# Bradgate Park
**Type:** Walk | **Location:** Newtown Linford, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom
**Murphy Approved** ✓ — personally visited and approved by Murphy & Me
**Murphy & Me Rating:** 5.0/5 (space, sniff factor, facilities, ease)
## About
There are some walks that are lovely.

There are some walks that are memorable.

And then there are the walks that leave your dog asleep before you've even reached the end of the car park.

Bradgate Park was one of those. ❤️🐾

Just 15 miles from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Bradgate Park combines wildlife, history, woodland, streams and open parkland in a way very few walks can.

Home to around 550 red and fallow deer, the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey and some of the UK's oldest known fossils, it offers far more than your average dog walk.

But before we got to any of that…

Murphy had some sniffing to do.

We hadn't even made it through the entrance before he slammed on the brakes and spent a good ten minutes investigating every blade of grass, tree stump and scent trail he could find.

Apparently there was some extremely important correspondence left behind by another dog and Murphy was determined to read every single word of it. 🐶📖

Once he'd caught up on the local gossip, the adventure could finally begin.

And what an adventure it was.

Over the next couple of hours we wandered through towering ferns and foxgloves, climbed rocky outcrops, visited the historic house ruins and chapel, crossed streams and discovered something new around almost every corner.

One of the things we loved most about Bradgate Park was the variety.

One minute you're walking along wide open paths with breathtaking views across the parkland.

The next you're standing beside a stream beneath ancient oak trees, watching deer quietly grazing in the distance.

Then suddenly you're exploring centuries-old ruins and wondering how you've ended up fitting so much into a single walk.

🦌🏰🌳💦

The streams quickly became Murphy's favourite part of the day.

Every time we moved away from the water, he somehow found another route back.

Paddle.

Sniff.

Splash.

Repeat.

It soon became clear that our carefully planned route was now subject to approval from the Chief Adventure Officer. 💦🐾

Wildlife was everywhere.

Murphy saw his first ever deer, his first peacock, plenty of ducks and swans, and countless birds throughout the park.

Watching him stare at the deer was one of those moments I'll remember for a long time. He seemed genuinely fascinated by them.

There were lots of dogs around too, but for perhaps the first time ever, Murphy seemed far more interested in the park than introducing himself to every single one of them.

There was simply too much else to explore.

For anyone worried about busy walks, the main paths can be popular, but there are countless quieter areas where you can enjoy the scenery with plenty of space around you.

Facilities were excellent too.

We used the main car park which had plenty of spaces available, although there is overflow parking for busier days. Parking is paid on exit and cost us £4.50.

There are toilets, plenty of bins, a visitor centre, the Deer Barn Café and the Deer Hut serving drinks and snacks. We also spotted water bowls available for dogs, which are always appreciated on longer walks.

Dogs are welcome throughout most of the park, including the chapel, provided they remain on lead. Leads are required around the deer and there are some protected areas reserved solely for wildlife.

A couple of things worth noting for dog owners: foxgloves grow throughout parts of the park and are toxic to dogs, while deadly nightshade can sometimes be found around the house ruins. As always, it's worth keeping curious noses under supervision.

We spent just under two hours exploring and covered around 3.7 miles, although we could easily have stayed longer.

The biggest surprise of the day wasn't the deer.

It wasn't the peacocks.

It wasn't even the fact that Murphy finally realised other dogs weren't the most exciting thing in the world.

It was what happened on the drive home.

He slept.

Immediately.

No supervising my driving.

No checking every passing car.

No dramatic sighing because we'd stopped moving.

Just one very happy Cavapoo completely exhausted after what was genuinely one of the best days we've had together.

For Murphy, that's about the highest recommendation possible. ❤️🐾

## Murphy's Verdict
*Reviewed by Murphy, Cavapoo and chief sniff tester at Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit*
> "Deer.

Streams.

Endless smells.

And absolutely nobody telling me I couldn't investigate every interesting thing I found.

10/10.

Would bring Mum back tomorrow.

🦌💦🐾"
## Highlights
- Around 550 red and fallow deer
- Beautiful streams perfect for paddling
- Historic Bradgate House ruins
- Dog-friendly chapel
- Old John Tower walking route
- Excellent wildlife spotting opportunities
- Plenty of parking and facilities
- Water bowls available for dogs
- Easy to find quieter areas despite its popularity
- Stunning scenery throughout
- One very tired Cavapoo afterwards 😴
## Dog-Friendly Features
Water / Swimming, Woodland
## About This Review
Bradgate Park was personally visited by Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit, a trusted dog-friendly recommendation network covering Leicestershire and beyond. Every review is based on a genuine visit. No paid placements. Murphy approved where earned.
**Source:** [Bradgate Park on Murphy & Me](https://murphyandme.co.uk/walks/bradgate-park)
**Publisher:** Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit | murphyandme.co.uk
**Published:** 2026-06-20