YES!!
I have uncovered a hidden gem.....(As Tina Turner once sang) You're Simply the Best (In my opinion) and cheapest day out for a family in the UK.
Stanwick Lakes
Set in the heart of Northamptonshires Nene valley, over an area of over 750 acres - Stanwick Lakes, is simply the Best!
It took us around 40 minutes to travel here from Daventry and on arrival we parked very easily. You will need to pay a fee of £5.50 for parking before you depart. This covers your whole day.
As we climbed out of the car we stood at the foot of a huge, wooden, adventure playground. How I wished to be a kid again!
A giant sand pit surrounds part of the park that houses climbing poles.
When your kids are running about laughing, you know that they are trully enjoying themselves. For me thats a perfect day out.
Where you find sand, we shall dig. Dont yiu always find that for some reason kids & sometimes even adults find it mesmorizing to just simply dig in sand. Take buckets and spades with you to increase the fun.
Water runs through this area down through an irrigation system and kids love filling up buckets and pouring them in a sandy hole they have dug.
So what more could you possibly want on a day out?
You want more?
How about:
Fishing, horse riding, picnic areas, BBQ Facility, sculptures, shop / cafe, visitor centre, walking routes, adventure train, assault course, bird watching and a discovery centre..... & Breathe!
Who doesn't love to stretch their legs, surrounded by woodland and fresh air?
Well - at Salary forest you can do just that! It's is located between Milton Keynes and Towcester off the M1 & A508. £4 car Parking is all you need to spend!
Everytime we go for a long walk now my kids think that were embarking on a bear hunt, hope we don't catch one!
Of course dogs and little monsters are allowed as long as you tidy after them. It's good practise to take dog poop bags also.
Make a day of it by taking a scrummy picnic or treat yourself at the excellent Forest cafe. Just outside of the cafe is a park with a very difficult climbing apparatus - maybe better suited for children aged 6 - 14.
A number of trails lay before you and each takes you along to Salary forests magnificent Tree top trail.
A very wobbly, gentle incline takes you an astonishing 15 or so metres above the ground 😨
Perfectly safe and accessible for wheelchairs and pushchair until you get to the viewing tower at the very top.
Steps rise up to the final viewing tower and the views from it are quite simply breath-taking. You can see for miles & miles.
When we visited when a Stick man trail was on but I believe that has now finished. Check the forestry commissions website HERE for what's on when you're thinking of visiting.
Sorry to finish on a bad note but i like to be realistic. The only bad points to our visit were that some irresponsible dog owners throw used dog poop bags into the trees along the walk. It isn't a pretty decoration - you know! Also the sound of the M1 can be heard from within the forest which can spoil your peaceful walk.
Visit Blists Hill Victorian town to be transported more than 100 years back in time.
A place to experience life from a bygone era - This bustling town is set in a large valley with working examples of homes, shops and workshops.
As you make your way through town - the smell of coal fires, mixed with the sights and sounds of professional Victorian Actors and a Horse and cart really give you a sense of wonder.
So yes - time travel IS indeed possible!
Seriously though, Blists Hill is a living museum located near Telford, Shropshire. The shops are staffed by actors in period costumes who are more than happy to chat about their lives and how things used to be.
Visit the bank and you can withdraw some shillings to spend on freshly baked buns, delicious fish and chips, a pint, classic sweets, addictive fair ground games and hand made candles.
Now, we decided to visit before Christmas - back in 2016. From Northamptonshire It took us about an hour and a half to drive there and we found it very easy to park once we had arrived.
As it was Christmas, we had promised to take the kids to see Santa. Trying to avoid queues, we hurried through the entrance and marched down the old cobbled street to see Santa in his makeshift grotto.
Luckily - we were only the second family there and soon found ourselves whisked straight through to see the big man.
Now I'll be honest, I truly believed that Santa came from the North Pole! So to my astonishment when he spoke, out bellowed a thick set Birmingham accent!
On this occasion, (two separate festive weekends) in the run up to Christmas - Reindeer were led about the town for visitors to admire. There's just something whimsical about Reindeer, don't you think?
One managed to wriggle free from its reigns and give the carer a good old run around! Quite nimble things really.
"Oh Deer!" I thought.
Who can honestly say that they liked school?
If you think yours was bad, sit through a lesson in a Victorian classroom.WOW! Talk about a strict teacher, if you or your family are sensitive, I'd probably avoid this lesson. Looked like hell!
After a stroll down the main cobbled street, past houses, stables and shops we came across a hillside tram. I couldn't wait to have a go and before we knew it we were travelling up the steep hillside. At the top is a viewing platform that gives you a terrific view of the whole site.
After a few more hours visiting everything Blists Hill had to offer we jumped back to the future and took a short car journey to the Iron bridge.
Well we couldn't leave without having a look, could we? The world famous Iron Bridge spans the River Severn.
Here are some incredible facts I didn't know until now:
1) This Bridge was the first Bridge to be made completely from Iron.......in the whole world 2) It was a symbol of the Industrial Revolution 3) Iron Gorge Bridge is as important as the Pyramids of Giza being a world heritage site.
Up from the bridge we had just enough time to visit one more museum. The Museum of the Gorge let itself down. Basically this museum consists of four sparse rooms with a large model of the Iron Gorge Bridge banks.
As there isn't much space around the model you can only see one side of it.
Come on - use a mirror or move the thing. Really show it off, guys! Before leaving the museum you enter an auditorium and can watch a short educational film. Very informative and in my opinion the museums saving Grace.
On the wall of one of the rooms inside this museum is flood lines - showing how deep the River Severn has flooded this area over the years.
You would need your scuba diving kit on some occasions!
As it was getting late and we needed to leave, we set off heading back towards our car.
As we approached the Iron Bridge once more a shop sign caught my eye.
"Eleys World Famous Pork pies!" WOW! They have succeeded where others have failed - made a pork pie better than anyone in the whole, wide world.
Needless to say, I had to have one. It wasn't cheap but hey you pay for what you get right? I had to wait until we got home to sample my World class pie. Unwrapping it I tried to imagine how it might taste.
A crumbly, short pastry. Tender, juicy meat and that typical pork pie jelly! Yum!
Have you ever tried one of these World Famous pies yet? Don't tell Pork Pies!
How was your experience?
We loved our visit to Iron Gorge and will definitely return - whenever we can. Here is a price list correct as of January 16th 2017.
What drives individuals to complete crazy antics, challenges and inspiring actions?
Unfortunately, most of us have, at some point in our lives been at the receiving end of a thunder bolt of bad news.
Some rise up and jump this obstacle - however for some it's not that simple.
In August 2017, my wife & are challenging ourselves to walk the entire 84 mile stretch of Hadrians wall. We hope to complete this feat over a period of five tiring days, equating to 17 miles a day.
We hope to raise money for the Charity "Boot out Breast Cancer". This charity funds the purchasing of new equipment for the NHS to help the trained proffesionals detect Breast Cancer early on.
In late 2015 my wife, sadly, was diagnosed with Breast cancer. She feared the worst and our lives were simply put on hold.
Helen went on to receive various treaments, needed to attend numerous hospital appointments and was dragged to hell and back in the process.
It almost seemed like it was all happening to somebody else's wife.
This brings me to the reason we are doing this. We simply want to help other women because if the Cancer is detected early on the chances of survival are greatly improved.
Ultimately lets help save lives.
Only with the help from family, friends and professionals we got through it all.
Then at the end of 2016, thankfully she got the all clear! ❤👍
Follow our expedition and if you can, please donate to this brilliant cause! Just £1 can really help if enough people donate!
