Accessibility at Ferry Meadows

Toilets

There are two public toilet blocks within the Park, one next to the Discovery Den and one alongside the car park at Lakeside. There is an accessible toilet at each block which includes the baby changing facility. These toilets are opened and locked with the opening hours of the Park.

Toilets are also provided for customers at Lakeside Kitchen & Bar, Nene Outdoors, and Ferry Meadows Café. Each has separate accessible toilets and at Lakeside Kitchen & Bar there is also a dedicated accessible baby changing facility.

Please note that the accessible toilet at Ferry Meadows Café is smaller than the current standards for accessible toilets and includes a baby changing facility.

An accessible changing facility including a height adjustable changing bench, a hoist system and shower is available at Nene Outdoors during the centre's opening hours. Users are required to provide their own slings. For more information on using this facility, please get in touch with the Nene Outdoors team on 01733 234193.

Food & drink

The Park has a range of options for food and drink during your visit. Contact details, opening times and other information can be found on our Where to eat page.

Lakeside Kitchen & Bar

The Lakeside building has stepped and ramped access from the pathways opposite the car park to the main entrance which has automatic sliding doors.

The main counter is at a lower level and hearing loops are available at the main and bar counters as shown by the T and ear symbol sign. There is also a room loop within the furthest section of the seating area which can be separated off for functions.

Covered outdoor seating, heated with a woodburner, is provided welcoming all dogs, however assistance dogs are welcome throughout.

Lakeside Kitchen & Bar offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. If you have any dietary requirements please speak to the café staff.

Ferry Meadows Café

The main entrance is set back from the main pathway at the rear of the covered seating area. This is a paved area that includes fixed picnic tables with a slight slope up to the manual opening access doors. On warmer, still days the doors are held open but may be closed on colder, windier days.

The main counter is at a lower level and a hearing loop is available at the till as shown by the T and ear symbol sign.

Ferry Meadows Café offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. If you have any dietary requirements please speak to the café staff.

BBQs

Fixed BBQ stands are available on the grass bank on the opposite side of the path to the public moorings on Overton Lake, along the edge of the Coach Car Park and next to the play area at Lakeside on a first come, first served basis. A number of picnic tables in the Park also have pull out trays on the end for holding disposable BBQs.

Picnics

With a vast area of meadow land and good numbers of accessible picnic tables, Ferry Meadows is the perfect place to bring a picnic.

Play Areas

Ferry Meadows has three play areas providing a range of equipment and surfacing, creating different experiences for a variety of ages, abilities and interests:

Otter Play Area

Located next to Ferry Meadows Café and designed with younger children in mind, this fenced play area incorporates natural features such as sand, water, rocks and trees. A small wide slide, cradle seat swings and small raised platform with log tunnel underneath are all set into sand. A concrete path with self closing access gates from the paved seating area next to Ferry Medows Café takes visitors through the play area and rejoins the main path opposite the boat trip and duck feeding platforms via large flat paving stones set in the grass. Seating is provided in the sand area set slightly back from the concrete path.

Badger Play Area

Located along the pathway between the Visitor Centre and Ham Bridge, this unfenced play area utilises the neighbouring wooded area for den building and exploration along with created swales (a series of mounds and ditches designed to collect water) with accessible crossing points to bring nature into play. The built play structures include climbing towers, raised tunnels to tube slide, swings including basket swing and in-ground trampoline. These are situated in areas of bark chippings with a limestone path through the built play area linking to the main footpath.

Lakeside Play Area

Located in the grass area near to the Lakeside car park and set back at a distance from the pathways. This is a fenced play area with traditional play structures including cradle swings, multi activity unit with slide, rope net climber, balance beam and standing spinner set in bark chip surface. Seating and picnic tables are provided on the inside edge of the play area which is paved.

Nene Outdoors

Nene Outdoors runs various water and land based events for a range of ages and abilities from the Lakeside centre. The Lakeside building has stepped and ramped access from the pathways opposite the car park. Please visit our Nene Outdoors page for details of activities and contacts to discuss any specific access requirements.

Duck feeding

The duck feeding platform is located near to the Visitor Centre. A sloped path leads down to the platform which is a wooden decked, metal framed platform on floats to enable it to move with the water level. Wooden handrails surround the platform which forms a T shape over the water. The duck feeding area is on the right hand side of the T and boat trips operate from the left. A gate is locked across this section when the boat is out on the water or when trips are not operating.

We encourage the safe and healthy feeding of birds in the Park so please only feed the ducks and geese pellets available from the Visitor Centre. General information on how visitors can help us keep the ducks and geese healthy can be found on our Feed the ducks page.

Educational facilities

From the Discovery Den Education Centre at Ferry Meadows we offer a range of educational activities. The room is level access and has an accessible toilet. This facility is also used to host a range of family friendly events and activities. See our Education pages for details of the offer for schools and groups.