Family

Scout Dike Reservoir Review For Families

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Scout Dike Reservoir

One thing we love about the school holidays is the new places we can visit. Whether that’s a significant car journey away or something a little closer to home; there are always new places to experience.

Over the Christmas school holidays, we visited Scout Dike Reservoir, a fantastic spot for introducing young children to the great outdoors. On the day of our visit, the wind levels were INSANE. Given its location in Penistone, it’s a considerable height above sea level so we certainly felt the wind!

Despite the blustery weather, it turned into a memorable trip that both our children, Matilda and Barney, enjoyed. Here’s a breakdown of our experience and everything you need to know before planning your visit.

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Knaresborough Leisure and Wellbeing Hub Play Area Review

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Knaresborough Leisure & Well Being Hub

We’ve visited Knaresborough a lot over the last couple of years and we’ve eagerly watched the development of the new leisure centre. Upon a previous visit on the way home, we noticed the leisure centre had indeed opened and included a play area for the kids. We knew we had to check this out!

We recently visited during the Christmas school holidays and discovered a fantastic play area that our children, Matilda (8) and Barney (4), absolutely loved.

The great thing about the play area is its proximity to the centre of Knaresborough. We’ve gone into a little more detail for you below but it’s worth a visit!

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Great Longstone Park & Bakewell Recreational Ground Review For Families

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Bakewell Recreational Grounds

Looking for a family adventure in the beautiful Bakewell area of the Peak District? We recently spent a fun-packed day exploring Great Longstone Park and Bakewell Recreational Grounds, two fantastic spots for outdoor family fun. It was the October half-term and we ventured to the Peak District without a plan other than to explore the local area. We’ve visited Bakewell several times and enjoyed the pedestrianised nature of the high street.  

We had heard of Great Longstone from our cycling adventures on the Monsal Trail and were informed it had a nice little park. For such a small village, we were keen to check this out as part of our trip.

Join us as we review these parks, sharing everything from what facilities they offer to whether we’d recommend them for a family day out.

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Pontefract Park, Pontefract Review For Families

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Pontefract Park Review

Pontefract Park is a hidden gem that promises an enjoyable experience for families seeking outdoor adventures and quality time together. As a family that loves to explore nature’s wonders, we recently had the pleasure of visiting Pontefract Park. The visit gave us some happy memories and a strong wish to tell other families about our time there. 

The park’s serene beauty and array of activities truly cater to everyone, making it an ideal destination for families seeking both adventure and relaxation. From the exhilarating racecourse to the natural beauty of Pontefract Park, from the thrilling play area to the bike-friendly paths, this park offers a plethora of experiences that cater to the diverse interests of families

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Best Places to Teach Your Child How to Ride a Bike: Parks, Trails, and More

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Best Places to Teach Your Child How to Ride a Bike

Teaching your child to ride a bike is one of those unforgettable moments that brings a rush of pride and joy to both parents and children. For me, it’s up there with seeing your child walk for the first time or say their first word. 

Recently we successfully taught our four-year-old how to ride his bike with pedals for the first time. He’s always been strong on his balance bike and we followed this up with getting him used to a normal bike without pedals (we took them off). Following this and with some pushback from Barney we moved him onto pedals and he could cycle freely with us assisting his start.

He’s by no means the finished article now and we have many days ahead which I why I wanted to pen this article to help you choose the best places to teach your child how to ride a bike.

Our goal with this post is to help other families identify the best places for teaching their young ones how to ride, focusing on traffic-free, family-friendly areas, and encouraging a love of biking. 

Table of Contents

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Nostell Priory National Trust Review For Families

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Nostell Priory is a Palladian house located in Nostell, near Crofton, close to Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, approached by the road to Doncaster from Wakefield. It dates from 1733 and was built for the Winn family on the site of a medieval priory.

Now looked after by the National Trust it’s approximately 6 miles from the city centre. From our home in Sandal, it’s a merely 15-minute drive and is a regular on our visit list.

It is nestled in the small village of Wragby and can be found via Sat Nav at the following address or postcode. Doncaster Road, Nostell, Wragby, Wakefield WF4 1QE.

We are lucky that we can cycle directly from our home to Nostell Priory via mostly off-road cycle routes. We reviewed this route here but this article will focus on the National Trust itself.

Nostell Priory is over 300 acres of parkland and woodland. With a beautiful cafe, shop, play park and of course the main house it’s a fantastic place to visit with the family. 

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Beaumont Park For Families Review

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As a family with two small children, we always look for new outdoorsy things to do on the weekend. The excitement when you discover a new place to visit within a radius of your home is something we love.

We have a list of safe cycle routes which will form the primary part of the website however we also visit a large number of parks which continue the outdoor theme throughout the website. Although not explicitly cycling these cater to those looking for inexpensive (or free) outdoor fun for children of all ages. Beaumont Park was definitely one of these.

Located in the Beaumont Park area of Huddersfield a couple of miles outside the town centre, the park was Huddersfield’s first public park and officially opened in October 1883.

Having studied the history of the Park it has been down to the local residents (The Friends of Beaumont Park group) who have managed to revive the park in collaboration with Kirklees Council. The history of the park and how it fell into disrepair is documented on the about page here. It’s worth a read as the park couldn’t be more different today.

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Abington Park, Northampton Review For Families

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Abington Park

If you’re on the hunt for an outdoor adventure that will charm young children and provide something for everyone, Abington Park in Northampton might just be the perfect place. With a rich history, beautiful gardens, and plenty of activities, it’s easy to see why it’s an incredibly popular spot for families living in Northampton to visit. 

During our October half-term break, we took a trip to Northamptonshire to visit family who lived in the area, this included a visit to Abington Park. It was a nostalgic experience for my wife Beth, who spent many childhood days there. It was the day of the clock change so we arrived early (why do children wake up ridiculously early on this day despite the difference being just one hour?) and headed straight for the play park.

Want to know if Abington Park is right for your family? Keep reading for our extensive review of the park.

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St. Ives Estate, Bingley Review For Families

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St Ives Estate, Bingley Play Area

Nestled near Bingley, West Yorkshire, St. Ives Estate stands as a testament to nature’s magnificence, offering families a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, an adventure seeker, or simply seeking a peaceful day in the park, St. Ives Estate has something to offer everyone. 

St. Ives Estate is a country park of 500 acres belonging to Bradford Metropolitan District Council with public access to a large part of the area. The dense woodlands, wildflower meadows, and breathtaking views provide a perfect backdrop for a day of exploration. In this comprehensive review, I will share our family’s experience visiting St. Ives Estate and highlight all the wonderful things it has to offer.

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Thornes Park, Wakefield Review For Families

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Thornes Park, Wakefield

Families who love a varied family day out should definitely visit Thornes Park, Wakefield. It offers a wonderful opportunity to have fun, relax, and spend quality time together. 

The park provides a variety of activities and spaces suitable for adventurers of all ages, making it an ideal picnic spot. It has athletic tracks, an indoor leisure centre, bike-friendly paths, a duck pond, a miniature railway, bowling greens, and a skate park etc.

Having visited the park multiple times as Wakefield residents, we can confidently say that it offers a great range of activities. Our kids, Barney and Matilda, always find something they love to do on weekends. 

What’s even better is that all these amenities are available free of charge.

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