The visitor centre is a bit hard to find and not advertised as much as some other local tourist…read moredays out but it is a great day out. There is a lovely shop selling baskets made on the site they are a little bit pricey but seeing as they are made in the uk not imported from china I did not mind spending the money on one. They also sell willow to make your own baskets and garden structures (this is a bit big to take home if you are on holiday). They also make willow coffins! There is also a museum full of baskets, a video about the reed beds, a coffee/lunch shop and an exhibition about the Levels and Moors. After you have looked round all this you can go on a walk around the reed beds and get scared by the cows. The walk could be better sign posted but is worth the effort it does include quite a steep climb at the end so be warned. We had a picnic on the walk which was lovely. It is free to visit but closed on Sundays.

I love this place at any time of year. The visitors center is small but comprehensive and the staff…read moreare very helpful, I would advise popping in here when you arrive to get a walks leaflet or to ask the staff about which is the best way to go. Situated on the recovered Newport-Monmouth canal you can walk southwards through woodland towards Bettws and Newport (there is a two hour circular walk here coming back through the golf course) or take the canal side path northwards and carry on for as long as you like towards Monmouth! Both routes have great views over Newport and good wildlife, last time there I saw a kingfisher. Free parking at the canal center, toilets and cafe.

This a fantastic little gem in Blandford. If you're looking for somewhere interesting and full of…read morecharacter to have a spot of lunch then this is it. This place is advertised as a 'visitor centre' and you can easily miss the fact that there's a lovely bar tucked away downstairs. There's plenty of local ales on tap and even a chandelier made of old beer bottles! They've got a decent lunch menu and I can highly recommend the baguettes they have. Definitely worth a look if you're in town.

Signposted from the M4, this is well worth a visit. There are seven miles of forest to explore,…read morewith several parking bays along the way where you can get out to walk along one of the marked paths, or have a picnic. There is also a fishing lake and a mountain bike trail. The views from the top are incredible! There's a fairly new visitor centre and cafe at the foot of the drive.

We've just spent a lovely couple of days podding at the campsite here absolutely breathtaking…read morescenery, spotless loos and showers, and really well thought out pod arrangements, all for £35 a night (minimum 2 nights). Loved the picnic table and bbq areas too if we come back to South Wales we'll definitely stay again. Gorgeous.

First time visiting Crickley Hill Country Park. Great views of the Cotswolds from this beautiful…read morelocation. There are lots of paths to follow, all sorts of open green areas to relax in and countless picture worthy locations. You'll also come across lots of cows roaming the area as well as birds and other wildlife. There's a fairly large parking area that accommodates a good amount of vehicles. A small visitor center area includes a small museum, which details some of the historical things one may encounter, a description of the wildlife in the area, and a brief history of the park, and how it came to be. Adjacent to the museum is a coffee shop that sells hot drinks, cold drinks, ice cream and a variety of snacks and gifts.

Crickley Hill is a great spot for a ramble, with or without children or dogs. It has few facilities…read more- a small visitors' centre of uncertain opening hours, loos, and plenty of parking. For the warmer months, there is a central picnic area as well as scattered benches throughout the park, and an ice cream van often visits the larger carpark. There are several trails marked out, or you can wander at will. There are some elements of historic interest if the visitors' centre is open, along with some information boards about the settlements which used to be there - some of which are marked out with posts in the ground. The big open area where the settlements used to be is now great for flying a kite - be warned on windy days, the site is mostly quite exposed and can be a lot windier and colder than lower ground! Fantastic views over Cheltenham and Gloucester on a clear day.

There are probably more lakes than some people realise - the main two are the busiest and have the…read moremost going on. There is a man made beach at one, which is very popular with families in the summer. Next to the beach is a little playground with slide, climbing etc. You can take the walks around the lakes and along the way (the lake with the beach) there is a sort of assault course type things for you to take part in. It has monkey bars, sit up station etc. Its good fun, especially for the children. They have a selection of watersports in the summer months, including pedalo's. You can hire a BBQ, which there are a fair few of dotted around the lakes. This is quite popular in summer and I think you can book one up. Dog friendly and they love swimming into the lakes! Cafe in summer, and shop open year round for ice creams, drinks etc. You do have to pay entry all year round now, which is a shame. If you are in the local area you can buy a year permit which we did and we definitely got full use out of.

Just a quick update, if you are thinking of launching your own boat on lake 32, its £15 for the…read moreday. Personally I think that is a bit pricey and decided to go to a river for free instead! But there you go, I guess for a full day out with a family not that bad.