From Saturday 23rd July look out for some exciting activities and events running for the six weeks of school summer holidays in the Park! There is something for everyone to enjoy, from our holiday trails, guided walks and cycles to pond dipping, bug hunts, craft workshops and bushcraft sessions. Not to mention our daily watersports pay and play activities at Nene Outdoors and boat trips on Overton Lake!
Find out what’s happening and when, with our Six Weeks of Summer guide to family fun in the Park: www.nenepark.org.uk/sixweeksofsummer. We look forward to welcoming you to the Park over the summer.
Summer-long Activities
Passenger Boat Trips
Daily during the summer holidays
Enjoy a tranquil trip around Overton Lake and onto the River Nene on our electrically-powered passenger boat. The 45-minute pre-bookable trips will depart daily from the Visitor Centre Jetty at 10am, 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm. Suitable for all ages, it’s £8 per person and free for under 3s. Book online or on the boat.
Pay and Play Watersports Hire
Daily 11am-6.30pm (10am at weekends)
Make a splash with our ‘Pay and Play’ watersports, available daily during the school holidays from 11am-6.30pm (10am at weekends). Activities include swan pedalos and row boats, stand up paddle boards, kayaks and canoes, dinghies and windsurfing. Book online to avoid the queues on busy days!
Cycle Hire
Daily 10am-5pm
Hire a bike from Nene Outdoors and discover miles of traffic-free cycling paths, lakeside trails and woodland routes in the Park. Cycle hire is available daily during the school holidays from 10am to 5pm. Book your cycle hire online.
On Ya Bike – Guided cycle rides and cycle skills track:
In partnership with PECT we want to encourage more visitors to get out on their bikes in and around Peterborough. Go to our events pages to book your guided cycle ride and drop-in to the cycling skills track.
- Guided cycle rides – 14th August, 17th August, 18th August, 27th August, 31st August – book online
- Cycling skills track – 3rd August, 5th August, 9th August, 12th August, 24th August, 26th August, 4th September
Visit Longthorpe Tower
Weekends 10am-4.30pm
Visit Longthorpe Tower, the surviving tower of a 14th century fortified Manor House. It contains the finest set of medieval wall paintings in a domestic setting in Western Europe, giving a rare insight into the medieval mind. Book your 1-hour tour with our knowledgeable volunteers between 10am – 4.30pm at weekends. Booking essential.
Open Water swimming
Every Thursday 5.30-7pm
Come along and swim the 400m course on Gunwade Lake in these friendly sessions. Register with NOWCA and get your first swim session free. Subsequent sessions are £6.50. Find out more at www.nenenpark.org.uk/open-water-swimming
Go Camping
Upgrade your day out at Ferry Meadows to an overnight adventure! Book one of our bell tents on ‘Lakeview Campsite’ or book a camping pitch at ‘The Glade’. Located in the heart of Ferry Meadows, both campsites have access to a number of facilities and are ideally situated to take advantage of all the exciting activities on offer at Nene Outdoors. Find out more on our website.
Ride the Ferry Meadows Railway
All aboard the Ferry Meadows miniature railway! Sit back and enjoy the ride as you pass through meadows while taking in views of Overton and Lynch Lakes. The carriages include a wheelchair coach which allows people to ride the train while remaining in their wheelchairs. To see if trains are running on the day of your visit please call 07779 031764 or go to the Ferry Meadows Railway website.
Nature Walks and Talks
Social Walking Group
27th July, 1st August, 31st August 10.30am-12pm
Not sure where to go for a walk, or not keen on walking on your own? Join one of our Visitor Rangers for a social walk around Ferry Meadows and the wider Nene Park and meet like-minded people. The location and routes of the walks will be different each month with two opportunities to come along and see a different area of Nene Park.
Suitable for 14 yrs+ Cost: Free
Guided Walk with a Ranger
Thursday 21st July 10am-1pm (maybe remove as not officially part of the 6 weeks of summer?)
Join one of our Rangers, Ian, for a 6 mile walk around Ferry Meadows and the surrounding area. Ian will highlight various points of interest along the way and you can ask any questions about the park and its history. Gain confidence walking in the rural estate and find new routes you may not have explored before.
Suitable for: 12yrs + Cost: £2.50
Osprey Talk
Monday 25th July 7-9pm
Join Ken from the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust for an informative talk and presentation about this wonderful bird of prey. Self-service tea/coffee and biscuits available at the interval.
Suitable for: 12 yrs+ Cost: £5
Watersports Courses
Adult RYA Start Sailing Level 1
Saturday 6th August- Sunday 7th August 9am-5pm
Saturday 20th – Sunday 21st August 9am-5pm
This two day (consecutive) course covers how to sail in all directions, including an awareness of launching and recovery. After the course participants will be able to sail in light winds under supervision. All safety equipment, including wetsuits and buoyancy aids are provided.
Suitable for: 16yrs + Cost: £166.00
Youth RYA Sailing Stage 1
Monday 1st August – Tuesday 2nd August 9am-5pm
Monday 15th August – Tuesday 16th August 9am-5pm
This two day course covers basic sailing skills, rope work and collision avoidance. After the course participants will be able to tack and control boat speed and understand basic principles.
All safety equipment, including wetsuits and buoyancy aids are provided.
Suitable for: 8-15 yrs Cost: £166.00
Youth RYA Sailing Stage 2
Wednesday 3rd August – Thursday 4th August 9am-5pm
Wednesday 17th August – Thursday 18th August 9am-5pm
This 2 day course covers launching and recovery, steering, parts of the boat and basic sailing. After the course participants will be able to steer and understand basic principles.
All safety equipment, including wetsuits and buoyancy aids are provided.
Suitable for: 8-15 yrs Cost: £166.00
RYA Start Windsurfing
Saturday 13th August – Sunday 14th August 9am-5pm
Nene Outdoors is the perfect place to come and learn to windsurf. Our safe and sheltered waters help you progress in this sport, giving you the opportunity to focus on learning the basics, including preparation, sailing in all directions, manoeuvring the board and getting on and off the water.
Suitable for: Suitable for ages 16+ Cost: £166
Youth Windsurfing course
Wednesday 17th August – Thursday 18th August 9am-5pm
This two day (consecutive days) intensive course teaches participants the basics of windsurfing, including the key techniques and skills you need for success in this sport. After the course participants will be able to sail to a chosen point on the water and return to where you started in light winds.
Suitable for: 10-15 yrs Cost: £166.00pp
Arts, Craft and Sculpture
Family Sculpture Walk
Wednesday 27th July 10am-12pm
Join Louise, Project Officer Arts, for a walk and activities around Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail. We will explore the sculpture trail and a selection of the sculptures via hands-on creative activities.
Suitable for: all ages
Meeting point: Thorpe Meadows car park
Cost: £2.50pp
Children’s Fused glass workshop
Friday 12th August 10.30-11.30am, 1-2pm, 3-4pm
Join June from Semperart at this workshop, especially for children to make their own unique fused glass. During the session you will develop a design that June has created especially for this workshop and choose a variety of coloured glass to create your design. Once your piece is complete, it will be fired in a kiln and you can collect it approximately one week later from the Visitor Centre.
Suitable for: 7yrs+ under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: £12 pp
Adult’s Introduction to fused glass workshop
Saturday 13th August 10.30am-12pm, 1.30-3pm: Join June from Semperart at this beginner workshop to make your own unique fused glass.
Suitable for: 16 years + Cost: £20 per person.
Children’s Willow Weaving Workshop
Tuesday 23rd August – 50-minute workshops between 10am and 3pm
A children’s taster workshop to introduce you to the wonderful world of willow. Join Martin from Rutland Willows as he takes you through the techniques you need to create a unique piece of work to take home.
Suitable for: 10-15 yrs, Cost: £14 per person
Special Boat Trips
Wildlife Eco Boat trip
Wednesday 10th August 9.30-11am
Wyndham’s near silent-motor means that she is the ideal craft for wildlife watching. Join us on a trip around Overton Lake and along the River Nene where swans, geese and other water fowl will glide alongside the boat with you. We cannot guarantee what you will see but wildlife highlights may include Herons, Kingfishers and the elusive Otter!
Minimum age: 8yrs, children must be able to sit quietly and patiently Cost: £14
Children’s Nature activities
Pond dipping
Wednesdays: 27th July, 3rd August, 10th August , 17th August, 24th August, 31st August 12-3pm
Come along to our drop-in session and spend some time pond dipping and identifying the fascinating creatures you find. There may be a wait on the day due to the number of people attending.
Suitable for: 3yrs + Cost: Free – Donations welcome
Bug Hunting
Tuesday 2nd August 10.30am-12pm and 1.30-3pm
Thursday 19th August 10.30am-12pm and 1.30-3pm
Find out about the amazing mini beasts which make their home in the different habitats of Ferry Meadows.
Suitable for: 2 yrs+ Cost: £2.50
Pollinator Ponder and Wildlife Wander
Saturday 16th August 1-2.30pm
A walk with a ranger looking at some of the butterfly, bees and wildflower species found in the Park and how they work together in the world of pollination.
Suitable for: 10 years + Cost: £2.50
Holiday adventures
Summer Holiday Trail
New trails launched on the 25th July, 5th August and 19th August 9am-4pm
There is a new trail every two weeks throughout the summer holidays. Collect a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre and then hunt for questions as you walk around Ferry Meadows. Return to the Visitor Centre to claim your prize to grow at home. No need to book; just pop into the Visitor Centre to find out more.
Suitable for: all ages Cost: £1 per sheet.
Archery
Tuesday 26th July, Tuesday 9th August, Thursday 25th August 11am-4pm
Pay and Play Archery sessions will run throughout the day. Why not come down and have a go? You will find us on Oak Meadow close to Nene Outdoors.
Suitable for: Adults and children 8 yrs + Cost: £10. Booking Essential.
Climbing Wall
Thursday 4th August, Tuesday 16th August, Tuesday 30th August 11am-4pm
The team from Nene Outdoors will be getting our climbing wall out during the school holidays for all visitors to have a go. We will be outside Nene Outdoors. Are you brave enough to reach the top?
Suitable for: adults or children over 4 yrs Cost: £10. Booking essential.
Bushcraft: Tool Use
Tuesday 9th August 10.30am-12pm and 1.30-3pm
Learn how to use a selection of tools including loppers and gimlets to turn elder sticks into crafts such as beads, jewellery and much more!
Suitable for: 8yrs+ Cost: £5.50
Bushcraft: Fire lighting
Thursday 18th August 10.30am-12pm and 1.30-3pm
Children will be shown how to use basic bushcraft techniques to light a fire without using matches and then try to light their own.
Suitable for: 7 yrs+ Cost: 5.50
Bushcraft: Shelter Building
Friday 26th August 10.30am-12pm and 1.30-3pm
Come along to find out how to build your own wild shelter and have a go at creating your own.
Suitable for: 7 yrs+ Cost: £5.50
