Apollo Belvedere sculpture in the grounds of Waddesdon Manor, a National Trust property in Buckinghamshire — See Waddesdon's Apollo Belvedere sculpture on this trail | © National Trust / Waddesdon Manor / Chris Lacey

Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Berkshire

Baron's walk at Waddesdon

This walk was rediscovered in 2001 and follows the route used to bring up plants from the huge glasshouses at the bottom of the hill to the parterre. Sadly the glasshouses were demolished in the 1960s, but you can still enjoy this great walk and imagine how magnificent the glasshouses would have looked.

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Total steps: 7

Start point

Manor Shop Courtyard

Step 1

Facing away from the shop, head right and look for the statue of Apollo Belvedere draped in a robe with his arm pointing outwards. At Apollo, turn left onto the wooded pathway. Please note, in winter the statues will be wrapped against the frost.

Step 2

Keep following the pathway ahead. Along the route you will come across statues of Venus and Adonis.

Venus and Adonis

On either side of a bend in the pathway, Venus and Adonis stand among trees. Dated 1741, and full of swirling rococo movement, they are the last known garden sculptures by Jan van Logteren (1709-1745) and rare survivals of 18th-century Dutch sculpture. Jan van Logteren, and his father before him, were decorative artists in every sphere. They executed woodwork and stucco, houses and organ-cases. Until they began to explore the possibilities of monumental sculpture, it was not as widely practiced in Holland as much as in other parts of Europe. Venus' and Adonis' last recorded location was the Italian Garden at nearby Aston Clinton (another Rothschild house in the Vale of Aylesbury), which has since been demolished. The army was stationed there during WWII and these sandstone figures are riddled with holes from when they were used as target practice.

Step 3

Continue through the wooded pathway until you find a sculpture called Terra degli Estruchi.

Step 4

You will see The Dairy to your left, but continue straight, crossing the main road and following the pathway cut into the grass. This will take you slightly uphill.

Step 5

Follow the wooded pathway until you join the road.

Step 6

As you continue down the path you will see on your left some Pulham rockwork. Walking past this, follow the path ahead.

Pulham rockwork

Artificial rock grottos were a feature of late 19th-century gardens. An elaborate example can be seen in Tulip Patch, just beyond the Stables. More examples are at the Dairy Water Garden and between the Aviary and North Avenue. They were created by James Pulham & Son, who invented a way of making realistic looking blocks out of lime mortar poured over brick and rubble: a cheaper and quicker way than hewing blocks of stone. Choice herbaceous plants now grow out of the nooks and crannies in the rockwork.

Step 7

You have reached the end of the Baron's Walk by arriving at the Stables. Grab yourself a hot drink or tasty treat and unwind.

End point

The Stables

Trail map

Waddesdon, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0JH

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Baron's walk at Waddesdon

Total steps: 7