Visiting

The parks and reserves of the Parks Service of the Velocity Interoperability Network are open to everyone without charge. The hours below apply to the twelve sites in the register from 6 September 2026. Where a site is enclosed, the time at which its gates are locked varies with the season and is posted at every gate at the start of each month.

Opening hours. Car parks are locked outside the hours shown. Visitors whose vehicles are inside a locked car park should write to the Service; a ranger will attend, and a charge may be made for release outside hours.

Visitor centres. The three centres provide maps, information on the site and its wildlife, toilets and a meeting point for events and volunteer tasks. They are staffed by rangers and volunteers.

Access for all. Every park has a level, surfaced route from its car park or main gate, of between one and three kilometres, suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The boardwalk at Meridian Marsh and the four hides at Longwater are accessible to wheelchair users. The routes on Highfold Ridge and the perimeter path at Kestrel Heath are unsurfaced and steep in places. Details of surfaces and gradients at any site may be requested from the Service.

Site rules. The rules below apply at every site and are displayed at each entrance. They will be replaced by byelaws once these are settled; until then they are enforced by the rangers, who may require a visitor who breaches them to leave the site.

Dogs

Dogs are welcome in the parks and must be kept on a lead near play areas, livestock and water. In the reserves dogs must be kept on a short lead at all times, and are not admitted to Kestrel Heath or to the hides at Longwater. Clear up after your dog.

Cycling and horse riding

Permitted on waymarked cycle routes, bridleways and shared paths, and on the surfaced tracks of Ashcombe Forest and Westbrook Woods. Not permitted on boardwalks, in hides, on the chalk grassland of Highfold Ridge or on the foreshore at Saltings. Give way to walkers.

Fires and barbecues

Fires are not permitted at any site. Barbecues may be used only in the designated barbecue areas at Eastfield Meadows and Southbank Riverside Park, and not when the ranger has posted a fire warning.

Camping

Permitted only at the designated site in Ashcombe Forest, with a booking made by writing to the Service. Camping elsewhere, including in vehicles in car parks, is not permitted.

Drones and aerial photography

Not permitted without an aerial permit. Permits are not granted over the reserves between 1 March and 31 July.

Wildlife, plants, rocks and fossils

Do not pick, uproot, remove or disturb plants or animals, or remove rocks or fossils. Gathering fungi for personal use is limited to 1.5 kilograms a day in Ashcombe Forest and Westbrook Woods, and is not permitted in the reserves.

Vehicles

Vehicles may not be driven beyond the car parks without an access permit. Speed on park roads is limited to 15 kilometres an hour.

Bathing

Bathing is not permitted at Meridian Marsh, at Longwater or in the river at Southbank Riverside Park. The sea at Saltings Shore is unsupervised and has strong currents; check the tide tables at the car park before going onto the foreshore.

Litter and noise

Take litter home or use the bins at the car parks. Amplified music is not permitted except under an event permit.

For the programme of guided walks and open days, see Events and Permits; for the facilities at each site, see Parks and Reserves; for answers to common questions about dogs, cycling and camping, see the frequently asked questions. Enquiries, including reports of damage or hazards at a site, may be sent to contact@parks.gov.vin.