This is a really good facility in our region, although to be honest, they could make a lot more of…read moreit! It's basically an ordinary farm, but the public are allowed to go round and see all the animals - for a fee of course! It's council run, so the fee isn't too bad, actually. As you enter there is a little shop where you pay your entrance fee and can buy little souvenirs, and also some little bags of food for the goats. The first bit you come to after the shop is a pond and a load of ducks and geese. Beware, if you start to feed this lot they won't ever let you leave in fact they will follow you in quite a menacing way! It's a bit scary, especially if you've ever seen any Alfred Hitchcock films you know what I mean! The farm also has pigs, sheep, horses, donkeys, cows, etc. Depending on the time of year you might be lucky enough to see tiny little lambs, which are really cute. Then go back a few months later and find them actually quite scary and intimidating things with gigantic horns and an evil glint in the eye! There are also, of course, the goats. They are so cute, and will eat everything. They loved the little bags of food we'd bought so much that they not only ate the food, they ate the paper bag, too. There was nothing we could do to stop them! There is also a little play area for the children, with swings and a few other things. You can happily while away a few hours here, especially if the weather is nice. Often they have special events on, like once we went and they would actually let you have a go at milking a cow. Other events have been children's things like making Halloween masks, or making bat boxes. You usually have to book in advance for these events. All in all, it's a nice place and the children really seem to enjoy it - but I do feel it's under-used, and the council could make it so much more if they actually tried.

I used to use the SPA, but the one in Ponteland has been out of action for many weeks and still no…read moredate when it will re open.

Crèche!! After many many months of searching for a gym with…read morecrèche facilities I finally came across ponteland leisure centre. This is a great crèche for my two young children. The two woman that run it are fantastic, they really put you at ease over leaving your children with them to do a quick workout. You can see that the kids love it in there too, there's always smiles, singing and laughter when you collect them. (Also it's always a struggle to get them to leave because there having so much fun) I would strongly recommend this crèche to anyone who wants to leave there child in very safe capable hands whilst catching a couple of hours to workout or take a little time for yourself.

I visited Big Sheep Little Cow while staying in the area on a family holiday…read more This is a great attraction with lots to keep the kids and adults entertained. There is an excellent indoor play area, some outdoor play areas with go karts and ride on trikes..., and of course a huge selection of farm animals for your little ones to learn about. There is a cafe serving lunches and refreshments, and a party area upstairs. It cost us £24 for two adults and my three year old to access the playbarn and go on the farm tour, and my one year old went free. You can pay less just to access the playbarn, without going on the farm tour. This seems to be a great spot for parent and toddler meet ups. The farm tour was really excellent - lasting around an hour, with the opportunity to hold/pet mice, rats, Guinea pigs, and hedgehogs in the indoor small animal section. We then moved outside and saw goats, llama, pigs, donkeys, Shetland Ponies, sheep, chickens and ducks. There was lots of opportunities for the little ones to interact with the animals such as brushing the pig, sitting on the Shetland pony and feeding the hungry lambs. We all had a great day out at Big Sheep Little Cow and my three year old in particular got to try out new things through interacting with the farm animals. Special mention to all the lovely staff we came across - everyone was so friendly, and we all left smiling!

Fabulous place for kids and animal soppy adults. For the entrance fee you get a tour of the animals…read more- usually lambs, calves, a pig you can wash, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chickens etc.If you visit at the right time you can feed the lambs and or calves. You can also pay a little more and use their indoor play barn (adults can go on the equipment too!) with a death slide etc. They have a decent cafe and at peak times the tractor ride and go-karts are open. A great day out - or party destination. Dry or wet weather.

Killingworth Lakeside Park is a lovely local escape, with, as its name suggests, a good-sized Lake…read moreat its centre! The Lake is a well-stocked resource for local fishermen, and there is a lot of lovely wildlife to see in and around the park. You'll regularly see wildlife photographers taking snaps. Check out the visitors boards describing the wildlife around the park. The park also has a model boating club, a small café shack (open only during popular hours) and a good play area for kids, with a wire slide, roundabout and other apparatus to keep the nippers amused. There is ample parking for visitors, and it's a good walk around the lake. In short, I love visiting the park here to take a walk, relax and unwind! How lovely to have these kinds of parks on our doorstep.

Funky Farm is a large softplay centre situated on the outskirts of Northallerton. Its a large…read moresoftplay with a dedicated area for babies and toddlers, a netted football / basketball area, a big (and very scary for us wimps of mothers) slide, several ball pits, soft stairs you name it - it is in there! The equipment is clean and in good repair and whether my 2.5yr old son is there or my 8 year old nephew - there is something for both of them! Peppered around the room are numerous coin slot type rides (which generally the kids play on without them moving!), some fake tattoo machines, bouncy ball machines and a teddy grabber. All extra expense but I've heard a thousand times Mums & Dads tell their little ones that it's broken Darling so most of us get away with not handing over the pennies! The food is impressive - everything from chips and chicken nuggets, veggie chilli and rice, hot panini's fish fingers - HUGE baguettes, salads, home made soups and a large choice of drinks, icecreams and sweet cakes etc. They do have some gluten free items available too. The food is somewhat on the pricey side but of a high quality and very decent portions. There are three toilets, one being a disabled / baby changing room and these are kept clean and tidy. Funky Farm also caters for themed parties and although I've never attended one I have been there when they have been on and they seem well organised and a lot of fun! Opening times are 10am - 6pm Tuesday - Sunday. There is plenty of private parking for patrons.

This is a great little swimming pool. We've been several times on wet afternoons when we've been on…read moreholiday and it area and found that what this place lacks in size it more than makes up for in activity -- they have some brilliant floats which come out regularly during the school holidays. The changing facilities are good (why can't all swimming pools have decent-sized family changing cubicles?) and the prices quite reasonable. There will be bigger and more exciting swimming pools up and down the country I'm sure, but for what it is this particular swimming pool cannot be faulted. Our two kids (now aged 3 and 5) love it.

From the owner: Here at Ryedale Swim and Fitness Centre, we've got all the tools you need to keep fit, active,…read morehealthy and happy. Firstly, our brand-new 35-station gym is the ideal place to help you achieve all your fitness goals, while our Fitness Motivators and Personal Trainers are also on hand to help you get the most out of your workouts. Secondly, the 25m swimming pool plays host to a number of different aquatic activities, including our award-winning swimming lessons, fun sessions - where you can make use of the flume - and fitness sessions, alongside aqua aerobics sessions as well.

this is a fab, place for wind surfing and other beach sports. the farmer takes about £3.00 (could…read morebe more) for you to park your car, so you can get onto the beach. some years back it was a nudist beach, but not anymore! the beach is a long strip, and the tide will go right out, but take care as when the tide is high, you really need to be off the beach! normally around 4pm depends on season. it can get very busy when the weather is good and lots of people walk there dogs here great cheap place to take the kids for a good old fashioned beach trip, as there are no shops nearby! there is a snack van, but take a picnic or a BBQ! wind breakers are a must! as it is a very windy beach! BUT TAKE HOME YOUR RUBBISH! as some people don't and is spoils it for others! make a day of making sand castles, exploring rock pools and the old world war 2 concrete pill box, coastal defense bunker. there is enough things to do to fill a day. beach volley ball, beach football, kite flying, burying dad in the sand etc. if your shy about getting changed on a beach, do it in an old duvet cover! get your knotted hankies out, sit on a deck chair and relax! places like this one are getting harder to find. we use to be able to launch our jet ski's here, but thanks to people not following simple beach rules, give way to people in the water and wind surfers! you can no longer launch jet ski's/bikes! lots of wind surfers come here and i've seen kite surfers as well. think you can still launch boats. there are very basic toilet facilities (converted barn) take your own tissue, these are provided for the caravan site nearby, but beach users can also use toilets

dont let ya kids play in the stream outlet near the carpark it can be pollutedread more