Beacon Hill Country Park
BEST FOR
Ages 0-99
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Woodhouse Eaves
What it’s like
Rocky trails, a hazel maze and a log train play area, with woodland walks that change character through the seasons.
Kids get a proper mix here: a log train and log towers to clamber over in the play area, a hazel maze to get briefly lost in, and timber sculptures dotted along the walking trails. It's free to get in, which makes the car park charge feel a bit odd, but that's the trade-off with a lot of country parks and this one is at least tiered so a quick visit costs less than a full afternoon.
The site's at its best if you time it with the seasons. Bluebells carpet the woodland floor in spring, wildflower meadows take over by summer, and the colours turn properly autumnal later in the year. The rhododendron boardwalk labyrinth is worth saving for a slower walk rather than rushing it with a toddler who wants to get to the play area.
Opening hours are 9am to 3pm on weekdays and 9am to 4pm at weekends, but the car park itself has its own closing time that shifts month by month, from 4pm in December and January right up to 8pm in the summer stretch. Worth knowing before you plan a long one. There's a café on site for a coffee or a snack, picnic areas if you'd rather bring your own, and the whole place is dog friendly, so the walk works for the family dog too.
The upper car park is cash only and the lower one takes contactless, which catches people out if you've gone digital-only in your wallet. Livestock graze the upper areas in summer, so it's a good moment to talk to younger kids about giving animals space on a shared path.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Two car parks with variable charges: up to 1 hour £2.50, up to 2 hours £4.00, up to 3 hours £5.00, over 3 hours £5.50
- Car park closing times change month to month, from 4pm in winter to 8pm in summer
- Upper car park is cash only, lower car park is contactless
- Livestock graze the upper areas in summer months
- Dogs are welcome throughout the park
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Getting into the park is free. You do pay for parking though, tiered from £2.50 for up to an hour to £5.50 for over three hours.
Do we need to book?
No booking, just turn up. The park's open 9am to 3pm on weekdays and 9am to 4pm at weekends.
What's there for younger kids to do?
The play area has a log train and log towers to climb over, plus a hazel maze nearby for a bit of an explore.
Is there parking?
Two car parks on site. The upper one is cash only and the lower one takes contactless, so bring both if you're not sure which you'll end up in.
What time does the car park shut?
It varies by month, from as early as 4pm in December and January to 8pm across May to August. Check which month you're visiting so you're not caught out.
Is there anywhere to eat?
There's a café on site, and picnic areas if you'd rather bring your own food.
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