Who needs beautiful weather to have a good walk? My parents, better half and I wanted to walk off…read moresome of the huge amounts of Christmas food...so drove over to Irchester country park in the pouring rain. We hoped it would stop raining for a bit...and it did although we did still get soaked during most of our walk! Despite the rain, the waterlogged paths and the grey skies, we still had a pleasant walk. This park used to be an ironstone quarry, so there are pretty trails through the mixed woodland...with large peaks and troughs where people have dug up iron over the centuries. I really want to come back with my nephew and niece...they would love it! Other awesome-ness * We found some fake dinosaurs along one of the trail (!) * There is a railway museum (only open once a week on a Sunday, but apparently it's brilliant for train-loving kids) * There is a fun looking playground for kids, as well as rope bridges, zip lines and cargo nets for big kids * It costs £2.50 to park, but there is no entrance fee. If it is a rainy day, take some wellington boots and a rain coat...you'll love it.

Nice place to go for walks. Lots of grass for running about,playing and picnics. A burger van is…read moreoften there. Can't remember fully but I think toilets are avalible. Big car park. Not enough for a whole day out but would make a nice afternoon out for all and a nice summer evening out for all.

perfect for adults and children!!! nice to have a walk round…read moreor to settle with a picnic and have famil;y time. beautiful to look at all year round and lots of wildlife!

Such a nice park for kids to play and for me to walk Ricky Martin! So pleased I stumbled across…read morethis park yesterday / lived 10 minutes drive away for 3 years and never noticed it! Apparently decades ago it was a landfill that has now been turned into this large (33 hectares or 70+ acres) park with plenty of room to walk, enjoy nature (including some wetlands) and the views. Ricky Martin and I will definitely be back - often! 1 thumb and 2 paws up!! Review #11 2020

Beautiful views of the water wherever you stop to look at the water with plenty of amenities in…read moreterms of fishing,sailing,wind surfing,bird watching,running (A full Rutland Water lap is 23 miles which includes the peninsular,17 miles without,which is ideal for those of you that are training for large running events,such as The London Marathon or similar events. I used to trot around here as part of my training when I competed in the London Marathon - highly recommend,gets you in a great head space as you take in all the different views of the water. Walking,cycling & dog walking are other activities you can do,to name just a few,there is also *depending on the seasons a Rutland Water Aqua Park - but make sure you pre book as this is very popular. Normanton Park Church is a tourist hot spot as well as a Zoo! & a man made beach. There are plenty of cafes & children's play areas,with rock climbing (Rock Block). Hambleton peninsula is worth a visit with local pubs dotted around Rutland Water. We live near here & I think most Rutlanders will admit that they don't use the area as much as they should. Although we will be taking a wander to take a look at the new Sea Dragon which has just been unearthed

Great well conserved park…read more This is basically a large man made resevoir, underneath which is a village that was covered over with water when they made the resevoir. Great place for canoing and other water Sports. Many people hire cycles out or bring there own to go around the water, it quite a ride but makes a nice day out. Also great for walks, feeding the ducks, there is also a marina area and in the summer there are boat trips. Food is expensive so better to bring a picnic or packed lunch

Wythall park is a lovely little gem that's off the beaten track a little. It has a sand pit and…read moreswings, as well as a roundabout. These are all in an enclosed space for little ones to play safely. The older kids are catered for with a zip wire and a tyre swing, as well as a footbal court. There are toilets that are clean and the park is kept clean too, plus there's loads of free parking. It's open all year round too. There isn't anywhere to buy food and drink but it is a great place for a picnic, so bring your own instead. Something worth noting is that it's also a very popular dog walking area so if your children are scared of dogs, just be aware. Most dog owners are great but when we visited there were a coupe of great hulking dogs that took a dislike to each other and both were off their leads. One owner obviously had no control over his dog either. It all ended safely, but there was a lot of baking and snarling, and that was just the owners, and my daughter didn't like it at all.

This is such a good park for kids! It really is lovely and has a cool playground with swings, one…read moreof those roundabout things and even a sandpit! If only I was a kid again. I think that the park is kept well and always seems to be clean and tidy. There are even some toilets in case you get caught short. It is a great park to bring a picnic and the kids on a nice sunny day. It is also a great place to bring dogs and seems to be very popular for dog walkers. This is a really nice park and it is definitely worth a visit if you have kids, dogs or just generally want to view some greenery instead of the city traffic!

Since getting a dog we are always looking for dog friendly places and Himley Halls grounds are…read moreperfect! They have parking (£1.80 all day), Golf course & hire, cafe, toilets and even water bowls for the thirsty doggies. Beautiful walks and even got a stream you can trek along. The food in the cafe is basic but good. My only criticism was the toilets where closed so we had quite a walk to get to the other toilets located by the hall. My mom has trouble getting around and nearly had to go in the bushes lol. Thankfully we got there in time! Overall great place for anyone who likes a good trek and ideal for dog owners.

Located in the old grounds of Himley Hall which was the home of the Earl of Dudley . Theres…read moreopenland , woods , fishing lake and a public golf course . They have many big events here such as the usual bonfire night but also music events , wedding fairs etc .

As someone who has been lucky enough to live near both Windsor and Richmond Parks, I have to say…read morethis is comparable. There is plenty of open space: beautiful heathland, ancient oak trees, volcanic rocks to scramble on, the river and of course the lake. OK, there isn't a castle or Palace, but there is a ruined 15th century mansion and a folly at the top of the hill. The story is that the oak trees were be-headed, just like the mistress of the house Lady Jane Gray (the 'Nine Days Queen') whose own execution is featured in a beautiful painting by Delaroche http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_Delaroche_-_The_Execution_of_Lady_Jane_Grey.jpg I'm no expert on oak trees, but the one in this photo is pretty spooky and it was taken on a sunny day: it certainly convinced me! The park is an easy cycle ride from Leicester centre (about 7 miles) if you want to avoid the usual car parking charges and queues, and there is a good (but busy) cafe.

Bradgate is Leicestershire's largest country park. It's great for a day out - it's huge so there…read moreare lots of different walks you can do, of varying lengths. There are deer, ducks etc to add interest and even the ruins of Bradgate House where you sometimes see peacocks. You have to pay a few pounds for car parking, but this does go towards the upkeep of the park. A great place for dog walking or a family day out.

This is one of several country parks in Warwickshire. It is free to wander around, though there is…read morea £2 charge for car parking (and no other real options nearby). The paths are all gravel, so it is an easy place to take pushchairs or wheelchairs. Admittedly the scenery is not amazingly interesting, but the full route takes you past some fields (often with sheep) and the pools themselves. The route is cleverly constructed so you can do the full circuit (about 45 minutes), or you can cut back and do shorter ones. There is a small shop and visitor centre, and a cafe with lots of outdoor tables - though this has fairly limited opening hours. A very popular place to take kids out to get a bit of fresh air and exercise!

One of Birmingham's lesser known parks, and all the better for it, if you ask me! We really are…read moreblessed / spoiled over in the south of the city when it comes to parks - there seems to be one every few hundred yards - from large, countryside-equse open spaces like Warley Woods and the Lickeys, to ornate urban parks like Cannon Hill Park. This place is a little of both - the large open space that dominates it provides a lovely respite from the bustle of Harborne, and the gardens that border it are well kept and a legacy of the park's Victorian roots. A great little park - much recommended!

Queens Park is one of Birmingham's best parks in my opinion, its very secluded and not very known…read moreabout and all the better for it! We don't have many great outdoor spaces in Harborne so its a great place for young children, teenagers and adults too. Its has a great open large space, people come here to play football, tennis (has 2 tennis courts), basketball (has a basketball court). Has a playground area for young children. Very popular with dog walkers, joggers and cyclists. Ive been here day and night and never had any trouble, the gardens are well kept and very pretty in every season. There is 2 car parks available on site which is free, space available for disabled vehicles too. A great little park!