Staveley Nature Reserve
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Knaresborough
What it’s like
Free 79-hectare reserve with five bird hides, grazing Highland cattle and Hebridean sheep, and flat paths that suit a buggy.
Five bird hides are dotted around the reserve, three of them fully accessible, so you can duck in and watch geese and lapwings without much walking between them. It spreads over 79 hectares, which sounds a lot but the paths are flat and the site says it's good for wheelchairs and buggies.
Hebridean sheep and Highland cattle graze the land year round, which is a nice surprise for kids who think a nature reserve just means birds. Dogs are welcome on a lead, though with grazing animals about that's not really optional, it's just sensible. Entry's free, and events run 10am to 3pm if you're going for something specific rather than just a wander.
The car park is small, just 12 spaces on Minskip Road outside the village, so turning up on a nice Sunday and expecting a spot isn't guaranteed. There's disabled parking off Main Street by the church via a radar key if you need it. No cycling on the reserve itself, but there are bike racks at the car park if you fancy riding there and walking the rest.
If you haven't got a car, the number 21 bus from Knaresborough stops a few hundred metres from the reserve in Staveley village, which makes it an easy one without driving.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Car park outside village on Minskip Road, 12 cars
- Pushchairs
- The reserve has good accessibility for wheelchairs and buggies
- Wheelchairs
- The reserve has good accessibility for wheelchairs and buggies
- Dogs
- On a lead, please respect grazing animals
- Getting there by bus or train
- Bus 21 from Knaresborough passes through Staveley village a few hundred metres from the reserve
- No cycling allowed on the reserve, but there are bike racks at the car park
- Only 12 spaces in the main car park, so arrive early on nice days
- Dogs must stay on a lead because of the grazing sheep and cattle
- Event sessions run 10am to 3pm if you're planning around one
Plan your visit
Is it free to get in?
Yes, entry to the reserve is free.
Is it OK for a buggy or wheelchair?
The paths are good for both, and three of the five bird hides are fully accessible. There's disabled parking off Main Street via a radar key.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are allowed on a lead, mainly because Hebridean sheep and Highland cattle graze the land.
Where do we park?
There's a small car park on Minskip Road with space for 12 cars, so it can fill up on a busy day. Bike racks are there too if you cycle in, though cycling isn't allowed on the reserve itself.
Can we get there without a car?
The number 21 bus from Knaresborough passes through Staveley village a few hundred metres from the entrance.
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