82) Thoresby Courtyard, The Courtyard, Thoresby Park, Newark, NG229EP
Route:
various routes in and across the park, including hard standing path, tarmac, grassland mown path, woodland path.
Terrain:
reasonably good paths, grassed paths that are well kept, woodland trails, all reasonable and fairly flat.
Facilities on site:
Car parking - blue badge parking on a level area, admission is via a car park barrier where you collect a ticket , you then pay when you leave by scanning the ticket. Prices were very reasonable.
Courtyard, all wheelchair accessible, including toilets, cafe, shops and galleries.
There is a museum about the Royal Lancers & Nottinghamshire Yeomanry that is on two floors - a lift is provided.
http://whatsonatthoresby.co.uk/the-courtyard/
http://whatsonatthoresby.co.uk/the-courtyard/the-qrlny-museum/
The courtyard is located next to Thoresby Hall which is now a splendid and beautiful hall. You can explore the extensive gardens, woodland and deer park.
Dogs are allowed in the grounds - livestock present so please keep these on leads, only service dogs are permitted in some areas.
In the woodland is a nice wildlife reserve.
Please see the accessibility statement from their web site -
Our circular walk is nice and flat, making it accessible to all. We have a number of disabled parking spaces in front of the courtyard building. Our family-friendly pathways are perfect for pushchairs, trikes and scooters. Being a natural country park, some routes through the woodland or over grass fields may be uneven or muddy in wet weather or winter. The Courtyard includes disabled toilet facilities along with baby change facilities in the disabled and ladies toilets. The military museum is based on the first floor but is accessible via lift. Dogs and their responsible owners are welcome, but we ask that dogs are kept on their leads and respect other park users and surrounding wildlife. Please clean up after your dogs, waste bins are provided around the park.
History: Taken from the Nottingham Post article about the location.
A 150-year-old Nottinghamshire country house which is now a hotel has had a varied history, including serving as a training base in the Second World War and being owned by the National Coal Board.
Although a grand house has stood on the grounds since 1670, the current Thoresby Hall structure in Budby, near Ollerton, owes its architecture to Anthony Salvin in 1871.
The land was originally acquired by Robert Pierrepoint, the first Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull, in 1633, and after the death of the second Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull in 1773, the property made its way into the possession of the first Earl of Manvers.
It is one of four neighbouring country houses and estates in the Dukeries - an area named after the four local ducal seats - in north Nottinghamshire all occupied by dukes at one time during their history.
During my visit I saw a lovely tribute to those in the armed service and 3 civilians who lost their lives during the 1982 conflict.258 silhouetted life-size figures that really cause you to stop and consider the loss of life we suffered.
A lovely place to visit and to take in the rural surroundings. Always the potential to see lots of wildlife too.
