Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome
Getting here
52.29622, -0.38851
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦57+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Merlin and Short-eared Owl
- 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
- ☕Olivers Coffee Shop — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦57+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Merlin and Short-eared Owl
- 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
- ☕Olivers Coffee Shop — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Merlin, Short-eared Owl, Wren +54 more · last seen 2025
Free
Birds — Merlin, Short-eared Owl, Wren +54 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Setaceous Hebrew Character, Large White, Willow Beauty +207 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
🛝Family friendly
Strong match
café; Urban park — family destination
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Good match
Plants — Forked Veilwort, Crescent-cup Liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha subsp. ruderalis +15 more · last seen 2019
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km2 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Three Shires WayWalking route79 km▾
49 mile route liking the Swan's Way to the Grafham Water circular walk, which it now incorporates, made up largely of bridleways.
Named routeLength 79 kmRegional walking route
North Bedfordshire Heritage TrailWalking route70 km▾
Named routeLength 70 kmRegional walking route
18 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
National Byway (Beds)Cycling route▾
Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
Route HDC 7 (alt route)Cycling route▾
Named routeRef HDC 7 (alt route)Local cycle route
Route HDC 7Cycling route▾
Named routeRef HDC 7Local cycle route
N/ACycling route169 m▾
Named routeLength 169 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
N/ACycling route336 m▾
Named routeLength 336 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
N/ACycling route46 m▾
Named routeLength 46 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Photos
Kimbolton Castle gatehouse
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Wildlife to spot
10,107 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
10,107 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds29 species
winterautumn
2025▾
Merlin · Short-eared Owl · Swift · House Martin · Chaffinch +24
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus2024
- SwiftApus apus2023
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- PochardAythya ferina
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
- Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius2024
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus2024
- Barn OwlTyto alba2023
- Little OwlAthene noctua2022
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2022
- SwallowHirundo rustica2022
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2022
- Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhulaPyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula2022
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2022
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2022
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2022
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2022
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2022
- RobinErithacus rubecula2022
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2022
Bat · Soprano Pipistrelle · Badger · Stoat · Otter +4
- BatChiroptera2022
- Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2020
- BadgerMeles meles
- StoatMustela erminea2022
- OtterLutra lutra2022
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2021
🐸Amphibians2 species
springsummerautumn
2025▾
Common Toad · Smooth Newt
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris2021
Hawthorn Shieldbug · Red-legged Shieldbug · Large Red Damselfly
- Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale
- Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2023
Sweet Violet · Fool's Water-Cress · Crescent-cup Liverwort · Common Mouse-ear · Smooth Hawk's-beard +81
- Sweet VioletViola odorata
- Fool's Water-CressHelosciadium nodiflorum
- Crescent-cup LiverwortLunularia cruciata
- Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
- Smooth Hawk's-beardCrepis capillaris
- Forked VeilwortMetzgeria furcata
- Marchantia polymorpha subsp. ruderalis
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
10,107 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds29 species
winterautumn
2025▾
Merlin · Short-eared Owl · Swift · House Martin · Chaffinch +24
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus2024
- SwiftApus apus2023
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- PochardAythya ferina
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
- Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius2024
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus2024
- Barn OwlTyto alba2023
- Little OwlAthene noctua2022
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2022
- SwallowHirundo rustica2022
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2022
- Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhulaPyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula2022
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2022
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2022
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2022
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2022
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2022
- RobinErithacus rubecula2022
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2022
Bat · Soprano Pipistrelle · Badger · Stoat · Otter +4
- BatChiroptera2022
- Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2020
- BadgerMeles meles
- StoatMustela erminea2022
- OtterLutra lutra2022
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2021
🐸Amphibians2 species
springsummerautumn
2025▾
Common Toad · Smooth Newt
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris2021
Hawthorn Shieldbug · Red-legged Shieldbug · Large Red Damselfly
- Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale
- Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2023
Sweet Violet · Fool's Water-Cress · Crescent-cup Liverwort · Common Mouse-ear · Smooth Hawk's-beard +81
- Sweet VioletViola odorata
- Fool's Water-CressHelosciadium nodiflorum
- Crescent-cup LiverwortLunularia cruciata
- Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
- Smooth Hawk's-beardCrepis capillaris
- Forked VeilwortMetzgeria furcata
- Marchantia polymorpha subsp. ruderalis
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Common Pipistrelle
Common Pipistrelle
Pipistrellus pipistrellus2021
Pipistrellus pipistrellus2021
Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus2021Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus2021Brown HareLepus europaeus2020Brown HareLepus europaeus2020Marchantia polymorpha subsp. ruderalis
Marchantia polymorpha subsp. ruderalis
FeverfewTanacetum partheniumFeverfewTanacetum partheniumCat's-earHypochaeris radicataCat's-earHypochaeris radicataButterfly-bushBuddleja davidiiButterfly-bushBuddleja davidiiBulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosusBulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosusHerb-RobertGeranium robertianumHerb-RobertGeranium robertianumWellingtoniaSequoiadendron giganteumWellingtoniaSequoiadendron giganteumMeadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensisMeadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensisBristly OxtongueHelminthotheca echioidesBristly OxtongueHelminthotheca echioidesNorway MapleAcer platanoidesNorway MapleAcer platanoidesCommon Field-speedwellVeronica persicaCommon Field-speedwellVeronica persicaStinking IrisIris foetidissimaStinking IrisIris foetidissimaErophila vernaErophila vernaErophila vernaErophila vernaSnowberrySymphoricarpos albusSnowberrySymphoricarpos albusWater FigwortScrophularia auriculataWater FigwortScrophularia auriculataHemlockConium maculatumHemlockConium maculatumHard RushJuncus inflexusHard RushJuncus inflexusGreater PlantainPlantago majorGreater PlantainPlantago majorRough HawkbitLeontodon hispidusRough HawkbitLeontodon hispidusSowbreadCyclamen hederifoliumSowbreadCyclamen hederifoliumLaburnhamLaburnum anagyroidesLaburnhamLaburnum anagyroidesAutumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalisAutumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalisTufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosaTufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosaNorway SprucePicea abiesNorway SprucePicea abiesTurkey OakQuercus cerrisTurkey OakQuercus cerrisOxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgareOxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgareField BindweedConvolvulus arvensisField BindweedConvolvulus arvensisGreater BurdockArctium lappaGreater BurdockArctium lappaHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumWild PrivetLigustrum vulgareWild PrivetLigustrum vulgareOregon-grapeMahonia aquifoliumOregon-grapeMahonia aquifoliumDwarf MallowMalva neglectaDwarf MallowMalva neglectaLimeTilia cordata x platyphyllos = T. x europaeaLimeTilia cordata x platyphyllos = T. x europaeaMouse-ear-hawkweedPilosella officinarumMouse-ear-hawkweedPilosella officinarumGermander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrysGermander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrysGiant BlackberryRubus armeniacusGiant BlackberryRubus armeniacusField MapleAcer campestreField MapleAcer campestreRed ValerianCentranthus ruberRed ValerianCentranthus ruberBlack MedickMedicago lupulinaBlack MedickMedicago lupulinaBifid CrestwortLophocolea bidentataBifid CrestwortLophocolea bidentataOxalis corniculata var. atropurpureaOxalis corniculata var. atropurpureaOxalis corniculata var. atropurpureaOxalis corniculata var. atropurpureaCommon ChickweedStellaria mediaCommon ChickweedStellaria mediaShepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastorisShepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastorisCommon CouchElymus repensCommon CouchElymus repensYarrowAchillea millefoliumYarrowAchillea millefoliumLesser CelandineFicaria vernaLesser CelandineFicaria vernaCotoneaster horizontalisCotoneaster horizontalisCotoneaster horizontalisCotoneaster horizontalisGarlic MustardAlliaria petiolataGarlic MustardAlliaria petiolataPortugal LaurelPrunus lusitanicaPortugal LaurelPrunus lusitanicaCommon FleabanePulicaria dysentericaCommon FleabanePulicaria dysentericaNipplewortLapsana communisNipplewortLapsana communisRumex crispus subsp. crispusRumex crispus subsp. crispusRumex crispus subsp. crispusRumex crispus subsp. crispusWestern Red-cedarThuja plicataWestern Red-cedarThuja plicataSelfhealPrunella vulgarisSelfhealPrunella vulgarisYewTaxus baccataYewTaxus baccataWater-StarwortCallitricheWater-StarwortCallitricheIvy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralisIvy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralisBread WheatTriticum aestivumBread WheatTriticum aestivumLesser BurdockArctium minusLesser BurdockArctium minusHoary PlantainPlantago mediaHoary PlantainPlantago mediaSwedish Whitebeam (aggregate)Sorbus intermediaSwedish Whitebeam (aggregate)Sorbus intermediaBlack HorehoundBallota nigraBlack HorehoundBallota nigraCleaversGalium aparineCleaversGalium aparineReflexed Saltmarsh-grassPuccinellia distans subsp. distansReflexed Saltmarsh-grassPuccinellia distans subsp. distansWood AvensGeum urbanumWood AvensGeum urbanumHoary RagwortJacobaea erucifoliaHoary RagwortJacobaea erucifoliaHollyIlex aquifoliumHollyIlex aquifoliumScarlet PimpernelLysimachia arvensisScarlet PimpernelLysimachia arvensisReflexed StonecropPetrosedum rupestreReflexed StonecropPetrosedum rupestreCrack-willowSalix alba x euxina = S. x fragilisCrack-willowSalix alba x euxina = S. x fragilisPetty SpurgeEuphorbia peplusPetty SpurgeEuphorbia peplusAtlas CedarCedrus atlanticaAtlas CedarCedrus atlanticaMale-fernDryopteris filix-masMale-fernDryopteris filix-masBittersweetSolanum dulcamaraBittersweetSolanum dulcamaraRed FescueFestuca rubraRed FescueFestuca rubraWood DockRumex sanguineusWood DockRumex sanguineusHuntingdon ElmUlmus glabra x minor = U. x vegetaHuntingdon ElmUlmus glabra x minor = U. x vegetaHedge MustardSisymbrium officinaleHedge MustardSisymbrium officinaleWhite StonecropSedum albumWhite StonecropSedum albumSilver BirchBetula pendulaSilver BirchBetula pendulaEvents & activities nearby
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