Croft Castle Fishpool Valley walk
Discover the beautiful Fishpool Valley, landscaped during the late 18th century in the naturalistic ‘Picturesque’ style. This pleasant walk takes in the chain of dams and pools, carefully planted trees and architecture such as the icehouse, grotto, pumphouse and limekiln.
Access to walking trails
All our walking trails are within the parkland at Croft Castle, so you'll need to pay the admission fee or present your National Trust membership card to access them.
Total steps: 6
Total steps: 6
Start point
Croft visitor reception, grid ref SO45119 65659
Step 1
Turn right at visitor reception and go through the gate. Ignore the track and instead head straight on, across the field, following the waymarks with the pumphouse on them.
Step 2
Keep following the pumphouse waymarks until you reach a gate. Go through the gate and close it behind you. You'll eventually come to some tall Douglas fir trees on your left and right. The limekiln will be straight in front of you. Continue along the path with the limekiln on your left and the pools on your right until you come to a gate.
Step 3
Go through the gate and close it behind you. You will then need to make a hairpin turn to your right, still following the pumphouse waymarks.
Step 4
Continue along the path, keeping the pools on your right. You'll eventually come to a small gate on your right, with a pumphouse waymark on it. Go through this gate and follow the path until you reach a rusticated grotto on your left, dating from the 1790s.
Step 5
Keep following the path through the valley, with the pools on your right. You'll see the cascade and dams 6 and 7, which are being restored as part of our conservation project. Continue straight on, until you come to a pumphouse waymark pointing down the hill to the right. Walk carefully down the hill and over the dam towards the Gothic pumphouse.
Step 6
Continue past the pumphouse on your left and up towards the main track. Turn left onto the track and keep going until you see another track heading right, up the hill. Follow this back up to the gate at the main car park.
End point
Croft visitor reception, grid ref SO45119 65659
Trail map
More near here
Croft Castle and Parkland
1000 years of power, politics and pleasure in an intimate family home
Croft Castle Pokehouse Wood walk
A long woodland walk taking in the River Lugg – a Site of Special Scientific Interest – some ancient trees and the old bridge that was part of the original approach to the castle.
Croft Ambrey walk at Croft Castle
A ramble through fields and woodland, a circuit of Croft Ambrey Iron Age hillfort, then back to your starting point via the outskirts of the picturesque Fishpool Valley.
Highwood and Fishpool walk at Croft Castle
Explore the historic paths and woodland of Fishpool Valley, take in views over the landscaped pools and visit the remains of the summerhouse, icehouse and Gothic pumphouse.
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We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.
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