Gatton Park, Surrey: Walk of the week

800AM GMT twenty-four March 2010

View Gatton Park, Surrey Walk of the week in a incomparable map Link to this video

The expert"s perspective

Marc Russell, supervisor "The majority important thing about this class II listed parkland is the actuality that it was written by Lancelot "Capability" Brown, the important British landscape architect. If story is not your thing, afterwards the open landscape, punctuated by clumps of equine reddish-brown or beech trees, and the pretentious lakes perceivable from the strange carriage tracks, cannot destroy to inspire.

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"My prime piece of the travel is the territory that crosses the finish of the Hop grassed area pond. There is a glorious perspective down the length of the lake in one citation and out conflicting the play ground in the other.

"My tip tip for first-timers would be to move a camera. Even if the wildlife does not suggest itself up for a print opportunity, once you come in the play ground you are included in a mailing in a small oasis of photogenic English countryside."

Download an OS map of this travel Reproduced by accede of Ordnance Survey. All rights reserved. OS looseness no. AL 100018591

History

Gatton Park was landscaped in the midst eighteenth century by Lancelot Capability Brown, a heading landscape architect. 200 years on, his work still has the capability to impress, from tree-framed vistas to a array of ponds circuitous their proceed down the hollow to a large lake.

The last in isolation owners of the Gatton estate was Jeremiah Colman; majority important for Colmans Mustard. He paid for it in 1888 and done a series of changes to the estate, majority particularly the Japanese Garden and the Pulhamite Rock Garden. He additionally had a passion for flourishing orchids and won most medals for them.

Essentials

Start Wray Lane car parkGrid Ref TQ258518Map Landranger 187 and Explorer 146

The lifelike Hop Garden Pond, Engine Pond, Serpentine and Main Lake, together with the Japanese, Rock and Walled gardens are dark treasures. Discover them on one of Gatton Trusts Open Days initial Sunday of the month from Feb to Oct in between 1pm and 5pm. See www.gattonpark.com

Getting there

Train nearest stations, Reigate and Mersthamand, approx. 1 mile from Gatton Park

Buses services 420 and 460 from Reigate and Redhill to Tadworth Epsom. Alight at Sutton stop on A217, 200yds from begin of travel

Road Park at Wray Lane car play ground (NT) at the tip of Reigate Hill, diagonally conflicting to connection 8 of the M25. There is no proceed opening to Wray Lane when coming from the Reigate direction. You will need to proceed from the alternative citation by going spin the main connection 8 devious and branch left in to Wray Lane

Local comforts

There is a caf and WCs located in the car park, open 9am-5pm

Distance, turf and accessibility

Follow the Discover Gatton proceed markers on this 2 mile (3.2km) round walk. This travel takes we estimate 1 hours for a pretty fit walker. The turf is undulating with a small high gradients. The lane surfaces can be murky and sleazy in places in soppy weather. Dogs welcome.

Points of seductiveness

The Stone Circle These stones were placed in the play ground by the Jerusalem Trust to honour the spin of the millennium. Each mill represents a 200 year time duration and is stamped with quotes and poems of the particular era. You can come in the margin at point 6 on the travel and take a closer see at the forged inscriptions.

St Andrews Church The benefaction construction dates from the sixteenth century, but there has been a church on the site given at slightest Norman times. The fifth Lord Monson and his designer E Webb carried out replacement functions to the church in 1834, ensuing in a pretentious and richly furnished interior, identical to an Oxford or Cambridge chapel.

The Royal Alexander and Albert School The school, that had the origins in the 1700s as the Orphan Working School, came to the site in 1947 and is the second largest state boarding propagandize in the UK.

Directions

Download an OS map of this travel Reproduced by accede of Ordnance Survey. All rights reserved. OS looseness no. AL 100018591

1. To come in Gatton Park make use of the trail noted with the National Trust sign, located conflicting the Wray Lane car play ground entrance. At the initial Discover Gatton proceed pen post, head down the peaceful slope; the parks strange carriage drive.

2. At the second post take the left flare in the track.

3. Very before long after the second post you will find the third post situated on tip of a outlook giving you a initial glance of this ancestral parkland.

4. Continue along the old carriage highway to the fourth post, situated by a sole yew tree, and follow the arrow.

5. At the finish of this territory of lane you will see Tower Lodge on your left imprinting an additional of the entrances in to the park; it is done from Gatton stone. Turn right at the fifth post.

6. Keep an eye out for views conflicting the parkland and, a small serve on, the mill circle. Within a couple of mins of withdrawal the mill round you will find the sixth post, indicating you to the right, down the mountain towards Hop Garden Pond and by the open parkland.

7. Once you have crossed the open parkland, you will re-enter the woodland border to post seven. Take a pointy right up the high bank in to Nut Wood. As you reach the tip of this lane you will be rewarded with maybe the most appropriate perspective of the main lake over the tops of the trees adjacent the serpentine. Once the lane levels out, go on until you arrive at a connection of paths.

8. Take a right at this junction, past the tip point in the park. Continue, flitting Wingate Hill that offers a last event to see behind on the parkland. This is additionally a great place to try and mark the spire of St Andrews church nestling in the trees. You will find post 9 at the tip of this slope.

9. Turn right and head behind to post 3 and the initial viewpoint. At post 3 follow the arrow left receiving you the short area behind to Wray Lane car park.

Find some-more disdainful National Trust walks at www.telegraph.co.uk/walks