Is Clumber Park Still Free to Cycle Through?

[Brian73]

I last cycled through the park on 2 July

Nobody stopped me and asked for any money, but I have seen that they are now charging per person and not per car as before.

Cyclists always used to be allowed to use the park for free if arriving by bike.

Is this still the case?

[landsurfer]

Certainly is ..i use it every week..
The per person charge is another cynical attempt by the NT to suck money out of visitors.
I and my wife are members but have been asked to pay for my grandchildren when in the car with me ...i refused .... and they gave way.
They seem to have briefed to ask for payment but back off if refused.
The whole of Clumber is being transformed into an homogenised forest "experience" for those that do not know better....
The fact that 2 main roads run through the park keeps it cheap to visit, they cannot charge you for access or reasonable roadside parking.

[TrevA]

I noticed that the Colourful Clumber Audax route has been re-routed so that it now only passes through the Park once, via Lime Tree Avenue (which is a through road and therefore free to everyone), on the return leg. I was thinking that it's because of the new policy.

I was up there a few weeks ago in the car, and they were certainly charging per person for cars, but we parked on Lime Tree Avenue and entered the Park on foot and weren't charged.

[Sweep]

Mm

The national trust up to its games again.

I left them years ago over their dodgy attitude to fox hunting.

Was never aware that they clicked/charged the behorsed folks charging through their territory.

Methinks i'll go for another nice spin through Knole Park in Kent where they also try to stop you cycling through on the roads. Not that they can do much if you stand your ground/pedals. And I know various ways in anyway. I have even led bike rides through the park.

[Flinders]

The NT took over a place near me and one of the first things they did (after making about 40 paid staff redundant and adding insult to injury by asking them to come back and work for free) was chuck a local village football team off the pitch they'd been using for years.

Not a nice organisation, IMHO.

[rualexander]

The National Trust for Scotland have been in the news this week for being a bit over zealous with their legal department.
Apparently they own the trademark name 'Glencoe' as they own the Glencoe estate and have had a go at a small outdoor clothing company who make a 'Glencoe' jacket.
http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people ... -1-4523946

[100%JR]

The NT website states Clumber Park "opens" at 10:00.This is not true.
The parking booths open at 10:00 but gates open at 07:30.Get there before 10:00 and drive straight in.
That's what we do and means the main CP is always empty!
I had no problem paying £6/7 per car but the new charges are just a rip off.

[honesty]

They try the same stunt at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. Charge everyone who goes through the park including bikes. I refused to pay last time for somewhere I've been going to for over 30 years even before it was "developed" by the NT and they gave in in the end

[Sweep]

They try the same stunt at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. Charge everyone who goes through the park including bikes. I refused to pay last time for somewhere I've been going to for over 30 years even before it was "developed" by the NT and they gave in in the end

I'd be interested in their arguments before they gave in honesty. May help us folks with regard to other properties in case they try similar games/legal bluster.
Do pedestrians have to pay to enter the Calke grounds?

Are there rights of way across the grounds?

[honesty]

They try the same stunt at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. Charge everyone who goes through the park including bikes. I refused to pay last time for somewhere I've been going to for over 30 years even before it was "developed" by the NT and they gave in in the end

I'd be interested in their arguments before they gave in honesty. May help us folks with regard to other properties in case they try similar games/legal bluster.
Do pedestrians have to pay to enter the Calke grounds?

Are there rights of way across the grounds?

yes there are rights of way, and no pedestrians dont pay.

I told the guy on the gate I'd been coming to calke abbey since I was 8, and I wasnt going to pay a stupid entrance fee to go round a piece of land I know so well. It helped I had a screaming child in the car at the same time! For Calke Abbey at least though the charge is pointless, as you can just park at the carpark next to the reservoir (https://goo.gl/maps/tNAR3h8Qat12) and enjoy the walk through the grounds from there. It's just a petty charge to stop the locals using Calke Abbey as a cut through, which we did for years to be honest. It was great fun when it used to be 2 way!

[PH]

They try the same stunt at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. Charge everyone who goes through the park including bikes. I refused to pay last time for somewhere I've been going to for over 30 years even before it was "developed" by the NT and they gave in in the end

The local CTC group questioned the charging and got it in writing (...well email) that cyclists passing through would not be charged but those intending to stop would. I ride through frequently and have never been asked, the cafe does well out of cyclists, I doubt they'd be happy for them to be told not to stop there.
I'm happy for all cars to be charged, it's much nicer without them

[Sweep]

Deleted -wonky formatting - see below

[Sweep]

Thanks for the update PH.

As for charging you if you stop, to breath, to admire a tree, a bird, have a snack, they are never going to be able to enforce it are they? Well not without risking a charge for assault.

Worst comes to the worst, you get back on your bike, pedal politely away, go sit under another tree. Let them follow you. Repeat.

If they did physically grab you/escort you from the grounds, they may try and tell concerned onlookers that it is a re-enactment of the bad old days of the squire, but they will still be up for the high jump.

As for "intending" to stop, you might not intend to, but might, on entering the vast grounds, be overcome with a sudden physical/spiritual need to sit down.
Ride on.

[honesty]

Good to know. There's so many places to park outside of Calke Abbey as well that paying to go in seems odd. Locally here in Somerset the NT have installed solar powered parking machines which you need to get a ticket from if you want to park in their car parks. That seems like a better option than charging entry to the whole park