Snelsmore Common Country Park

What it’s like

Heathland trails for spotting adders, dragonflies and lizards, free to enter, with a crayon rubbing trail to keep younger legs going.

This is heathland rather than a manicured park, and it shows: waymarked trails cross valley mires, so some paths are steep and uneven underfoot. There are three named routes, the heathland, lizard and dragonfly trails, running from three-quarters of a mile up to just over a mile, so you can pick one to suit how far small legs will actually go.

The wildlife spotting is the real point of coming. Adders bask here in spring alongside grass snakes and common lizards, and if you time a summer visit right you might catch golden-ringed or four-spotted chaser dragonflies over the wetter ground. There's a crayon rubbing trail and a colouring sheet for younger kids, which gives them a job to do while the adults are busy scanning the heather for a woodlark.

It's free to get into, which is rare enough these days to mention twice. The car park itself runs 8am to 8pm in summer and 8am to 6pm in winter, and it fills up fast at weekends with nowhere else nearby to park if you're late. One of the circular trails is fully accessible with benches along the way, though a few of the kissing gates need a RADAR key, as does the accessible toilet.

There's a café on site for refreshments, though its hours shift about so it's not something to plan a visit strictly around. Dogs have to stay on the lead here, assistance dogs aside.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Good for families who like a proper wildlife spot over a playground

Parking

Large car park off B4494 Wantage Road, opens 8am, closes 8pm summer/6pm winter

How long to allow

Variable - reserve open at all times with multiple waymarked trails ranging from 0.75 to 1.25 miles

Food

Café with refreshments. Opening times vary, check The Snugg Café Facebook page

Picnics

Picnic area with wheelchair accessible picnic table and covered accessible picnic area

Wheelchairs

Fully accessible 0.75 mile circular trail with benches

Dogs

Must be kept on lead. Assistance dogs only at some reserves

• Dogs must stay on the lead throughout, assistance dogs only exempt
• The car park fills up on busy weekends with no nearby overflow
• RADAR key needed for some kissing gates and the accessible toilet
• Picnic area includes a covered, wheelchair accessible table

Plan your visit

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