When the Queensway Tunnel was dug beneath the river, the subsequent rubbish pulled from the ground…read morewas dumped and landscaped into what is now Otterspool Prom. Here you can do everything there is to possibly do on a riverside promenade; things such as walk, ride a bike, look at the water and...um...well that's about it. I suppose you could rollerblade if you wanted. If it's a warm day and you don't mind the style your hair will be sculpted into by the blustering gales, you can follow the prom and its interconnecting paths right up to the Pier Head. If you don't fancy that, try and unearth the ruins of the 1984 Garden Festival, which lies hidden by tree trunks and weeds. You don't know how overtly creepy something is until you accidentally stumble across a kid's overgrown swing park. I still have nightmares.

What a spectacular view. Did you ever see such a coastline? Especially when the waves are choppy…read moreand the wind blustery. I absolutely love the promenade; walking along beside the river with the breathtaking view of the Welsh hills in the background is really relaxing, there's lots of cyclists and dog-walkers around and it's a lovely environment on a clear sunny day. The park which was renovated through the 'Pride in our Proms' project is Amazing. It's a mini world of Big Kid heaven... for me anyway I regressed about 10 years and was on the swings, seesaw and monkey bars, and when we'd totally worn ourselves out running around and taking cool scenic pictures of the sunset we went for a well earned pint from the Otterspool pub which is handily a hop skip and a cartwheel across the park. Go fly a kite, see the sights, play on the park and grab a pint!

This is an area of mainly woodland concentrated on the old limestone workings that fed the iron…read moreworkings of the Black Country . The views off the top are amazing particulary at night . The place is famous for the Seven Sisters Caverns and the wealth of fossils that have been dug from the Silurian Limestone . The place is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is designated a Geological Nature Reserve but theres loads of wildlife too.

The park and the buildings are very beautiful. They really turn back the time…read more The botanical gardens are open now and are very nice but not very big. There are several fairs are held in the Pavilion Gardens such as the Fine Food Fairs, Farmers' Markets, Art & Craft Fairs, Antique Fairs, etc. Also the tourism information center is there.

As the website and the entrance signs say - Pavilion Gardens is a 'great free family day out.'…read more This historic park is situated in the centre of Buxton and is constantly full of locals walking dogs or taking their children out to play as well as a variety of tourists, from families on a day out, cyclists taking a short break to photographers and artists wanting to capture a slice of nature. There is a pay and display car park at one side of the gardens, however as it is centrally located you can easily walk to it from most hotels and the town centre. For tourists new to the area, there is a Tourist Information Centre which will provide you with lots of information about Buxton and the surrounding Peak District area. Hundred of events are held within the gardens over the year, mainly located in the Octagon Hall. These included farmers markets and fetes etc. during my visit a few weekends ago there was an Art based festival taking place where clothing, photographs, jewellery, furniture and other art works were being displayed and some offered for sale. For those searching for a little more fun suitable for the younger generations, there is a large park fully equipped with swings and slides as well as a miniature train which offers rides around one section of the park. If you're wanting to stop for a short refreshment break there are plenty of places to pick from, including outside and inside cafes serving both hot and cold food as well as ice creams. On my next trip to Buxton I will definitely be heading back here as there was plenty of things I didn't get to see.

Harborne walkway is a space of natural tranquillity in an urban environment. It was opened in 1981,…read moreoccupying the former short branch Harborne railway line. The railway line opened in 1874, as an early example of a commuter route into the new industries city of Birmingham. It took five years to build the 2.5 miles of track, with stations at Hagley Road, Rotton Park Road, and Icknied Port Road before terminating at New Street. This was much shorter that the 1866 proposal, which would have connected Bromsgrove to Halesowen, and connecting the Great Western Railway (in Soho) with the London and North Western Railway on Monument Lane. I had previously presumed that the railway line was a victim of Dr Beeching's Cuts in the 60's, whereby he oversaw the closure of over 1,000 rail stations in the UK (luckily we didn't follow his full recommendation and close over 2,000). However, the Harborne line closed to passengers in 1934, as people favoured the buses, which had less delays at the time. The line remained open for freight, serving the Chad Valley toy factory in Harborne, as well as the Mitchells & Butlers brewery at Cape Hill, amongst over businesses. The line was completely closed in 1963. Cut to present day and the line has been transformed into the most lovely walking and cycling path in the city. The path runs from Forest Drive / Park Hill Road in Harborne to Summerfield Park in Soho; where one can easily visit Edgbaston Reservoir, or join the Birmingham Canal to walk into the city centre. The full walk from Harborne to town is unsurprisingly the same as the original railway line: 2.5 miles. It brings one into town at Brindley Place, where there are ample options for liquid refreshment and nutrient. Along most of the walk, we could easily be forgiven for forgetting that we are so close to the heart of the second city. We could easily be convinced that we're walking in a rural part of the country. The only hint to city life is seeing the buses on the Hagley Road above our heads. The footpath is however, slightly busier (and less boggy) than those out in the countryside, being popular with dog walkers, families, cyclists, and runners alike. The route doesn't have any lighting though, so is probably best avoided after dusk. Although I love Birmingham and all of the culture, bar, events etc that happen in the 'big city', sometimes it's good to get away from all of the 'hustle and bustle' and be 'one with nature' - any more clichés I can fit in? Seriously though, it's great to be able to escape from all of the stresses of modern life without having to travel too far from home. Birmingham has 3,500 hectares of public green space, more than any other European city, and 250 miles of urban brooks and streams (I've not even mentioned the canals, nor Venice). To me, Harborne Walkway is definitely one of the city's 'hotspots', a must for any Brummie!

Great walk on a fall afternoon with the dog. Don't leave it too late as it can get quite…read morecreepy/dark in areas. It is a great green space in an urban area and well worth a visit. Lots of runners and other dog walkers. Interesting railroad history.

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I dont remember Cannon Hill park being so beautiful! Visited here recently as part of a food…read morefestival and was taken back by just how lovely the place is! Now my lack of realisation was probably due to the fact I was trying to avoid being bitten by the aggressive ducks that used to roll round the pond like a carte when I was a child.....but i was young.....and about half the size so they seemed a lot more intimidating at the time. I am happy to confirm I walked past them with ease this time around and had more time to enjoy the picturesque surroundings! The park is pretty huge and boasts a nice pond complete with fountain/water feature to impress even the Charlie Dimmock types....swan boats, a theatre, crazy golf and many walkways and paths to enjoy. Perfect for a day out with the kids....or to keep that inner child satisfied. You will find me here a fair bit over the summer I think....get me to the ice cream van...now!

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!

The park is OK set in a wooded valley. The park owners are not so OK. Guest customer service is…read morepoor or should I say none existent. We had a static on here for two years but recently moved off due to the bad attitude and greediness of the owners. Caravans up for sale are very over priced for the ages of them. We were sold a 2006 willerby after the purchase we sent chassis number to willerby as we suspected van was older than advertised and willerby confimed it was much older. Site overcharge for everything gas electric etc. Also do not insure with the site as they add £100 plus to each policy site charges £235 a year same policy purchased for £92 a year. Avoid this park there are so many better run parks locally.

Site run by greedy owners who once have sold you a caravan,are not interested in anything else.A…read morelarge piece of ours fell off just after a year & they weren't interested.Over charged on our electric,took a year to get back.Buy a caravan somewhere else.

Marbury Park is a lovely green space in Northwich. The park has a play area for the kids, lots of…read morepicnic tables and a café. There are a few walking trails around the park that take you through the fields, woods and along the canal. The park used to have a hall but unfortunately that was knocked down in the 1960s. Definitely a place to visit on a nice sunny day.

Nice little park near to Comberbach. There is a small fee for parking but its not much can't…read moreremember off hand. We usually go in the summer and there is always an ice cream van in the car park. There are a number of different ways you can walk and there is an outdoor swimming pool but you have to be a member to enter. there is also a small play area with a climbing frame. Park is used by a lot of people walking their dogs. There are a few animals as well as wild rabbits.

A little know gem of Warrington with bucket loads of history attached. It's got 2 main areas, open…read moregrass land and the willow marshes. Great dog walking area.

This is a wonderful, natural environment. Excellent for those who like to walk away from all the…read moretraffic and noise, but still be in contact with civilisation. It can be accessed from Farrell Street or Manchester Road (via Peacock Avenue) and has some pathways laid out, suitable for wheelchairs or buggies. Once again, it is often necessary to watch out for bicyclists, but most are very courteous here. The odd kids on stolen and/or illegal motorcycles are not. Contrary to popular knowledge of the law, these are not legal on what used to be called common land and still need a license, tax and insurance - none of which they have. Rant over! Just off the laid paths is a quite large area which is the actual twiggery - water and marshland completely enclosed in shrubbery which is more akin to jungle than parkland. The authorities have had built raised, wooden walkways throughout this area without destroying the natural aspects - it is possible to see all manner of animal and birdlife if one is quiet enough. I have watched heron fishing in the pond near the entrance as well as kingfishers and wagtails. On St George's Day, we usually manage to pick enough dandelions for the next year's dandelion wine - more than two gallons some years.