Rural Estate
Did you know Nene Park stretches all the way to the west of Ferry Meadows as far as the A1?
The area to the west of Ferry Meadows is known as The Rural Estate, a beautiful mosaic of agricultural land criss-crossed with public footpaths. Why not join the Nene Way which runs alongside the River Nene, to explore this area further, including the unspoilt villages of Castor, Ailsworth and Sutton.
See our Rural Estate FAQs for information about parking, accessibility and more.
Fishing
Walks / Trails
Car Park
Walking with Romans
Did you know this area is steeped in Roman history? You can even see and walk along the mound that is the remains of Ermine Street, the Roman road from London (Londinium) to York (Eboracum)!
Much of this area was also the industrial suburbs of the Roman town of Durobrivae. As you walk along footpaths here you can reflect on centuries of life and industry happening here.
Wildlife in Abundance
As you walk along footpaths in the Rural Estate, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife at every turn. You’ll also see our cattle and sheep grazing thanks to our Share Farmers, the Baxter brothers. Keep your dog on the lead when you’re near livestock and respect the wildlife by taking your litter home.
FAQs
By road: Park at the car park at Splash Lane car park in Castor for free (PE5 7BD) and walk on footpaths from there.
By public transport: The Rural Estate is accessible from the villages of Castor, Ailsworth and Alwalton which are served by bus routes. For up to date public transport information please visit the Combined Authority bus routes planner.
By Nene Valley Railway: Nene Valley Railway runs between Wansford and Peterborough, with two stations in Nene Park at Ferry Meadows and Orton Mere. To see timetables and to find out more visit www.nvr.org.uk.
By boat: Please consult the Environment Agency website for details.
By bike: The Rural Estate is well connected to Ferry Meadows via a traffic-free cycle route. A section of the route forms part of National Cycle Route number 63.
On foot: The Rural Estate is connected to Ferry Meadows and the surrounding area via an extensive network of footpaths. Maps are available from the Ferry Meadows Visitor Centre.
Nene Park Trust owns the car park at Splash Lane, Castor which is open at all times for visitors free of charge.
The car park is accessed by driving down Splash Lane, from the village of Castor (postcode PE5 7BD). Please be aware that the access road to the car park is a single bumpy track.
As this car park is quite remote, please take extra precautions with security. Any items left in vehicles are left at the owners’ own risk.
There is additional on-road parking around the Rural Estate for accessing other areas.
Alternatively, park at Ferry Meadows and walk on footpaths into the Rural Estate from there.
The Ferry Meadows Visitor Centre stocks a handy pocket sized OS map priced at £2.99, which is ideal for exploring this beautiful area of the Park or download our Rural Estate map with footpaths and key locations marked on.
For the perfect day out, walk all the way to Wansford and then climb aboard a heritage steam or diesel train at the Nene Valley Railway Station and travel back in time on your return journey to Ferry Meadows.
The Backwaters at Ailsworth are very good for fishing. Please visit the Peterborough and District Angling Association website for details on purchasing day and season fishing tickets.
Discover Station Master’s Garden in Castor, which was restored as part of the Nenescape project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It’s a lovely place to sit and enjoy a quiet picnic and survey the landscape. Take a look at the restoration project on our project page.
We have installed new maps, signs, finger posts and waymarker discs across the Rural Estate as part of a visitor improvement scheme funded by LEADER. Find out more about what we have done on our project page.
To ensure that all visitors can enjoy their visit please be aware of our Rural Estate Park Code.