Aroundtown Magazine November/December 2022 Edition
The bumper festive edition of Aroundtown Magazine, South Yorkshire's premier free lifestyle magazine
The bumper festive edition of Aroundtown Magazine, South Yorkshire's premier free lifestyle magazine
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FAMILY<br />
Family friendly<br />
winter walks<br />
There’s nothing better<br />
than wrapping up<br />
warm and getting<br />
out for a walk in the<br />
winter months.<br />
But if you have children in tow,<br />
you’ll probably hear endless calls<br />
for ‘are we finished yet’ or ‘my legs<br />
are tired’.<br />
Sometimes you have to pick your<br />
battles and choose a shorter route<br />
that has lots of places to play, climb<br />
and explore to keep the kids happy.<br />
But luckily for us there are plenty of<br />
places in our region that combine<br />
a brisk walk with something fun for<br />
the kids to do, whether that’s a play<br />
area or an activity trail.<br />
All of the places listed here are<br />
free to enter, you just have to pay to<br />
park which is usually a nominal fee.<br />
Cannon Hall Museum<br />
and Parklands,<br />
Barnsley<br />
We love the parklands at Cannon<br />
Hall as there is so much to see and<br />
do. There is a great play area by<br />
the car park where you can start<br />
your visit – or bribe the kids to keep<br />
walking ‘till you reach it at the end!<br />
From there you can walk two<br />
ways up to the Hall. Head down by<br />
the lakes where you’ll see the swan<br />
boats and wildlife. The path takes<br />
you to the Fairyland with great views<br />
out over the parklands.<br />
The other route is to go up<br />
the path which goes through the<br />
woodland area. There is a trail for<br />
children to look for the monster<br />
that’s escaped, with lots of sensory<br />
things to see, hear and touch in the<br />
magical forest.<br />
Inside the museum there are more<br />
family-friendly activities. And don’t<br />
forget to have a quick stroll through<br />
the walled garden before making<br />
your way back down to the car park.<br />
There are two cafes: one at the<br />
top of the car park and another in<br />
the walled garden. Toilet facilities are<br />
in the hall, accessed via the walled<br />
garden entrance.<br />
Parking is £1 for two hours or £5<br />
all day.<br />
Cawthorne, Barnsley S75 4AT<br />
Anglers Country Park,<br />
Wakefield<br />
Anglers Country Park is a place to<br />
explore the unspoiled countryside,<br />
woodland, wetland and trails. For<br />
wildlife enthusiasts there are bird<br />
hides and bird feeding stations as<br />
well as a central lake.<br />
The path around the lake is<br />
two miles and is wheelchair and<br />
pushchair friendly. There are also<br />
toilet facilities, a visitor centre and<br />
Woodland Café as well as picnic<br />
spots and an adventure playground.<br />
One of the biggest attractions is<br />
the Room on the Broom trail. You<br />
can purchase an activity pack from<br />
the café of visitor centre for £2, but<br />
you’ll easily spot all the wooden<br />
sculpture characters from the story<br />
without one. Younger kids who love<br />
Julia Donaldson stories will enjoy<br />
seeing if there’s room on the broom<br />
for them at the end of the trail.<br />
Car parking is free for the first 2<br />
hours. £2 for up to 4 hours and £3 for<br />
over 4 hours.<br />
Haw Park Lane, Wintersett,<br />
Wakefield WF4 2EB<br />
Sherwood Pines,<br />
Nottingham<br />
Another place to see a Julia<br />
Donaldson trail or two is at<br />
Sherwood Pines. The last time we<br />
went they had the Gruffalo trail but<br />
there is also a new Superworm trail<br />
where children can learn about the<br />
everyday heroic feats of minibeasts<br />
in the forest. Trail packs full of fun<br />
activities and a superhero mask<br />
are £3.50 and available from the<br />
Visitor Centre.<br />
There are also two great<br />
adventure play areas for younger<br />
and older children.<br />
Sherwood Pines is great for any<br />
age as there are three walking trails,<br />
three cycling trails and two running<br />
trails for you to explore the forest.<br />
They also have paid-for activities<br />
such as segway, disc golf, bike<br />
hire and the popular high rope<br />
climbing centre.<br />
There is a café, toilet facilities<br />
and plenty of picnic areas near the<br />
car park.<br />
Parking is £3 for one hour, £5 for<br />
two hours or £8 all day.<br />
Kings Clipstone, Nottingham<br />
NG21 9JL<br />
More places to visit:<br />
Clifton Park,<br />
Rotherham<br />
A popular destination for<br />
generations. Plenty of paths to walk<br />
around plus a variety of play areas<br />
and sandpit. Free museum with<br />
café. Paid-for rides, mini golf and<br />
land train.<br />
Two car parks with parking from<br />
£1.10 for one hour.<br />
Cusworth Hall,<br />
Doncaster<br />
Another historic parkland popular<br />
with visitors. Path from the car park<br />
down past the museum is suitable<br />
for prams/wheelchairs. Does get<br />
steep as you head down to the<br />
pond area. Playground and playing<br />
field by the car park. Museum is<br />
only open Friday and Saturdays.<br />
Parking from £1.10 for one hour.<br />
Elsecar Park and<br />
Reservoir, Barnsley<br />
A great place to spend many<br />
hours. Reservoir with bird hides.<br />
Play area, sandpit and MUGA. Pitch<br />
and Putt and crazy golf (paid for).<br />
Cafe and toilet facilities.<br />
Free parking in the Heritage<br />
Centre car park.<br />
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 61
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