Walk No 5: Starting from Blackroot Bistro

Suggested route about 1 mile (1 hour)

To download a copy of the route map - please click here or on the image of the map below

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From the panel walk away from the Bistro, across the car park and grass to the far end of the fence along the railway.

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Marker no 5.1 is beside the tarmac road just before the railway bridge

The railway was built in 1879, in cuttings and on embankments. Midland Lodge was built by the railway company. It was rented by Benjamin Stone and meetings of the Vesey Club (a scientific club) were held there.

Walk along the tarmac road to the right, which runs on an embankment, the spectator bank of a 19th century race course. A ditch constructed in the Middle Ages runs along the present park boundary beyond the road. Further on, a small hollow on the right of the road was a quarry. Just past this, cut across the grass or turn right along another tarmac road, turn right through a small car park and continue along a path. The hollows to your right just before the marker are remains of a 19th century golf course.

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Marker no 5.2 is next to the path, just beyond the car park

A prominent bank to your left and right surrounded a racecourse where horse races were held in the 19th century. Spectators would have stood or sat on the bank. A low, tree-covered bank and ditch in front of you was constructed in the 12th century to create an enclosure into which deer in the park were rounded up for hunting. The bank would have had a hedge or fence on top of it.

Continue along the path across the former racecourse.

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Marker no 5.3 is next to the path

A low bank with a slight ditch alongside it subdivided the medieval deer park to create an enclosure into which deer were rounded up for hunting. The dam of Blackroot Pool was constructed  in the 18th century from material  dug out of the quarry surrounded by the fence.