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Staunton Harold
Countryside space with wildflower meadows, woodland walks and open water
Staunton Harold, Calke Road, Melbourne, Derbyshire, DE73 8DL
Opening times for 11 August 2025
Asset Opening time Staunton Harold 08:00 - 17:00 Café 10:00 - 17:00 Last entry to Staunton Harold is at 5pm and the car park will be locked by 8pm. Any vehicles remaining after this time will need to be collected when Staunton Harold reopens the following morning. Please bear this in mind when planning your visit.
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Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid All day £6.00 Max 4 hours
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Max. 4 hours £3.50 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Adventure playground/play area
The play area is a short walk away from the main car park down a tarmac slope.
- Café
Enjoy light refreshments inside the dog-friendly café.
- Car park
There is one main car park.
- Dogs allowed
Dogs are welcome to explore Staunton Harold, but must be on a lead near the car park, visitor facilities, play area, picnic benches, and inside the café.
- Toilet
Available at the visitor facilities.
Accessible parking and toilets. Some accessible paths with variable gradients but no steep slopes.
- Accessible route and/or map
The waymarked wildflower walk is wheelchair friendly, with views along the reservoir bank and wildflower meadows. The 2.5km route follows a crushed stone surface, with no steep slopes.
- Accessible toilet
Available at the visitor facilities.
- Changing Places
Available at the visitor facilities.
- Designated parking
Available in the main car park.
- Drop-off point
There is a drop-off point at the main entrance, which has a dropped kerb
- Level access to food outlet
Level access is available from the car park to the café. There is a ramp outside the café with handrails on both sides.
- Ramped access/slopes
Ramp access with handrails to the café.
- Seating available
There is moveable seating inside the café. Outside, there are fixed picnic benches with gaps to provide access for wheelchair users.
- By road
on A514 at Ticknall between Swadlincote and Melbourne. Access from M42/A42 exit 13 and A50 Derby South.
Sat Nav: If using SatNav please use postcode DE73 8DN, or use latitude and longitude coordinates 52.81089, -1.5062.
- By train
Derby 9 miles; Burton 10 miles
- By bus
The nearest bus stop is in Melbourne, Derbyshire, 1.2 miles from Staunton Harold. There are pavements along the road to Staunton.
- Cycling
Staunton Harold, Calke Road, Melbourne, Derbyshire, DE73 8DL
Planning your visit
Article
Summer of Play at Staunton Harold
Enjoy summer outdoors at Staunton Harold from 12 July – 7 September. Discover family games in the sunshine or create your own hideout in the den building area.
Article
Visiting Staunton Harold with your dog
Find out everything you need to know about visiting Staunton Harold with your dog, including the best walks to explore, the dog-friendly café and the canine code.
PDF
Article
Accessibility at Staunton Harold
Discover what accessibility features we have at Staunton Harold to help you enjoy your visit.
Highlights
Reservoir
Man-made reservoir which plays an important part in the water supply network, and an important habitat for wildlife.
Tower Windmill
Built in 1798 by Lord Melbourne at a cost of £250 and altered in the 1960s in an unsuccessful attempt to convert into an observation tower.
Walks
Variety of walks through wildflower meadow or across arable fields and woodland to the historic parkland at Calke Abbey.
Nature Reserves
Car parks at Dimminsdale and Calke village provide access to the south of the reservoir, Calke park and nature reserves: Dimminsdale and Spring Wood.
Play
Waterside play area and activities as part of '50 things to do before you’re 11¾'.
Eating
Dog-friendly café open year-round, serving light refreshments and a small retail offer.
Spotlight events
Article
Summer of Play at Staunton Harold
Enjoy summer outdoors at Staunton Harold from 12 July – 7 September. Discover family games in the sunshine or create your own hideout in the den building area.
Events at Staunton Harold
Take a look at our upcoming events, including guided walks and family activity.
Things to see and do
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Staunton Harold
Find inspiration for family days out at Staunton Harold this summer. Discover outdoor games, let your imagination run wild in the den building area and stop for a bite to eat in the café.
Article
Exploring the countryside at Staunton Harold
Discover wildflower meadows, diverse habitats and plenty of wildlife at Staunton Harold, a 163-acre countryside space in Derbyshire.
Outdoor activities
Sailing at Staunton Harold
Fancy a day on the water? Staunton Harold Sailing Club offers a variety of water sports at Staunton, from sailing activities to windsurfing and paddleboarding, with training available for beginners of all ages. All launching of watercraft must be through the sailing club.
Fishing at Staunton Harold
The tranquil surroundings of Staunton Harold make an ideal fishing spot, with around 2.2km of bank fishing available.
Eating
Eating at Staunton Harold
The café is open every day serving a range of hot and cold drinks, light bites, sandwiches and sweet treats. Dogs are welcome inside the café, with dog treats and essentials available to buy. Seating is available indoors and outdoors.
Places to stay
Ticknall Lodge
An intriguing pentagonal gate lodge with elegant interiors surrounded by Calke Abbey parkland.
Wicket Nook Cottage
A cosy cottage packed full of character features and with stunning views over the Calke Estate.
Heath End Lodge
A former gatehouse to Calke Abbey, this cottage now stands in a peaceful backwater.
Southwood House Farm
The perfect get-together pad with seven bedrooms, a large garden and miles of parkland walks.
Upcoming events
Event
Summer of Play at Staunton Harold
Join us for a fun-filled summer at Staunton Harold, with den building and a variety of outdoor games for the whole family to enjoy.
Event
Bat and moth evening walk
Discover the inhabitants of Staunton Harold after dark. As dusk falls, join the Ranger team to set up a moth surveying device. While waiting for the moths, head out on a torchlit walk to discover the other winged inhabitants of Staunton, bats....
About Staunton Harold
Staunton Harold is a 163-acre countryside space, while the reservoir itself is 210 acres. At this hidden gem you'll discover wildflower meadows, woodland habitat, industrial archaeology and nature reserves, along with spectacular views across open water.
Owned by Severn Trent and cared for in partnership with the National Trust, the reservoir at Staunton Harold has played an important part in the water supply network since its creation in 1964. The flooding of the valley for the development of the reservoir included the largest of Calke Abbey’s six ponds.
Today the reservoir contains a rich diversity of wildlife, while the Tower Windmill dominates the skyline. Enjoyed by families, walkers and nature enthusiasts alike, there are many walking trails including a route to neighbouring Calke Abbey, as well as space for family fun and picnics.