Bradgate's deer

Bradgate Park lies just to the north-west of Leicester, and is a popular place of escape for the city's population. The spacious and diverse nature of the park's 830 acres (336ha) make it a great family venue, offering easy surfaced tracks and open grassy tracts through to more adventurous hillside paths across the heath, bracken and rocky outcrops.

The nine-day Queen

The centrepiece of the original park was Bradgate House, now just a few sorry ruins. It was built at the turn of the 16th century and was home to the Grey family. Henry Grey was created Duke of Suffolk in 1551, and because (through his wife) his three daughters were the grandchildren of Mary, Henry VIII's younger sister, they had a distant claim to the throne. But the distance grew considerably shorter when a dying Edward VI was persuaded to alter the succession to disinherit Catholic Mary, and instead the eldest of the three daughters, Lady Jane Grey, was proclaimed queen in July 1553 even though she was an unwilling player in events. Just nine days later the scheming Duke of Northumberland had her deposed and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Barely seven months on, the innocent 16-year-old girl was beheaded. According to legend, when the news of her execution reached Bradgate, her childhood home, the groundsmen lopped the tops of the oak trees, and to this day stumpy, pollarded oak trees scatter the park.

Doe, a deer, a female deer…

Although Bradgate Park was given over to public recreation in the 1930s, it continues to support a resident fallow and red deer population of around 300. Deer have been kept here since the 13th century and you'll probably be able to get some close-up views of the handsome creatures. Signs warn against feeding the animals, and it goes without saying that dogs must be kept under tight control when there are deer about.

Bear in mind that deer, like sheep, can carry ticks, and in the summer months when the bracken and grass are high these irritating little mites can also transfer themselves to human skin. If you discover one on your person remove it carefully, but better still avoid getting bitten in the first place by wearing long trousers and a long-sleeved top, and making sure you check yourself and your children at the end of your walk. The park authority produces a helpful leaflet on the subject, available from the visitor centre.

Enter the grounds from the large car park at Newtown Linford and turn sharply left on a wide track. Go through an open gateway and, ignoring paths off to the right, stick on the main route uphill (there are in fact two parallel tracks), keeping the park's boundary wall in sight on your left.

Just after you draw level with a large wooden swing gate in the wall, fork right. Go steadily uphill on a wide grassy ride through the banks of bracken, past a small plantation known as Tyburn, and soon you will see the prominent hilltop war memorial up ahead on your left. Follow the obvious grassy track all the way to reach the 'summit', then go round to the right of the walled plantation behind it to reach the folly known as Old John Tower. Although the centre of Leicester is only 6 miles (9.7km) away, the extensive views from this excellent viewpoint (695ft/212m) are predominantly rural, with large tracts of woodland scattered about.

Turn right, straight down the hillside, to a small circular pond in the bracken below. Take the left of three paths on the far side and continue to reach a track around a walled plantation known as Sliding Stone Enclosure. Turn left and walk along this track for 100yds (91m).

Ignore the path straight down to the gate in the wall on your left, and instead go straight on. The grassy track drops down to reach the park's boundary wall, then continues on a short tarmac strip past a small underground reservoir.

After 125yds (114m) take the track off to the right, by a wooden bench and, rather incongruously, two drainage covers. This long, straight grassy track heads across the middle of the country park and is easy to follow. It passes between Coppice Plantation and Dale Spinney, from where there are good views across Cropston Reservoir. Continue all the way down to reach the surfaced drive at the bottom and turn right to the visitor centre (open April to October).

Continue along this easy, tarmac route past the ruins of Bradgate House and the restored chapel, then on alongside the pools and waterfalls of a small valley known as Little Matlock. Look out for the monkey puzzle tree and the cedar of Lebanon, introduced to the park in the 19th century. Continue all the way back to the car park.