Museums&Parks

We really loved our visit to Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park. It opened in 2017 and is part of Askham Bryan College, tied in with their animal management and conservation programmes. That means it’s both a public attraction and an educational space. On a weekend, when the students aren’t around, it feels peaceful and relaxed, absolutely perfect for families to wander at their own pace and discover an incredible variety of creatures. The park is home to over 170 species, from mammals and birds to reptiles, amphibians and fish, many of which are threatened.

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Beth

Hi I am Beth, mummy to Barney & Matilda and wife to Ryan. I love to do many things – explore, exercise, spend time with loved ones, read – to name a few. For paid work I teach primary children, I teach Bikeability, I work on our businesses, and we are always dabbling in something together. I like to write for our blog, and I am here for our children every day wherever they need me, and for that, I am very happy. We love to experience new and old adventures, whether that’s on our bike or via foot or further afield. Whatever you do in life, try to do it with passion, care and kindness.

Graves Park in Sheffield is one of those places that really does have something for everyone. From the free animal farm to the big playgrounds, woodland walks and wide open fields, it’s a great place to enjoy a day out if you are in and around the Yorkshire area.

We’ve taken Matilda and Barney a few times now, usually making a beeline for the animals, but the rest of the park is just as good for letting off steam and enjoying time outdoors.

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Ryan

Hello. I am Ryan and along with my wife Beth and our two children Matilda and Barney, we love all things cycling and exploring. We spend our weekends exploring fun places to cycle and discover and wanted to help other people do the same too. There’s no better way to travel than via bike and it’s an amazing activity for the whole family to enjoy.

familycycling.co.uk

We’ve visited RSPB Old Moor a few times now, and it’s firmly cemented itself as one of our favourite family-friendly nature spots in South Yorkshire. It’s the kind of place that ticks all the boxes: open space for the kids to run wild, engaging activities like pond dipping and birdwatching, a nice, welcoming café, and genuinely peaceful views across the wetlands. We usually spend about 3–4 hours here, and could easily stretch it longer on a warm day.

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Ryan

Hello. I am Ryan and along with my wife Beth and our two children Matilda and Barney, we love all things cycling and exploring. We spend our weekends exploring fun places to cycle and discover and wanted to help other people do the same too. There’s no better way to travel than via bike and it’s an amazing activity for the whole family to enjoy.

familycycling.co.uk

We recently spent a crisp February afternoon at Rivelin Valley Park in Sheffield – and it really is one of those places that ticks all the boxes for a family day out. We’d previously visited in early autumn and loved it so much we came back again. With its woodland trails, river stepping stones, play park and café, it’s a great spot to enjoy the outdoors.

It’s more of a walking place than bikes, and on our two visits, we didn’t manage the splash park as it wasn’t open, but we’re already planning a return visit in summer to try the splash area and explore more of the surrounding valley trails.

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Ryan

Hello. I am Ryan and along with my wife Beth and our two children Matilda and Barney, we love all things cycling and exploring. We spend our weekends exploring fun places to cycle and discover and wanted to help other people do the same too. There’s no better way to travel than via bike and it’s an amazing activity for the whole family to enjoy.

familycycling.co.uk

Sheffield boasts a wealth of free outdoor play areas suitable for families. From expansive parks with diverse facilities to charming neighbourhood playgrounds, there’s something for everyone. We have visited approximately 5 of these parks, but shamefully have only written up two of them. We plan to write the rest up shortly. We can vouch for the two we have written up, though. They are both excellent parks.

The beauty of our location in Wakefield is that you can venture into Barnsley, Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Bradford (to name a few) quite easily and enjoy the amenities they have to offer. Our weekends are typically spent venturing around parks and spaces throughout the county. Sheffield is just 30/40 minutes away so we can sample all the parks they have to offer with just a short drive into South Yorkshire.

Below is a summary table to help you compare the parks at a glance, followed by detailed breakdowns for each one.

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Ryan

Hello. I am Ryan and along with my wife Beth and our two children Matilda and Barney, we love all things cycling and exploring. We spend our weekends exploring fun places to cycle and discover and wanted to help other people do the same too. There’s no better way to travel than via bike and it’s an amazing activity for the whole family to enjoy.

familycycling.co.uk