11 August 2019 Local area
Our pick of the top 5 playgrounds in the Lake District for littles ones to burn off some energy!
Finding places on holiday where your little ones can burn off some energy is a priority for most parents. We take a look at the top 5 kids playgrounds in The Lake District.
The Adventure Playground is suitable for all ages from toddlers to teenagers and has separate areas of play for ages and a large range of equipment from turrets to climb into and tunnels to climb through. The toddler area has a galleon boat – you might not be able to sail one of the steamers on Windermere, but you can definitely sail your own boat at Brockhole! Recently they have also built a ‘Mountain Tower’ for older children which I’ve heard has almost 10 towers. Wow. I think I’d like to move in!
There are plenty of picnic benches and grassy areas both covered and uncovered to bring lunch – and eat whatever the weather! Alternatively, they also have a number of cafes and one restaurant on site to purchase food and drink from. The playground is free entry and the only cost involved is car parking, however, if you’ve come on holiday to us before you’ll certainly be aware that parking isn’t cheap! If you’ve a friendly neighbour next door to your caravan its worth car sharing if you want to save some holiday pennies.
How far is it away from Park Cliffe?
15 minutes – avoid peak times when people are leaving work at 5.30pm to miss the traffic!
For more information:
https://www.brockhole.co.uk/activities/adventure-playground/
The Lost Castle certainly seems lost as you walk through the forest and appear to stumble across the rather hefty castle in the middle of the woods! Although, thinking about it you really wouldn’t stumble across this castle seeing as it’s built from 18,000 meters of sustainable timber.
Nevertheless, when you climb inside you might as well climb into another world and put on your armour! In the Lost Castle you can become part of the next siege and defend Lowther from all the adults! There is really no adventure playground comparable in size to The Lost Castle in the county and the structure it’s is actually modelled off Lowther Castle.
There are turrets, zip lines, slides, walkways, sand pit, rope mesh and even a toddler’s area. Surrounding the playground the garden is lovely and not far to explore. Plenty of outdoor seating it the form of picnic benches and tree stumps.
There is a cost to visit the adventure playground but also includes entrance to the castle ruins, exhibition space and gardens.
Did you know?
Lowther Castle & Gardens won the Cumbria Tourism Large Visitor Attraction of the Year. It seems that The Lost Castle isn’t the only thing that you should come to Lowther Castle to see!
58 minutes – yes, Google Maps really is that precise. It’s advisable to combine your trip to this awesome playground with another tourist attraction or sight-seeing mission due to the lengthy drive.
https://www.lowthercastle.org/to-do/the-lost-castle/
Rookery Woods adventure playground is designed for younger children aged 8 years old and under. Rookery Wood is set amongst the woodland is close proximity to the climbing wall and has a zip wire, archery, sheep hunt, low ropes, orienteering, traditional games, a maze, nature area and climbing. Wow. This is the place to be if you need to tire out your young adventurer!
Entrance is £5 for the day and is ideal even on a damp day. On site there is loads of stuff to get involved in from ghyll scrambling, canoeing and kayaking to high ropes and abseiling – be sure to book in advance! There is all the Hungry Heifer Café set inside the climbing wall itself.
48 minutes – you can even stop of at the Gingerbread Shop in Grasmere.
Wray Castle is a mock-gothic property situated on the shore of Windermere and owned by the National Trust. The rooms inside the castle have been transformed from the 1920s when the last family moved out of the castle and now upon walking into each of the rooms there are plenty of activities for children such as colouring tables, dressing up and soft play bricks. Albeit not quite the stately home an adult visiting may expect but definitely a popular choice with children. It might take an adult half an hour to get around all the rooms but your children could quite happily stay all day!
Outside the castle they is a large play trail with different obstacles to balance on, rope swings and tunnels to climb through – even a miniature castle with a climbing wall and slide – if you look out you’ll also see a variation of dens built by other children made from tree branches which you can add to or create your own.
35 minutes. Note parking is limited and during holiday periods they recommend parking at Brockhole or Ambleside and catching a ferry over to the castle.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wray-castle
Fell Foot, on the shore of Windermere, is in close proximity to Park Cliffe and is a National Trust site. Fell Foot is a relatively large site with a big grassy park backing on the meadow. A great place to take slightly younger children with the adventure playground, but equally good to take older children as there is plenty of space to play games such a frisbee, capture the flag and hide and seek! Fell Foot is also now home to an outdoor centre when you can rent paddleboards, canoes and kayaks or alternatively if you have your own, you can bring them and launch onto the lake. The National Trust also have a café and small shop onsite – open predominantly in the holidays and at weekends – which can provide you with your ice cream fix on a hot day!
10 minutes. Entrance to Fell Foot is free, but parking charges apply.
TOP TIP: If you’re a regular visitor to National Trust sites it’s well worth becoming a member of the National Trust so you don’t need to pay for parking when visiting any of their sites around the UK.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fell-foot
Of course there is also our very own adventure play area at Park Cliffe if you want to spend a leisurely day on the park.
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