Planning your visit to Thorpe Meadows Expand Please visit our Find us page for details of the different ways to get to Thorpe Meadows. Parking Accessible parking bays are available in the car park. There is a drop kerb with a slight lip from the car park in this area for access to the path network. Please be aware there is a 2.1 metre height barrier across the entrance to the car park. Parking charges apply all day, every day. Please visit our Parking at Thorpe Meadows page for details of charges and membership options. There are solar powered pay and display payment machines in the car park. Payment can be made in cash at the machine or by card with the parking app. All instructions are on the payment machines in the car park. Assistance dogs Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the Park. Mobility scooters Mobility scooters are welcome on all surfaced paths throughout the Park. Park Code For information on how to enjoy this area of Nene Park, please see our Park Code. We also have a text only version. Parklife newsletter Our regular newsletter Parklife is available in standard, large print or audio formats. All are freely available in advance of your visit either electronically or by post. Please contact us with details of your requirements.
Getting around Thorpe Meadows Expand Path gradients and surfaces Thorpe Meadows is a natural landscape and paths are made up of various surfaces which may be uneven in places. The main pathway alongside the edge of the rowing lake at Thorpe Meadows is tarmac and relatively flat. The rest of the pathways are uneven limestone and compacted stone surfaces with grass paths mown alongside the river and between some of the sculptures on the south side of the rowing lake. There is a particularly steep section on the north west corner of the horse route and at the narrow red footbridge on the path that takes visitors from Thorpe Meadows in The Boardwalks Nature Reserve and towards the City Centre. Please note this footbridge is currently closed. The nearby Orton Mere and Woodston Reach can be accessed by crossing the Nene Valley Railway and the footbridge over the lock. Please note there is a short ramp with self closing gates to access the railway crossing and a steep section on the path into Thorpe Meadows after the lock on the North side of the River. The path network are shared routes for pedestrians and cyclists, and in some circumstances horse riders. Please refer to the Thorpe Meadows map showing more detail of the path network including steep and unsurfaced sections or contact us. Seating There are a number of benches located along the north path of the rowing lake. They are set back from the main path with hard surfaced bases. A couple of picnic tables are located in the grass area between Orton Mere and Thorpe Meadows on the opposite side of the path to the river moorings. Information A Thorpe Meadows map is available at the car park. Ranger assistance Whilst Thorpe Meadows is patrolled periodically by Nene Park Trust staff and volunteers, there is not a regular staff presence in this area. However, if you require assistance while exploring this area our Rangers are contactable via 07860 308081 from 08:00 – 18:30 March – September and 08:00 – 16:00 October – February. Please note our Ranger team is not available on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
Facilities and services at Thorpe Meadows Expand Thorpe Meadows is the perfect place for a picnic or barbeque. A couple of picnic tables are located in the grass area between Orton Mere and Thorpe Meadows on the opposite side of the path to the river moorings. Whilst there is no café facility directly on the site, the neighbouring Dragonfly Hotel and Boathouse pub are situated at the eastern end of the rowing lake. Both offer outdoor seating and views of the lake. Details on how to picnic and BBQ in Nene Park as well as contact information for local catering outlets can be found on our Where to eat pages. Events Nene Park hosts many events throughout the year covering a range of activities, interests and ages. The events pages contain information about the broad accessibility of an event, which organisation is running the event and the contact details if you have any special requirements or queries regarding the accessibility of a particular event. Neckloop listening devices for use by those with hearing aids or non hearing aid users are available to visitors on Nene Park Trust guided walks and led events to pick up and amplify sound, making it clearer and easier to understand. If you feel this equipment may be of use to you on one of the Trust's events please contact us for more details. Bringing a companion/carer You can bring a companion or carer in for free to help you enjoy a Nene Park Trust event or activity that has an admission charge. Please note that not all events and activities at Nene Park are operated by Nene Park Trust. Enquiries about arrangements for companions/carers should be directed to the specific event/activity organiser. If you require a companion/carer to access a Nene Park Trust event please contact the Education and Activities team to discuss any additional access requirements and arrange a booking. If you require a companion/carer to access a course or activity with Nene Park Trust at Nene Outdoors Watersports and Activity Centre please contact Nene Outdoors to discuss any additional access requirements and arrange a booking. While carer(s) will be allowed entry to the event/activity with you free of charge, they must at all times be in a caring role that is providing support and assistance. It is not acceptable for carers to be participating independently and if this is the case, that person will not be allowed entry as a carer and will be expected to pay in full. Volunteer opportunities Nene Park Trust offers a range of volunteer opportunities. Our volunteer pages contain information about current vacancies and the contact details to discuss any specific access requirements.
Things to do at Thorpe Meadows Expand Please note the following activities are run by partner organisations and do not operate at the Park full time. Please contact them in advance of a visit if you wish specifically to see or take part in this activity. Fishing Fishing rights at Thorpe Meadows are operated by Peterborough and District Angling Assocation with day tickets and annual membership available. For further details and contact information visit our fishing page. Horse riding There are horse routes throughout the Park which are marked on posts with blue horseshoe signs. Horse riding lessons and short breaks for adults and children at the Park are provided by Lynch Farm Riding. For further details about riding in Nene Park and contact information visit our ride a horse page. Peterborough Model Flying Club Peterborough Model Flying Club is a multi discipline club with flying sites for free flight, control line and radio control. The club make use of a meadow area located on the north side of the rowing lake at the end farthest from the rowing club building. For further details and contact information visit our clubs page. Peterborough City Rowing Club Thorpe Meadows' purpose built rowing lake and club house is home to the Peterborough City Rowing Club. The club is associated with Rowability and does all it can to make the sport accessible to all. For further details and contact information visit our clubs page.
Feedback on your visit to Thorpe Meadows Expand Nene Park Access Forum Do you have an interest in access at Nene Park? Nene Park Trust holds a twice-yearly access forum to update park users about access improvements and to hear directly from visitors about their experiences of using the Park. We also make contact in between meetings to share information about access related developments including a regular Nene Park Access Forum newsletter. We welcome anyone with an interest or an experience to share. For more details, contact us. Feedback We are always keen to hear visitors’ experiences of the Park to continue to improve our services and you can provide this in a number of ways: Contact us directly Share your feedback with staff at the Ferry Meadows Visitor Centre Provide feedback online through TripAdvisor Join our Access Forum or Volunteers to become more involved in the development of the Park.