Stanwick Lakes

With this wonderful weather there was no way we were going to stick at home so today we packed a picnic and headed here for most of the day.

It was busy, but K and B had fun until they wilted from the soaring heat. We discovered this park last September with the HE group. It has got to be one of the best play areas near(ish) to where we live - it is certainly worth the 40 mins or so drive to get there anyway.

The photos don't do it justice really. The park, or lakes, are huge and stretch for a long way - great for cycling, roller skating etc. The adventure playground, made mainly of wood with some plastic slides, is fabulous and so well thought out with climbing areas, sand, unusual swings, tunnels, netting etc., etc. They also have a moat around the play area with stepping stones - brilliant if you don't mind your kids coming out covered in wet clay (and are well prepared with a change of clothes in the car!). Finally, and best of all, there is a wonderful water section where you can really explore how water behaves when it falls, how you can change its direction, stop and start the flow etc., lovely and refreshing too in hot weather.

Experimenting with the water wheel

Unusal swings - I now realise how unfit I am having to push four young boys round on this thing!


Moving away from this playground and after a short walk you come to a good obstacle course with more climbing, scrambling under nets, climbing over three different height walls, swinging rope - brilliant.

So, you get my drift, great place to visit!