This is one of the best country parks we've ever been to - it was fantastic and entertained people from thirty-something to two years old.
On arrival, we took our parking ticket for payment on exit, and tried to heave our jaws back up from the floor at the prices of parking. We went in October, not in half term, during the week and paid £5.50 for about 4 hours, maximum charge apparently £8.
The visitors centre is in a very nice barn-type buidling, with a gallery space and attached to an extremely nice cafe. The staff in the visitors centre were very helpful and spent time telling us what things we could do with the children (in a nice way.
There is a very well equipped park a few minutes walk from the visitors centre which has the added attractions of a lake view and a small ride on steam train that goes round, with stations, tunnels etc. It was closed which I was relatively pleased about as, with 4 children, I knew it would have cost me my remaining arm and leg. But they were thrilled just to see the little stations, bridges, tracks and tunnels.
The park itself has a variety of climbing equipment, zipwires, sandpits etc etc.
Next to that is a large lake and picnic area with lots of ducks, and cheeky seagulls. Beyond is apparently an 18 hole golf course.
We decided after playing to go forest-side and there are acres and acres of forest with a picnic area at the beginning. The forest is extremely well tended and clean, there was no rubbish or dog muck which made a nice change. We walked around the forest (using the map from the visitors centre) for a good hour and a half without seeing a single other person.
We went to the lookout, which has picnic areas around and has a great view, as you would expect. A large wooden structure where you could shelter from the rain if necessary, and picnic.
Afterward we followed the path down to the treetops trail which was a bit hair raising but totally safe, obviously. Then on to the play trail, a mile or so round walk with some fantastic equipment on the way - nothing i'd ever seen anywhere else. A wooden replica ants nest the children could climb around, a spiders web to climb over, a wooden maze etc etc.
There is also a Go Ape centre on site, for those more adventurous and we watched people zip wiring and climbing high up in the tree tops.
Finished off with a trip to the very very nice cafe for hot chocolate and cakes - this is a fantastic day out and when I say it all out loud the initial moaning at the parking charges is pathetic really. £5.50 for a wonderful outdoor experience is not a lot, is it!
Definately highly recommend. read more