Not exactly a national park. Still considerably nicer than the nearby traffic suggests.
What to know
Black Dam Ponds is part of a Local Nature Reserve with Crabtree Plantation, and it is mainly about the water birds: tufted ducks, coots and, if you are lucky, a kingfisher. There is a play area and picnic space.
Paths are tarmac with gentle slopes and benches, so it works for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There are no toilets. A small free car park is reached from Black Dam Way (RG21 3QR), or walk out from War Memorial Park, about 1.7 miles there and back. An underpass links the ponds to Crabtree if you want a longer loop.
Making more of it
On its own, Black Dam is a short wander round the water. It gets more useful as part of something bigger.
- From the town centre: the council’s self-guided walk starts in War Memorial Park and reaches the ponds in under a mile, mostly level, with benches on the way. The leaflet describes it as suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, though its route does include some steps down to the ponds.
- To the woods: carry on through the underpass to Crabtree Plantation for gravel paths, woodland and a proper hill. That makes about 3.5 miles there and back from the park.
- With small children: the play area and the duck-feeding platform are the main events. There are no toilets, so plan accordingly.
Location
