Come and explore Kilnsey Park Estate. It’s a great family day out with lots to see and do for all ages!
Here are the top things to do whilst you’re at Kilnsey:
The first thing you will notice is all of the wildlife wandering freely around the Park. You’ll see the ducks, geese, hens and guinea fowl everywhere you go!
Kilnsey is the home of fishing. Experience the thrill of catching your first fish, or unwind with a day’s fly fishing on our well stocked lakes.
Or maybe you want to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Dales in all its glory? When you set off on the Kilnsey Trail the first thing you’ll see are the mini diggers and sand pit. Adults are definitely not allowed!
Watch the shoal of blue fish swimming in their pond and throw them some food and watch the feeding frenzy make the water boil!
Moving on you’ll see the shaggy angora goats Solomon and Rembrandt up high on their skyway which is their own adventure playground! And just beside them are the red squirrels which we’ve been breeding here for over 20 years. Next door you’ll find our friendly piglets, cheeky pygmy goats and lambs during the spring time.
Stop and take a look at how Yorkshire stone walls were built. Do you know what a ‘smoot’ is?
In the next door field live our alpacas. These animals arrived in August 2013. Named Titus and Bertie they commemorate the close links between the Roberts family and Salts Mill World Heritage Site near Bradford.
You’ll go past the trout raceway – so have a look and see how many fish you can see! Then as you dodge past the hens and guinea fowl cross the bridge to take a look at how we make our own green electricity.
Running up the hill you’ll soon reach the water garden where more of our red squirrels live. Just before the butterfly garden is a pond where more giant rainbow trout live.
Keep on going up the hill until you discover the source of Sikes Beck, a magical spring where water gushes out of the hillside – the source of all life at Kilnsey.
On the way back down, you’ll see baby trout in the top raceways. What is a fingerling – and how many live in this section? Then you can explore the Kilnsey Park nature reserve, famous for its rare orchids and other wild flowers (May and June is a great time to see the rare Lady’s Slipper orchid).
Don’t forget to call into the honey bee house at the bottom of the hill! Learn about bees and why they are so important to us. There is a special glass sided observation hive so you can see inside a real hive! Try and spot the queen bee!
After all that fresh air and having fun you’ve definitely earned a break in the Cafe by the Lake. Our famous pink fish and chips, a fresh coffee or piece of the chef’s home baking? Enjoy it. You’ve earned it.
Parking is free at Kilnsey Park and dogs are welcome on a lead.