Visitors walking in the parkland in summer at Dyrham Park, South Gloucestershire | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Bath & Bristol

Journey of Discovery trail

Please check with Visitor Reception for any recent route changes on arrival. Enjoy a ramble through the past on this family-friendly trail through Dyrham's parkland. This is a landscape that's steeped in history and each waypoint of this walk reveals a different clue from days gone by. For younger walkers, there are carved wooden animals to spot along the way, before the walk finishes at Old Lodge.

View or download a print-friendly version of this trail

Total steps: 9

Start point

Visitor reception, Dyrham Park SN14 8HY. Grid ref: ST749758

Step 1

After walking through visitor reception, follow the main path a short distance to the tree stump carved with a compass. The compass is based on those pictured on William Blathwayt's maps. Follow the arrow pointing in the direction of Journey of Discovery trail, turning left into the entrance of the first lime tree avenue.

Step 2

Enter the lime tree avenue and follow its path. After walking about 350 metres, bear right alongside the fence. Ahead are views of the Severn valley and Welsh hills; behind you and to your right are the remnants of the ancient ridge and furrow landscape of Dyrham.

Ridge and furrow

Noticeable rows of humps in the ground show that this area was once ploughed, resulting in a ridge and furrow landscape. Although it is now part of the larger deer park, the area was once known as 'upper field', cultivated since Anglo-Saxon times. A wide plough would have been pulled by oxen. Continual ploughing in the same direction gradually increased the height of the ridge and the depth of the furrow. As they are still visible today, we know that the ground hasn't been cultivated in recent history – modern ploughing is much deeper and eradicates evidence of ridge and furrow.

Step 3

Carry on walking downhill, keeping to the path alongside the fence for about 450 metres. Continue on as the fence changes to become a dry-stone wall. To your left is Dyrham’s environmentally friendly central heating plant.

Dry-stone walls

This is a typical Cotswold dry-stone wall. The stone would have been quarried from the local area. In fact, there's evidence of a small quarry at the bottom of the hill, to the right of this path. With the stone readily available, and labour cheap, dry-stone walling was commonly used throughout the Cotswolds from as early as 2000 BC through to the present day. The wall to your left was built, possibly in the 17th century, to contain livestock in the park. Dry-stone walls support a vast array of wildlife, lichens and mosses.

Step 4

At the bottom of the hill, follow the curve of the path around to the right for another 450 metres, walk through hollow ways to the cattle grid on to the driveway in front of the house.

Hollow ways

Hollow ways are ancient tracks, worn away by centuries of use. These sunken lanes cut a route below the general level of the surrounding land, often by several metres, formed by the passage of people, vehicles and animals. These substantial earthworks around you represent the old course of Sands Hill, a road that now runs around the outside of the park. This route would have led to the old manor house and village, perhaps forming one of several parallel courses of the road. A map created in 1689 shows that these hollow ways fell within the park before 1689.

Step 5

At this point, you can either go through the gate by the cattle grid to visit the house and West Garden, or have some well-earned refreshments from the kiosk or tea-room. If you'd like to continue you on, cross the driveway and pick up the grassy path leading to the valley to your right.

A lost water garden

The Johannes Kip engraving of Dyrham Park (1710) at its peak, has East at the top, and shows water cascading down the hill from the Statue of Neptune, alongside elaborate gardens in front of the east front of the house and Greenhouse. These gardens were difficult to maintain, and reverted to parkland in the later 1700s. Today, the water from the many springs across the park is channeled into an underground culvert, flowing beneath the Greenhouse and house to feed the lakes in the West Garden.

Step 6

With the house behind you and the driveway on your right, head diagonally across the grass, walking between the hill on your left and Neptune Hill to your right.

Routes to Dyrham Park

Roads in the local area were still little more than tracks when William Blathwayt built the house around 1700; access for visitors would have been from Sands Lane and then through the west entrance. The main road from London to Bath was improved in the early 1700s when Queen Anne popularised the benefits of the spa town. Turnpikes were introduced in the area in the mid 1700s, ensuring that roads such as the Bath–Stroud road (now the A46) were passable in most weather conditions. In the Victorian era visitors arrived at the east front of the house via the new driveway that was built around 1800.

A statue of Neptune on a grassy hill with a blue sky background, Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire — Neptune's Hill, Dyrham Park | © National Trust Images / Sarah Fox

Step 7

Follow the path as it curves round between the two hills, and head towards the stone buildings that come into view. Note that the final part of this track still shows traces of its medieval origins.

Step 8

At the top of the hill turn left towards Old Lodge.

Step 9

You've reached your destination. You should now see Old Lodge on your left. Stop here for refreshments from the café or ice cream kiosk, or carry on exploring the parkland.

End point

Old Lodge, Dyrham Park. Grid ref: ST749758

Trail map

Route map for the Journey of Discovery walk at Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire — Journey of Discovery walking trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

A sweeping autumn view between trees down grassy parkland to the east front of the house at Dyrham Park

Trail

The Prospect Walk at Dyrham Park

The Prospect Walk at Dyrham Park guides you to the best points around the parkland to enjoy views across the Cotswold hills and the Bristol Channel.

Visitors walking in parkland in November at Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire

Trail

The terraces walk at Dyrham Park

Stroll through open parkland and explore tranquil woodland on the circular terraces walk at Dyrham Park.

Dyrham, near Bath, South Gloucestershire, SN14 8HY

01179372501

dyrhampark@nationaltrust.org.uk

We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.

Visit website

Italianate double staircase on the west front at Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire

Article

Things to see and do in the house at Dyrham Park

The main phases of conservation and decorative work in the house at Dyrham Park are now complete and you can explore beautifully presented rooms, delve into the house's history and discover what it was like to live in the 17th century.

Walking

Explore some of the finest landscapes in our care on coastal paths, accessible trails, woodland walks and everything in between. Find the best places to walk near you.

Assistance dog with owner at Croome, Worcestershire

Article

Assistance dogs only at Dyrham Park

Assistance dogs are welcome throughout Dyrham Park but we do not allow other dogs on site.

A visitor in the cafe at Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire

Article

Eating and shopping at Dyrham Park

After exploring the house and garden, refuel with a tasty treat from the tea-room, café at Old Lodge or tea garden kiosk. Whether sweet or savoury, there's bound to be something to tempt you. Afterwards, take home a gift from the shop, where there's a wide range of products, from locally made chutneys to fun family books.

A man and a woman enjoy the view whilst walking in the Peak District

Article

Cotswold Outdoor: our exclusive walking partner

Learn about the National Trust’s ongoing partnership with Cotswold Outdoor. Find out how they help us care for precious places and the exclusive discount available for National Trust supporters.

An aerial view of an adult and baby walking a dog along a path at Baggy Point, Devon

Article

Staying safe at National Trust places

The special places in National Trust care sometimes come with a few risks for visitors, be it coastline or countryside. Find out how to keep safe throughout your visits.

View of the city on a sunny day in autumn from Bath Skyline, Bath

Walking in Bath and Bristol

From peaceful strolls through woodland at Leigh Woods to rambles through a historic estate at Tyntesfield, these are some of the best walks in Bath and Bristol.

Total steps: 9

Total steps: 9

Start point

Step 1

Step 2

Look out for...

Step 3

Look out for...

Step 4

Look out for...

Step 5

Look out for...

Step 6

Look out for...

Step 7

Step 8

Look out for...

Step 9

Look out for...

End point

Trail map