Not so long ago I decided to get into the "going green" boat, see if it floated well. Part of this…read moreenvironmentally friendly plan of mine consisted of discovering new places closer to home as supposed to a trip beyond these shores involving carbon footsteps and what not. The lake district is fantastic, and it is right on our doorstep. Whilst I was there I bumped into a Canadian couple, a Korean family, and a Brazilian supermodel. Ok fine the last one is a fib, the point is, this place is Internationally known yet somehow overlooked by most people for their summer plans. Lake Windermere has always been a favorite of mine. I have fond memories of camping here as a grumpy but secretly loving it 13 year old. Fell foot park however is a recent discovery on a visit to Lake Windermere. I came upon it by chance in fact as I drove away from the south shore of the lake. With 18 or so acres to play with it is spacialicious indeed with incredible picnic space overlooking the lake. You don't have to watch the boats go by either as you skittle through your picnic food, you can enjoy a boat ride or hire a rowing boat to enjoy the stillness of the lake. There is also a tea room overlooking the lake and shop where you can buy souvenirs. This hidden treasure really demands a cheeky visit.

Set on the shore of Windermere, Fellfoot is a lovely park with bags of space for picnicers,…read morechildren playing football, cricket etc. There is a childrens adventure playground that has just been updated. A cafe and boat hire are also available. The lake is normally full of children during the summer months but its all very safe and boats passing by must stick to the 10mph speed limit. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead. Plenty of parking which is free for National Trust members, but pay and display for others.

Warm friendly staff, good food friendly atmosphere'. If you are in the area well worth a visitread more

Perfect location for a walk around the lake, nice little cafe to take refreshments if required. I…read morewould certainly drop in again in passing. Water sports and fishing available on or around the lake. Plenty of wildlife about also.

A park I've visited many, many times, ever since I was a kid. Now when we're up visiting family…read moreit's where I take the nephews as there's so much to do here (as long as it isn't raining - Wacky Warehouse further down the promenade is our go-to place for those days). In recent years it's had a major refurb with new facilities (which was long overdue). So alongside the historically well-maintained flowerbeds and woodland walks, there's a great crazy golf course (the old one was well past its best), swing boats, a play area for younger children, trampolines, merry-go-round, tennis and basketball courts, aqua play area, miniature train and a large 'natural' adventure playground. There's a cafe near the crazy golf which sells Lewis's Ice Cream which is fantastic. A lovely place for a stroll on a nice day, with lots of different activities for the nippers (just remember to bring a pocket-full of pound coins - they'll want a go on everything!).

Seclusion is needed by the soul more than you think folks. Peace and quiet for a few hours to…read morecollate your thoughts is priceless. Hence forth I present to you a place where Wordsworth 'wondered lonely as a cloud' The best things in life are indeed free(ok,ok, not entirely free: you do have to pay and display in the car park) On a leisurely drive with some friends through the lakes one fine Sunday afternoon we discovered(completely by fluke incidentally) this little gem of a place. Aira Force is a water fall which drops an impressive 65 feet and is surrounded by woodland. The drill here is simple, and simplicity at times can be bliss. You park your car you grab something from the cafe or stock up your picnic rucksack of goodies and off you go. A hike up through the woods will take you back to your childhood state of mind. Either you'll be climbing the steep paths through the woodland wrestling with the firs, pines, spruces and cedars like Indiana Jones(moi), or gingerly moving along with a camcorder wide eyed as if you were filming a prequel to Blair Witch project. (fainthearted friend) None the less the fruits of your labour will eventually emerge in the shape of Aira Force waterfall. Now I am and always will be a massive fan of waterfalls. There is something extremely therapeutic about the sound of the water, it floats me, freshens me up. This particular waterfall is one of the most famous in the Lake district. When we visited there was hardly anyone there. The water was so fresh and clean, I could easily have just bathe under it and would have done had it not been for a slight chill in the air and two rather strange German tourists. By strange, I mean scary horror film strange, tailing us all the way upto the falls! Perhaps it was just the fear mongering camcorder blair witch friend... Once you've taken plenty of post card worthy pictures and enjoyed the scenery, on the way back there are plenty of amazing and potentially romantic picnic spots. Plenty of daffodils around also if it's the right time of year. I loved them and I loved my visit and so will you. Who knows they might even inspire you into poetic action as it did Mr. Wordsworth. For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.

A beautiful National Trust site with walking paths through the woods and alongside a fast flowing…read moreriver. Main parking at the bottom of the hill close to the lake. There's toilets, a cafe and a small shop plus lots of picnic space. Beyond the two viewpoint bridges are beautiful rock pools perfect for paddling.

On the whole, Bowland Wild Boar Park is an enjoyable day out, especially for children under the age…read moreof 10. It is open everyday 10.30am - 5.30pm, is very reasonably priced and the owners are genuinely enthusiastic and friendly, with bigger and better ideas for the future. It has come on in leaps and bounds since I first visited (roughly 6 years ago), when it was home to just a few small animals and several stinky cattle sheds. All the animals here do appear to be well cared for, have adequate room to roam and have plenty of food and water available. The drive to the park is an adventure in itself. It really is out in the sticks! If you start questioning whether you've gone the right way, you're probably on the right road, so don't worry. When you do arrive at the park, chances are you'll be greeted by one of the family members that own the park, and/or a peacock. Entry into the park is payable by cash or cheque only. Once you've paid for admission, the park areas and children's play activities are free. If no-one is at the gates to greet you, there is an "honesty box" for you pay into. Adults £4.50 Children (2 years and above) £3.50 Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) - £14.00 OAP's - £3.50 Children under 2 years - free The wild boar in the park actually tend to be the least most favourite attraction. Most kiddies just want to bottle feed the lambs and hold the chicks, which they can do at set times during the summer months. Lamb feeding is at 11am, 2pm, 4.30pm Chick handling - 11am, 2pm, 5pm. The park's owners bring them out and then allow all the children who want to have a go, to have a turn. Nobody is pushed out or missed because they get everyone in one big circle to make sure. On top of that, baby wipes are freely available for anyone who happens to get pooped on by a fluffy cute little chick! When the lambs and chicks aren't out, there are lots of other animals to see around the park including red deer, reindeer, donkeys, goats, llama's, skunks, wallabies, owls, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. Visitors can hand feed many of these as well as go into the open pens of the smaller animals. Animal feed is available for visitors to use, for which they like you to make a donation of about 25p. When you have finished feeding, there are lots of small wash basins, hand soap and towels for you to use and clean up with after. Obviously, there are some animals which you cannot feed and must not attempt to get near, (the wild boar for a start). Notices are clearly displayed and animals which can be particularly nasty are behind fences and secured safely. Tractor trailer / barrel rides run throughout the day, with the park's owner simply jumping into his tractor and taking kids and adults alike, on a sightseeing tour of the area. These are £1.00 per person and last about 15 mins. The park has an adventure playground which is excellent. Along with the usual swings and slides, it has a zip wire and a sand pit, complete with spades and a ride-on digger. There are smaller pedal tractors available for younger kiddies to play on and a large "rabbit warren" is just outside the adventure playground, with large adjoining tunnels for the kids to crawl through and meet each other at end the end. What does seem to be particularly fun for the kids is a very large barn filled with nothing but hay bales. The bales are tied securely and stacked to make deep tunnels, bunkers and steps which are great for playing army or hide and seek. Also on site is a large education centre which is used for school and group bookings, and a small touring caravan area / children's birthday party can be arranged as well, but I don't know what these are like or how much they are; you'd need to contact the park directly. The park is very pleasing on the eye, with several gorgeous woodland walks and lots of picnic tables, some of which are right beside the river Hodder. You're likely to see lots of wild birds and animals if you walk round the outer areas of the park. In spring, the woods look superbly colourful; even more so at Easter when children can take part in an Easter egg treasure hunt. Wear comfortable stuff - preferably hiking boots or wellies. As its mainly grassy area, the chances are that you'll get muddy. Also, the footpaths can be uneven and in some areas are pretty steep. All visitors are given a map with info about the different routes to take though, so you won't get caught out. Toilets are available and have always been clean and tidy when I've visited. There is a small cafe and shop as well which sells the usual tea, coffee, soft drinks and even its own meat produce. (This grosses me out just a bit actually) The small gift shop sells predictable but nevertheless, nice little things such as key rings, pencils, soft toys etc. The one fault I have with this park is that there is very little in the way of shelter if the weather is poor, so ensure you pack up warm gear if

Lovely little trail. As we were staying at the Falls Caravan park, we were already at the top of…read morethe trail and had a lovley meander down into Ingleton. A little more challenging on the way back with some steep climbs, but take it easy at your own pace and the sense of achievement at the end is worth the effort.

This would be one of the main reasons to visit this quaint little town in the heart of North…read moreYorkshire. The Ingleton Waterfalls Trail is an utter delight, and quite the walk, but well worth the visitors fee - which I believe was something like £5-8. The folks at the gate weren't massively welcoming, but you literally pay your fee, park up and get on foot so it's not too bad. (And of course, we can assume the fee goes toward the upkeep of this place of natural beauty.) A word of warning -the car park is laid out in the most bizarre way, with tiny tiny spaces, and it seems a popular spot for caravans so I'd advise getting there early to ensure a space. Or give in to a good fifteen minutes of adjusting the frustrating labyrinth it can become. Anyway. The walk itself is several miles long, and can take up to four hours depending on your speed, but you'd be hard pressed for a more beauteous journey. With gorgeous copper water flowing the whole route around, due to the peet, the walk is lush with greenery. You'll be clambering up steep rock steps, ascending the hills, traversing across the mountainous dales, and view five incredible waterfalls along the way. There's even a cafe at about a third of the way along, for a coffee stop, and if you're spritely like me you can make it in two and a half hours-even stopping to photograph everything. Essentially, it's what I love about this country the most. England's pastures green, and all that. My favourite spot is the little Oak copse about half way home. Being autumn when I was there, it was exquisite and resplendent in orange hue, and so peaceful with the water roaring in the background, the birds, and the air. You'll feel right, when you're here, and without a care in the world. Outstanding.