Me and Muggle (my little dog) love Barclay Park! According to the signage, this park was part of a…read moreprivate estate and Robert Barcley gave the land to Hoddesdon for the park. What a nice guy! The total area of the park is 18.3 acres and includes a walking trail, a pond, a children's play area and picnic tables. And it's beautiful! There's a gorgeous weeping willow near the pond and the footpath to the pond is lined with daffodils. There are always ducks and geese on the pond and there's a rarely a day that I don't see families feeding bread to the ducks. Barclay Park is a very popular place for dogs; we encounter many of them every time we take a trip there. There's lots of open space for dogs to run around and play and a creek for them to swim in.

Great local facility. Teaming with wildlife. There's a two mike walk around the reservoir, ideal…read morefor dogs, provided you're prepared for bath time afterwards in the winter. There's a little cafe and a reasonable amount of paid for parking.

Very nice park this is…read more There is a large play park for the kids to play in including swings, slides, climbing frames, bouncing toys etc And of course the lake which is very big and full of ducks and swans. There are toilets and a reasonably priced cafe! Its a really nice day out, but unless you are prepared for rain make it on a sunny day as there is little shelter!

I love spending a sunny afternoon walking my Emily around this beautiful park. Vast open spaces…read more Play area. Brook. Great for dog walkers. Pretty scenery. Enjoyable way to spend a few hours outdoors.

Another park I really like. It has lot's of facilities; rather good childrens play area, pitch and…read moreputt golf, orienteering course, stream, soon to be outdoor gym, flower beds that kids like to play hide and seek round, a nature wood that's sometimes open and mixed terrain for dog walkers. There's a carpark and often an ice cream van. You don't get any of the issues of Western Park (never been nearly run over by a motor bike here) and it's not as big. Some of the flower beds could do with abit of weeding but all in all a lovely park, go and take advantage, it's free (except the golf)

Harborne walkway is a space of natural tranquillity in an urban environment. It was opened in 1981,…read moreoccupying the former short branch Harborne railway line. The railway line opened in 1874, as an early example of a commuter route into the new industries city of Birmingham. It took five years to build the 2.5 miles of track, with stations at Hagley Road, Rotton Park Road, and Icknied Port Road before terminating at New Street. This was much shorter that the 1866 proposal, which would have connected Bromsgrove to Halesowen, and connecting the Great Western Railway (in Soho) with the London and North Western Railway on Monument Lane. I had previously presumed that the railway line was a victim of Dr Beeching's Cuts in the 60's, whereby he oversaw the closure of over 1,000 rail stations in the UK (luckily we didn't follow his full recommendation and close over 2,000). However, the Harborne line closed to passengers in 1934, as people favoured the buses, which had less delays at the time. The line remained open for freight, serving the Chad Valley toy factory in Harborne, as well as the Mitchells & Butlers brewery at Cape Hill, amongst over businesses. The line was completely closed in 1963. Cut to present day and the line has been transformed into the most lovely walking and cycling path in the city. The path runs from Forest Drive / Park Hill Road in Harborne to Summerfield Park in Soho; where one can easily visit Edgbaston Reservoir, or join the Birmingham Canal to walk into the city centre. The full walk from Harborne to town is unsurprisingly the same as the original railway line: 2.5 miles. It brings one into town at Brindley Place, where there are ample options for liquid refreshment and nutrient. Along most of the walk, we could easily be forgiven for forgetting that we are so close to the heart of the second city. We could easily be convinced that we're walking in a rural part of the country. The only hint to city life is seeing the buses on the Hagley Road above our heads. The footpath is however, slightly busier (and less boggy) than those out in the countryside, being popular with dog walkers, families, cyclists, and runners alike. The route doesn't have any lighting though, so is probably best avoided after dusk. Although I love Birmingham and all of the culture, bar, events etc that happen in the 'big city', sometimes it's good to get away from all of the 'hustle and bustle' and be 'one with nature' - any more clichés I can fit in? Seriously though, it's great to be able to escape from all of the stresses of modern life without having to travel too far from home. Birmingham has 3,500 hectares of public green space, more than any other European city, and 250 miles of urban brooks and streams (I've not even mentioned the canals, nor Venice). To me, Harborne Walkway is definitely one of the city's 'hotspots', a must for any Brummie!

Great walk on a fall afternoon with the dog. Don't leave it too late as it can get quite…read morecreepy/dark in areas. It is a great green space in an urban area and well worth a visit. Lots of runners and other dog walkers. Interesting railroad history.

Mile End Park might be London's most underrated park. Completely unbeknownst to tourists who…read moremainly beeline to West End parks, this East London park is a slender 79-acre strip of fabulous modern design, gardens, lakes, and culture/leisure centres along the beautiful Regent's Canal. It's a low-key local gem just across the street from the more popular, sprawling Victoria Park. In my Top 5 Parks along with Regent's and Hampstead Heath

I really love Mile End Park on a quiet day (when the weather is rubbish, hah :)) - there's plenty…read moreof space and I keep discovering new bits I haven't ventured to yet. There is the 'Eco Pavilion' which overlooks a few ponds. Several areas of trees/wildflowers. Close proximity and easy access to Regent's Canal, where one can take a nice walk down to Victoria Park or the Hertford Union Canal. If you're thirsty there's a cafe, and if you fancy a beer the Palm Tree pub is close by. The couple of downsides are that 1) it's never closed and there are sometimes some street drinkers/groups of drunk people inhabiting certain areas and 2) It's next to two very busy roads.

This is bit a rarity. A 5* review. Laura provides essentially a dog sitting service within her own…read morehome and intermingled with her own family ensuring that our pet goes from home to home. The previous paragraph really does under sell the service she provides. She really does look after my pet as though it was her own and nothing is too much trouble. My dog really does know where she is going when we get close and gets really excited. She sleeps indoors with the others dogs that are staying making a real sociable stay.

Watford needs and deserves a nice park and Cassiobury hits the spot. As well as the plethora of…read morefootball pitches (none seem that big mind), tennis courts, netball courts and cafes there is a really cute miniature railway that the kids will love. The path around the park will take you through some nicer parts and out to the Grand Union Canal where you can watch various people struggle with the locks. If you a right at the toe path you can also wander the 1km or so down to The Grove Hotel which is worth checking out. Every year the park is also host to Watford's Firework display which is free and of a generally high standard.

Cassiobury Park is a really beautiful place and has something for everyone. There is a lot of open…read morespace with shady trees. In the summer the paddling pools are open and the children can paddle in the pools or splash in the fountains. This area is well staffed an supervised by qualified people. The cafe in this area offers a selection of hot and cold food and drinks at reasonable prices. At the far side of the park is a shallow river/ stream that is teaming with fish. This is simply perfect for children's first fishing experience. There is a miniature train and a traditional play ground with swings and slides. It's a great place to take a picnic. I feel safe going on my own with my young children. The parking and pools are free with a small charge for the train.

Pascale is friendly and reliable with a genuine care for your pets. I'm glad to have found a new…read moresitter having just moved to the St. Albans area.

The Tree Cathedral is another hidden gem of Milton Keynes. I walked in the area back in March when…read morethe trees were all bare but even then it looked insanely cool. I've looked up photos of the tree cathedral in full bloom and it's just beautiful. Constructed in 1986 to look like Norwich Cathedral, I'm sure it's a great spot for small ceremonies. It's divided into various sections all meticulously planned which you can read about on the plaque right in front of the cathedral. It has a nice stone path down the center for easy navigation. Upon reading a bit more on the Tree Cathedral when I got home - you can now scatter ashes there. Peaceful and creepy at the same time. The Tree Cathedral can be found opposite of Willen Lake.