What’s On
What’s On in 2010 – What will you discover?
There is an exciting range of events and activities scheduled throughout the year at Ashridge designed to appeal to all ages.
Walks … and Talks -If you care about wildlife and nature, if you want to learn more, or if you simply enjoy getting out and about in the countryside, there is something on offer for you from interpreted guided walks to gentle strolls and countryside events to ‘just being here’! To book tickets for events please contact the Visitor Centre on 01442 851227. Open 9am – 5pm Mon-Fri. MasterCard, Visa and Maestro are accepted. Friends of Ashridge are entitled to a discount. Please ask for details.
Gentle Strolls – 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, are open to all and do not require pre-booking. Easier, more level routes are selected except in the Steps Hill area where hills cannot be avoided. Stout, water-proof footwear always recommended. £2.00/person will be collected on the day. This programme of strolls include popular non-taxing circular routes with easy parking.
Discover Ashridge Walks – Following requests the Friends of Ashridge have arranged four longer walks that will visit different parts of the Ashridge Estate. The walks with be 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. The dates for 2010 walks will be published shortly on this page. 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 person.
Also, at anytime:
Ashridge Eye Spy – As well as delightful walks and views throughout the year children or all ages can enjoy Ashridge Eye Spy and 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. £1 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 | Date | Start | End | Start at | Description | Adult | FoA | Child | B/R |
| July | |||||||||
| Mini Bus Tour of Ashridge | 7 | 1.30pm | 4.30pm | Learn about this large and spectacular estate on a minibus tour followed by a hot drink and biscuits. Short walks included | £12.00 | £10.00 | - | Yes | |
| Night Time Wildlife Walk | 9 | 9pm | 12am | 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. | £8.00 | £6.00 | £6.00 | Yes | |
| Discover Ashridge | 10 | 10am | 1pm | Visitor Centre | £2.00 | No | |||
| Gentle Stroll | 15 | 2.30pm | SP 964 156 | Cattle Grid end of Steps Hill car park | £2.00 | No | |||
| Archaeology Day | 18 | 11am | 3pm | Visitor Centre | Discover archaeology at Ashridge, part of the National Festival of Archaeology. Meet an archaeologist and enjoy displays and hands-on activities for all ages. | Free | No | ||
| Summer Fun | Summer holidays | Details soon! | |||||||
| Secrets of Northchurch Common | 27 | 6.30pm | Join us on this walk to discover the hidden archaeology of Northchurch Common, from Roman farmsteads to World War One practice trenches. Our regional archaeologist will be there to share his expert kNowledge on local quarries, woodland enclosures and evidence for commoning. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | ||
| Minibeast Safari | 29 | 1.30pm | 2.30pm | 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 | |
| August | |||||||||
| The Edible Dormouse Talk and Walk | 7 | 8pm | 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 | £4.00 | Yes | ||
| Totally Batty | 11 | 9pm | 10.30pm | Join us on this children’s 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 about the bats at Ashridge. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | |
| Gentle Stroll | 20 | 2.30pm | SP 963 159 | Steps Hill grass car park | £2.00 | No | |||
| September | |||||||||
| Discover Ashridge | 4 | 10am | 1pm | Visitor Centre | £2.00 | No | |||
| Heritage Open Day | 11 | 12am | 4.30pm | Bridgewater Monument | The Bridgewater Monument will be open Free of charge. Climb up 170 steps for beautiful paNoramic views from the top. | Free | No | ||
| Gentle Stroll | 16 | 10.30am | SP 979 127 | B4506 end of Monument Drive | |||||
| Chilterns Countryside Festival | 26 | 11am | 4pm | 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. | £2.50 | £2.50 | Free | No |
| October | |||||||||
| Discover Ashridge | 9 | 10am | 1pm | Visitor Centre | £2.00 | No | |||
| Gentle Stroll | 15 | 10.30am | SP 979 127 | B4506 end of Monument Drive | £2.00 | No | |||
| Fallow Deer Rut | 16 | 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 | 16 | 8am | 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 | 17 | 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 | 17 | 8am | 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 | ||
| Ashridge and its Deer Tea and Talk | 23 | 2pm | 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 | No under 16′s | Yes | ||
| Fungus Foray | 24 | 10am | 12.30pm | Ashridge is home to a variety of fungi, including the spectacular but highly poisoNous fly agaric with its distinctive red cap and white spots. Join the Herts Fungus Group to discover these and many more species on this fascinating fungus walk. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | |
| Fungus Foray | 24 | 1.30pm | 4pm | Ashridge is home to a variety of fungi, including the spectacular but highly poisoNous fly agaric with its distinctive red cap and white spots. Join the Herts. Fungus Group to discover these and many more species on this fascinating fungus walk. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | |
| Skeletons and Skulls | 28 | 10.15am | 11.15 am | Join us at Tring Museum for a spooky hands on session to discover more about the creepy collection of animals there just in time for Halloween! | - | - | £2.00 | Yes | |
| November | |||||||||
| Badger Tea and Talk | 13 | 2pm | 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 | No under 16′s | Yes | ||
| The Edible Dormouse Tea and Talk | 27 | 2pm | Join us to learn all about the edible dormouse (Glis glis). Discover the story of its introduction in 1902 at Tring Park and how it has spread since then. This illustrated talk will be followed by a substantial country tea. | £15.00 | £12.00 | No under 16′s | Yes | ||
| December | |||||||||
| Christmas Fair | 5 | 10am | 4pm | Visitor Centre | Fill yourself with festive cheer and your bags with festive goodies at our annual Christmas fair. Free entry. | Free | No | ||
| Christmas Walk | 27 | 10am | Enjoy a scenic post-Christmas walk through the Estate at this magical time of year. There will be mulled wine and mince pies at the Visitor Centre afterwards. | £5.00 | £4.00 | £3.00 | Yes | ||
B/R – Booking Required
