Museums&Parks Archives | Page 2 of 6 |

Wilton Lodge Park, Hawick Review For Families

April 28, 2025 by Ryan

Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick, Scottish Borders, is a gem for families seeking outdoor fun. In the February half term, we had a trip to the Scottish Borders and having previously visited (and loved) this park, we decided to venture back. It was June last time we visited (2021, hence the kids looking much smaller!). But fortunately, even though it was February, the weather played ball!

This 107-acre park, protected as a Fields in Trust green space since 2019, offers a blend of adventure, history, and natural beauty, making it a perfect stop for your family. It’s perhaps one of the most beautiful and well-kept parks we’ve been to, especially given its central location within the town.

Let’s dive into the details to help you plan your visit.

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

Sands Playground, Holmfirth Review For Families

March 12, 2025 by Ryan

A beautiful spring weekend called for an outdoor adventure, and Sands Playground in Holmfirth delivered! With blue skies and sunshine (a rare treat in March), we jumped into the car and headed off to explore. I wanted to head back to Holmfirth for some time. We really like this part of Yorkshire and I hadn’t been with the kids so the Sands Playground seemed like a nice spot to enjoy. We went without any expectations and it was far better than we imagined.

Spoiler alert: It’s a fantastic spot for families, and there’s way more to it than just a playground!

Ryan

familycycling.co.uk

Harestanes Park Review For Families

March 3, 2025 by Ryan

If you are visiting the borders or live close to Jedburgh then we are a huge fan of Harestanes Park

We’ve been lucky enough to visit this gem twice—once in the summer of 2021 and again during the February half-term. The first time we went Matilda was 5 and Barney was 9 months old so it was an entirely different experience.

It’s become one of those places we wished we had on our doorstep. Unfortunately, it’s 4 hours away! Harestanes has it all—and it’s perfect for little adventurers of all ages.

Ryan

familycycling.co.uk

Free Public Play Areas Within the Wakefield District

February 26, 2025February 25, 2025 by Ryan

$Pontefract Park Review$

As a Wakefield-based family, we love to explore the free public play areas within the district. The recurring theme with all the recommended parks is that they are completely free of charge and are open to all of the public.

We have chosen a breadth of options located within a 10-mile radius of the city centre so they appeal to all families within the district.

These spaces are managed by the local council and community organisations, ensuring accessibility for residents and visitors. Below is a detailed table of the identified play areas, their pros, cons, and overall ratings, reflecting their suitability for family outings. These ratings are based on our own experience. All free play areas are an asset to the community however some are better updated than others which is reflected in the reviews.

We have also included detailed information on each park as well as links to our reviews of specific parks. This is more extensive with photography from our own visit to the park. Even though we live here there are still parks we are yet to visit so stick with us!

Ryan

familycycling.co.uk

Sandal Castle Review for Families

February 13, 2025 by Beth

I can’t believe we haven’t reviewed Sandal Castle – we have been here so many times and have so many memories here! It has been so nice looking at all our photos and choosing some to add to the article.

We live close to Sandal Castle and there are a few walking/cycling routes we can take to get there. We have visited at various different stages of our lives since we moved here…when we had Matilda and she was in a sling, then a pram, then running around, and then on her bike. We then had Barney and did all of the same but as a family of four. It is somewhere we have met with family and friends and I would say it is quite special to us for all of these reasons.

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.

Spurn National Nature Reserve Review for Families

January 24, 2025 by Ryan

One of our hobbies as parents is to find all the awesome things to do within a radius of our home. We live in West Yorkshire which is geographically strong. It’s landlocked but is in the middle of the country meaning you can get places quite easily.

A place which has piqued my interest which we’ve never quite been able to get to is Spurn Point in East Yorkshire. It takes approximately 2 hours from home, which is too far for a day trip. Fortunately, over the Christmas school break, we stayed close to Beverley for a few nights and knew we had to take the trip to Spurn National Nature Reserve.

It’s one of those places when you look on a map you feel you have to go. It jets out from the East Coast and is a small slither of land. It’s quite a wonder, to be honest!

Spurn Point offers an unforgettable mix of natural beauty, history, and hands-on exploration that captivates children and adults alike. Here’s our full review based on our visit over the Christmas school holidays.

Ryan

familycycling.co.uk

Knaresborough Leisure and Wellbeing Hub Play Area Review

January 15, 2025 by Ryan

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!

Ryan

familycycling.co.uk

Great Longstone Park & Bakewell Recreational Ground Review For Families

January 27, 2025November 19, 2024 by Ryan

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.

Ryan

familycycling.co.uk

Pontefract Park, Pontefract Review For Families

November 17, 2024 by Ryan

$Pontefract Park Review$

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

Ryan

familycycling.co.uk

Beaumont Park For Families Review

November 7, 2024 by Ryan

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.

Ryan

familycycling.co.uk