Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve

What it’s like

Free wildlife trails and hides around a former sand quarry, open Wednesday to Sunday with a café on site.

Wander the nature trails here and you're looking for whatever's about that day, birds on the water, things rustling in the undergrowth, that kind of quiet spotting that works well with kids who like a mission. The paths are accessible and pushchair friendly, and there are hides dotted round if you want to stop and actually watch something rather than just walk past it.

Entry itself is free, which is the main reason this is an easy one to add to a weekend without much planning. Parking is £4 for the whole day, and that's really the only cost unless you fancy the café, which does locally sourced and fairtrade food Wednesday to Sunday, the same days the reserve itself is open. Picnics are allowed indoors and outdoors too, so you're not tied to buying anything if you'd rather bring your own.

There's no booking needed for a normal visit, you just turn up in the opening hours. Events are a different matter: some need booking in advance with payment taken at the time.

Toilets and an accessible toilet are on site, and the whole place is wheelchair accessible, which matters given how much of the appeal here is just being able to get right up to a hide without a struggle.

Facilities

Need to know

Parking

£4 per car all day

Food

Café with locally sourced, fairtrade and organic food and drinks available Wednesday-Sunday

Picnics

Permitted indoors and outdoors on site

Wheelchairs

Accessible paths and hides with wheelchair access, accessible toilet facilities

• Parking is £4 per car, cash or card for the day
• Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
• Picnics are welcome indoors and outdoors if you'd rather skip the café
• Check the events calendar if you want more than a trail walk, some need booking ahead

Plan your visit

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