PARK LIFE

BY ANDY RICHARDSON

Spring is in the air and it’s time to make the most of National Trustproperties and land, which are bursting into bloom. There are plenty of opportunities, from the five-mile Burway Loop, awalk to the top of theLong Mynd, to the Ironbridge Walk, which covers 3.4milesand takes in the birthplace of theIndustrialRevolution.

The AttinghamPark Repton Ramble Trail is afavourite, covering three miles on mostly flat grass and woodland paths. Ramblers can walk in the footsteps of theleading 18th-century landscape designer Humphry Repton on this circular trail around Attingham Park estate.

Commissioned by the 2nd Lord Berwick in 1797, Repton redesigned the grounds at Attingham. Thiswalk highlights the changes he proposed and the viewsofthe mansion house and across the RiverTern and Deer Park that his designs created. The walk starts at AttinghamPark car park, near Shrewsbury.

From the carpark, make your way through the visitor reception and the Stables Courtyard. Then bear right to follow signs to the mansion and Deer Park Walks. Keep headingaround to the right so you’re walking on apathwith the mansion on your left and trees on your right.Just as you reach thefront of the house, turn right to head to the white pillar gates near the entrance drive. Facing the house with the white gates behind you, turn right and follow the line of the ha-ha as it passes the grand façade of the house on your left. From the ha-ha, join the main path as it heads down to the right, into awooded area and towards abridge. Cross both bridges and keep straight to reach agateway.Go throughthe black gates into DeerPark, heading uphill slightly,before quickly turning right.

Following signsfor the Deer Park Walk, head south along the track, running parallel to the river.Atthe fork,take the righthand path near some old trees. Continuealong the path with the river on your right. When you reach the corner of Deer Park, keep straight to head through ablack gate andonto apath leading down to astone bridge.

Walk under the bridge, with theA5road overhead, before retracing your steps back under the bridge and through the gate. After passing through the gate, turn right to walk along the grass footpath. After about 250yd (228m) you’ll see alodge, which is now aprivate residence, on your right. Continue along the path and through agate into the wooded area. Walk through the woods, parallel to the A5 road.

Head through another gate back into Deer Park. After ashort walk, cross awooden footbridge and enter asecond wooded area through agate. Continue norththroughthe wooded area and then bear left through another gate and into Deer Park again over afootbridge. Walk along the grasstrackto joinaconcrete path, curving around to the right. Walk along the path, with awooded area immediately to your right.

At the junction, take the track on the left. Where the concrete path ends, continue on the grass track towards the trees.

After ashort walk, keep left on the grass path to join agravel track, which bears left into the woods. Continue on until it turns left and emerges from the wood. You’ll see Deer Park Pond and an old oak tree on your right. Pass the old oak and follow the path around to the right, back towards the gate out of Deer Park and in the direction of Mansion House.

Head through the gate and over the bridges to returntothe front of Mansion House. To returntothe car park, retrace your steps down the left-side of the house and turn left, following signs to the Stables Courtyard. Walk through thecourtyard and back to the car parkand theend of the trail.