Everyone is welcome at Brockholes. Whether you’re a naturalist or a beginner, we have something for you to enjoy and lots of chances for you to get close to nature.
Based on the site of an old quarry, the Lancashire Wildlife Trust have used their expertise to create habitats for lots of different wildlife. You can explore our 250 acre reserve with our network of trails and hides, not to mention the fantastic views offered overlooking the River Ribble. You can also explore our woods or enjoy the lakes on site, which have all been specially designed to attract all kinds of wildlife for you to see.
Our spectacular floating Visitor Village is the first of its kind in the UK, bringing you as close to nature as possible. The Visitor Village hosts our Welcome Centre, an activity room, our restaurant and two shops, each packed with unique treats to suit all of our visitors. Pop by our Welcome Centre when you arrive and our friendly volunteers will help you find out more and make the most of your visit.
The Nest is our lovely gift shop, packed with all sorts of goodies! Whether it is toys or books; crafts or jewellery; or some binoculars and scopes, there’s a something for everyone. The second shop is our Village Store. It is packed with a wide range of bird feed and feeders as well as gardening gifts, sweet treats, chutneys and a large selection of cookery and gardening books. Whatever you need, our friendly staff and volunteers are always on hand to help you.
Brockholes is also a great place for children. As well as exploring the reserve and Visitor Village we have an adventure play area nestled in the grassland, where the youngsters can swing, climb, balance and bounce in the play area whilst you relax on one of our picnic benches. Keep your eyes peeled too because you may be lucky enough to spot a Kestrel soaring above you as well.
After exploring the reserve you can sit back and relax in our restaurant, which offers stunning panoramic lake views. Whether it’s a cup of coffee, a tasty treat or a long leisurely meal, you can be assured all dishes are homemade from the finest local produce.
There’s a wide range of exciting events for all the family held at Brockholes right throughout the year too. These include craft sessions in our activity room, themed seasonal trails out on the reserve, open-air theatre and family themed events which test your tracking and den-building skills. We also offer regular free guided walks, host ‘Wildside’, our ever-popular school holiday club, and have a quarterly ‘Crafty Vintage’ Festival where we’ve over 70 stalls packed with everything from exotic food to homemade jewellery.
Just make sure to keep an eye on our website www.brockholes.org for all the latest on our events and don’t forget to sign up to our e-news while you’re there so you can keep up to date with all the latest activities, news and special offers.
Here at Brockholes we also cater for your special events and are now a full licensed wedding venue. With the lake in the background we offer a stunning and romantic back-drop for your photographs, while the floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic views across the lake. Our picturesque outdoor area also provides guests with an impressive location for drinks and canapés, so Brockholes is a truly memorable setting for your big day.
If you’d like to bring your whole flock to Brockholes, we’d love to have you. We cater for all kinds of group visits, from schools and community groups to coach trips. Whether it’s a full day out or just a quick stop off on the way to your destination, Brockholes is the ideal place for groups to visit.
Brockholes is free to enter but there is a car park charge to help support the Lancashire Wildlife Trust in looking after the reserve. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed as they can disturb and harm wildlife. If you need to, you can walk your dog (on a short lead) along the public right of way. Assistance dogs are welcome.
From Preston:
At the roundabout of the M6 J31and A59 go straight over under the motorway signed A59 to Blackburn. Stay in the left hand lane. Just before the traffic lights, take the FIRST exit signed “Brockholes Nature Reserve” heading north over the river (adjacent to the off-ramp slip road). Follow this road left, round doubling back and under the slip road bridge to the site entrance.
From M6 North Bound:
As you come off the motorway get in the middle lane. At the roundabout turn right, signed A59 to Blackburn. Stay in the left hand lane. Just before the traffic lights, take the FIRST exit signed “Brockholes Nature Reserve” heading north over the river (adjacent to the off-ramp slip road). Follow this road left, round doubling back and under the slip road bridge to the site entrance.
From Samlesbury and South-bound off the M6:
From Samlesbury - At the roundabout of the M6 J31and A59 you need to go all the way round the double roundabout as if you where going to head back along the A59 towards Samlesbury. As you come round the roundabout past the Tickle Trout Service Station stay in the left hand lane. Just before the traffic lights, take the FIRST exit signed “Brockholes Nature Reserve” heading north over the river (adjacent to the off-ramp slip road). Follow this road left, round doubling back and under the slip road bridge to the site entrance.
From M6 Southbound:
As you come off the motorway turn right at the roundabout towards Preston. Stay in the right hand lane and continue around the roundabout, As you come round the roundabout past the Tickle Trout Service Station stay in the left hand lane. Just before the traffic lights, take the FIRST exit signed “Brockholes Nature Reserve” heading north over the river (adjacent to the off-ramp slip road). Follow this road left, round doubling back and under the slip road bridge to the site entrance.
Bus:
Take the No. 59 Bus from Preston Bus station. Alight the bus at the Tickled Trout Hotel. From the bus stop walk towards the bridge where traffic is easier to see, cross over and turn LEFT to the end of the bridge. There is a farm road to the right, follow this short road to a metal gate, passing a sign for Brockholes Wood. Cross over the style at the side of the gate. Follow the metal fence on your right to the next gate and at the left side of the gate there is a gap onto a rough roadway. Remain on this roadway to the end the boundary is marked by another metal gate. To the right of the gate there is a style marked Ribblesway go over the style and turn left and you will see the next style to cross.
Keep to the right and follow the wooden fence under the motorway bridges, and as the road bends you will see the entrance to Brockholes. This walk is not suitable for pushchairs or anyone that cannot climb a style. During the walk there is a possibility of seeing several species of birds and insects due to the close proximity of the river and the woods.
By Train:
The nearest train station to Brockholes is Preston.