Explore the Boardwalk at Riverside Park, Guildford
Riverside Park Nature Reserve is full of surprises – there is something different around every corner, whether it’s stumbling across a bird hide, seeing a lock lifting up boats or trip-trapping over a boardwalk.
Stoke Meadows
Also known as Stoke Meadows, Riverside Park Nature Reserve is an 80-hectare nature reserve with a range of habitats, including the River Wey, marshy reed beds, a lake, ponds, meadows and woodland.
The Wildlife
The reserve might run alongside the A3 but it is bursting with life.
We saw butterflies, Canada geese and demoiselles everywhere and walked under a noisy rookery where we collected 20 feathers in five minutes.
Which Way?
Part of the fun of Riverside Park is choosing which of the paths to explore.
We started at the car park, walked past an enormous pylon and into a meadow swarming with butterflies.
The Wey Way
At the first fork in the road, we turned right and discovered the River Wey. It was almost completely still, disturbed only every so often by a passing boat.
The path ran beside the river, past hundreds of dancing damselflies that the children mistook for fairies.
Stoke Lock
Stoke Lock was built in the 1600s and is the oldest lock in Surrey. When we arrived it was in action, lifting a boat up 2 metres so it could continue its voyage down the river.
The Boardwalk
We headed back into the nature reserve and discovered a fantastic boardwalk that allowed us to walk through the reeds and over a marsh.
Exploring this is great fun and we discovered ornately carved benches, a wooden dragonfly sculpture
Pond Dipping
We also found a pond dipping platform with instructions and pictures of the creatures we might find.
The Lake
Once you reach the lake you have a choice – walk around it, head under the A3 and into Thorneycroft Wood or head back to the car park.
The Map
The reserve is large and there is a lot to see. There is a map in on a board in the car park. If you take a picture with your phone then you have a handy guide to take on your walk.
The Paths
There are benches and picnic tables dotted around the reserve where weary little legs can have a rest.
The footpaths around the meadows and the lake are surfaced with stones.
The paths along the River Wey are a combination of mud and grass. They were dry when we visited but must become muddy in wet months.
Visit the Riverside Park Nature Reserve website
Further Information
Nearest Town: Guildford
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU4 7ND (or GU1 1UP)
Opens: Daily
Cost: Free
Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None
How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly. I used an all-terrain double buggy during our visit and did not have any issues. The boardwalk was wide enough for the buggy but there was not a lot of wiggle room.
Parking: The reserve’s main car park (GU4 7ND) is right next to the A3. There were plenty of spaces when we visited. There is also a second car park at The Spectrum (GU1 1UP) but to reach the main reserve from here you need to walk under the A3. There is a lot of road noise in the parts of the reserve next to the A3.
Cost of Parking: Free
Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, coots, moorhens, damselflies, dragonflies, butterflies, insects, grey wagtails and kingfishers.
Information Written: June 2017
Ratings
Our visit to Riverside Park Nature Reserve in Guildford, also known as Stoke Meadows in Guildford, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.
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