Parkland explorer walk (pink route)
Put on your walking boots and discover historic monuments, woodland and a herd of deer in Stainborough park. With 500 acres of parkland, you can have your own corner to yourself.
Map
Start:
The parkland entrance gate near to the Long Barn Café
1
Enter the parkland through the green gate (noting the sign about dogs on leads and the free roaming deer and livestock). Follow the pink arrow down a grassy path on your left.
Gardening to impress
The parkland at Wentworth Castle Gardens is a display of extreme wealth. Thomas and William had the money to create a fantasy landscape of temples, water features, avenues and woods. this was gardening on a grand scale.
2
At the bottom of the hill you will come to a green gate. Turn right before this gate, following the pink arrow and keeping the green fence on your left.
3
At the next pink arrow bear right, keeping the Serpentine River on your left.
View point
Don’t forget to stop and look back at the spectacular views of Wentworth Castle across the parkland.
4
When you reach a wooden seat, follow the pink arrow around to the right, keeping the trees on your left.
Get exploring
This is the perfect place tick off some of the 50 things to do before you’re 11¾. Get to know a tree or build a den using the bundles of wood you'll find in the trees.
5
As you continue, the Rotunda will appear ahead. At the next pink arrow take a left to head up to the Rotunda. A perfect place for a picnic.
The Rotunda
The Wentworth family added many features to ‘improve’ their estate, including this 1746 building in the style of a Roman temple. Behind it is Ivas Wood. These woodlands were replanted to 're-green' the area in the later 20th century following the coal mining exploits of the Wentworth family.
6
Retrace your steps back down the path and then turn left at the pink arrow, keeping the trees on your left.
7
Continue along the path heading through a large metal gate and then bear left down the slope to the corner of the woods. Go through the small wooden gate, then take the right-hand path into Broom Royd Wood towards the Duke of Argyll, as indicated by the signpost. (To avoid the detour to the monument, bear right at the corner of the field and don't go through the small gate into Broom Royd Wood).
Broom Royd Wood
The original wood was blighted by open-cast mining. However, in 2006-7 thousands of trees were re-planted and the woods are now home to a wide variety of species of birds, animals and wild flowers.
8
From the Duke of Argyll, retrace your steps through Broom Royd Wood back to the signpost and go left through the wooden gate again, back up the slope.
Duke of Argyll Monument
The Argyll Column was built in 1744 by William Wentworth as a monument to his father-in-law, the 2nd Duke of Argyll.
9
At the top of the slope, bear left on the grass path and up onto The Great South Avenue.
The Great South Avenue
Lined with Beech and Oak trees, this was the former principal approach from the south, dating back to 1771. The driveway is no longer visible.
10
Continue uphill and at the brow you will see Wentworth Castle appear. Continue until you reach a wooden gate and then turn right down the hill.
From Stainborough Hall to Wentworth Castle
Originally called Stainborough Hall, the house was renamed Wentworth Castle after being bought and extended by Thomas Wentworth in 1708.
11
Head through the large metal gate and continue along the grassy path on the left. Continue until you reach the parkland entrance gate - the point where you started.
Viewpoint
Take a moment to admire the views across to Barnsley and Rotherham before you head to the finish point.
End:
At the parkland entrance gate where the walk began. Take a break and enjoy some refreshment back at the Long Barn Café, which serves a selection of snacks, ice creams and hot and cold drinks.
