We have visited Ropner Park many times as a family since it was refurbished a couple of years back,…read moreand my 7 year old daughter is always keen to go back. I didn't grow up in this area but my husband did and he remebers a time when the park was dirty and almost derelict. This is not the case now however; there is a new bandstand, a cafe selling refreshments and ice creams, and new children's play area, with many different slides, climbing frames etc. for the kids to play on. However I must say that this area of the park is now covered in grafitti, although I guess this would happen anywhere unfortunately; some of the equipment could do with a bit of a clean. Also it is very difficult to park outside the park; we have actually driven round a few times trying to get parked, then given up and gone to Preston Park instead! I would recommend Ropner Park as a good way to keep the kids happy for a couple of hours.

They have cleared all the bushes from the the outside of the park, returning it to its freshly…read morebuilt victorian state and totally destroying the feel of it, in an attempt to stop teenagers from going in parks when its dark. The thing is, when its dark, noone can see anything anyway, so it makes no difference, just ruining the look of things during the day. The Vcitorians i think would have been fuming and probably horsewhipped the councillors involved, while Ropner himself would have asked for his money back.

Great place to go to, a couple of miles from Stockton proper, based along the old branch line that…read morewas one of the Beecham victims. There is also the remnants of a vidauct further along which has a very rude local name, based on the heroine of a famous 18th century novel. We camped out here once in a bit of land belonging to my mate's family and spent the whole night hearing shotguns going off. I think you're alright as long as you stick to the paths, but otherwise it can get a bit Deliverancey. Great ponds as well that friends of mine spent a lot of time deweeding in their teenage years.

We have visited Castle Eden many times as a family; I believe it is now officially called Wynyard…read moreWoodland Park but everyone still refers to it as Castle Eden! It is a really pleasant way to spend a couple of hours, with two parks areas for the children to play, picnic benches, a bbq area, a gift shop, clean toilets and a cafe selling lovely fresh local light meals and snacks. There is also an old railway carriage which is used for many arts and crafts activities, especially during school holidays. The Walkway itself is really long and we've never managed to finish it, and I would say that if you are a woman walking alone or with children I wouldn't walk too far down as a couple of years back there was a flasher in the area, and certain parts of the walk are so remote and overshadowed by trees that I personally wouldn't feel safe being on my own down there!

Having lived in the NE for a number of years iv only recently visited this park. It's an ideal…read morelocation for young & old to have a walk, feed the Canada geese/swans & ducks. There is a small cafe & gift shop, Iv not used the cafe so cannot comment. Toilets are available in the same vicinity & a rather large pay & display car park, £3 all day. One circuit of the park is about a mile on good walking paths, just watch out for goose poop. Ideal for wheelchair users. Keep an eye out for the wicker Gruffalo! Now bring my granddaughter to feed birds from her hand!

Wynyard Woodland Park is excellent for children and adults. There are plenty of walks to be taken…read morehere and none are too strenuous (all are on flat surface). There is a good woodland walk here which leads to a pond teaming with ducks and wildlife. There are a couple of good play areas for children, and a shop and tea room (on the old station platform). I went to first aid here once after a fall, and the staff there were pleasant. Always plenty of activities to take part in and organised weekends at the woodland park.

Went for walk around this reserve this afternoon. Not being a bird/animal watcher was nice &…read morerelaxing. Lots of wild life to be seen even on a bright winters day. There is a small car park with a visitors centre. It cost £2.50 to park the car, payable in the shop. The walk around the lake (2km) is a well made footpath suitable for wheel chairs with a number of well built hides perched around the lake & other wetland areas, all accessible to wheel chairs also. Well worth a visit, ideal for children. Dogs allowed but kept on lead.

great place to visit, hope they keep up the good work to keeping this open!…read morenice to see reserves like this for the widlife and help them to survive, wish there was more..

An undiscovered part of the East coast. Several beaches for kids & adults to be on…read more Other than that there isn't much to see, a small car park that is FREE & public toilet that is also FREE.

Beautiful place, great for any age. Dog friendly. Lots for the children to do. Lovely cafe with…read moregreat food.

This park is still well maintained and beautiful to visit with family. Especially during school…read moreholidays. Its ideal place to wear out the kids for the day. Take sandwiches, crisps and pop! Then a few games (google them) 'hidey', 'tag'. 'Chuck stones' Do you remember 'kick the tin'! Hours of fun and running about but also keeping close enough not to worry. It can be made into a really rememberable day with a little thought and dry weather ;)... enjoy your day

What a nice place to visit. Plenty of wild life to see. Long walking paths around the lakes &…read morenumerous hides over looking bird feeding area's. Highlight of the visit, watching 2 crested grebes going through there courting ritual. Only ever seen that on TV. A nice cafe & clean toilets. Parking & entry £4 for car. Great day out.

On our way south we stopped by the Easby Abbey. And it was a surprisingly great place to visit. A…read morelot bigger than it looked online. Parking is very limited on the carpark - park elsewhere or wait to get lucky. We waited...and got lucky after around 15-20mins. Easby is one of the best preserved monasteries of the Premonstratensian 'white canons'. Founded in 1152, Easby Abbey was suppressed in 1536 and within two years most of its buildings had been stripped and demolished. And the remains still stand here today. And there are lot of them to explore. The whole grounds are free to roam around with only few restrictions. And it's quite a large area. Dogs are welcome as well. We enjoyed our visit very much - and lots of signs giving interesting insights in the history of the Abbey. There was a good number of visitors, but didn't feel crowded, because of the grounds size. Many times we tried to imagine how big and impressive it must have been when it was still standing in all its glory. Because the ruins are already impressive. It must have been an amazing sight back then. A really enjoyable visit. And it's even free to enter. Surprisingly. For the carpark there's an honesty box, a donation is appreciated.

Atmospheric ruined Abbey - what's not to like. There were no other visitors and we got some great…read moreshots of the buildings, some of us climbing and lounging on steps and nooks and cranny. I could imagine myself a Canon in another life, contemplating in the sun. The only masonry on the site which can be dated to the mid-12th century is a reused doorway in the west range of the cloister. The surviving fragments of the abbey church probably date to the 1170s or 1180s. Easby seems to have prospered in the later 12th and early 13th centuries, as the number of canons increased.