Family days out at Ilam Park and the White Peak
- Published:
- 27 February 2023
Ilam Park and the White Peak is a great place for families and dog walkers. There are plenty of gentle riverside walks, as well as opportunities for picnics, adventures and exploring. You can relax in our deckchairs and enjoy the far-reaching views across the Italian Gardens towards Dovedale or take part in any of our seasonal activities. Take a look at what you and your family can do this season in this special place.
Easter and spring time fun at Ilam Park
Step back in time this Easter and enjoy a fun, family‑friendly trail inspired by 200 years of Ilam Hall’s history.
From 28 March to 12 April, explore the parkland through ten creative activity stations where you can design a family crest, discover Saxon and Viking artefacts, make mud pies and craft 'pebble poetry'.
Everyone can join in the trail, which follows Ilam’s new accessible pathways.
Discover the colourful history of Ilam Park with a fun, hands‑on Viking and Saxon shield‑making activity. Drop in on 30 March to design and decorate your very own cardboard shield, inspired by the warriors who once roamed the White Peak.
Whether you're imagining heroic battles or simply creating a brilliant piece of bedroom décor, you’ll leave with a unique handmade masterpiece.
Dovedale: Design Your Own Binoculars – Drop‑In Craft
Get inspired by the stunning Dovedale landscape and create your very own colourful pair of make‑believe binoculars, perfect for budding explorers.
Drop in anytime between 10:30am and 2:30pm on April 1, to decorate your binoculars, then head out into Dovedale to spot wildlife and discover the hidden wonders of this iconic valley.
Dovedale: Easter Adventures Trail – Giant Eggs in the Valley
Celebrate Easter at Dovedale with a family-friendly trail that’s big in every sense - featuring 10 giant, beautifully painted eggs hidden throughout the valley.
Explore the stunning National Nature Reserve and enjoy nature‑inspired activities along the way, from flapping like birds to creeping and jumping like the wildlife that calls Dovedale home. Find out more here.
This season is packed with all sorts of opportunities to entertain the whole family and plenty of chances to relax, unwind and connect with nature. Find out more about all our events here
50 things to do before you’re 113/4
From playing pooh sticks to den building and fossil hunting, there are plenty of opportunities to complete some of your 50 things at Ilam Park and Dovedale. Find out more here.
Find the perfect place for a picnic
It might be a bit chilly this time of year, but the park can still be a great place to eat outdoors with plenty of picturesque places to choose from. The popular Manifold Tea-room offers plenty of choice for hungry and thirsty explorers too.
Ten top tips for things to do with the family in the White Peak
- Spot fossils in the stone steps in Dovedale valley
- Cycle the route of the former railway track in the Manifold valley
- Spot the old chimney pots in the Italian Garden at Ilam Park
- See the 'money trees' beside the path in Dovedale
- See Viator’s Bridge at Milldale - an ancient packhorse bridge
- Listen to the water bubbling in the boil holes in Ilam Park
- Explore caves in Dovedale valley
- Walk across the ridge and furrow in Ilam Park
- Look out for wildlife in and around the National Nature Reserve at Dovedale
- Find a far reaching view from the top of Thorpe Cloud or the other peaks in the White Peaks
Wonderful Wildlife
Take the time to notice all the wonderful ways of wildlife when you explore Ilam Park, Dovedale and the White Peak. Tune in your senses to reconnect with nature that is all around you - crouch down and take a closer look at the bugs on the ground or stand close to a tree and listen to all the different birdsongs in the tree canopy above you. Will you spot dippers diving across the river, buzzards soaring high above or yellow wagtails bobbing about?
