What a brilliant place for kids to run, climb and explore the natural environment! Make sure you pick up a map (or download from the website) and have fun spotting the different animals in the rock formations – our favourite was the eagle!!
There’s a takeaway cafe halfway up too that do ice creams, refreshments and light snacks!
Brimham, North Moor Road, Summerbridge, HG3 4DW
Nostell is situated between Wakefield and Pontefract. Even if you don’t have NT membership, you can pay for parking and get access to lots of the parkland area! Our favourite walk/cycle is past the house, down towards the lake to feed the ducks and swans and then up the hill to the obelisk. You can either return on the fun cycle path down the hill or walk turning in either direction to make a circular loop back to the lake!
With NT membership, you get access to the house, the gardens at the rear of the house, as well as the outdoor adventure play area!
Doncaster Road, Nostell, Wakefield, WF4 1QE
This place is huge and you can spend hours exploring! At the top by the visitor centre is a huge adventure playground that took us quite a while to encourage the kids that there was more to see! We normally have a picnic on the lawn outside the abbey, play hide & seek in the abbey ruins and then take a walk around the formal lakes and down to the dam.
The paths are really buggy friendly too!
There is a huge cafe by the visitors centre but my tip is to queue for yummy ice cream at the little takeaway shop by the abbey and watermill.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon, HG4 3DY
Wentworth Castle gardens are a hide & seek playground!! There are loads of things to do like a walk up to the Castle, exploring the Union Jack gardens, spotting deer in the parkland, or admiring the beautiful flowers!
We went on a super hot day; there were plenty of trees to keep us cool in the shade and we had a great picnic. The kids loved collecting pine cones too.
Wentworth Castle Gardens, Park Drive, Barnsley, S75 3EN
It’s a slow walk/pram push up the road to the mill but you can wind your way back down the valley along the stream where you cross bridges, spot stalactites and can paddle in the stream by the stepping stones! We’ve been here in all seasons (including a precarious winter day when the car park was iced up) and always found it so beautiful!!
Gibson Mill, Midgehole Road, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7AW
With a combination of moorland and lots of rhododendrons, there’s plenty of paths to take your pick on length of the walk. The kids will love exploring the rhododendron dens & paths and climbing the branches.
We always combine a trip to Longshaw, by making our way down to Padley Gorge (it can be rather busy in warm weather) and having a paddle in the stream, followed by a picnic and circular walk around the gorge. It’s a great day out!
Longshaw, Sheffield, S11 7TZ
Clumber Park is fast becoming one of favourite National Trust sites, with absolutely masses of outdoor space to enjoy (3,800 acres of parkland!). Plus there are lots of bike routes if you have slightly older children who want to still enjoy traffic free routes!
There are a few options for food and drink, and not all at the main visitor facilities, so perfect if you want to work to get a hot drink! There’s also a good woodland play park and a natural play area. At the Discovery centre you can learn about Clumber Park’s history and the wildlife, plus get involved with seasonal activities.
There are often trails and events running over school holidays.
Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 3BE
Small site with a meadow walk, hunting for bugs and seeing the ducks. The kids can enjoy the Trim Trail and the amazing mud kitchen in the Discovery Garden.
Bradford Rd, Riddlesden, Keighley BD20 5EL
