Skip to Content
ParksHerts
  • Home
  • About
  • Parks
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Contact
ParksHerts
  • Home
  • About
  • Parks
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Contact
Show search menu
Search form
Fairlands Valley Park Fairlands Valley Park Fairlands Valley Park Fairlands Valley Park Fairlands Valley Park Fairlands Valley Park
flagship

Fairlands Valley Park

Open all year

48 hectares of beautiful parkland situated in the heart of Stevenage with 29 points of interest

Explore the Park Map Personalise map

nature Abbots Grove Wood
nature

Abbots Grove Wood

Woodland

Show on map

playarea Adventure trail play area
playarea

Adventure trail play area

Playground

Show on map

splas Aqua Playground
splas

Aqua Playground

Splash Park

The Aqua Playground is open during the summer, complete with kiosk and public toilet facilities. The Aqua play area contains equipment which sprays, squirts, mists or shoots water into the play area, giving a fun play for the youngsters in a safe and interactive environment. Great for cooling off in the summer sun!

Open 9.30am-5.30pm (weather permitting)

Show on map

nature Balancing Pond
nature

Balancing Pond

Water Habitat

The Balancing Pond is the first in the chain of the Fairlands Valley Lakes, although there is not a permanent pond/lake here. The pond is fed by water from the storm drain network, and therefore only truly resembles a pond after substantial rainfall.

 

Periodically the Balancing Pond is cleared out to ensure that it retains its capacity.

Show on map

building Bandstand
building

Bandstand

Bandstand

Show on map

carpark Cafe Car Park
carpark

Cafe Car Park

Car Park

Show on map

fooddrink Costellos Cafe
fooddrink

Costellos Cafe

Food & Drink

For more information please visit Costello’s cafe website

Show on map

nature Environment Lake
nature

Environment Lake

Water Habitat

Marginals, native planting, trees and log piles provide attractive habitats suitable for a wide range of wildlife, from wildfowl to raptors, from amphibians to insects, and squirrels to foxes. Relining of the lake allowed the islands to be reshaped thus providing secure habitats.

Show on map

building Fairlands Sailing Centre
building

Fairlands Sailing Centre

Building

The 11 acre sailing lake is used for the centre�s dinghy, canoeing, kayak, windsurfing and powerboat courses. The Centre also runs many land-based courses and activities such as Boards & Buggies, Grass Sledging, Orienteering, Mountain Biking and Power Kiting. The newest addition to the Centre ‘So Challenging’ offers a thrill experience with a ropes course and climbing wall. 

For more information please visit the Sailing Centre website

Show on map

carpark Fairlands Way Car Park
carpark

Fairlands Way Car Park

Car Park

Show on map

fish Fishing area
fish

Fishing area

Fishing

The main lake is an excellent location for carp fishing and course fishing with easy access disabled bays.

The angling activities at Fairlands are managed by Welwyn Garden City Angling Club.

For more information on fishing at Fairlands, please click here…

Show on map

nature Hanginghill Wood
nature

Hanginghill Wood

Woodland

Show on map

carpark Main Car Park
carpark

Main Car Park

Car Park

Show on map

nature Main Lake
nature

Main Lake

Water Habitat

Show on map

nature Memorial Wood
nature

Memorial Wood

Woodland

Show on map

fountain01 Millennium Fountain
fountain01

Millennium Fountain

Fountain

Show on map

nature Millennium Lake
nature

Millennium Lake

Water Habitat

This lake is used primarily for model boat activities by Stevenge Model Boat Club. The lake also provides viewing platforms for visitors wishing to watch the boating activities or wanting to be close to the water to feed the wildfowl.

The island to this lake is a breeding area, providing nesting grounds for wildfowl. The annual town’s fireworks display is fired from the island

 

Show on map

nature Millennium Wood
nature

Millennium Wood

Woodland

Show on map

attractions Moat
attractions

Moat

Site of historical interest

Show on map

nature Monks Wood and Whomerley Wood
nature

Monks Wood and Whomerley Wood

Woodland

Monk�s Wood and Whomerley Wood is the largest and finest example of ancient Oak and Hornbeam woodland in Stevenage.  The woodland is over 25ha in size and is the perfect environment for a quiet walk or jog. There is plenty to see throughout the year and is particularly impressive in the spring time when bluebells carpet the woodland floor. 

 

   

Show on map

playarea Play area
playarea

Play area

Playground

Show on map

building Sailing Centre
building

Sailing Centre

Building

The Sailing Centre provides changing rooms and toilets for individuals or groups using the water sport facilities; a workshop; classroom/meeting room;  and caf� selling hot and cold food and drinks throughout the year.

Show on map

nature Shackledell Grassland
nature

Shackledell Grassland

Meadow

This is a very special place for wildlife in the heart of Stevenage. More than 70 different plants grow here! The grassland is alive with mammals, birds, butterflies and insects � in fact, the wildlife is so rich that the site has been designated a County Wildlife Site. Follow the waymarker posts around the Grasshopper Trail from July to October to see what you can spot.

A haven for bush crickets and grasshoppers. Three species of grasshopper and six species of bush cricket are found here. This includes the UK�s largest insect, the great green bush cricket. Shackledell is the only place in Hertfordshire where this species can be seen. Listen out for highpitched buzzing or �singing� during the summer � the sound of grasshoppers and bush crickets trying to attract a mate.

Click here to see a copy of the Shackledell Grasshopper trail leaflet

Show on map

nature Shackleton Spring Wood
nature

Shackleton Spring Wood

Woodland

Show on map

carpark Shephall View Car Park
carpark

Shephall View Car Park

Car Park

Show on map

carpark Southfield Car Park
carpark

Southfield Car Park

Car Park

Show on map

nature Wiltshire’s Spring Wood
nature

Wiltshire’s Spring Wood

Woodland

Show on map


Share Print

Park Information

Situated within the heart of Stevenage and covering 120 acres of beautiful parkland, Fairlands Valley Park provides extensive leisure facilities for all. The Park is renowned for its wide range of water sports facilities, with sailing, windsurfing, angling, kayaking and dragon boating taking place on the 11 acre Main Lake.

There is an excellent play area catering for children, toddlers right through to teenagers, located alongside an exciting water play facility. 

The Park provides a variety of habitats which support a range of wildlife.  In addition to the traditional short grass swards, Fairlands Valley Park also benefits from woodland, a network of lakes, long grass swards and grassland which provides a home to the Great Green Bush Cricket – the only colony in Hertfordshire. 

Click here for more information about Fairlands Valley Park

The water sports activities and the high ropes course is run by Stevenage Leisure Ltd (SLL). For more information, click here…

Fishing is available on the Main Lake and is run by Welwyn Garden City Angling Club – day tickets can be purchased from the bailiff on duty.

Read more on this page about Fairlands Valley Park

Visit the website

On Site Facilities

  • Car Park (Free)Car Park (Free) icon
  • Disabled AccessDisabled Access icon
  • Disabled ToiletsDisabled Toilets icon
  • Dogs WelcomeDogs Welcome icon
  • Food & DrinkFood & Drink icon
  • Pushchair Friendly PathsPushchair Friendly Paths icon
  • Splash ParkSplash Park icon
  • ToiletsToilets icon

How to get here

Parking:

There are 4 free car parks accessed from:

  • Broadhall Way (opposite football ground) – For directions click here…
  • Shephall View – For directions click here…
  • Fairlands Way – For directions click here…
  • Six Hills Way – For directions click here…
Public Transport Information:

Regular buses serve the park from the town centre. For more information use Intalink website www.intalink.org.uk/timetables or www.nationalrail.co.uk

Cycling:

A shared-use cycle track and footpath runs through much of the park

You can find more details of the cycle network in Stevenage by clicking here…

Personalise Map

Points of interest Select All

Share your experience

Tell your friends on social media about what you did at Fairlands Valley Park:

Select a park or route

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Don't show me this again

Thank you for sharing your experience via social media.

Share another experience

ParksHerts

Welcome to Fairlands Valley Park.

I want to...

Find Something

SKIP - Take me to the website

  • ©2025 ParksHerts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility