Croft Castle Parkland and Woodland

Entrance fee and parking: Parking and entry is free for all National Trust members with a valid membership card. For non-members the entrance fee is £15.00

Facilities: Bookshop, car park, tea-room (open from 10 a.m.), toilets.

We will start by exploring the ancient tree walk, including the Spanish Chestnut Avenue, Lime Avenue, and the famous ghost trees. This walk will be up to 3 miles long, with the actual length depending on the group's pace, as there are many points of interest along the way. The terrain is mostly flat, with small inclines. As we will be crossing pastures, please wear walking boots, as it could be wet and muddy in some places.

After lunch at the tea-room (please bring money for lunch), we will continue on the Fishpool Dingle Walk. This is a pleasant route through a picturesque wooded valley, following forest paths and some newly restored natural tracks. The terrain is mainly flat, with some steps and slopes, and it can get muddy, so please wear suitable footwear. Parts of the valley are grazed. The distance is 1.5 miles. If time permits, we will then partially explore the Highwood Walk, which features more challenging terrain, steep slopes, and steps, potentially adding up to 2 miles to the distance.

What to bring: A range of lenses between 14mm to 200mm can be used. Macro lenses can be useful if you enjoy capturing nature’s details.

What to wear: Bring wellies/walking boots and waterproofs. Please wear a long-sleeved shirt and trousers, as some parts of the path can be overgrown.

Bad weather plan: The trip will be rescheduled or cancelled if the weather forecast is severe. If there is light rain or mist, the trip will go ahead.