Coneysthorpe village

This morning I had a few jobs to do so it was after lunch when I drove out to the little parking area opposite the end of the 'Great Lake' at Castle Howard, map ref. SE 707712. I set off just after 2.00pm and walked along the road through Coneysthorpe village to map ref. SE 713712.

Sweet Chestnut tree in Ray Wood

It seems strange to think of these living things growing in their allotted spots for hundreds of years hardly noticing our frantic lives scurrying on around them.

Here I turned right off the road to follow the path through the parkland of Castle Howard. It's the trees on this walk that I find so facinating.

Another old oak tree in Ray Wood (about 250 years old)

The Temple at Castle Howard

From there I followed the wall of the Castle Howard grounds up the hill to the 'Temple'. From the Temple I walked down the slope to cross the ornamental bridge at map ref. SE 723697.

I followed the path through Ray Wood, where there are some magnificent old oaks, to map ref. SE 722703.

The Mausoleum at Castle Howard

A view of Castle Howard house through the trees from the bridge

I continued along the track from the bridge to join the farm access road at map ref. SE 722692. Here I turned right to walk along the road to the gate-house at map ref. SE 710695.

The pyramid, yet another of Castle Howard's ornamental follies

Looking down the avenue to the obilisk at Castle Howard

On the far right-hand side of the wide grass verge of the avenue is a lovely path under the lime trees.

At the gate-house I turned right again to walk down the long avenue of tall lime trees for about 2km back to the car park.

Footpath under the lime trees beside the avenue at Castle Howard

The evening sunshine was providing some interesting lighting over the lake and Castle Howard House as I came to the end of a very pleasant afternoon walk of about 6km. The walk had taken me just under 2 hours.

The obelisk at Castle Howard

Footpath under the lime trees beside the avenue at Castle Howard

The 'Great Lake' at Castle Howard

Castle Howard house across the lake