When the Queensway Tunnel was dug beneath the river, the subsequent rubbish pulled from the ground…read morewas dumped and landscaped into what is now Otterspool Prom. Here you can do everything there is to possibly do on a riverside promenade; things such as walk, ride a bike, look at the water and...um...well that's about it. I suppose you could rollerblade if you wanted. If it's a warm day and you don't mind the style your hair will be sculpted into by the blustering gales, you can follow the prom and its interconnecting paths right up to the Pier Head. If you don't fancy that, try and unearth the ruins of the 1984 Garden Festival, which lies hidden by tree trunks and weeds. You don't know how overtly creepy something is until you accidentally stumble across a kid's overgrown swing park. I still have nightmares.

What a spectacular view. Did you ever see such a coastline? Especially when the waves are choppy…read moreand the wind blustery. I absolutely love the promenade; walking along beside the river with the breathtaking view of the Welsh hills in the background is really relaxing, there's lots of cyclists and dog-walkers around and it's a lovely environment on a clear sunny day. The park which was renovated through the 'Pride in our Proms' project is Amazing. It's a mini world of Big Kid heaven... for me anyway I regressed about 10 years and was on the swings, seesaw and monkey bars, and when we'd totally worn ourselves out running around and taking cool scenic pictures of the sunset we went for a well earned pint from the Otterspool pub which is handily a hop skip and a cartwheel across the park. Go fly a kite, see the sights, play on the park and grab a pint!

This is a kind of tucked away little play area on Mark Rake. I guess you'd have to know it was here…read moreto find it, unless like me you stumbled across it while wandering the streets of Bromborough in search of interesting businesses. The play area is fairly substantial with about six or eight different climbing, riding, or general playing equipment type thingies. I never know how to describe playground toys. But all the kinds running around, climbing, and riding seemed to be having a lot of fun. I would probably class this is a playground suitable for children aged 4-10. But that's a wild guess.

Amazing woods. Eastham woods and Eastham ferry have so much history. It's such a beautiful park,…read moreespecially it's Bluebells in spring. a must see for nature lovers. Home to the most amazing tea garden, 'Mimosa Tea Garden'. A really colourful outdoor tea shop where they sell teas, coffees, ice creams, cold drinks, homemade cakes, etc These woods are great for spotting squirrels, I've never seen so many anywhere other than here and Chester. Most of the squirrels you see in the dog free play area, great place for children. The Eastham Ferry Hotel is a great pub for families to eat and kids play in the outdoor play area. The Tap is another great pub, full of friendly staff and drinkers. Lots of bikers, pool table. darts, beer garden. The Tap also throws a damn good party every year for the Wirral Egg Run. great charity event.

great jsut like any woods watch out for dog theives though and fox fleas and after dark the woods…read morebecome a haven for doggers

Living only four miles away, we have now become 'Friends of Ness Gardens' and have been several…read moretimes already this summer (I retired from work at Easter). The Management continue to make improvements all the time, and each time we see changes. If you go three ti,mes or more a year , its well worth joinging the Friends as you will save money. ITs a bit like asmall version of BOdnant Gardens in N Wales for those of you who know it. Edit, visited again 13/3/13 with wife , mother in law and grandauaghter. For the first time we had lunch in the cafe, good quality and well presented food, nice ambience.

This has to be one of the most beautiful places in the Wirral, a true hidden gem. The cafe is…read moreamazing with lovely home cooked food and delightful staff who can't do enough for you, a lovely way to spend a lazy day strolling around. It's worth visiting in every season as it changes so much. I would recommend anyone coming to the Wirral to make time to slot this into their schedule.

You could walk around Sefton Park every day for a century and not see it in the same way twice. I…read moredon't know what would be so special about that 36,501st day but that'd be the one you get bored on. A mighty, verdant wonderland of precise landscape design, the park has everything- a lake, a cricket club, a cafe, tennis courts, an obelisk, a grotto, a dingly dell, a palm house, a nature reserve, an iron bridge, a swing park, a bowling green, fountains and a bandstand. Once upon a time, there was also an aviary, an open-air theatre and even a freaking pirate ship. Nowadays it plays host to the jangly joy of the Africa Oyé festival, as well as whatever circus has thundered into town from across the eastern horizon. Opened in 1872 by Prince Arthur (Queen Victoria's son) who dedicated it "for the health and enjoyment of the townspeople", the park received a vital face-lift in 2009. The lake was cleaned, sloppy grass banks were resculpted, signposts erected, statues polished and view-blocking trees were sliced down, somehow making the vast park seem even more open and welcoming. Oh yeah, I forgot ducks off that list before. It has ducks. Ooh and grass.

Wow, on a sunny day people sure do know how to kick back and relax! The best place to do this in…read moreliverpool has to be Sefton Park. Out of the city and into the countryside, or so it would seem! Big open fields, winding tree-lined paths, a boating lake (not that I've ever seen a boat on there), greenery galore. The Palm House is beautiful and having seen it in the midst of a deep snowy winter and it's reflective crystal maze esque glory of summer, it's always amazing. Today, we were strolling around the lake and there wasn't just one swan or two, but a whole family with their little cute baby signets just catchin' the sun on the path and people were just sitting watching them, almost cooing in appreciation at them they were so gorgeous. The park has also opened up a little cafe that serves yum stuff like rum and raisin and mint choc chip (my fave!) icecreams, coffees teas and lollies etc from a little glass pod on the edge of the lake, the seating outside gives a great view of the park to enjoy your surroundings and relax! So pack a picnic or a barbie, throw down a tartan rug and soak up the sun in one of the most mesmerising parks in the world! (Well, in our lovely little Liverpool bubble anyway!)

Across the fields and the car parks of Otterspool Promenade (yes, the fields that are perpetually…read morescattered with people flying kites) lies a tranquil, wooded area called Otterspool Park. There's a railway bridge and a weird tunnel cutting through and although some parts of it look like they're harbouring axe murders, on a sunny day at least it can be a good place to walk off a hangover. Much better than the prom itself. Too many people there looking at you with concern. As a kid, these woods used to be home to the Greatest Swing in the World™. I say 'used to' because after that time I fell off and tumbled down the hillside through broken glass, it kind of lost its appeal.

This public park on Woolton Road is one with a very misleading name. Firstly, it sounds like Alton…read moreTowers. Secondly, it's not really near Allerton Road. Thirdly, it isn't dominated by a cloud-impregnating series of jagged towers, as I was hoping when I first came here as a wee nipper. This name in fact comes from the opulent Victorian mansion that once stood on the grounds before dry rot forced it to be torn down in the thirties. Nowadays, the park is scattered with remnants of the estate- the lodge, stables, former laundry and part of the orangery still stand. Also, England's best climbing tree is still here from my childhood although when I found it the other day I got tired just looking at it. Tree- One, Dave- Nil.

In the verdant solitude of Woolton, Reynolds Park lies hidden like a chest of buried treasure, or…read morethat cockroach in your bed. Once the estate grounds of the Reynolds family, the parkland has passed through many owners, ranging from a scarred old slaver to the man who set the standard gauge for the British Rail system. Excited? For only fourteen acres, it crams a lot in. There's a walled garden, a topiary garden and a sunken garden. Still in formation is the old arboretum, as well as a wild flower meadow and even something called a ha-ha. Yes it's real, look it up. Whether it's a stroll through the gorgeous summer sun or a confused, drunken stagger home, Reynolds Park will enhance any trek you may be going on, without caring a jot for what you think of it.

The Estate has been in the ownership of many families of mixed fortunes over the past two…read morecenturies. The park as we know it today, with the addition of Dove Park in 1907, has developed over the past years and now stands within the boundaries of the 1929 bequest. Unusually for its period the 14-acre park has not been eroded by land sales and provides a key asset to the immediate local community. The original parkland was of fairly modest proportions until that date having been sub-divided in accordance with the requirements of the Enclosures Act 1805, to provide common grazing lands. The Park has been gradually acquired over the past 200 years, with its current boundaries and artefacts remaining mainly unchanged since the original bequest. The 14 acre park is bounded by Church Road, Woolton Park and Woolton Hill Road, Liverpool 25. It contains listed features including the Walled Garden, Gatehouse, and perimeter walls and is set within the Woolton Conservation Area. It could well be described as a 'hidden gem', providing an area of passive recreation and contemplation, with the capacity to absorb limited informal recreation for families, and a safe and secure haven for young children.

What a fantastic day out! We drove down to Shropshire to meet our friends who suggested an…read moreexploration of the fantastic Hawkstone Park and Follies (to where, despite growing up in its backyard, they had never been either). There's lots to do here-- a hotel, outdoor activities like off-road driving, archery, balloon flights and, of course, hiking. Open year round, they have specialty activities around all the major holidays and there's something for the whole family. The hike through The Follies is pretty spectacular. The circular trail takes you through forests, terrific rock formations weathered from, well, weather it seems!-- and caves (you need a torch!). It's not an easy hike-- the uneven surfaces, steep inclines and equally steep (and narrow!) steps cut into the rocks are daunting. If you add rain into the mix (which we had), it makes for a bit of a precarious (and slippery!) adventure. But well worth it. There are picnic tables and benches dotted along the way-- and on a nice day, it is a fantastic place for a picnic-- if not only for the excuse to take a bit of a breather when you make it to the top. Estimated to be a three-hour round trip hike (depending on your pace and how long you stop to admire the plethora of incredible views), it's well worth your time. Plus, if you start early enough, you can make it back before the little tea room with veranda at the visitor's centre closes to reward yourself with some well-earned sweets and of course, the quintessential English cuppa (in a little teapot and everything). Well worth the trek-- we will be coming back here again!