Easy hikes and walks around Blenheim

The tree is featured in the order of the Phoenix where Harries father bullies Snape.

Car park opposite Judd’s garage. Wonderful walk must be undertaken

Winston Churchill's father called the view of Blenheim Palace, its lake and the Grand Bridge the finest in England. It certainly all looks grand from the edge of this beautiful, man-made lake. When Blenheim Palace was first built, the lake was not much more than a marshy stream. It was 'Capability' Brown who imagined a grand lake as part of his great vision for Blenheim Park. In 1764, he dammed the River Glyme, creating the lake and its series of beautiful cascades. Today, Blenheim Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest due, in part, to the lake's importance for breeding and wintering birds.

In 1704, Blenheim architect John Vanbrugh set out to create something spectacular across what was then just a marshy brook. The Grand Bridge was the outcome, containing no less than 30 rooms. In 1764, 'Capability' Brown set about improving and landscaping the grounds. His most notable work was the creation of Blenheim's Lake, which submerged the lower stories of the bridge.

Woodstock is derived from old English, meaning a clearing in the trees. This is because Woodstock used to be part of the Royal Forest of Wychwood, most of which has since disappeared, cut down for industry and replaced by farmland. The market town today is a good base for exploring the gently rolling limestone uplands of northern Oxfordshire. Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its wonderful grounds are set to the south and west of the town.

554 acres (224 ha) of glorious parkland await at Blenheim Park, which occupies most of Blenheim Palaces' grounds. The park is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the habitats it supports. Whilst you have to pay to enter the palace and formal gardens, the park's many footpaths are free to enter. You can take a stroll by the lake, explore the woodland areas, or find a tranquil spot for a picnic.

Lovely friendly cafe in the centre of Woodstock next to Blenheim Palace and they do a full English breakfast for £5 if you arrive before 11.30am

This history of the Rose Garden at Blenheim Palace is rather fascinating. The original Rosary, created by the 5th Duke of Marlborough, a horticulturalist of international standing, was located near to the The Cascades. However, it was the 7th Duke of Marlborough, whose passion for gardening and plant hunting, who commissioned the current rosarium. Rose Gardens became very popular in Victorian England, highly admired for their English beauty and scent. The 7th Duke of Marlborough possibly renovated the Rose Garden because he was typical Victorian! The creation of the garden in 1760 was in two stages replacing the 5th Duke’s Chinese Garden; beginning with the outer circle of roses trailing around arches of ironwork forming a circle with a lawn inside. Latterly the beds were added with the roses inside, the water and statue. Today visitors can enjoy this ancient Rose Garden most recently restored by the 11th Duke of Marlborough.