Bradgate Park, Leicestershire
I was going to start off by saying that Bradgate Park is one of Leicestershire’s best kept secrets but then I read that it has a million visitors a year so that may well not be true!! Since I was a child Bradgate has been the place that we go to as a family for bike riding, fishing, dog walking and hiking, no matter what the weather. Glorious in Summer and beautifully wild in Winter, it’s a truly awesome place all year round.
Bradgate was originally created as a hunting park around 750 years ago from Charnwood Forest. The park is 840 acres and once you are surrounded by the slopes, bracken and rocks, it’s hard to believe that you are only six miles from the Centre of Leicester. There are three different routes into the park and each one is vastly different.
From the lovely village of Newton Linford with its pretty thatched cottages and lovely pubs, you can take the route along the River Lin down to Cropston Reservoir. This is the favoured route for most people as its easy and very scenic. The river is shallow enough in places for us all to paddle and break out the fishing nets to catch tiddlers……only in summer obviously being England 
One of the things that I like most about the park is that everyone is friendly, something that can’t often be said about the streets of England!
River Lin
The park also contains the ruins of Bradgate House home of the nine day Queen, Lady Jane Grey. The Grey family were related to Henry VIII and in 1553 Lady Jane married the Son of the Duke of Northumberland. After the death of her cousin Edward VI she was proclaimed Queen only to lose the throne nine days later and then executed for treason. The ruins hold a chapel which contains the tomb of the Grey family and a small exhibition.
Bradgate Park Ruins
Deer have been kept at the Park almost since it was first designated as a hunting park. There are certain areas of the park that are for the deer only but generally there is no problem with seeing them as they mingle among the ramblers. Another route into the park is up the hill to Old John Tower. Old John is a folly that was built around 1784 and stands 700 feet above sea level. The views of Leicestershire from here are amazing and you can even see Old John when travelling North on the M1. It’s also a brilliant hill for sledding down in winter!!!
Old John Folley
If you are ever in the area then be sure to give me a call and I’ll take you on a tour!!
Bradgate Deer
Photo credit – Bradgate from the Air – Avril Hunt and Old John Folley – David Elliott.
I love Bradgate Park, used to go there for walks when I lived in Leicester. In fact, my husband and I had our first kiss after a snowy walk there so it’s very special to me.
Comment by Jen — October 19, 2010 @ 6:43 am
That’s so cool that it holds such special memories for you
Comment by Emma — October 19, 2010 @ 10:23 am
Looks like a lovely place to spend the day! Thank you for sharing.
Comment by Grandma Sharon — October 20, 2010 @ 4:18 am
One of our favourite playground. We have been here nearly every week to check out the rutting season.
Apart from the deer, lots of fungi in autumn, a noisy wigeon begging for food, a wandering peacock, wagtails feeding by the stream.
Just lovely….
Comment by S. Crawley — October 21, 2010 @ 4:30 pm
It really is awesome! When you come and visit me I’ll take you there
Comment by Emma — October 22, 2010 @ 5:00 pm
OoooooI’m glad that you agree! We are so lucky to have a place this amazing so close by!
Comment by Emma — October 22, 2010 @ 5:01 pm
I have wonderful memories of Bradgate Park. I’m American, but was blessed to go to university in Leicester. My host family took me here to show me the wonders of the area. Stan and Helen Vaughan told me about the history of the area and I soaked it up like a true Anglophile. What beautiful times those were over 25 years ago. Your story brought back all those memories. Thank You so much.
Comment by Donna Rose Houchen — November 17, 2010 @ 9:41 pm
Like Donna Rose, I also am an American who attended the Uni of Leicester. When I was just moving in, my father and I took a day trip to Bradgate Park. Although the bus dropped us off in Anstey, a friendly woman campaigning for a local election pointed the way to the park for us. After a long but pleasant walk, we were rewarded with a wonderful and scenic afternoon in Bradgate Park, the home of my favorite historical figure (Lady Jane Grey). Seeing the beautiful scenery, smiling people and herds of gorgeous deer made me feel so at peace and happy that I was going to be attending University in such a naturally and historically rich country. I can’t wait to come back & visit Leicestershire again!
Comment by Claire — December 21, 2010 @ 12:50 am