Ilam Park

Ilam Park is a beautiful area of open park and woodland, nestling on the banks of the , with spectacular views towards . Open: Park; all year round. Shop; end Location: Ilam Park Mar - end Oct, every day, 11-5. At other 4½ miles NW of Ashbourne. Bus: times, Sat & Sun 11-4. Tea Room; May - Warrington 443 from Ashbourne, Thur & Discover a gentle walk along the River Manifold end Oct, every day except Wed & Thur, Sat only, with connections from Derby. 11-5. At other times, Sat & Sun, 11-4. Call Traveline on 0870 608 2 608. Cost: Free Suitable for school groups. Learning Access for disabled: Designated parking. Centre. Family guide. Drop-off point. Ramped entrance to shop, Dogs welcome on leads steps to tea room. Adapted W.C. Areas of Pay and display car park. park accessible on hard surfaces.

For more information contact us at: 01335 350503 (Estate Office) 01335 350245 (Visitor Centre) 01335 350549 (Learning Officer) 01335 350310 (Caravan Site Booking Office) e-mail: [email protected]

THE ...... IN THE is a registered charity • Within the Peak District National Park over 14,600 •is independent of government hectares (36,000 acres) of high gritstone moors, •was founded in 1895 to preserve places of his- peaceful limestone dales, ancient woodlands and toric interest or natural beauty permanently for traditional farmland have a secure future under the nation the permanent protection of the National Trust. •relies on the generosity of its supporters, through You can help the conservation work of the membership subscriptions, gifts, legacies and National Trust in the Peak District by: the contributions of thousands of volunteers; •becoming a member •owns more than 244,000 hectares (603,000 •volunteering some of your time, or acres) of the most beautiful countryside for sending a donation to the National Trust Peak people to enjoy • District Appeal. •looks after forests, woods, moorland, farmland, fens, downs, islands, archaeological remains, Start of walk. Outside Ilam Park Visitor Terrain. Mostly level drives and paths. nature reserves, villages - for ever, for everyone Centre and Shop (grid ref. SK131506). Access for visitors with disabilities. has the unique power to declare its land • Length of walk. 1 mile (about 30 minutes). Much of route accessible, especially along inalienable - such land cannot be sold, mort- riverside, but some awkward slopes. gaged or compulsorily purchased against the Trust’s wishes. This special power means that For more details about how you can help, contact: protection by the Trust is forever The National Trust Peak District Appeal Office, •spends all its income on the care and mainte- Edale End, Hope, Hope Valley, S33 6RF. nance of the land and buildings in its protection. Tel: 01433 670368 South Peak Estate Details correct at time of print. © 2003 The National Trust. Registered Charity No. 205846 elcome to Ilam Park, one of the St. Bertram’s Bridge Paradise Walk The Battle Stone gems of the Manifold Valley Leave the Italian Gardens by the steps close to Continue along the path until you reach an Proceed along the path to a large stone and the National Trust’s South W the hall and make your way down to the small enclosed avenue lined with large trees. enclosed within a fence on your right. Peak Estate. On the walk described stone bridge to the right, that crosses the River Paradise Walk was laid out in Victorian times as A small plaque here describes the history of below, the text in green describes the Manifold. route, whilst the remaining text highlights a carriage ride for visitors to the Hall through the this unusual stone. St Bertram’s Bridge used to be the main route Pleasure Grounds of Ilam. The woodlands here the various points of interest. The through Ilam until the current road bridge was are Sites of Special Scientific Interest and are numbers on the map correspond to the The ‘dry’ river built in the village. St Bertram’s Well is in the made up largely of lime, beech and ash trees. points listed in the text. small stone enclosure close to the bridge. There is a abundance of wildlife, especially Proceed along the path for some distance until We hope you enjoy your walk. birds, all year round. you come to a stile and a gate. During the summer the river here is usually dry.

l d The main bulk of the river water disappears o i f underground further upstream at Wetton Mill, a n Ilam Hall M Para e r dise before re-emerging at the ‘boil holes’ you Weir Weir R i v Wal Start the walk outside the shop. From the shop k passed earlier. descend the steps that lead into the formal Cross Italian Gardens. Ilam Park Well Ilam Hall, which is now a Youth Hostel and is Climb the stile and turn right onto a track not open to the public, was built between 1821- Terrace Visitor Centre leading uphill and into Ilam Park. At the top of 6 by Jesse Watts-Russell. It is on the site of an the slope the Hall is visible across the fields. Church older hall, of which only the stableblock now Hall remains. The stableblock dates back to the Port Ilam Park (optional) Ilam Park family, who owned the hall for 250 years, from the time when it was given to them by Henry VIII Turn left, off the track, and head towards after the dissolution of the monasteries. The hall the small hill. Climb to the top of the hill. was passed to the Hanbury family when Watts- From here there are spectacular views Russell died in 1875. Then it became a over Ilam Park and towards Dovedale. The restaurant in 1927, before being sold to a Caravan Park rock outcrop here is limestone laid down in demolition contractor. The main part of the hall Park a shallow, tropical sea some 350 million had already been knocked down by the time Sir Entrance years ago. This limestone is what makes Robert McDougall stepped in and bought the ‘The ’, with its drystone walls, Dew pond hall for the National Trust in 1935. d caves, crags and flower-rich dales.

The Italian gardens were restored in 2001 fol i and are a wonderful place to take in the views n Return down the hill to the track. Bear left across Ilam village towards the flat-topped The ‘Boil Holes’ along the track towards the Hall. and Bunster Hill, which form the Do not cross the bridge, but walk er Ma gateway to Dovedale. upstream to the start of the iron Route of walk Riv As you cross the park notice the well preserved railings by a weir. Point of interest ‘ridge and furrow’ fields to your left. A track runs across these and was once used by servants Look out for water bubbling up into Shop and tradesmen, who were not allowed to use the river. These ‘boil holes’ are water Tea Room the main drive to the Hall. from the River Manifold, which has Toilets travelled through caves from near At the other side of the park pass through the Wetton Mill, four and a half miles to Car park large iron gate. You have now completed the the north west! In the small railed walk. Here you can either turn left for the car grotto the River Hamps also emerges, park, or bear right to the shop, tea room and 100 metres having travelled underground from public toilets. St Bertram’s Bridge Waterhouses three miles to the west. 100 yards