Ascot Heath

Ascot Heath sits in the centre of Ascot Racecourse.

 

 

 

 

A surfaced path runs along the racetrack that you can scooter or cycle along.

 

 

 

 

These paths can be a little bumpy in places.

 

 

 

 

 

Ascot Racecourse

Around the racecourse you can spot the grandstand

 

 

 

 

enormously tall fences the horses jump over

 

 

 

 

a helicopter pad

 

 

 

 

 

a moveable piece of race track

 

 

 

 

 

points where different races start

 

 

 

 

 

a pond with a fountain (but this is fenced off)

 

 

 

 

and a tower for filming the races.

 

 

 

 

 

The Underpass

To find Ascot Heath and the Ascot Heath Children’s Play Area, head through the underpass and up onto Ascot Heath.

Go straight across the heath and the play area is on the right opposite the Grandstand.

 

The Ascot Racecourse Play Area 

The Ascot Heath Children’s Play Area has equipment said to be suitable for children up to 12 years old and includes:

• a swing
• a toddler swing
• a basket swing
• a climbing frame for older children with  spins
• a multiplay with a slide, climbing wall, nets, ladders and a fireman’s pole
• seats for adults.

Nearest Town: Ascot
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: SL5 7LJ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket. 
Facilities: None.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is no car park but you can park next to the underpass on the road that leads towards the Royal Ascot Golf Club. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: June 2022

 

The Adventure Play Area

The adventure play area’s equipment is aimed at children of over 8 years old and includes:

• a huge, wooden climbing frame with wobbly bridges, a tube slide and another slide
• balancing courses
• obstacles
• climbing bars
• a zip slide. 

 

The Second Play Area

The second play area’s animal-themed equipment is aimed at younger children and has:

• toddler swings
• a balance course
• frog and sheep springers
• a large wooden cat with a fireman’s pole nose
• another two slides – one shaped like a spider and the other like a frog.

 

The Visitor Centre

The Visitor Centre is next to the play area and houses a cafe, a shop (where you can buy duck food) and a small, wildlife-inspired indoor play area with some unusual jigsaws, feelie box puzzles, brasses to rub and a fish tank.

 

 

This area was much quieter, probably because the weather outside was beautiful, and we spent an uninterrupted half hour playing.

The staff were lovely and when we ran out of paper for the brass rubbing they brought some more over without us needing to ask.

 

Thatcham Lake

The lakeside is often covered in wandering water birds. Ducks, moorhens, geese and swans were everywhere and seemed very used to visitors, some hardly moving when approached. 

 

 

The Walks

There are three walks signposted from the Visitor Centre that take 30, 45 or 60 minutes.

The paths are generally flat and firm with the occasional tree root.

Nearest Town: Thatcham
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG19 3FU

Opens: Daily during the summer but closed on Mondays during the winter.
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the cafe. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly. 

Parking: There are a few car parks.
Cost of Parking: Free – donations are suggested but not required.

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese, waterbirds and insects.

Information Written: April 2017

 

Pinewood Adventure Play Area

The play equipment is divided between two areas, Pinewood Adventure and another, more traditional playground. 

 

 

 

 

The adventure play area has equipment including:

• toddler swings
• basket swings
• a small multiplay and slide for the very young
• a long rope swing
• a wooden climbing frame
• a rope climbing frame
• spinners
• a balance course with bridges, logs and ropes
• a tunnel
• a zip wire.

 

 

The Railway Play Area

The second play area has:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a small wooden train to walk along
• a large play train with a tunnel and carriages
• a play house
• a seesaw
• a long slide set into a hill
• a trampoline
• a climbing frame with a climbing wall, nets and monkey bars
• springers
• picnic tables.

 

The Cafe

There is a cafe that serves refreshments and ice cream.

 

 

 

 

Pinewood Miniature Railway

Next to the play areas is the Pinewood (Wokingham) Miniature Railway.

 

 

 

 

It does not run everyday so please see their The Pinewood (Wokingham) Miniature Railway website for details of their open days.

 

 

 

Sports Areas 

On the other side of the car park is a field with a football pitch and a trim trail with six equipment stations (all aimed at those over 12 years) and .

 

 

 

Pond Dipping

Dickie’s Pond is also nearby and has a pond dipping platform.

Pond dipping equipment (nets, information sheets, a tray and magnifying glasses) can be borrowed from the cafe by leaving a deposit of £5. Near the pond is a woodland walk, with sculptures of woodland animals.

Nearest Town: Wokingham Without
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG40 3AQ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Cafe and a picnic area. 
Facilities: Cafe, shop, ice creams, toilets, picnic area.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, birds, insects and pond life.

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: July 2022

 

The play equipment felt a little run down and there were clearly some pieces of play equipment missing but it did have:

• a toddler swing
• a swing
• a springer
• a multiplay with a slide, a ladder and easy to climb steps
• a roller.

 

Nearest Town: Ascot
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: SL5 8NN

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Picnic tables

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is no car park but you can park on the road next to the play area.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: May 2017

 

The play equipment in the enclosed area is for children to the age of 6 years and includes:

• toddler swings
• a springer
• a roundabout
• a multiplay with a slide and activities
• a seesaw 
• a slide with easy to climb stairs
• a spinning climbing frame
• a tractor springer and
• seats.

 

There is a second set of play equipment for older children with:

• a basket swing
• a rope swing
• a stack of climbing rocks with a cargo net and fireman’s pole
• a large slide with a climbing wall and rope ladder
• two trampolines
• picnic tables.

 

Next to the play area is an outdoor gym and a field. 

 

Nearest Town: Crowthorne
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG45 7LD

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: There are cafes and shops on the nearby Crowthorne High Street or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic area.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free.

Information Written: October 2018
Information Checked: May 2022

 

Play Equipment

The play equipment is said to be suitable for children to the age of 13 years old and includes:

• a play train with a tunnel
• swings
• a toddler swings
• a basket swing
• springers
• a zip wire
• a rope climbing frame that spins
• a big slide set into a hill with the choice of easy to climb stairs or a slope and a rope
• a multiplay castle with a slide 
• an obstacle course with a rope bridge, climbing wall, nets and log swings.

 

Sports Equipment

There is also a variety of sports facilities:

• a multi-gym
• a basketball court
• a football pitch
• a 5-a-side football pitch
• tennis courts
• a table tennis table.

 

 

Tom Green’s Field

Behind the tennis courts is a field called Tom Green’s Field, where you can either have a short walk or try a longer walk around Ascot.

 

Nearest Town: Ascot
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: SL5 7DG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket. 
Facilities: None.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, stag beetles, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: February 2017
Information Checked: June 2022

 

The Play Equipment

The toddler-sized equipment includes:

• a slide with easy to climb steps
• a balance course
• musical stepping stones
• a seesaw
• a wooden horse.

 

South Hill Park

Your visit can easily be combined with exploring the grounds of South Hill Park, to play, feed the ducks, and explore the grounds.

 

 

The Other Play Areas

There are two other play areas you can try. Hedgehog Park is less than a five minutes walk,

 

 

 

 

and South Hill Road Play Area is about a fifteen minute walk in the other direction.

 

Nearest Town: Bracknell
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG12 7PA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the cafe. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, snacks, ice cream, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a good-sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife  You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese, squirrels and herons.

Information Written: November 2016

 

Snaprails Park 

Fields, ponds, streams and woods

 

 

 

 

 

all nestle under towering Wellingtonia trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is also a willow tunnel, cycle-way and picnic area.

 

 

 

 

The Wildlife

On our visit we saw ducks, fish, butterflies, birds and squirrels.

 

 

 

 

The Paths

The paths are well surfaced and buggy friendly.

 

 

The Play Area

The play area has equipment for children aged between 2 and 14 years that includes:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a slide
• a roundabout
• a springer
• a climbing frame with a climbing wall
• a seesaw
• seats.

Nearest Town: Sandhurst, near Crowthorne
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: GU47 9AW or GU47 9RQ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: You can park on the nearby roads.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, birds and butterflies.

Information Written: August 2016

 

The Play Areas

The play equipment is divided between two areas, one for younger children and another for older children. The enclosed area for younger children has:

• toddler swings
• springers
• a seesaw
• a roundabout
• a sand play area with chutes and pulleys
• a swing for wheelchair users
• a small multiplay with a ramp and a slide
• a multiplay with ropes to climb, a ladder and a slide
• a larger multiplay with a slide, steps, a fireman’s pole, a bridge and a little house
• boards with games and puzzles
• a zip wire.

 

The area for older children has equipment including:

• a long slide set into a hillside
• climbing rocks
• a basket swing
• swings
• spinning swings
• a wooden climbing frame
• an obstacle course.

 

Sports Areas

Dotted around the park are football pitches, tennis courts, cricket facilities, a basketball court and a skate park.

Near the skate park is a cafe with a seating area that serves refreshments and ice creams.

 

 

The Pond

Behind the play area is a picturesque pond covered with ducks, swans, gulls and coots.

 

 

 

 

Go Wild

Sandhurst Memorial Park also has some wild areas. In the corner is Seeby’s Copse, an area of ancient woodland, and at one end is Shepherd Meadows, a beautiful nature reserve with fields full of wild flowers and butterflies as well as the River Blackwater.

To find the reserve, take the path to the left of the play area and follow it past the pond, where you will pick up signs to the reserve.

 

 

Pick a Car Park

There are two car parks. The first is next to the play area (GU47 9BJ).

The second is on Marshall Road (GU47 0FJ will take you past the car park, which is on the opposite side of the road than the residential houses). This is the car park for Shepherd Meadows and it is about a twenty minute walk to the play area.

Nearest Town: Sandhurst, near Camberley
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: GU47 9BJ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try the cafe. 
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, accessible toilets, a picnic area, ice creams and snacks.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, butterflies, insects and birds.

Information Written: May 2017
Information Checked: April 2023

 

South Lake

A walk around South Lake’s landscaped gardens takes you past the lake with its fountain, bridge, and ducks

 

 

 

and through a wooded area with an amphitheatre, story telling seat, and hidden pet cemetery.

 

 

 

South Lake has two play areas: the Toddlers’ Play Area with its musical stepping stones,

 

 

 

and the fun Hedgehog Park with its long slide.

 

 

 

 

North Lake

North Lake is wilder, with woodland, a long lake, a boardwalk over a small marsh

 

 

 

and South Hill Road Play Area, a large adventure play area with zip wires, climbing nets and a balance course.

 

 

 

Orienteering

There are two orienteering courses available at South Hill Park. One leads you around South Lake and the other around North Lake.

Visit South Hill Park’s website to find these maps and answers.

 

Arts Venue

The house itself is now an arts venue with sculptures, a gallery, the Wilde Theatre, a cinema and a cafe.

It hosts child friendly classes, and child friendly theatre productions.

 

Nearest Town: Bracknell
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG12 7PA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the cafe. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, snacks, ice cream, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a good-sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Animals You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese, squirrels and herons.

Information Written: November 2016