Kestrel Corner Play Area

Kestrel Corner Play Area is a wooden play area that is an easy ten minute walk from the house.

 

 

 

 

It has equipment including:

• a wooden multiplay with a slide and musical instruments
• a climbing frame
• an obstacle course with stumps, logs and a wobbly bridge
• toddler swings
• swings
• a basket swing
• a tunnel and
• seats.

 

The House and Lawn

The house is picture perfect 

 

 

 

 

 

with views over the surrounding hills, which you can enjoy from deckchairs. 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Play Areas

Scattered along the trails are natural play areas to enjoy with stumps, logs, dens

 

 

 

 

and also a bird hide.

 

 

Nearest Town: Great Bookham, near Dorking
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RH5 6BD

Adult Cost Range: From £15
Child Cost Range: From £8
Free if: Under 5 or with National Trust membership

Opens: Daily (with some winter closures)

Where to Eat: There is a cafe, food vendors and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, a shop, picnic areas toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: £4 or free with National Trust membership

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies, bees, insects and birds.

Information Written: April 2023

 

The House and Lawn

The house is picture perfect 

 

 

 

 

 

with views over the surrounding hills, which you can enjoy from deckchairs. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Walks

There are various signposted walks around the gardens and wider estate.

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Play Areas

Scattered along the trails are natural play areas to enjoy with stumps, logs, dens

 

 

 

 

and also a bird hide.

 

 

 

 

 

Kestrel Corner Play Area

Kestrel Corner Play Area is a wooden play area that is an easy ten minute walk from the house.

 

 

 

 

It has equipment including a wooden multiplay with a slide and musical instruments, an obstacle course, swings and a tunnel.

 

 

 

 

Special Activities

As for many National Trust properties, Polesden Lacey runs activities for various age ranges throughout the year, which are listed on their website.

 

 

 

When we visited there was a trail through the grounds with activities at each station, including hide and seek, cars to drive and lawn games. 

 

 

 

 

The Paths

There are various footpaths around the grounds – some are surfaced, some gravel and some earth and grass. We did not have any access problems and used an all-terrain buggy.

Nearest Town: Great Bookham, near Dorking
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RH5 6BD

Adult Cost Range: From £15
Child Cost Range: From £8
Free if: Under 5 or with National Trust membership

Opens: Daily (with some winter closures)

Where to Eat: There is a cafe, food vendors and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, a shop, picnic areas toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: £4 or free with National Trust membership

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies, bees, insects and birds.

Information Written: April 2023

 

The Play Area

This has a mixture of natural play equipment and adventure play equipment that includes:

• a large tube slide with a covered rope bridge and long ladders that are broken into sections by wooden platforms
• a wooden climbing frame with nets
• tree stump obstacle courses
• stones to climb on
• a sandy area with sand play equipment
• a wide slide with a ladder
• a spinning disc
• spinning cups
• three tyre swings 
• a small castle tower with a ladder 
• a swinging basket
• swings
• a zip wire.

 

We could not find any toddler swings.

 

In the play area there is also a little pond that children paddle in.

 

 

 

The Cafe

Cafe Hogmoor is next to the play area and the car park and sells snacks and refreshments. 

 

 

 

 

The Bee Hive

Between the Hogmoor Cafe and the car park is a little building called the Bee Hive. Next to it are:

• musical instruments
• a scavenger hunt
• a brass rubbing area. 

 

 

The Trails

There are a few marked trails to try that lead you past different features, including gates, activity boards and the Sentinels.

 

Nearest Town: Bordon
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU35 9HN

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Some paths are uneven and others are sandy. 

Parking: There is a car park next to the Inclosure’s entrance (GU35 9HN). It can be busy.
Cost of Parking: Free

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

Information Written: October 2021
Information Checked: April 2023

 

The Sentinels

The Sentinels are wooden sculptures and there are a few along each of the marked trails.

Their locations are shown on the maps by the car park, which you can photo before you set off.

 

 

The Trails

There are a few marked trails to try that lead you past different features, including gates, activity boards and the Sentinels.

 

 

 

The paths are sandy and lower than the surrounding trees.

There are lots of little hills for you to run up and explore in parallel to the paths. 

 

 

 

The Cafe

Cafe Hogmoor is next to the play area and the car park and sells snacks and refreshments. 

 

 

 

 

The Bee Hive

Between the Hogmoor Cafe and the car park is a little building called the Bee Hive. Next to it are:

• musical instruments
• a scavenger hunt
• a brass rubbing area. 

 

The Play Area

The Hogmoor Inclosure Natural Play Area has a mixture of natural play equipment and adventure play equipment that includes:

• a large tube slide with a covered rope bridge and long ladders that are broken into sections by wooden platforms
• a wooden climbing frame with nets
• tree stump obstacle courses
• stones to climb on
• a sandy area with sand play equipment
• a wide slide with a ladder
• a spinning disc
• spinning cups
• three tyre swings 
• a small castle tower with a ladder 
• a swinging basket
• swings
• a zip wire.

 

We could not find any toddler swings.

 

In the play area there is also a little pond that children paddle in.

 

Nearest Town: Bordon
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU35 9HN

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Some paths are uneven and others are sandy. 

Parking: There is a car park next to the Inclosure’s entrance (GU35 9HN). It can be busy.
Cost of Parking: Free

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

Information Written: October 2021
Information Checked: April 2023

 

Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII

The story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn is brought to life by costumed Tudor characters, panelled rooms,

 

 

 

 

banquet halls and even a potential candidate for Henry VIII’s bed chamber.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Grounds

The grounds boast several formal gardens, statues,

 

 

 

 

 

 

waterfalls, a lake 

 

 

 

 

 

and bushes shaped like chess pieces and animals. 

 

 

 

 

The Ducks

There are also plenty of marauding ducks to feed.

 

 

 

 

The Two Mazes

There are two mazes to pit your wits against – a hedge maze and a water maze.

 

The Hedge Maze

The hedge maze is lots of fun and took us about ten minutes of wandering around to solve.

 

 

The Water Maze

The water maze is ingenious.

Your task is to reach the centre whilst dodging the jets of water that suddenly erupt when step on the wrong stone.

 

 

 

The Adventure Play Area

The fantastic Hever Castle Adventure Play Area centres around a castle called Tudor Towers.

It has tube slides, turrets, bridges and poles.

 

 

It also has a secret passage, maze and musical instruments.

 

 

 

 

The castle is surrounded by more play equipment, including slides, swings, tunnels and an obstacle course.

 

Nearest Town: Hever
County: Kent
Nearest Postcode: TN8 7NG

Adult Cost Range: Various 
Child Cost Range: Various
Free if: Under 5 years or entry to the gardens can be free with RHS membership at set times.

Opens: Daily from March to December.

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

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: The castle is a short walk from the car park, which has lots of spaces.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks and swans.

Information Written: May 2016
Information Checked: September 2021

 

You can roughly divide the play area into three sections.

 

Tudor Towers

This is a large wooden castle built like a castle

 

 

 

 

with tube slides, poles, tunnels,

 

 

 

 

 

rope bridges, net tunnels, ladders and climbing walls.

 

 

 

 

Outside there is a well hiding a secret passage, which eventually emerges through a fireplace. 

 

 

 

 

The castle also has musical instruments, a maze, hidden passages and games. 

Tudor Towers is for those aged 5 to 14 years.

 

 

 

Acorn Dell – Natural Play Area

This sandy play area has:

• a wooden climbing frame
• tree trunks and climbing logs
• a tunnel
• stones to climb on
• a tree house with a tube slide and a wobbly bridge
• a willow tunnel
• and a musical instrument. 

 

 

The Wooden Play Area

This play area has:

• toddler swings (for under 5s)
• swings
• a castle slide with easy to climb steps
• knights’ horse springers
• a swinging basket
• wooden climbing frames with nets and ropes
• an obstacle course
• a zipwire.

Nearest Town: Hever
County: Kent
Nearest Postcode: TN8 7NG

Adult Cost Range: Various 
Child Cost Range: Various
Free if: Under 5 years or entry to the gardens can be free with RHS membership at set times.

Opens: Daily from March to December.

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

How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: The castle is a short walk from the car park, which has lots of spaces.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks and swans.

Information Written: May 2016
Information Checked: September 2021

 

The Natural Play Trail

The Natural Play Trail include things like:

• a tree to climb through
• a see saw made of planks and logs
• a fort with tunnels
• log balance beams
• ropes to climb on
• logs to edge along
• areas to build dens
• areas to climb trees

 

 

Box Hill

As well as the Natural Play Trail, Box Hill also has picturesque views, mini-beasts, a cafe, Visitor Centre and Discovery Zone. 

 

 

 

Box Hill Fort

The Box Hill Fort was one of a series of forts built in the 1890s to enable London to defend itself from invasion. It was used again during WW2. 

 

 

 

The Stepping Stones

The River Mole flows along the foot of Box Hill and can be crossed by jumping between the famous Stepping Stones. 

 

 

 

To find the Stepping Stones you can either walk down the hill or drive to the Stepping Stones car park (see below).  

 

 

 

From April to June the air is heavy with the unmistakable scent of wild garlic.

 

Nearest Town: Dorking
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcodes: Box Hill: KT20 7LB – note that his does not seem to work for all sat navs so follow signs once you start to see them. The Stepping Stones: RH5 6AE – keep an eye out for the car park as it is easy to miss. 

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, shop, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic areas. 

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: The paths around the car parks are surfaced and buggy-friendly. The paths along the play trail are muddy and uneven in places but I used an all terrain buggy without any issues. 

Parking: There are different car parks to choose from –  a couple on top of Box Hill (KT20 7LB – can be unreliable so follow signs as soon as you see them) and another by the Stepping Stones (RH5 6AE). They all become very busy and are often full by mid-morning. 
Cost of Parking: Free for National Trust members; from £1.50 per hour for non-members.

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

First Visit: June 2018
Last Visit: June 2021

 

At the Top of Box Hill

The Natural Play Trail

Scattered throughout the woods on top of Box Hill are natural play areas that form the Box Hill Natural Play Trail. It has balance courses

 

 

 

a seesaw

 

 

 

 

ropes and

 

 

 

 

a tunnel.

 

 

 

 

It’s a fantastic way to liven up a walk in the woods. 

 

 

 

 

Box Hill

At the top of Box Hill there are several viewing points, a cafe, Visitor Centre and Discovery Zone but this was shut when I visited. 

 

 

 

Box Hill Fort

Box Hill Fort was part of a series of forts built in the 1890s to enable London to defend itself from invasion. It was used again during WW2. 

 

 

 

At the Bottom of Box Hill

The Stepping Stones

The River Mole flows along the foot of Box Hill and can be crossed by jumping between the famous Box Hill Stepping Stones. 

 

 

 

From here you can either continue on up Box Hill or stop and have a paddle or pond dip in the river. 

 

 

 

From April to June the air is heavy with the unmistakable scent of wild garlic.

 

Nearest Town: Dorking
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcodes: Box Hill: KT20 7LB – note that his does not seem to work for all sat navs so follow signs once you start to see them. The Stepping Stones: RH5 6AE – keep an eye out for the car park as it is easy to miss. 

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, shop, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic areas. 

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: The paths around the car parks are surfaced and buggy-friendly. The paths along the play trail are muddy and uneven in places but I used an all terrain buggy without any issues. 

Parking: There are different car parks to choose from –  a couple on top of Box Hill (KT20 7LB – can be unreliable so follow signs as soon as you see them) and another by the Stepping Stones (RH5 6AE). They all become very busy and are often full by mid-morning. 
Cost of Parking: Free for National Trust members; from £1.50 per hour for non-members.

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

Information Written: June 2018
Information Checked: June 2021

 

 

Brass Rubbing Trails

Brass rubbing trails of varying lengths snake through the woods. Each is marked by arrows and posts topped with a numbered brass rubbing plate.

Be sure to bring pencils or crayons and some paper!

 

 

Sculptures

I love stumbling across sculptures in the wild and we found two hidden at Bordon Inclosure – some hunters with spears and a large toad!

 

 

 

The Natural Play Area

The natural play area has mud hills to climb up and a balance trail made of logs and tree stumps.

 

 

 

The King Oak

Near the natural play area we discovered a fairy tale glade where a 400 year-old oak tree seems to spring from nowhere. This is the King Oak, with sprawling branches and a wonderfully twisted trunk.

 

 

The Heart of Oak Throne 

Underneath the Kings Oak is the Heart of Oak throne, which makes the perfect spot to tell the children a fairy tale or, if they’re feeling brave, a spooky story.

 

 

 

The River Wey

The River Wey runs through the Inclosure, closely followed by a boardwalk.

 

 

 

As we wandered along the bank of the River Wey, we heard a rushing noise that sounded like a waterfall.

Disappointingly, it turned out to be water gushing through an overhead pipe and out on the other side.

 

 

Deadwater Valley Nature Reserve

A pathway connects the Bordon Inclosure with the Deadwater Valley Nature Reserve, another beautiful stretch of woodland on the River Wey.

Have a look at this map of the Bordon Inclosure and Deadwater Valley Local Nature Reserve to see how these areas fit together.

 

Special Events

The Bordon Inclosure is managed by the Deadwater Valley Trust and they run special events, some of which are aimed at children.

Our visit coincided with their Halloween event. The rangers were in Halloween costumes and had set up a stand playing Halloween music and selling hot chocolate. A trail of pumpkins lead from the stand to the natural play area, with Halloween themed games and activities. The rangers had clearly gone to a lot of effort and we had a fantastic time.

Please see the Deadwater Valley Trust website for details of forthcoming events.

Nearest Town: Bordon
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU35 0LA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: We found Bordon Inclosure buggy friendly. We took an all terrain buggy but saw other families using normal buggies. The earth pathways are generally compact but can be muddy. Parts of the Inclosure are hilly and some paths are edged by steep drops without fences.

Parking: There is a small car park next to the Inclosure’s entrance (GU35 0LA). It was not busy when we arrived but was completely full after the Halloween event started.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, slow worms, lizards, otters, fungi, butterflies, dragonflies and insects.

Information Written: October 2017

 

The House and Grounds

The house is surrounded by formal gardens and 400 acres of parkland and woods where you can build dens, have a picnic, fly kites or even look for the remains of Nissen huts used during the Second World War for tank training.

 

 

The Walks

There are various signposted walks around the parkland.

These routes are marked on the Basildon Park Map, which is on the National Trust’s website. 

 

 

 

Natural Play Areas

Along the routes are natural play areas to enjoy with stumps, logs and dens.

 

 

 

 

Special Activities

Basildon Park runs activities for various age ranges throughout the year, which are listed on their the Basildon Park website. 

I was really impressed by the amount of thought and effort that had been put into making visits exciting.

 

 

The Ball Runs

During our visit there were two activity trails on. The first led you to ball runs hidden throughout the woods as well as a game where you knock over skittles with a ball on a string.

It was fantastic fun and we used the ball runs over and over again.

 

 

 

Art Boxes

The second was a trail of Art Boxes hidden around the grounds that were full of art equipment you can use to create pictures for entry into an exhibition in September.

It was a wonderful, original idea and we had a brilliant time experimenting.

 

 

The Paths

There are various footpaths around the grounds – some are surfaced, some gravel and some earth and grass. We did not have any access problems and used an all-terrain buggy.

 

 

 

To reach the house from the car park, we walked for about 10 minutes through a small wooded area with a gravel path and up the driveway.

There was a gentle flight of stairs on the way into the woods but I was able to bump the buggy up. We did not go inside the house.

 

Nearest Town: Pangbourne
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG8 9NR

Adult Cost Range: £15 to £19.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Under 5 or with National Trust membership

Opens: Daily.

Where to Eat: There is a cafe and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free with entry or with National Trust membership

Wildlife You Might See: Cattle, butterflies, bees, insects and birds.

Information Written: July 2017