Activities On The Estate
“you won’t find wifi in the forest but I promise you’ll find a better connection”
more than just a bed for the night….
Activities include: Woodland Walk, Den Building, Playhouses, Bug Hotel, Hedgehog Hotel, Gratitude Tree, Fairy Garden, Gnome Festival, Reading Hut, Nature Hut, Mini Golf, Table Tennis, Football Table, Croquet, Rounders, Badminton, Giant Chess, French Boules Court, Seed planting station, Little Artists Painting Studio
- NEW: Ashton Lake – Nature & Wildlife Observation
- NEW: The Hive gift shop
- NEW: You can now collect delicious takeaways from the Chequered Skipper
- NEW: Two 7kw EV Chargers located at the Cricket Pavilion
Ashton Estate is a remarkable private enclave in the heart of the English countryside. Below you can find an abundance of activities to do on the Estate. Please note children under the age of 16 must be under adult supervision at all times which includes without limitation ALL activities on the Estate.
woodland walk
We have created a beautiful meandering woodland walk which also includes the following:
- A designated “DIY DEN” area complete with everything you need to build your own DEN. Add on to existing dens or take them apart to create your own.
- BUG HOTEL: Miriams mini beasts
- For believers only……can you find the SECRET FAIRY GARDEN? Remember look, don’t touch.
- THE GRATITUDE TREE – what are you thankful for? Wooden discs are usually in your welcome basket.
- MINI PLAYHOUSES – let your imagination run free
- ASHTONBURY! Gnome (only) music festival
- HEDGEHOG HOTEL
If you take any photos that you don’t mind us sharing under our “Visitors Photos” please email them to us.
themed shepherd huts
- Little Artist Studio – complete with watercolours / water /brushes / paper and crayons. (Children under adult supervision)
- Nature Hut – complete with British wildlife reference books / binoculars and seating – relax and see what passes by. This area is known for badgers, foxes and deer.
- Literary Hut –Space to relax and write your first novel – comfy armchair / desk and inspiration
- Yoga & Meditation Hut – complete with mats & pouffes….relax and breathe.
- Bird Watch Hut – for all the bird lovers, British bird reference books, binoculars and chairs
Now for the boring bits:
- Visitors must not enter the woodland areas during adverse weather conditions eg. strong winds, heavy rains or storms.
- Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Visitors must not smoke in the area and campfires must not be lit.
- Careful consideration should always be taken on this uneven terrain and all woodland propose hazards and you will not be monitored.
fairy garden
Our Ashton Fairies have been hard at work building their home in Ashton Wold. Try and spot the different animals they have as friends. Please do not enter the circle and no touching…during the day the fairies are usually sleeping!
*NEW* THE HIVE
The Hive, our little honesty shop where visitors can browse and purchase a variety of thoughtful gift items including our limited edition of Ashton Honey, puzzles, kids crafty items, home decor, scarves, sketchbooks and lots of pretty things we all need. Run on trust, it’s a place where you simply choose what you like and pay by either card or cash.
All profits go directly towards buying plants and flowers that are loved by bees and other pollinators, helping us create a healthier, more vibrant environment for wildlife to thrive.
The Hive is located next to the Estate Office – between the Stables and the Cricket Field – opposite the large gravelled area.
cricket field
This large grassed area is the perfect place for group games – rounders, cricket etc. There is a Shepherds Hut on site filled with balls, bats, croquet, table tennis, swing ball and lots more. With prior agreement groups have also used this area for hired inflatable assault courses, hired inflatable bouncy castles and lots more.
The Cricket Field also enjoys the most spectacular sunsets so pack up a picnic and enjoy. Benches located on the field. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Open 9am-9pm – please note nearby neighbours re. noise levels.
mini golf
Located in the far corner of the Cricket Field is a nine hole mini golf course for guests to enjoy from April to October. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Cricket Field also enjoys the most spectacular sunsets so pack up a picnic and enjoy. There are benches located on the field.
ashton lake
nature & wildlife observation area
These lakes and the surrounding areas are managed to encourage natural habitats that support wildlife and native plants. The area provides shelter for birds, insects, amphibians and small mammals, helping to maintain the rich biodiversity of the Ashton Estate.
Visitors are welcome to enjoy the peaceful setting, observe wildlife, and explore the mown paths and picnic area.
Help us protect this special place by respecting the natural environment and keeping to the designated paths.
Location: Past Greenwood Manor – At the Walled Garden gate (on your left), continue to follow the gravelled track towards a gravelled parking area with a metal gate leading to a field (with amazing views!) – there is a pathway straight ahead leading downhill towards another gate in the bottom right hand corner of the field – go through the gate and follow the mown grass track to the lakes, bearing right.
ashtonbury – gnome festival
In the Ashton woods something magical (and mildly chaotic) happens… The Gnome Ashtonbury Festival! A ticketed event like no other, it’s where gnomes from far and wide pitch their tiny tents, throw on their pointiest hats, and let loose among the trees. It’s the ultimate miniature music festival where the fun is huge—even if the attendees are tiny!
Chequered Skipper Pub / Restaurant / Event Space
If you’re looking for a great place to have a drink and relax with friends, look no further than the Chequered Skipper located on the Estate. This charming pub is the perfect spot to enjoy a pint or two or enjoy some pub food that takes inspiration from the finest seasonal British ingredients.
Their dedicated team provides mouth-watering dishes that are all home cooked and lovingly prepared in our pub kitchen. The friendly staff and cosy atmosphere will make you feel right at home.
So why not drop in to see us soon. We welcome your four-legged friends too. Bookings for tables advisable, especially on weekends.
Fancy at takeaway? Click this link for menu and how to order.
View The Chequered Skipper Takeaway Menu (PDF)
PHONE:
fruit picking
We’re delighted for our guests to enjoy a little taste of the Estate by picking a reasonable amount of fruit for personal enjoyment during their stay – the hedgerows burst with blackberries and the trees hang low with apples, pears, cherries, greengages and plums. Please remember that this is a natural environment, and fruit picking is at your own risk. Nature can be full of surprises – you may encounter wasps, thorns, uneven ground, or other natural hazards. We ask you to take care and be mindful while exploring. The Estate, its owner, and managers cannot accept responsibility for any injury, illness, loss, or damage resulting from fruit picking activities.
The Charles Rothschild Walled Garden
The Walled Garden is a secluded area of considerable natural beauty with outdoor seating, a giant chess set, french boules and lots of sculptures.
The Walled Garden is considered to be of heritage importance and enjoys Grade II listed status. In the heyday of the Rothschild family, the area would have been full of exquisite cultivated plants and vegetables, grown for the delectation of the Hon Charles Rothschild, his family and friends, and his staff. The present concept is a wildflower garden replete with fruit trees. An indication of time passing is that the nearby Bothy used to have circa 15 gardeners – now soon to be the Miriam Manor Hotel! The somewhat magnificent residence of the Head Gardener is now an holiday residence “Greenwood Manor”.
The Walled Garden was designed as a suntrap and as an horticultural microclimate- the Southern Wall is flanked externally by a picturesque row of potting sheds – also Grade II listed. These delightful little structures will soon fulfil a diverse array of touristic attractions. The potting sheds retain their original layout, examples of the painstaking work required of the 19th Century gardens – one now exists for tourists.
Everything about the Walled Garden bears the hallmark of the aesthetic sentiments and wealth of one of England’s richest and most accomplished men, the Hon Charles Rothschild, scientist, horticulturist, banker and flea enthusiast! Please read about Xenopsylla cheopis Rothschild, the plague flea, named after the Hon Charles Rothschild!.
No unaccompanied children are permitted in the Walled Gardens. Dogs of the permitted variety under the control of an adult, (preferably the owner) are permitted.
The wicket room
Our cosy, family-friendly games room located inside the Cricket Pavilion. Designed for fun and relaxation, it offers something for everyone—enjoy a game of table tennis or table football, explore the board game collection, or let little ones play safely in the toddler area with building blocks and soft play. Parents can unwind on the comfy sofa while the kids enjoy themselves. Please note, children (16 yrs and under) must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Open 10am-6pm
the green room – for the grownups! (10am – 6pm)
There are lots of areas on the Estate equipped for children so we decided we needed a relaxing, chill-out area for the grown-ups! The Green Room is located within the main house, Ashton Wold House boasts a beautiful antique full size snooker table and many other games including chess, scrabble, backgammon, pool, bar skittles, cribbage and more. Visitors are welcome to use the Green Room free of charge between the hours of 10am and 6pm every Friday, Saturday or Sunday unless under private hire. If you are here midweek please call us if you would like the room opened to use during the day. To reiterate, the games room is for adults only – 19 years of age and above.
….and now for some excessive Rothschild eulogizing
The Green Room is reminiscent of the Rothschild era, and the full-size table is the very one used by the Hon Charles, the Hon Victor and the Hon Miriam – the latter two excellent snooker players. Indeed the Rothschild family had devised their own game called “slosh”, a combination of billiards and snooker. The present owner, “Dr Charles” enjoyed watching his mother Miriam play. Miriam excelled at sports, playing squash and (ladies) cricket to an international standard, and (allegedly) playing in the doubles at Wimbledon. Victor also excelled at sports, playing First Class Cricket (for Northamptonshire), and also excelling at squash and golf.
Our (a pale shadow of his sporting forebears) proprietor claims to be an accomplished skier, and stylish (veteran!) tennis player – but like most sport aficionados, is someone who has morphed into a weird tennis player – enjoying the title of “Dr Volley” (by virtue of very poor volleying), “the slice master” (by virtue of his affection for Real Tennis) and “professor spin” by virtue of the substitution of deviousness for stealth.
