Welcome to Wentworth Castle Parklands. This series has been placed with the permission and active encouragement of the National Trust, Barnsley Museums and the Northern College who jointly manage the property.
From the Visitor Centre walk up towards the cafe, do not take the path to the right, leave the tarmac path and enter the gate to the deerpark. However the cafe complex houses the toilets so you might wish to use the facilities as there are none in the deerpark!
This is a beautiful setting which takes in a managed deerpark, a couple of follies, a waterside path, pasture and woodland. As well as the red and fallow deer and sheep there is plenty of fauna. We have been up close to hares. Please treat the animals with respect, they are not tame, but are familiar with people. Do not approach any fawns. The deer are cared for and there are no reports of ticks, but any areas with deer and sheep may have ticks therefore long trousers are recommended. Dogs must be on a lead at all times (a lead free dog exercise area is planned for the future).
Due to the animals the rule "no foodstuffs or scented items" must be followed rigorously.
The walk, if you do it in one, is 8.1 km. It is not wheelchair or motorbility scooter friendly; strollers would find it very challenging. It can be very muddy in parts, but most is good walking. Wellies or waterproof boots are recommended. Take the normal care of young children when walking by the Serpentine (a series of man-made lakes) This path looks well-trodden, but careful inspection shows it is deer spoor rather than human footprints; hence you will need to bend at the waist to get under some of the branches! The Serpentine is home to great crested newts. The signage states "Keep to the mown paths", however you'll need to leave them to find the caches. Don't worry, all the caches sites have been approved by the Head Ranger.
Please leave no litter, if you see the odd can, bottle or wrapper why not pop it in your rucksack?
Wentworth Castle Gardens is now open to visitors daily from 10am until 5pm (last admission 4.15pm). Winter opening hours may be shorter. Check the NT website for latest open hours. There is an admission charge but under 5's, carers and 5,000,000 National Trust members go free. Prices here:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wentworth-castle-gardens#Prices
How to get here:
By bus
Services from Barnsley Interchange to Penistone, Stocksbridge and Denby Dale run along Lowe Lane. There is a bus stop for Wentworth Castle Gardens on Gilroyd Lane near the Strafford Arms pub, where the 23a, 24, 24a and 410 services stop. This bus stop for Wentworth Castle Gardens is at the bottom of the hill. NOTE: There is no access to the site from the Northern College bus stop.
By bike
The Trans-Pennine trail is around 1/4 mile from Wentworth Castle's Stainborough gateway. There is a bike rack in the carpark. Cycling is not allowed past the entrance
By road
Exit M1 at junction 37 towards Barnsley. Follow the brown signs. SatNav: Use postcode S75 3EN.