Blenheim Palace was the gift of a grateful nation for John Churchill, the victor of the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. Three hundred years later, the palace is being geared up for a long season of events to commemorate the battle. There's little about Blenheim - one of Britain's few World Heritage Sites - to recall its military origins. The building itself, in mellow Bath stone that glows in the sun, is an ornate mass of imposing grandeur. Its architect, the playwright and soldier Sir John Vanbrugh, built a vast bridge over the Glyme Valley, carrying the eye from the palace to a high Column of Victory on the opposing hill top. The bridge was vastly out of scale with the humble river it crossed, but the great "Capability" Brown sorted that out by damning the river and creating a large lake, extending for more than a mile. The palace and its treasures are closed for the winter but the park, with its miles of paved lakeside walkways, offer fine walking all year round. New vistas and valleys open every few hundred yards, creating a vast, child-friendly playground. Our tip: look for the hollowed-out old tree that offers a secret viewpoint across the bridge to the palace. Our picture galleries - including 360-degree panoramas - give just a taste of the delights to be found in the park. You can find out about events being held in the park this year, including horse trials, a battle re-enactment and a 300th anniversary music festival, on the palace website. And if you really want to explore the park, why not join one of the charity fun runs listed on the palace events guide?
| 
