Sunday, 20 April 2014

Wootton Lodge, The JCB Testing Track and Drowned Rats.

Geoff had got some new information about the walk through the park past Wootton Lodge, so we set off to Staffordshire at 0:600 am. Its not that far just 5 miles past Ashbourne. We parked next to the church in Ellastone and headed off for Wootton.  The road took us out through the outskirts of the village then down a very narrow lane. We passed several fields with massive chicken sheds although they seemed to be empty.  It didn't take long to find the entrance to the park. It was a very narrow opening in the wall behind a tree.
We wandered around took a few pics then followed the footpath out again the way we had came in. we walked further down the lane then saw another opening inn the wall  and thought it would bring us out behind the Lodge but it just brought us back to a few yards away from where we had been!!!

This weeks route starting from Ellastone

Edge of the village

/impressive gate posts

They don't make dormers like this

Lane down to the Lodge


Doorway to the park

Nice lake


Ike ready to take off  on his helipad.

Look at the size of that tree

Wootton Lodge which is owned by the Bamford family of JCB fame, although they don't live there, preferring there home in the Cotswold's or the Caribbean.

The posts are grave markers for dogs

Lovely avenue of trees.

Wootton Lodge

Wootton Lodge

 Wootton Lodge is a privately owned 17th-century country house situated at Wootton near Ellastone,Staffordshire, England. It is a Grade I listed building.


Rob, Ike & Geoff

Geoff at the hole in the wall

Robs feeling the squeeze

Wootton Lodge

Wootton Lodge

Me feeling the squeeze 


This is the lake where the JCB's just drive round and round.

JCB on a test run

Dont know what this building next to the lake was for.

Nosey buggers

Breakfast time, we saw the JCB go around the lake about 10 times while having our snap.

Forest track


The footpath goes under this tree


Rob in the woods

Coming back into the village of Ellastone looking like drowned rats


Ellastone Church
This week we covered just over 6 miles and very nice although the last couple of miles we got wet from the rain. Drowned rats came to mind when i looked at the 3 of them coming down the road.
See you next week.
at

4 comments:

  1. Unknown8 August 2016 at 19:09

    Hi, I live in Prestwood which is a tiny village very close to wootton and right next to the JCB testsite. I often walk my dog down to the testsite and round the big lake, but I haven't yet been able to find out how to get to Wootton estate and I'd be very grateful if you could please explain to me exactly how you got there, thankyou!

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    1. kev kent3 September 2016 at 22:23

      google maps , waste lane Ramshorn .... go down waste lane until you get to the entrance to the estate on your right . about 20 feet further on is the entrance through the wall behind the tree . hope this helps Jess .

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  2. Unknown24 January 2019 at 15:08

    Lovely walk - thank you! Lots of sprise features. A pint and something to eat in the Duncombe Arms afterwards was great as well. The JCB test track was featured in the TV series Victory By Design. If you head down to the river weir after the test tracks, you should be able to see the remains of the 19thC Uttoxeter Canal - next time.

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  3. Will Davies15 June 2019 at 17:31

    Thanks for this description. I'm currently working in Alton and had overheard people talking about walking around the JCB estate and test track, and was intrigued to do so myself. I did it today, using your route as a guide.

    Wootton Lodge is lovely to see in it's superb position surrounded by woodland. The test track lake is pretty, and there's a great view back up to the Weavers from the southern end of it.

    One word of warning: there were 2 dozen young cows in a section of Wootton Park and they were very curious of us, and started to surround us at one stage which was quite nerve wracking. We had to ward them off with a fallen tree branch to feel able to safely complete this section.

    It poured with rain during the second half of our walk too! Doubt I've ever been that wet!

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