Brockholes

There is no entry fee at Brockholes but we do operate car parking charges. All profits from this are reinvested into the reserve, so when you pay you are helping to look after our reserve and the wildlife that calls it home!

There is no need to book to visit Brockholes for the day. Just turn up and enjoy your day. We only take bookings for events.

The car park is very big but there is still a chance it could fill up to capacity during the summer months. If this happens we will put signage at the entrance and will have a 'one in one out' system in place. We will also put information on our social media platforms should the car park fill up, so we recommend checking these before you set off.

Brockholes is a special nature reserve home to rare, threatened and sensitive wildlife and plants. It has taken us many years to transform this former quarry into an important wildlife refuge, with much more work left to do.

This is why we ask you not to bring your dog to Brockholes Nature Reserve.

Leaving your dog at home will help us stop the spread of invasive plant species that may attach seeds to your dog's fur, helps us keep our grazing animals calm, and limit wildlife disturbance as much as possible. Instead, you can take your dog to one of our dog-friendly nature reserves, where they can enjoy an adventure on their lead.

Find a dog-friendly nature reserve

Yes! Brockholes is the perfect place for a picnic! We have a number picnic tables around the reserve for you to enjoy. Be sure to check out Kestrel Kitchen for a delicious snack, hot drink, or a yummy ice cream!

Please remember to put your rubbish in the bins provided or take it away with you and always recycle.

Please note barbecues and fires are not allowed as they damage our nature reserve and can harm wildlife.

The paths around the car park and Visitor Village should be fairly dry, but Brockholes is on a flood plain and is prone to be soggy underfoot all year round so pack your wellies just in case!

Please note, whatever the weather, we advise you to wear sturdy footwear while exploring the reserve.

Unfortunately not. Larger gulls know it’s much easier to find food when we leave it lying around rather than finding their own lunch. Here at Brockholes we have lots of species breeding with us, including little ringed and ringed plover, lapwing, oystercatcher and redshank.

Unfortunately the gulls will eat these chicks, so if we feed them (thus encouraging them to stay), this increases that likelihood. Therefore we ask you do not feed the birds and take any leftovers away with you.

No, fishing is not allowed in the lakes on the reserve.

Yes, you can utilise public footpaths from the Tickled Trout bus stop all the way to Brockholes Nature Reserve. You can watch our full step by step guide here.