Things To Do at Upton Country Park

Visiting with your dog? Information here …

Visit our Welcome Centre

Our striking timber & Purbeck stone clad Welcome Centre, located alongside the main car park, is your ‘front door’ to the country park. Open daily, 10am – 4pm.

This iconic building has been designed with accessibility & sustainability in mind, and features a bio-diverse living meadow roof, planted up with 34 species of wildflowers. Visitors will find ‘what’s on’ information, a small gift shop and interactive child-friendly displays that bring the park’s history & landscapes to life. Facilities include toilets, accessible WC and baby changing area. 

Book our Tramper Mobility Scooter

We have partnered with Countryside Mobility to make an electric all-terrain mobility scooter – called a Tramper – available for you to book for a visit to Upton Country Park. Designed specifically to cover rough ground and grass safely and with a top speed of four miles an hour it can keep pace with walking companions.

• Available Monday-Friday from 10am, read more about the Tramper and how to book it for your next visit

For detailed accessibility information please download our Visual Guide to the house and grounds, which has been designed for us by Living Options Devon to help you prepare for your visit to the Country Park.

Cycling and Walking in the Country Park

Upton Country Park is the ideal place to visit for a leisurely stroll or cycle ride, along the shoreline and through the woodland with beautiful views over Poole Harbour an added bonus. Cycleways & footpaths are well marked on our Park Map.

We have cycle storage loops around the estate – at the back of the main Car Park, in the Stable Yard near the Tea Rooms, next to the Kiosk at the south face of Upton House, by Spurriers Play Park and in the Poole Road Car Park. We also have a Beryl bay in the main car park, offering visitors a fun option sustainable transport option to get to/from or to explore the Park by scooter or bike.

Please note – cyclists are requested not to exceed 5mph in the Park, and to dismount in the formal gardens and in the vicinity of the Tea Rooms, Walled Garden and Spurrier’s Play Park

The Gallery Upstairs

Our art gallery is situated upstairs, above the Tea Rooms, and is open from 10am most days* with closing time generally in line with the Tea Rooms. The Gallery is run on a voluntary basis by Poole & East Dorset Art Society (PEDAS) and shows work by local professional and non-professional artists throughout the year.

Admission is free and wheelchair access is offered via a lift from the Tea Rooms. * Exhibitions change every 2-3 weeks, and the Gallery will be closed for changeover days. Check out what’s on now by visiting www.thegalleryupstairs.org.uk

The Gallery is available for hire for periods of one or two weeks, primarily to artists and groups within 30 miles of Upton Country Park. If you are interested in further information please message the team via their website at thegalleryupstairs.org.uk/contact

Spurrier’s Play Park & Kiosk

Let your little ones explore, leap, climb and slide through the trees in our new adventure play park. Starting outside the Cabin (Education Centre) in the heart of the Country Park the natural timber play features meander down through the grass towards the woodlands bordering the shoreline meadows. A must for any child and all you young-at-heart grown ups!

Located close to the play park you’ll find Spurrier’s Kiosk, open (weather permitting) on weekends and school holidays, 10.30am – 4.30pm, serving drinks, snacks & ice creams. Contactless card and cash payment accepted.

The Walled Garden

A beautifully landscaped Walled Garden with well managed beds & borders, and plenty of open space to enjoy a family picnic, time with friends, or simply soaking up some sun. The Tea Rooms terrace overlooks the Walled Garden.

The garden is open daily 9am – 5.30pm, unless booked out for a wedding or other private event (please join us on Facebook for regular updates).

The summer Splash Fountain is currently turned off

We regret that the Splash Fountain in the Walled Garden is currently turned off due to the Wessex Water temporary hosepipe ban which came to affect on 18 August.

The Walled Garden remains open as usual.

The Friend’s Refreshment Kiosk

The Refreshment Kiosk can be found at the rear of Upton House and is run by volunteers from the Friends of Upton Country Park. The kiosk opens at weekends and school holidays, subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions, offering a selection of hot and cold drinks, ice creams and confectionery. Cash and contactless card payments accepted.

The Front Lawn

As the only place in the Park designated for ball games, the large front lawn is the ideal spot for family sports and picnics, with children able to run around safely and let off some steam.

This space also plays host to large events, such as fairs, shows and music festivals.

Create @ Upton Country Park

Located in the Courtyard Barn opposite the Tea Rooms. Stop by and let your inner artist out – creative self-led activities for children (from 4 yrs) and adults. Painting & Colouring, Craft Kits, Sand Art, Build-Anywhere-Bear-Kits, Decopatch, Paint your own Pottery, Model Making, and more. Pre-bookable 2-hour sessions available at 10am, 12.30pm & 3pm.

• 10am-5pm on Fri, Sat & Sun during term-time; every day of the week during the holidays.

No admission charge. Individually priced activities from as little as £5.95. Gift Vouchers available. Birthday parties & Corporate groups welcome. Visit www.createatuptoncountrypark.com for details & bookings.

Rock & Rose Rituals

Lisa Marie’s Candle, Wellness & Crystal Emporium is located near to the Tea Rooms. Discover the very best local, natural products from Dorset makers and artists. See wonderfully scented candles being created and hand-poured in store, or learn how to create your own with a candle-making workshop – find out more at www.rockandrose.one or call 01202 985413

• Standard opening: Saturday & Sunday, 10am-4pm.
• During school & public holidays: Wednesday – Sunday, 10am-4pm.

Including Conkers Magical Earth Academy – regular nature and magic craft workshops throughout the year. There’s something for the whole family! Visit Conkers Magical Earth Academy at Eventbrite for the latest listing.

The Oak Sauna

NEW – nestled in woodland beside the front lawn, the Oak Sauna offers a welcoming space to unwind, recharge and reconnect with nature. Changing rooms, cold shower and picnic benches make your visit easy and comfortable, whether for a solo escape, a post-run recovery or a group outing.

• Open daily 9am – 5pm throughout the year
• Book online private & shared sessions available at www.oaksauna.co.uk
• Follow the Oak Sauna at instagram.com/oak_sauna

Holes Bay Nature Park

The 286 hectare (707 acre) Holes Bay Nature Park stretches from Asda (opposite Poole Railway Station) to Upton Country Park and Hamworthy. It is one of the best places to enjoy the wildlife of Poole Harbour. The saltmarsh and intertidal mudflats are a haven for wetland birds and other wildlife. The area of Holes Bay north of the train line is part of the Country Park, a designated Nature Reserve and Bird Sensitive Area with no public access. There are excellent views across that area from The Lookout (see below).

A local group of volunteers undertake studies and record their observations within Holes Bay and Upton Country Park; their annual Birds, Wildlife and Ecology reports are available to download at our Holes Bay Nature Park page.

The Lookout

The Lookout is our bird hide overlooking the salt marsh and intertidal mudflats of Holes Bay Nature Park. Used as both a roost and a feeding area our Bird Hide provides the perfect opportunity to spot the numerous species of wetland and other birds that can be found in Holes Bay all year round.

The Lookout is located on the Shoreline Path and is marked on our Park Map.

Pétanque

Our pétanque terrain can be found on the left of the driveway as you enter the Country Park from Poole Road.

It is open for players to use on a first-come-first-served and bring-your-own basis.

Orienteering

Whether a beginner or not, have fun navigating your way around one of the largest public open spaces in Poole. Follow the numbered posts set up by Wessex Orienteering Club for as long or short a route as you like (0.6, 1.5 or 2.2km), progressing at your own pace. 

The course information and map can be found at the Wessex Orienteering Club website www.wessex-oc.org.uk/maps/upton-country-park 

Join a Volunteer Group

Join us to learn new skills and meet new friends in a wonderful Country Park environment, whilst helping the Operations Team keep estate looking its best all year round!  

Join our Gardening Group or get involved in practical conservation tasks such as hedge laying, pond management and coppicing. No special skills or knowledge required. Find out more here …

Dog Walking

For years people have enjoyed exercising their dogs across the many acres of open parkland, woodlands and meadowland at Upton Country Park. We even have a ‘dog walkers’ car park – 24 spaces, 2 hours free parking, off Poole Road (opposite Pony Drive); it gives direct access to a large off-lead space, and a fenced dog training area.

As the Park grows in popularity and in size we have been working with the Dorset Dogs group to implement the ‘Paw Prints’ code. This system is recognised nationwide as a way of making it clear to dog walkers which areas are on or off lead, and which are dog-free. Look out for the symbols on your next visit!

DIY Dog Wash

Upton Country Park also boasts a self-service Dog Wash area, conveniently located at the new Welcome Centre in the main car park. This easy to use facility is ideal for washing your muddy pooches or simply giving your pampered pet a weekly treat. Warm water, natural products and a two speed dryer … leaving your car and home clean, and you ready to relax after “walkies”!

The dog wash is owned and operated by polygonpets.com

Dog Training Area & Play Pen

We now have two enclosed spaces for dogs; the Dog Training Area in the northern section of parkland, and the Dog Play Pen which can be found in the newest, southern section (see our Park Map).

Train your puppy in a secure fenced space, or just let your dog enjoy some off-lead time, secure in the knowledge it won’t run off. The surrounding areas are also designated as “off-lead” for when you and your dog feel more confident.

The Dog Training Area is also available to book for exclusive use by accredited dog trainers between May – October; from 7-8pm on weekdays and 11-12am on weekends, from £17.50 an hour. Please call 01202 127770 or email uptoncountrypark@bcpcouncil.gov.uk for bookings and further details.