to the Rotunda at the top.

Step 8

From the Rotunda follow the level path, past the Walled Gardens, through the gate and across the road into the Church Shrubbery.

The Walled Gardens

The Walled Garden dates back to the early 18th century. It was altered by Brown as part of his grand design at Croome for George, 6th Earl of Coventry, in the 1750s. The garden was derelict for around 40 years. Since the year 2000, the Cronins have privately funded the restoration project including the 'Capability' Brown dipping pond, two fully functioning glasshouses and large sections of the perimeter wall.

Step 9

On the right as you enter the Church Shrubbery is our Bird Hide, where you can stop a while to see the birds. Carry on along the path and you will come to a crossroads. If you look right you can see the Ice House. Carry on towards the Church and back out into the parkland.

Step 10

Go around the front of the Church and follow the path back through the Wilderness Walk back to the Visitor Centre.

End point

National Trust Croome Visitor Centre, near High Green, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR8 9DW

Trail map

Accessible Walk Map | © Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right 2022.

near High Green, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR8 9DW

01905371006

croome@nationaltrust.org.uk

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An accessible walk at Croome

Total steps: 10