What’s On
2011 Events at Ashridge
We have an exciting range of events and activities scheduled throughout the year at Ashridge which are designed to appeal to all ages. To book your tickets please ring the Visitor Centre on 01442 851227 (10am – 4pm Mon – Fri). We accept MasterCard, Visa and Maestro cards and Friends of Ashridge are entitled to a discount. Please ask for details.
Walks … and Talks -For those that care about wildlife and nature, who want to learn more, or simply enjoy getting out and about in the countryside, there’s always something on offer here. Enjoy one of our guided archaeology walks, take the challenge and complete the entire 16 mile Ashridge boundary trail, or find out more about Ashridge’s wildlife and then treat yourself to a delicious countryside tea at our teas and talks.
Gentle Strolls – Brian and Siân Barton continue their ever-popular informal strolls at Ashridge this year. These provide a chance to discover the wildlife in different parts of the Estate and to look for animal tracks, deer sightings, birds and other items of interest. The strolls may take up to 2 hours, are open to all and you don’t need to pre-book them. Easier, more level routes are selected except in the Steps Hill area where hills cannot be avoided. Stout, water-proof footwear always recommended. £2 per person will be collected on the day. This programme of strolls includes popular non-taxing circular routes with easy parking.
Discover Ashridge Walks – This year the walks are again led by Kath Hardy, an Ashridge volunteer, and will all be about 6 miles in length, each chosen for seasonal interest and variety each starting at 10.00 am from the Visitor Centre. Although there will be no mountaineering, stout shoes or walking boots will be necessary as will outdoor clothing to suit our ever-changing climate! No booking required. The cost will be £2 per person.
Also, at anytime:
Ashridge Eye Spy – As well as delightful walks and views throughout the year children of all ages can enjoy Ashridge Eye Spy. Become a nature detective at Ashridge and see if you can spot the signs of the seasons. Available at the Visitor Centre all year. 30p each.
Trail Cracker – Try the Ashridge Trail Cracker – plot your grid references, follow your map through the woods and see if you can find the answers! Available all year from the Visitor Centre. 50p each.
ALL events below require booking except where otherwise noted. For bookings and enquiries call the National Trust Ashridge Visitor Centre on 01442 851227.
| Event | Day | Date | Start | Finish | Start Point | Description | Adult | FoA | Child | Booking Required |
| Introduction to Birdwatching | Sat | 19th March | 8.30am | 3pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | An event for those new to bird watching. A chance to learn how to watch and observe birds. The day includes a walk in the woods, followed by indoor sessions. | £15.00 | £12.00 | N/A | Yes |
| Discover Ashridge Walk | Sat | 9th April | 10am | 1pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us on a walk of about 6 miles long each taking in a different area of the Estate. All walks start from the Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre and are led by Kath a keen walker who volunteers at Ashridge. Just turn up ready to go at 10am with sensible walking shoes, warm waterproof clothing and water. Dogs welcome but to be kept on leads please! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Gentle Stroll | Mon | 18th April | 10.30am | 12.30pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Brian and Siân Barton continue their ever-popular informal strolls at Ashridge. These provide a chance to discover the wildlife in different parts of the Estate and to look for animal tracks, deer sightings, birds and other items of interest. The strolls may take up to 2 hours. No need to book just turn up with sensible walking shoes and warm waterproof clothing just in case! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Tring Bird Events | Wed | 13th April | 10.15am | 11.15am | National History Museum Tring | Join us at the National History Museum at Tring to discover more about the beautiful bird collection at the Museum. | £2.00 | Yes | ||
| Ashridge Commons Archeology Walk | Thurs | 21st | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us on a facinating walk to explore Ashridge’s hidden archaeology in the commons surrounding the Ashridge Visitor Centre. This event is led by the National Trust’s Regional Archaeologist. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | ||
| Easter Egg Trail | Fri, Sat, Sun + Mon | 22nd -25th April | 12am | 4pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us for our annual Easter egg trail. Put on your wellies and discover the secrets of the woodland at Ashridge and learn more about the creatures who live there. Answer questions along the way and collect your reward at the end. | £2 | No | ||
| Trail and Ale | Sat | 30th April | 8am | 5pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join our National Trust Ranger on the 16 mile boundary walk around the Ashridge Estate. Get a real taste of the variety of the Estate and learn more about it on this guided walk. The walk ends in the local pub and your first well deserved drink is included in the price. For experienced walkers only. | £15.00 | £12.00 | N/A | Yes |
| The Woods in Springtime | Tues | 3rd May | 7pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us on a guided evening walk to enjoy Ashridge’s flora and fauna (hopefully with bluebells!) | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | |
| Discover Ashridge Walk | Sat | 7th May | 10am | 1pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us on a walk of about 6 miles long each taking in a different area of the Estate. All walks start from the Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre and are led by Kath a keen walker who volunteers at Ashridge. Just turn up ready to go at 10am with sensible walking shoes, warm waterproof clothing and water. Dogs welcome but to be kept on leads please! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Plant Fair | Sun | 8th May | 11am | 4pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Stock up at our Annual Plant Fair, with plants from our volunteer growers and local nurseries. | FREE | FREE | FREE | No |
| Gentle Stroll | Tues | 10th May | 2.30pm | 4.30pm | Ling Ride car Park off Beacon Road (SP 982 143) | Brian and Siân Barton continue their ever-popular informal strolls at Ashridge. These provide a chance to discover the wildlife in different parts of the Estate and to look for animal tracks, deer sightings, birds and other items of interest. The strolls may take up to 2 hours. No need to book just turn up with sensible walking shoes and warm waterproof clothing just in case! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Birdlife in Spring | Sat | 28th May | 6.30am | 8.30am | Steps Hill car park | Join our Senior Ranger on this early morning walk to look and listen for birds on the Ashridge Estate. It’s worth the early start. | £5 | £4.00 | N/A | Yes |
| Fossil Fabrication | Thurs | 2nd June | 10.15am | 11.15am | National History Museum Tring | Come along to the Natural History Museum at Tring and create your own fabulous fossil from plaster of Paris. | £2.00 | Yes | ||
| Potty About Plants | Tues – Fri | 31st – 3rd June | 12 | 4pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us this half term at Ashridge where you can come and turn an ordinary pot into a work of art. Get your fingers dirty and pot up your own vegetable to take home and grow, you never know you might even be tempted to eat it! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Discover Ashridge Walk | Sat | 11th June | 10am | 1pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us on a walk of about 6 miles long each taking in a different area of the Estate. All walks start from the Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre and are led by Kath a keen walker who volunteers at Ashridge. Just turn up ready to go at 10am with sensible walking shoes, warm waterproof clothing and water. Dogs welcome but to be kept on leads please! | £2 | No | ||
| Badger Talk and Walk | Sat | 11th June | 2pm | 5pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Learn about badgers and how to watch them. There will be an illustrated talk followed by an optional walk to a badger sett (badgers may not be included!) | £10 | £8.00 | Yes | |
| Gentle Stroll | Wed | 15th June | 10.30am | 12.30pm | Toms Hill car park on road from Aldbury to B4506 (SP 969 119) | Brian and Siân Barton continue their ever-popular informal strolls at Ashridge. These provide a chance to discover the wildlife in different parts of the Estate and to look for animal tracks, deer sightings, birds and other items of interest. The strolls may take up to 2 hours. No need to book just turn up with sensible walking shoes and warm waterproof clothing just in case! | £2 | No | ||
| Historic Parkland Walk | Wed | 22nd June | 7pm | The poet John Skelton wrote in the late fifteenth century that A pleasaunter place than Ashrige is, harde were to fynde. Discover the fascinating history of Ashridge’s parkland, where royalty hunted and gentry took their leisure. | £5 | £4.00 | £3.00 | |||
| Walk in the Woods | Sat | 2nd July | 9am | Toms Hill car park | Enjoy a walk on the wooded commons of Ashridge whilst learning about wildlife and woodland management. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | |
| Downland Wildlife Walk | Sat | 2nd July | 2pm | 4.30pm | Steps Hill car park | Learn to identify our local butterflies, wildflowers and other wildlife on Ashridge’s chalk downland with the National Trust’s Senior Ranger. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes |
| Paws at Ashridge | Sun | 3rd July | 11am | 4pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Bring your four legged friend along to Ashridge to our Paws at Ashridge event. Learn more about pet care and support your local animal charities. | Free | Free | FREE | No |
| Night Time Wildlife Walk | Fri | 8th July | 9pm | 12pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us for an evening of night time discovery, looking for bats and other nocturnal creatures, followed by a moth trapping session with Bucks Moth Group. | £10.00 | £8.00 | £5.00 | Yes |
| Discover Ashridge Walk | Sat | 9th July | 10am | 1pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us on a walk of about 6 miles long each taking in a different area of the Estate. All walks start from the Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre and are led by Kath a keen walker who volunteers at Ashridge. Just turn up ready to go at 10am with sensible walking shoes, warm waterproof clothing and water. Dogs welcome but to be kept on leads please! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Gentle Stroll | Thurs | 14th July | 2.30pm | 4.30pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Brian and Siân Barton continue their ever-popular informal strolls at Ashridge. These provide a chance to discover the wildlife in different parts of the Estate and to look for animal tracks, deer sightings, birds and other items of interest. The strolls may take up to 2 hours. No need to book just turn up with sensible walking shoes and warm waterproof clothing just in case! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Minibeast Hunt | Thurs | 4th Aug | 2pm | 3pm | National History Museum Tring | Come along to the Natural History Museum at Tring. Forget the Serengeti, experience the wilds of Tring as we track ferocious predators and their prey across the wildlife area. | £2.00 | Yes | ||
| The Edible Dormouse Talk and Walk | Sat | 6th August | 8pm | 10pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Learn all about the elusive Glis glis or edible dormouse, released from Tring Park in 1902. There will be an illustrated talk followed by an optional walk. | £10.00 | £8.00 | Yes | |
| Totally Batty | Wed | 10th Aug | 9pm | 10.30pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us on this night time walk for a chance to discover all about bats! Learn exciting facts about these amazing night-time creatures, and enjoy a walk in the dark to discover more and hopefully get a glimpse. Suitable for the whole family. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes |
| Gentle Stroll | Wed | 17th Aug | 2.30pm | 4.30pm | Steps Hill grass car park off Beacon Road (SP 969 159) | Brian and Siân Barton continue their ever-popular informal strolls at Ashridge. These provide a chance to discover the wildlife in different parts of the Estate and to look for animal tracks, deer sightings, birds and other items of interest. The strolls may take up to 2 hours. No need to book just turn up with sensible walking shoes and warm waterproof clothing just in case! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Discover Ashridge Walk | Sat | 3rd Sept | 10am | 1pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us on a walk of about 6 miles long each taking in a different area of the Estate. All walks start from the Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre and are led by Kath a keen walker who volunteers at Ashridge. Just turn up ready to go at 10am with sensible walking shoes, warm waterproof clothing and water. Dogs welcome but to be kept on leads please! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Heritage Open Day | Sat | 10th Sept | 12 | 4.00pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | The Bridgewater Monument will be open free of charge. Climb up 170 steps for beautiful panoramic views from the top. | FREE | FREE | FREE | No |
| Secrets of Ivinghoe Beacon | Thurs | 15th Sept | 6.30pm | 8.30pm | Join us on this walk to discover the hidden archaeology of Ivinghoe Beacon and surrounding area. Our regional archaeologist will be there to share his expert knowledge. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | |
| Gentle Stroll | Thurs | 15th Sept | 10.30am | 12.30pm | B4506 end of Monument Drive (SP 979 127) | Brian and Siân Barton continue their ever-popular informal strolls at Ashridge. These provide a chance to discover the wildlife in different parts of the Estate and to look for animal tracks, deer sightings, birds and other items of interest. The strolls may take up to 2 hours. No need to book just turn up with sensible walking shoes and warm waterproof clothing just in case! | £2.00 | no | ||
| Chilterns Countryside Festival | Sun | 18th Sept | 11am | 4pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Come along to our annual festival to celebrate the different crafts, industries and wildlife associated with the Chilterns countryside. Enjoy a day of mouth-watering local produce stalls, fascinating craft displays, forestry demonstrations and children’s activities in the meadow behind the Visitor Centre. | £3.00 | FREE | No | |
| Discover Ashridge Walk | Sat | 8th October | 10am | 1pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us on a walk of about 6 miles long each taking in a different area of the Estate. All walks start from the Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre and are led by Kath a keen walker who volunteers at Ashridge. Just turn up ready to go at 10am with sensible walking shoes, warm waterproof clothing and water. Dogs welcome but to be kept on leads please! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Fallow Deer Rut | Sat | 15th Oct | 7am | 9am | Join us at the most exciting time of year to watch fallow deer as bucks compete for does. On this very popular wildlife walk it is often possible to see males locking horns, calling females and scent marking during the rut. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | |
| Family Deer Walk | Sat | 15th Oct | 8am | 10am | Come along to this family-based wildlife walk to experience the sights and sounds of the autumn deer rut. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | |
| Fallow Deer Rut | Sun | 16th Oct | 7am | 9am | Join us at the most exciting time of year to watch fallow deer as bucks compete for does. On this very popular wildlife walk it is often possible to see males locking horns, calling females and scent marking during the rut. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | |
| Family Deer Walk | Sun | 16th Oct | 8am | 10am | Come along to this family-based wildlife walk to experience the sights and sounds of the autumn deer rut. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | |
| Gentle Stroll | Tues | 18th Oct | 10.30am | 12.30pm | B4506 end of Monument Drive (SP 979 127) | Brian and Siân Barton continue their ever-popular informal strolls at Ashridge. These provide a chance to discover the wildlife in different parts of the Estate and to look for animal tracks, deer sightings, birds and other items of interest. The strolls may take up to 2 hours. No need to book just turn up with sensible walking shoes and warm waterproof clothing just in case! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Ashridge and it’s Deer Tea and Talk | Sat | 22nd October | 2pm | 4.30pm | Join us for a fascinating insight into the history of the Ashridge Estate and the deer that have lived here since Norman times. The illustrated talk will be followed by a substantial and delicious country tea. | £15.00 | £12.00 | N/A | Yes | |
| Halloween Activites | Mon – Fri | 24th Oct – 28th Oct | 12 | 4pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us at the Ashridge Estate to create your own spooky things to take home with you! | £2.00 | No | ||
| Creepy Crawlies | Fri | 28th Oct | 10.15am | 11.15am | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us at the National History Museum at Tring to view the collection of creepy crawlies there and create your own to take home with you! | £2.00 | Yes | ||
| Badger Tea and Talk | Sat | 12th Nov | 2pm | 4.30pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us at the Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre to learn all about badgers and how to watch them in this illustrated talk which will be followed by a substantial country tea. | £15.00 | £12.00 | N/A | Yes |
| Edible Dormouse Talk and Tea | Sat | 26th Nov | 2pm | 4.30pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Join us at the Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre to learn all about the illusive Glis glis! This illustrated talk will be followed by a delicious substantial country tea! | £15.00 | £12.00 | N/A | Yes |
| Ashridge at Christmas | Sunday | 4th Dec | 10am | 4pm | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Fill yourself with festive cheer and your bags with festive goodies at our annual Christmas fair. Free entry. | FREE | FREE | FREE | No |
| Christmas Walk | Tues | 27th Dec | 10am | 12 | Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre | Enjoy a scenic post-Christmas walk through the Estate at this magical time of year. There will be mulled wine and mince pies afterwards. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes |