"Enjoyable walk on the longest trail took about 2 hours, all paved paths pretty much."
"Different seasons offer different scenic views, and my favorite is spring when the flowering trees are especially beautiful."
"Beautiful nature reserve, with plenty of works for all ages and abilities. Incredible amount of wildlife to see."
"The reserve itself is stunning and has many routes for people to take."
"So many fabulous nature trails. Great lookouts and hides to watch wildlife from."
"I imagine it would be a lot more beautiful place in spring with different kind of flowers and trees coming back to life."
"Great place for wildlife and to be surrounded by water."
"One of the premier nature reserves in the Nottingham Wildlife Trust's group."
Cons:
"Very limited movement freedom, just a long path with impenetrable bushes all around, hard to see any nature."
"Paths are well cared for considering it's a nature reserve and the history of the site."
"Despite the pouring rain my family had a good time exploring the paths and hidesat the reserve."
"One path does flood quite regularly; I do wish they would put up a sign saying its not passable as you have to do a u-turn."
"Some nice looking birds round ere matey. They don't mind being looked at but some don't like you getting too close."
"Despite all the lakes, you actually see little from the path due to all the trees and bushes."
"A potentially pleasant walk spoilt by inconsiderate and dangerous behaviour by several cyclists."
"Nothing to see here. Just a desolate land."
Parking and Accessibility
Pros:
"Decent value car park for the walk (£3 all day)."
"Convenient parking and reasonable prices."
"Parking payment is better and easy all day £3."
"Half hour free parking - then £3 for day which you pay before you leave."
"The carpark is fairly big but gets full on nice days with only £3 to pay for all day parking."
"Parking is £4/day or £30/year with a Wildlife Trust membership."
"Parking is only £3 but i came by train."
"Parking unless there is more elsewhere I didn't see is VERY limited."
Cons:
"Didn't notice the signs for paying for parking as it was dark and the signs weren't lit, got a parking ticket for £60."
"It's also confusing to find if you are not used to Nottingham's roundabouts."
"Parking can be cramped as some visitors are unable to park in one bay meaning not everyone can be parked."
"Parking is only available by the day, it's only £3 but it would be nice to have other options."
"Parking is charged and has cameras to fine people."
"Only walked round didn't use any of the facilities, car park ticket machine much easier to use."
"Very busy with very little social distancing from the public."
"Parking is only £3 for the whole day (bargain) and a wander down the river Trent will bring you to Beeston Marina for a beer or 2 😉"
Cafe and Visitor Center
Pros:
"There is a visitor centre and cafe."
"Cafe serves lovely food and cakes."
"There's a great visitors centre with a shop and cafe, also some well maintained toilets."
"Cafe area clean and tidy - lovely hot chocolate and brownie finished off a lovely walk around."
"There's a visitor centre that has opening and closing times but it seemed as though it's free to roam around the reserve no matter what time it is, no closing time."
"The café is really nice and I was impressed with the veggie and vegan options available."
"Cafe was also good, limited selection but food was good quality. Ice cream van was also a hit."
"Ample and accessable parking. Lots of different routes to explore. Cafe and giftshop on-site offering cooked to order and prepackaged food."
Cons:
"Cafe was a bit chaotic with tables piled high up with uncleared used plates, cups, cutlery right next to the ordering counter which was off-putting."
"The café was nice, very busy."
"Cafe is slow and not very friendly."
"The only toilets available were for customers of the shop and cafe (disabled toilet) as the others were being refurbished."
"Didn't use any of the facilities, car park ticket machine much easier to use."
"The café queue was enormous. The person on the till didn't help and the manager who came in to talk to staff didn't think of helping reduce the queue."
"I didn't see this at it's best, a wet winter walk after torrential rain had seen the river Trent burst its bank."
"To say there was not a big queue they was quite slow also my wife's fish burger was only just warm and so was the burgers on my big Mac."