Exploring the parkland at Hatchlands

Visiting Hatchlands in wet weather 

The cafés and courtyard are accessible via hard-surfaced paths; however, if you’re planning to explore a little further, it’s likely that you’ll encounter some mud. Please remember to dress for the weather, with wellies or walking boots strongly recommended, even if you’re not planning on walking very far.

If you're planning to push a buggy through the park you may want to consider your route; just ask the visitor reception team for the best paths to take.

Children’s natural adventure play area 

Head into Great Wix Wood to discover Wizard Wix's Willow Warren. Get to grips with hand-crafted willow tunnels, domes, balance beams, sculptures and a totem pole. There are also wood piles for den building and picnic benches for anyone needing a rest. 

Picnic spots   

You’ll find great picnic options all over the park. Throw a rug down on the lawn in front of the house or head further afield to one of the many picnic spots around the grounds. Picnic areas are cow-free zones, so you can enjoy your food in peace. Pick up a map on arrival and look for the areas marked with a picnic table. 

Meet the Hatchlands Park donkeys

Hatchlands Park is home to two fostered donkeys, Callum and Morris. Here, they have a happy and safe home where they can spend their days roaming the fields and their nights tucked up in their cosy stable. Morris is the more outgoing of the pair, but Callum is blessed with very attractive stripy legs.   

You’re welcome to stroke their noses or provide a tickle behind the ears, but we would ask that you never feed them by hand. This encourages them to expect food from everyone - and fingers can look deceptively like carrots to a donkey. 

The temple and ice house   

Discover two of Hatchlands Park's best-kept secrets. A short distance off the beaten track, on your left heading towards visitor reception, you’ll find a classical stone temple installed by Hatchlands Park' last private owner, Hal Goodhart-Rendel, in memory of his mother Rose Ellen Cooper. Look out for the inscription that reads, ‘Placed here as a memory of Rose Ellen Cooper who long lived at and loved Hatchlands’. 

As you leave the garden, passing the London plane tree, and continuing along Fanny Boscawen’s Walk you'll notice the ice house on your left. It was built in the late 1750s by the Boscawen family, at about the same time as the house.  

The ice house is surrounded by box hedging and sits on the edge of the dell. It is cut into chalk which allows water to filter through it. The walls are extremely thick to provide insulation. The concrete base was put in during restoration work in 1983. 

Accessibility options  

Should you need some assistance to access the countryside trails, there are a number of options available to help you get around:

Tramper

A Tramper is a single-seater, all-terrain, off-road Personal Mobility Vehicle (PMV). It operates in a very similar way to a normal PMV but features slightly chunkier wheels to cope with more testing terrain. If you’re comfortable with a normal PMV, you should find the Tramper just as simple and intuitive to use.

MT Push

MT Push is a buddy wheelchair, with the ability to navigate a wide variety of terrain. An adjustable push handle, located behind the user, controls the steering and braking and is operated by the rider’s buddy. Hatchlands Park is one of a growing number of National Trust sites that provide these all-terrain wheelchairs for visitors's use. 

Availability for both vehicles is limited and so booking is essential. To book a morning (10.30am) or afternoon (1.30pm) session, or for more information about accessibility at Hatchlands Park, please email us or call 01483 222482.