Calke Park and Calke Abbey

The Walk: Being a member of both the National Trust and English Heritage I often seek out any attractions that are close when I am travelling around the country and when I have a few hours to spare. Recently after meetings in Derby and with a long evening in a hotel to look forward to I sought out Calke Abbey to find out more about the place. On arrival I was delighted to find the manor house which now sits on the site of an old abbey is set amidst the wonderful grounds of Calke Park — a visit to a house became a short walk of thorough enjoyment.

I started from the car park in the grounds, but have designed this walk to start on the road from Calke which goes to a dead end before Staunton Harold Reservoir. This is for the convenience of non-National Trust members who don't wish to pay for the walk. If you choose this option you'll enjoy most of it no less than I did, but you'll miss out on the wonderful gardens. From the reservoir walk west and then north across a reservoir bridge to Kennel Cottages and from there walk anticlockwise around woodland to arrive at another bridge over water which is crossed. Walk west along the south side of the water to Betty's Pond and then amble in a south-east direction across the parkland to Calke Church.

From the church my course shows a route to the abbey gardens. If you have paid to enjoy them then you are in for a treat — they are spectacular. If not, simply walk back, but this time head towards the house and enjoy the wonderful grounds.

In the gardens I saw row upon row of lovely potted pansies. I also saw the most splendid row of wisteria along a wall that I have ever seen. There were also well-kept vegetable gardens and soft fruit shrubs.

Having completed my tour of the gardens I proceeded to enjoy the freedom of the grounds. While walking toward the ice house I came across a herd of deer, quietly grazing in the sublime countryside. Trees were full of blossom, enhancing the colour of the scenery enjoyed. The park is well maintained and quite a joy to walk through.

Trees of immense character were everywhere, many old deciduous trees with gnarled and grotesquely shaped trunks. No wonder children's stories in deep woodland are often menacing with such evocative images to shape and capture the imagination. Nearby on the walk toward the manor house I came across a man-made grotto, a perfect place to chill on balmy days.

Calke Abbey is kept in a poor state of restoration by the National Trust on purpose. Titled by the trust as 'The un-stately home and country estate', it tells the story of the dramatic decline of a country house estate. The house and stables are little restored, with many abandoned areas vividly portraying a period in the 20th century when numerous country houses did not survive to tell their story. Inside there are hundreds of stuffed animals — interesting, but not exactly my cup of tea, so I was happy to enjoy the grounds some more after my brief hasty walk through the house. It's a lovely park indeed, well worth a visit whether visiting the house and gardens or not.