Estate
The main natural feature is a
wooded valley running south-east
from Keele Hall to Springpool
Wood (next to the M6).
Heritage Trails
Enjoy the rich heritage of the Keele Estate
and learn about the extraordinary legacy
of the people who lived, worked and
studied here.
Extend the Central Campus
Trail or start the Estate Trail
following the Woodland Walks
way-markers below Keele Hall
to the left, via the White Well
[12]. Trails are marked red
(1km, accessible), blue (1.5km,
wet, muddy) and orange
(4-6km, rough terrain, stile).
Extend these following the
route shown with a dotted
line if you wish.
Landscape designer
William Emes, once head
gardener at Kedleston
Hall, re-modelled
the park in 1768-70,
modifying existing ponds
and planting trees to
conceal working farms.
The Lakes
Lake 1 is home to Canada Geese,
Mallard, Moorhen and more. The
small stone island, known as the
Otter Stone, is a glacial erratic
boulder left as the ice retreated.
At the bottom of Keele Hall lawn
[E1], look across Lake 1 to see
the footings of the late Victorian
boathouse [11]. Follow the lakeside
down to Lake 2. Look across the
agricultural land to the right; at the
far boundary there is rising ground
known as ‘Beech Clump’ created
from spoil from the lake works to
enhance the view. Boulders for
garden rockeries also came
from here.
You might catch sight of
the terrapins that have
made their home in the
lake: liberated pets!
Red walk
Take the path along Lake 1
below Keele Hall, with the
lake on your left.
The Walks
There are three circular
walks indicated by coloured
waymarking posts:
An all weather trail suitable for
wheelchair users (1km)
The southern arm of the walk is
unsuitable for wheelchairs and
can be muddy (1½ km)
Rough terrain and can be muddy
in wet weather. Some climbing.
(1¾ km extension to blue trail).
You can leave the track and return
along Lymes Road and Clock House
Drive (marked: • • • • • • )
Alternative tracks.
The sequence of lakes,
planting and views
followed fashion in
garden design of the
18th and 19th centuries.
The Sneyds employed
well-known designers:
William Emes, WS Gilpin,
WA Nesfield and others.
Pass the memorial bench in
the shape of a boat by Lake
2 and continue to Lake 3 with
its lily pads and surrounded by
impressive Rhododendrons,
plants beloved by gardeners
of the 19th century. For the
accessible route turn left across
the dam between Lakes 3 and
4 and follow the red Woodland
Walk back to the car park below
Keele Hall.
Blue walk
For a longer route, follow the
blue Woodland Walk trail:
Don’t cross the dam; take the
path to the right alongside a
babbling water channel.
Pass the impressive range
of trees at Barnes Dell on the
left and at Lake 4, listen to and
enjoy the waterfall [E2] before
continuing to Lake 5, a fishing
lake, on the left. You may be
lucky and see a Kingfisher here.
On the opposite side of
the Dell was the Sneyds’
fish hatchery. Fish were
raised and then moved to
Lake 1 for angling by the
Sneyds and their guests.
Follow the path, with the
picturesque wooded glen and
waterfall on your left [E3],
staying on higher ground.
Follow the trail down to the
bottom end of Lake 5, then
returning to the car park
below Keele Hall with the
lakes on your left.
Orange walk
Stay on the upper path,
bearing right, with Lake 5
behind you and then bear left
into the woods. Follow smaller
tracks, turning right following
rising ground and then gently
downhill, emerging at the
main track where the orange
Woodland Walk goes to the left.
For this walk, turn left to follow
the trail around the far edge of
the woodland, via Lakes 1-5,
returning to the car park below
Keele Hall.
The woods here at the
far end of the estate are
well-loved for all kinds
of leisure and social
purposes and have
been for generations.
A large number of
native trees have been
planted here following
removal of Larch and
Rhododendrons.
Longer walks
Follow the Woodland Walk trail
to the right, down to Lakes 6, 7
and 8. You may follow this trail
back to return to the car park
below Keele Hall via Lakes 1-5.
Follow the extended trail and
leave the estate via a stile
beyond Lakes 6-8, joining
Lymes Road; turn right following
the line of the M6. Follow
Lymes Road until you reach
Lymes Lodge (private) where
you re-enter the estate. Follow
the impressive, straight Clock
House Drive, which once
connected the short-lived Keele
Park Racecourse with Keele
Hall, stud and stables. Enjoy
the impressive avenue of
Sweet Chestnut trees back to
the central campus, via Keele
University Memorial Garden
on the left.