Parkland Tours

A medieval park with ancient ecology, now available to be enjoyed through guided walks and talks.

Wildlife Walk: The River Life of Haddon Medieval Park

11 May

Walk commences at 10.30 am
Duration 2-3 hours

Parkland River Walk: £38.50 per person (not suitable for children under 12 yrs)
Parking £3.80 (contactless payment at exit barrier)
Places limited, booking is essential

Your ticket for this Wildlife Walk entitles you to visit Haddon Hall and its beautiful gardens for £13.00 per person (usually £26.00) on the same day.  This can be purchased at the Ticket Office after your walk – please simply show your booking reference to our staff.

Unfortunately we are not able to offer a refund or alternative date for this event

Toilets are available in the Stable Block at the start and finish of your walk
The Restaurant serves a wide selection of food and drink
Please note, dogs are not permitted on this walk

“We very much enjoyed our river life walk and the breadth of natural beauty and wildlife encountered.” Attendee on 2023 River Life walk

This year we are delighted to welcome back local author and naturalist Christine Gregory to lead a River Life Walk in Haddon Medieval Park.

The Medieval Park at Haddon Hall is a rare treasure, comprising 187 hectares of organic ancient pasture, woodlands, water meadows and river banks.  Largely untouched for over 900 years with a diverse range of habitats, it is home to an incredible variety of wildlife.

At its heart is the Derbyshire River Wye, one of the top five cleanest rivers in England.  Its crystal-clear waters teem with fish, including the only population of wild Rainbow Trout in the country.  This special river also attracts important native species such as otters, water voles, kingfishers, ospreys, grey wagtails and dippers.  The surrounding wetland areas have large iris and sedge beds, and wildflowers grow along the river edges, spreading across the water meadows, including water forget-me-not, meadowsweet, marsh thistle and meadow vetchling.

In this exclusive event, well-known local author and keen amateur naturalist Christine Gregory will take you behind the scenes into the private parkland that surrounds Haddon Hall.  For 2-3 hours, walking at a gentle pace with plenty of opportunities for observation and photography, Christine will escort you around the different river habitats within the Medieval Park to discover and appreciate its wildlife.  We recommend that you bring your binoculars if you have them.

Christine Gregory is the author of four best-selling natural history books, including A River in Time: The Story of a Peak District River.  Her work reflects her lifelong love of the countryside and concern for the environment.  Christine has been involved in wildlife surveys within Haddon Medieval Park for a number of years and she is passionate about sharing her love of the natural world with others.

Please note that this walk takes place within the unspoilt, natural landscape of the Haddon Medieval Park.  There are few paths, the terrain is uneven in places and may be wet and/or muddy.  For your safety and comfort you are advised to wear walking boots or other stout footwear and to have warm, waterproof clothing available with you to wear if required on the day of your visit. Please bear in mind that we cannot guarantee good weather, nor can we guarantee what species you will see.  Nature is unpredictable!  The walk will go ahead unless it is deemed unsafe to proceed because of particularly heavy rain, high winds or stormy weather.

BOOK

Wildlife Walk: The Bird Life of Haddon Medieval Park
19 Apr, 21 Apr
Wildlife Walk: Dawn Chorus at Haddon Medieval Park
27 Apr
Creative Experience Day: ‘Create with Nature’ Art Workshop with Jane Bevan
4 May
Medieval Parkland Walks
9 May, 20 Jun, 24 Aug, 14 Sep, 28 Sep, 19 Oct