A Walk Through Holywells Park

Holywells Park has always been a special part of my daily routine. Tucked between Cliff Lane and Myrtle Road, it’s been my route into the town centre for years.

After more than a decade of working in town, that walk has been the perfect way to start the day – peaceful, grounding, and full of little seasonal changes that never get old.

My Walk to Work through Holywells Park, part 1

I’ve finally managed to film part of the walk, and it feels like the right moment to share it. This video is both a keepsake and a little farewell, as I get ready to move my design studio back home.

The first clip begins at the charming cottages just inside the gates. A little further on, you’ll see the old stable block, now home to a café tucked around its courtyard. On the corner stands the clock tower, which still chimes the hours—I can sometimes hear it from my house, depending on the wind.

From there, the path leads through a gap in the wall and into the walled garden. This is where the Cobbold family’s grand house once stood, though sadly it fell into ruin during the mid-20th century. The only part of the old mansion that still stands is the Orangery. From there, I follow the path lined with lavender bushes, its fragrance still hanging in the air. Passing between the pillars topped with planters, I make my way down the broad steps that lead to the ponds.

Holywells Walk Part 1

My Walk to Work through Holywells Park, part 2

The second video captures the butterfly bench with the pond just beyond it, home to the graceful weeping willow featured on this website’s homepage. Lately, the pond has been covered in a layer of algae, yet the water still flows steadily, supporting a lively community of ducks, coots, and geese. At certain times of year, I’m lucky enough to spot mandarin ducks, and every so often photographers gather in hopes of catching a glimpse of the elusive kingfisher that usually nests at the lower pond.

From the willow pond, I continue past the duck pond, which is always full of activity. There’s often a flurry of ducks and geese landing on the water, while others point their bottoms to the sky as they forage below the surface.

Then I’m ready to take the short cut across Myrtle Meadow towards My Tree.

Holywells Walk Part 2

My Walk to Work through Holywells Park, part 3

The final part of my walk through Holywells Park takes me gently downhill towards the Myrtle Road entrance. The park is a well-loved space, frequented daily by dog walkers, runners, and cyclists; and on today’s stroll, I happened to meet all three. In winter, this last stretch is especially charming: the path dusted with snow, the trees hushed, and the old-fashioned signpost standing like something out of Narnia.

And so the walk through the park comes to an end. Passing through the gates onto Myrtle Road, the path leads naturally down to the beautiful Waterfront, which forms another part of my daily walk to work.

Holywells Walk Part 3

I’m also one of the runners you might spot in Holywells Park, and I often pause by the Twisty Tree, down near the stream and ponds at the bottom of the park. Pictured below is a view of the clock tower by the Stables and a summer photo of My Tree.

Me by the Twisty Tree

Clock Tower by the Stables

My Tree