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Old John Tower, Bradgate Park – Ruins of Bradgate House loop from Newtown Linford

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Hiking trails & Routes

Old John Tower, Bradgate Park – Ruins of Bradgate House loop from Newtown Linford

Moderate

4.7

(30)

252

hikers

Old John Tower, Bradgate Park – Ruins of Bradgate House loop from Newtown Linford

04:54

17.7km

310m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 29, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

271 m

River Lin in Bradgate Park

Highlight • River

The River Lin winds its way through the South of Bradgate Park, through a series of artificial pools leading to Cropston Reservoir.

Tip by

2.74 km

Old John is the highest hill in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, England, on the southern edge of Charnwood Forest. It gives its name to the folly that stands at its top. The hill stands at 696 foot (212 m) high, and is a prominent landmark across Leicester and Leicestershire.

The earliest recorded use of the name is on a map of 1754, which records a windmill on the site, some 30 years before the tower was built. The tower itself began life as a ruined folly, built in 1784, during the time of George Grey, 5th Earl of Stamford. He got Thomas Sketchley of Anstey to build him the mock ruin, which had strong similarities to Mow Cop, Staffordshire. It was adapted in the mid-19th century by the seventh Earl to serve as an observation tower for the practice circuit he laid out for his horses, along with the building of a stable block lower down the hill.

Tip by

4.16 km

Rough Hill Woodlands

Highlight • Forest

Rough Hill is a 28ha Tender Scheme in Charnwood. It is a nature conservation-focused scheme with a good mixture of habitats. This woodland comprises a good mixture of habitats. An existing spinney has been thinned to favour the broadleaved trees. Bracken has been removed and heather seeding used to establish heath grassland and heathland typical of this area. The rocky outcrops provide habitats for lichens and basking areas for invertebrates and reptiles. The pond is being managed for waterfowl and a floating island provides nesting and roosting areas.

Tip by

7.42 km

Conservation Area

Nature Reserve

9.23 km

Beacon Plantation

Forest

9.69 km

The Labyrinth

Highlight • Trail

A great spot for the kids to burn off the remaining energy after walking up the hill. This area is full of winding duck boarding, and you have to bob and weave between trees and bushes, there's wood sculptures too. It reminds of a dark fairy-tale forest.

Tip by

13.8 km

Swithland Wood

Highlight • Natural Monument

Swithland Wood (situated directly across the road on the northern side of Bradgate Park) was one of the first disposals of the Bradgate Estate by the Grey family in 1921. It was purchased by a local timber merchant who felled much of the timber. To prevent the removal of further timber, and to conserve the Wood as one of the most wildlife rich and attractive woodlands in Leicestershire, The Rotary Club of Leicester launched an appeal for its purchase to ensure public access into the future.

Tip by

15.5 km

Cropston Reservoir — Northwest Shore

Highlight • Natural Monument

Cropston Reservoir (originally known as Bradgate Reservoir) lies in Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire, England. The dam and associated water works are in Cropston, while the bulk of the reservoir is in the neighbouring Newtown Linford parish. It was opened in May 1871 in a corner of Bradgate Park, a large expanse of open land northwest of Leicester. It is part of the 987-acre (399.3 ha) Bradgate Park and Cropston Reservoir Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Tip by

15.8 km

Bradgate Park Visitor Centre

Highlight • Viewpoint

Close to the Cropston end of the park this has everything you will need, visitor centre packed full of history, toilets, a cafe (which is brilliant) alongside the dry-stone wall nearby there are lots of bird hides to view them over the reservoir next door.

Tip by

16.5 km

Ruins of Bradgate House

Highlight • Historical Site

Not sure on much of the history of this place, I do know that once upon a time Lady Jane Grey lived here. You can access the inside on specific days of the year.

Tip by

17.7 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.44 km

4.34 km

4.11 km

2.19 km

625 m

Surfaces

7.64 km

3.82 km

2.76 km

1.40 km

1.38 km

699 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (240 m)

Lowest point (80 m)

Weather

Tuesday 19 May

18°C

11°C

63 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 27.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Old John Tower, Bradgate Park – Ruins of Bradgate House loop from Newtown Linford

River Lin in Bradgate Park