Calke Abbey
ENTRY
from £4.25
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Ticknall
What it’s like
A 600 acre parkland estate with natural play, cycling trails and a faded stately house to poke around when legs need a rest.
The parkland is the main event here. There's a Summer of Play natural play area to find, the Tramway Trail for cycling or a guided ride if you fancy it, and enough walking trails through the estate that you can pick a route to match how much energy everyone's got left. It's the sort of place where the day shapes itself around whoever's flagging first.
Park and Gardens tickets are separate from the House, which is a bit of a faff if you turn up not realising. A child's Park and Gardens ticket is £4.25 (under 5s free), adults £8.50, or £21.25 for a family of five. Add the House and a family ticket jumps to £37.50, so it's worth deciding up front whether the faded interiors are the bit you actually want to see. The House only opens March to October, 11am to 4pm, and the site warns of queues at busier times.
Food-wise there's a restaurant and café in the Stableyard plus takeaway at Calke Explore. Parking is free, which softens the ticket price a bit.
Wheelchairs and trampers can be borrowed from the Ticket Office, though pre-booking is strongly recommended, and there's a buggy service running 10am to 5pm in the main season to help with access to the house and gardens. The grotto and ice house aren't wheelchair accessible, and some paths have uneven ground and steep slopes. Dogs can roam the parkland off lead under close control and are welcome on a short lead in the stableyards, gardens, restaurant and shop.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Families happy with a long outdoor ramble, under 5s go free
- Parking
- Free on site, no parking charge
- Food
- Restaurant and café in the Stableyard, takeaway refreshments at Calke Explore and seasonal pop-up outlets year-round
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair and tramper available to borrow from Ticket Office
- Dogs
- Are free to roam the parkland under close control
- Large backpacks have to go in lockers in the bag storage room.
- Buggy service hours shrink in winter, 10:30am to 2:30pm November to February.
- The grotto and ice house are off limits for wheelchairs.
- House only opens March to October, so a winter visit is parkland and gardens only.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£4.25 for a child's Park and Gardens ticket, £8.50 for an adult, or £21.25 for a family of five. Adding the House pushes the family price up to £37.50.
Do we need to book?
There's no booking link listed, though pre-booking is strongly recommended if you want a wheelchair or tramper from the Ticket Office.
Is parking free?
Yes, no charge for parking on site. There's a main car park by the Ticket Office and another at Calke Explore.
What time does the House open?
11am to 4pm, and only from March to October. The gardens run longer hours, 9:30am to 5pm.
Is it OK for a toddler?
Under 5s go free and there's natural play to explore, but expect uneven terrain and steep slopes in parts of the parkland.
What's there to eat?
A restaurant and café in the Stableyard, plus takeaway at Calke Explore and seasonal pop-up outlets.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs can roam the parkland off lead under close control, and are welcome on a short lead in the stableyards, gardens, restaurant and shop.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs?
Wheelchairs and trampers can be borrowed from the Ticket Office and a buggy service runs 10am to 5pm in season to help with access. The grotto and ice house aren't accessible, and some areas have uneven ground.
Can we cycle around the estate?
There's cycle hire and guided rides available on the Tramway Trail.
Is the House ticket separate from the gardens?
Separate ticket on top of Park and Gardens admission, so factor that in if you want to see inside.
Are there queues?
The site mentions possible queues for House entry at busier times, so an earlier visit avoids the worst of it.
Experiences
Calke Abbey to Staunton Harold trail
outdoorsA 1.7-mile leisurely walk from Calke Abbey to Staunton Harold with views over the reservoir, arable fields and woodland.
Cycle Hire
outdoorsCycle hire and guided rides along the Tramway Trail.
Filming Locations Walk
outdoorsA 0.8 to 3.1 mile walking trail exploring locations used in 'Outlander' Season 8 and 'Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man'.
House
indoorsBaroque-style mansion with peeling paintwork and abandoned rooms portraying the decline of a country house estate.
New woodland walk
outdoorsA 3-mile stroll through the historic parkland into Casey's Plantation, a new woodland area with over 10,000 young trees.
St Giles Church
indoors19th-century restored church overlooking the estate with bell tower, Gothic revival windows and family monuments.
The Tramway Trail
outdoorsAccessible, multi-use trail with a figure-of-eight route, 3.7 to 6.3 miles, for walking and cycling.
Areas to explore
Calke Explore
outdoorsOutdoor recreation area with natural play, cycle hire, walking trails, car park, toilets, Changing Places facility and refreshments kiosk.
Garden
outdoorsWalled garden with seasonal colour, a rare surviving auricula theatre, domed orangery, glasshouses and gardener's bothy.
Parkland
outdoors600-acre historic parkland with National Nature Reserves, ancient oaks including the 'Old Man of Calke', deer park and secluded ponds.
Stableyard
outdoorsPreserved historic stableyard and riding school built to house and exercise thoroughbred racehorses.
Also on site
Second-hand bookshop
Second-hand bookshop by the shop.
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