Woodchester Park and Mansion, near Nailsworth

LOST IN TIME! A hidden picturesque landscape in a deep valley created in the mid 18th century,  5 Capability Brown inspired pleasure lakes, old carriage rides, a STUNNING partially completed 1860s Pugin style Mansion with resident ghosts, a forgotten amazing Italianate Garden now overgrown, religious fervour and family tragedy - no this is not a novel it is WOODCHESTER PARK near Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.

The partly finished historic Mansion is maintained by a Trust offers visitors the opportunity to see how a house of this period was constructed in the 1850s to replace the former owner's House. Unfortunately it was never completed, and it is worth visiting the Woodchester Mansion Website to learn the amazing history of this place.

Woodchester Park, previously known as Spring Park
The Ducie family remodelled the steep valley into a magnificent landscape park in the early 1800's. They created a chain of five spectacular valley lakes, towering dams, and an early 19th-century boathouse. Influential designers 'Capability' Brown and Humphry Repton were both consulted during its planning. The Italianate garden at Woodchester Park dated from the early 1820s, when architectural and landscape work by John Adey Repton took place (Son of Humphrey Repton)

TODAY
Previously the landscape is likely to have been lakes within a grass landscape. There would have carriage drives to take the Ducie's famous guests including royalty around the lakes perhaps stopping of at the boathouse for boat rides.

Now that has all gone and the lakes are bordered by trees with glimpses of the lakes. The National Trust have done great work her to make the Estate a great place to visit with many marked trails which are dog friendly. Some of the paths are accessible too and there are plenty of seats throughout the park.

The National Trust now have a visitor centre and cafe as well as child friendly  areas.
IMPORTANT - There are 2 National Trust Car Parks - the one with the Visitor centre is in Tinkley Lane near Nailsworth (do not follow Sat Nav!), the other beyond the village of Nympsfield but with no facilities, however a minibus starts just below the car park to take you to the Mansion at certain times of the year
Click here for National Trust Woodchester Park