Parks

Get a glimpse of our fantastic wildlife and enjoy the fresh air at one of the many nature reserves and country parks (please ensure you help to safeguard our wildlife by keeping dogs on leads and staying on official paths).

Barnwell Country Park

Barnwell has much to offer the visitor which includes nature trails, waterside walks, bird hides, visitor centre, ice cream parlour and picnic and barbecue areas. The large woodland play area is a favourite with children of all ages while the fishing lakes attract anglers from all over the country.

📌 Follow brown signs off A605 Oundle bypass. PE8 5PB

📞 01832 273435

✉ barnwell@northamptonshire.gov.uk

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Croyland Park

📌 Henshaw Road, Wellingborough, NN8 2BH

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Delapre Park

Enjoy 500 acres of parkland – a tranquil green oasis of woodland and open grassland. There are plenty of routes through the splendid ancient trees, to choose from around the park for visitors to explore, which lead through woodland and grassland, to lakeshore.

📌 Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust, Abbey Cottage, Delapré Abbey, London Road, Northampton, NN4 8AW

📞 01604 760817

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Fermyn Woods Country Park

Fermyn Woods Country Park is a gateway to the ancient Rockingham Forest. The Skylark cafe and visitor centre (open 10:00am to 4:00pm) is the ideal place to have a bite to eat and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee. The play area is also a fantastic place to let the children run off some steam! Day ticket coarse fishing is available from Big Pit pond in Fermyn Woods Country Park. The pond is a small clay pit formed as a result of sand quarrying. The pond has a stock of Roach, Rudd and Carp. Day permits are available for coarse fishing.

📌 Follow brown signs off A6116 - Brigstock bypass. NN14 3HS

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📞 01536 373625

✉ fermyn@northamptonshire.gov.uk

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Ferry Meadows

The ideal place for family day out. One of the largest country parks in the region. Situated at the heart of Nene Park, its varied landscapes make it the favourite destination for thousands of visitors throughout the year. Whether you’re looking to walk, cycle, ride a train, sail a boat, enjoy a cup of tea in the café or go fishing. Ferry Meadows is the place to explore endless meadows, lakes and woodland – all less than three miles from Peterborough city centre.

📌 Ham Lane, Peterborough, PE2 5UU

📞 01733 234193

✉ visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk

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Irchester Country Park

A former ironstone quarry that has a children’s play area as well as a network of long and short trails through 83 hectares of mixed woodland. The park is home to the Quarryman’s Rest Cafe, Jungle Parc UK and the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum.

📌 Main entrance on Gipsy Lane (B570) off the A509 south-east of Wellingborough

📞 01933 276866

✉ irchester@northamptonshire.gov.uk

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Orton Mere and Woodston Reach

Orton Mere connects Ferry Meadows to Thorpe Meadows and boasts lakes, open space for recreation and a Nene Valley Railway station to explore the Nene Valley. With an avenue of trees to guide your way, why not visit Orton Mere as an alternative gateway to the Park? The series of footpaths and off-road traffic-free cycle paths mean that you are a only short ride from the action in Ferry Meadows or a few minutes’ walk from relaxing riverside trails in Thorpe Meadows.

📌 Off Oundle Rd, Peterborough, PE2 7DZ

📞 01733 234193

✉ visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk

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Pocket Parks

Enjoy natural areas of countryside which are owned, looked after and cherished by the local community. The pocket parks can vary in size from 0.04 hectares to 35 hectares and are found in all types of locations from town centres to quiet villages.
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Stanwick Lakes

Stanwick Lakes is a unique 750-acre nature reserve and is widely considered to be one of the region’s most imaginative outdoor activity destinations. It offers extensive play areas for families and includes acres of wide-open spaces and paths for nature lovers, walkers and cyclists. Stanwick Lakes is particularly known for wintering waterfowl. It has one of the largest reedbeds in Northamptonshire which is home to a variety of birds and invertebrates. Wildflower meadows support a wealth of butterflies and bees whilst Kingfishers are regularly spotted along the river banks.

📌 Rockingham Forest Trust, Stanwick Lakes, Stanwick, Northants, NN9 6GY

📞 01933 625522

✉ info@rftrust.org.uk

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Sywell Country Park

Sywell Country Park offers meadowland and lakeside walks, with a small arboretum of exotic trees and Edwardian buildings still surviving from its past role as a water supply reservoir with a water works heritage trail to guide you round. The fishing at Sywell is on a 67 acre (28 hectare) lake built in Edwardian times and opened in 1906 as a water supply reservoir for Rushden and Higham Ferrers

📌 Off the Northampton to Mears Ashby Road, near Earls Barton crossroads on the A4500

📞 01604 810970

✉ sywell@northamptonshire.gov.uk

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The Rural Estate (Nene Park)

The Rural Estate is accessible to pedestrians and cyclists at all times. Found to the west of Ferry Meadows, the Rural Estate is a large agricultural landscape which is steeped in history. Why not join the Nene Way which runs alongside the River Nene, to explore this area further, including the unspoilt villages of Castor, Ailsworth and Sutton.

📞 01733 234193

✉ visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk

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Thorpe Meadows

Thorpe Meadows is accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles at all times. It is home to Nene Park’s purpose-built rowing lake, riverside walks and sculpture collection. Situated to the east of Ferry Meadows Country Park, it is a great place to walk the dog, cycle or jog while enjoying the sculptures.

📌 Off Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough, PE3 6LN

📞 01733 234193

✉ visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk

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Yarwell Mill Country Park

Sitting beside the river Nene and surrounded by gentle rolling countryside Yarwell Mill is the ideal location for a visitors with tents, caravans, motorhomes or boats. Under new ownership since 2015, Yarwell Mill Country Park is set in 27 acres, bordered by the beautiful River Nene.

📌 Yarwell Mill Country Park, Yarwell, PE8 6PS

📞 01780 782344

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