Distance:
4.2 miles (7.6km) round trip
Time:
2 hours round trip
Difficulty:
Moderate
OS Map:
Explorer 270, Sherwood Forest
The Lodge sits at the entrance to one of Welbeck’s famous tunnels, built by the 5th Duke of Portland in the late 1800s.
The Fifth Duke of Portland
The Victorian 5th Duke of Portland is famous for being the ‘burrowing duke’. He spent most of his time and wealth at Welbeck, commissioning an impressive range of buildings, including a maze of underground tunnels. His picturesque lodges and stables are scattered across the local landscape. They were designed to reference his ancestor’s style at Bolsover Castle.
The 5th Duke of Portland built his gas Works in 1860 to light his underground structures. This building is now home to the Harley Gallery.
Please note: the telephone signal at Welbeck can be hit-and-miss! If you plan to use a map on your device, please download it before you visit. Printed maps are available in The Courtyard at Welbeck, subject to availability.
Along the way, you will find sculptures by two local artists, Michelle Reader and Martin Smith, and interpretation panels that tell the story of art in the landscape. Two horse sculptures mark the start of the trail made by artist Michelle Reader out of recycled materials collected from the Welbeck Estate.
The lake in front of Welbeck Abbey was first formed in the 1750s as part of the works undertaken by Franci Richardson for Henrietta Cavendish Holles Harley, Countess of Oxford and Mortimer. Originally, a small stream ran through the parkland that was flooded to create a large lake.
The boat house is a Grade II listed timber-framed building built in the early 20th century by the 6th Duke of Portland. The family would have used it to go boating on the lakes in front of Welbeck Abbey.
South Tunnel Lodge was completed during the 5th Duke of Portland’s building campaign in the mid-to late-1800s. The pair of lodges flank one of the underground tunnels, which used to accommodate a large carriage and was the main exit/entrance to the south of the estate, leading to Worksop.
Welbeck is home to an extraordinary array of wildlife. Watch for pheasants, red kites and honey buzzards during your walk.
Surrounded by picturesque countryside, take a leisurely stroll through ancient woods, pre-historic gorges, wild parklands or tranquil tree-lined avenues.
