Holker Deer Safari Sells Out Twice Ahead Of Wild Venison Week.
A new guided Deer Park and Heritage Safari at Holker Hall has proved extremely popular after selling out twice within just a few days of tickets going on sale.
The special experience will take visitors behind the scenes of the historic Holker Estate, offering access to areas of the deer park that are not normally open to the public. The safari is being held ahead of Holker Wild Venison Week, which will run from Wednesday, October 7 to Sunday, October 11, 2026. The five-day event will celebrate Holker Estate Wild Venison through food, tastings, cookery demonstrations, talks and special experiences.
Led by Holker’s Forestry and Deer Manager Sam Thompson, the safari will explore the history and management of the estate’s closed herd of fallow deer, which has been part of Holker’s story for more than 400 years.
Visitors will also learn how responsible deer management is connected to tree conservation and woodland health, with the estate explaining how managing the deer population forms part of its wider approach to caring for the landscape.
One of the highlights will be access to Cumbria’s oldest icehouse, which dates back to 1732. The historic building provides a link between Holker’s past and the role venison has played in life on the estate over the centuries.
The safari experience is designed to combine a mixture of riding and walking, with the walking sections described as suitable for participants with appropriate outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear. The experience lasts around two hours, while options combining the safari with lunch are also available.
The popularity of the event has surprised the Holker team, with Head of Communications Colin Sneath saying organisers expected the safari to attract interest but did not anticipate it selling out twice within days.
Wild Venison Week will offer visitors a wider opportunity to discover the food produced from Holker’s responsibly managed deer herd. The programme includes free tastings, live cookery demonstrations, expert talks and special menus at the estate.
The estate will also have a selection of Holker Estate Wild Venison available through its shop, including Royal Haggis and Gamekeeper’s Sausage produced by award-winning butcher Dales of Kirkby Lonsdale. The event will highlight the relationship between wildlife management, food production and woodland conservation, while giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about the history of Holker’s deer park. With the safari already selling out twice, the strong demand has provided an early indication of interest in this year’s Holker Wild Venison Week, which will take place at Holker Hall and Gardens in October.
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