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!

I'm doing it again; I must get to the water. I am a Gremlin. I need to multiply and water is my…read moresavour. In that case I could do a lot worse than Hemsworth Water Park and Play World. Now this badger has two lakes; the largest lake is available for pedalo rides and has sandy beaches; the smallest lake is in a more secluded area to attract wildlife. It's perfect if you want to do a Freddie Flintoff and fool around for a while. It's also ideal to see some great things of interest in this beautiful world we have around us. I'm going all John Lennon on you now. You've also got loads of grassed areas and picnics are no problem either (except the fact it's always freezing and wet in England). Then throw in the Play World bit. This is where I need to fall back and remind myself that I'm not a child any more. For "real" kids though it's got with a tower slide, climbing frames, a toddler's sandpit area and a miniature railway. Toot toot. Once again I've found you a corking day out with a difference but do check what is open if you go before the Easter holidays. You have been warned.

I find myself in something of a quandary. I value the provision of these islands of nature greatly…read moreand will always defend them from the encroaching urban sprawl but I find that I cannot get very excited about Hemsworth Water Park, Nice enough lakes and the ducks were very duck-like, the grass was probably just as green as any other park and the children's play area as clean and well maintained as the best of them but the other play area which is rather grandly called Playworld was locked up thereby saving us a few quid for an experience we could get for free in any half decent public park. I left with the feeling that I had wasted fuel driving to Hemsworth as there are better parks much nearer to where I live.

i always visit the park every sunday , i carnt belive its actualy free its like something you see…read moreand think you would have to pay a entrance free , a massive pond for fishing , park for the children , sand pit , slides and swings. i usualy go fishing on the pond with a reasonable price to fish , lovely people and litter free!

Although it was snowing and everything looked white, I had a great time walking around ducks, pets,…read moreand through cute bridges.

The park and the buildings are very beautiful. They really turn back the time…read more The botanical gardens are open now and are very nice but not very big. There are several fairs are held in the Pavilion Gardens such as the Fine Food Fairs, Farmers' Markets, Art & Craft Fairs, Antique Fairs, etc. Also the tourism information center is there.

As the website and the entrance signs say - Pavilion Gardens is a 'great free family day out.'…read more This historic park is situated in the centre of Buxton and is constantly full of locals walking dogs or taking their children out to play as well as a variety of tourists, from families on a day out, cyclists taking a short break to photographers and artists wanting to capture a slice of nature. There is a pay and display car park at one side of the gardens, however as it is centrally located you can easily walk to it from most hotels and the town centre. For tourists new to the area, there is a Tourist Information Centre which will provide you with lots of information about Buxton and the surrounding Peak District area. Hundred of events are held within the gardens over the year, mainly located in the Octagon Hall. These included farmers markets and fetes etc. during my visit a few weekends ago there was an Art based festival taking place where clothing, photographs, jewellery, furniture and other art works were being displayed and some offered for sale. For those searching for a little more fun suitable for the younger generations, there is a large park fully equipped with swings and slides as well as a miniature train which offers rides around one section of the park. If you're wanting to stop for a short refreshment break there are plenty of places to pick from, including outside and inside cafes serving both hot and cold food as well as ice creams. On my next trip to Buxton I will definitely be heading back here as there was plenty of things I didn't get to see.

Considering I eat and drink out as much as possible, there has to be some sort of action plan when…read moreit comes to shifting the pounds. That's why I'm exceptionally lucky to live next door to Alexandra park, a leafy oasis in the red brick jungle of Edgeley. Not only are there 3 reservoirs with a multitude of fishermen hogging the banks, there's also tennis, basketball and football courts all free and fully unlocked to the public 24/7. There's also the Edgeley crown green bowls pitches to the north of the park which are super popular with an older clientele, plus there's all ages going for it in the tai chi each morning. It's a great place to go for an early morning run, walk your dog (wow - everyone seems to know each other!) and I personally go to shoot a few hoops most morning to get my basketball on (wind permitting...) Perfect for folks with kids - there's a huge playground onsite!

I went to a wedding at Arley Hall last week and it was a spectacular venue to get married…read more The only reason I'm marking it down to 4* is because as a non-driver and a singleton it would have been very expensive to get there myself, as the public transport links aren't great. Luckily, I got a lift to and from the venue with friends but otherwise it would have been £50 in a taxi each way. So that's the moan out of the way. The rest was brilliant and to anyone looking for a wedding venue, you should definitely consider here. The main house, where the ceremony and meal were, was very pretty. The food was very tasty, particularly the sticky toffee pudding. Service was also very good. The back where the pictures were taken is gorgeous and provides a beautiful backdrop for wedding photos - official or unofficial! The evening do was in the Olympia Hall which is a nice size. Has a bar, nice area for DJ/dancing and an upstairs bit with sofas and room for a photo booth. I'll put up a few photos shortly.

Although we didn't pay to go into the hall and gardens themselves, even through cafe alone is well…read moreworth a visit if you're in the area. My friend and I had been on a 6 mile hike that started and ended at the hall, and it made for the perfect finish. The celeriac soup was delicious, but everything on offer looked great. Be mindful that they do stop hot food at 3, but we turned up at 3.20 and as they hadn't turned anything off yet they were more than happy to serve us. The cakes looked lovely too and if I'd have had room for dessert I would have had one without hesitation!

Great park. Nicer than the main Royton park. Quieter, more spacious and it doesn't seem like your…read morein Royton A good play area to kids, great for riding bikes, jogging etc. Great for picnics as well, however on the downside is there is no toilets.

If you are looking for a good family walk - this is a great place. We generally park at the bottom…read moreof Teggs nose by the reservoirs and follow a marked path that runs between the two reservoirs. It is a well marked path and leads you on a circular walk, taking in the lovely scenery Teggs Nose has to offer of the Peak National Park and the Cheshire Plain. About half way around you come across the visitor centre, which offers toilet facilities. There is no cafe, but the centre is full of local information, and is a nice place to shelter if necessary! The main car park for Tegg's Nose is found by the visitor centre. Often on nice weekends and on holidays, an ice cream van is parked in the car park offering delicious locally produced ice cream. Carrying on from the visitor centre towards Tegg's Nose the path takes you past an old quarry - great fun for the kids to climb on and explore. We often spend quite some time hanging around here before taking the path back down to where we parked the car. It is a lovely walk that can be varied according to time/weather and the demands of little legs!

iv bin here on walks but had to be careful of the flying ants because it was rather warm.read more

After 6 months whining about how there is nowhere good to run near me, I belatedly discovered the…read morejoys of the Fred Perry Way (a 14 mile path from Reddish through Stockport and Bramhall to Woodford) which at one point spits you out near the entrance to this delightful nature reserve. Bigger than it appears at first glance, it has beautiful bluebells in the spring and a lovely brook that adorable dogs and children splash about it. The paths appear well laid enough to be passable even after significant rain and it's definitely a good place to run. Apparently some of it is considered ancient wood and you actually reach some kind of farmland at one end - I spotted cows and possibly strawberries!