A great adventure playground that will keep all but the most fussy of kids entertained, be warned…read morethough it can get a bit muddy. The grounds of the estate have miles of paths to explore/walk the dog and alarge lake give ample oppurtunity to feed the ducks/fish.

Although not exactly in the middle of the countryside, St Ives lets you get away from the…read morerelatively busy hustle and bustle of nearby Bingley and offers beautiful woodland walks, tasty food and a bit of something for everyone. St Ives boasts it's own golf course so if you are that way inclined you can while away a few hours hitting balls into holes (can you tell I'm not a fan!) It also has a beautiful lake with a lovely walk around it which is ideal if you have youngsters who will enjoy feeding the various ducks and other wildlife. They recently introduced a wildlife viewing area where you can sit and watch squirrels and various birds eating from conveniently placed feeding tables. There are lots of paths and walks you can enjoy around the estate, including one which takes you through a large woodland area with many large carved statues for you to discover - the dragon is our favourite! Extra points if you can find the massive carved wooden chain (hint: it's in a tree somewhere near the lake!) There are several large car parks and a children's playground and also tearooms to enjoy, so there really is something for everyone. Definitely a place where you can go have fun with your family, or even relax and get away from it all.

Myrtle Park is an excellent place to get away from it all, with the flowing river near by and the…read moreBINGLEY MUSIC LIVE taking place every year around the first weekend in september. This years event takes place between the 4th and 6th September, making it the first year that it has streched over 3 nights. The park also has many picturesque areas to just sit down and chill out during those hot summer months, where you can sit in the shade under a tree.

Myrtle Park is located very handily right in the center of Bingley…read more It's a typical municipal park, with lovely walks, wooded areas and lots of things to do for all the family. There is a large and recently renovated children's play area which will keep the young 'uns occupied while you have a rest, and a small snack bar where you can get ice creams and drinks too. There is a large bowling lawn and tennis courts (if you bring your own equipment you can sneak on for free rather than pay to rent rackets). There's also a basketball court, and also a large field near the river where you can play ball games such as cricket or football. There is plenty of space and weather permitting is the perfect place for a sunny bbq!

I'm back, from out of space. Okay maybe Spain isn't out of Spain but I'm of need of some hot…read morerocking Yorkshire action and more flat caps and whippets than is humanely possible. So by eck I'm off to Wharfemeadows Park and a reminder that holidays are great but there is no place like home. This is a bit of a trek out of Leeds city centre but Otley is such a nice destination that it's worth the 14 mile venture. It's a luscious riverside park with plenty of open spaces and enough to keep everyone interested. The children's play area is pretty large and has a designated area for disabled children. You've also got some radical skating facilities, like seriously dude throw another half pipe, like awesome (oh dear this old girl needs to get a life). If you're feeling active yourself then have a spot of tennis and follow it up with a Pimms at the café (well maybe not but a good cuppa will go down a treat). Add to that bowling and some lovely formal planted areas and even Charlie Dimmock would be throwing her bra off in celebration. Oh and the River Wharfe is just a wee walk away so a nice afternoon stroll can finish the day off nicely. Very pleasant indeed.

Otley park is right on the river Wharfe so there's always loads of ducks, geese and swans to feed…read more There's a really good play area for little ones that has recently been refurbished and includes a fantastic water wheel/engineering type contraption. There's plenty of space for ball games, a skate park, a small wood and loads of places to walk dogs. It's also a good place to start a walk along the river, be warned it can get very muddy.

I'm heading towards a run way, is that a good sign? Actually it is because I want to be in Yeadon…read more We're only talking ten miles out of the city centre and if it's good enough for an airport then surely it's good enough for you? Well let's see if Nunroyd Park can tempt you. The big seller of this beauty for me is the pond. Now I'm not a big fisher (or angler as I know people can get shirty about the difference!?!) but if I were then I'd spend my Sunday mornings here. Just pick up a pass and you're away. For me, I don't need to wait for a fish to get caught on the end of a sharp thing and I'm happy to have a good old meander around. And there is plenty of open grass for me to do that. The beck is nice too and worth a look at. There are also plenty of sports pitches for those who so wish and a skateboard park. Dude, I should really get into this skating lark, it looks rad and like totally awesome. Errmm on second thoughts...

On a recent trip out to Rawdon my friend and I discovered this lovely park. We had just been for…read morecoffee and a cake so it was the perfect time to go for a wee wander and like a beacon of the great outdoors, there she was - Micklefield Park. Essentially this park is made up of lots of little sections, all segmented by pathways and gorgeous trees and foliage. Some of the areas have quaint tudor style hedge arrangements, organised into symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing patterns, which are lovely to look at. There are also quirky bits of wall with windows which, I have no idea why, are definitely a feature. I guess it's just another point of interest but it all felt a bit Alice in Wonderland which made it feel interesting and special. There was also a huge field area, presumably for ball games, a bench area where one could enjoy a quiet read, a children's play area and a few different specific floral areas - such as the Rose Garden, which I am sure had it not been December and snowing like a blizzard, would have been a beautiful sight. All in all a really nice little place for a wander. Probably glorious in the summer too!

This message will terminate after five seconds. Your mission Melissa, if you choose to accept it is…read moreto gather a comprehensive insight into the greenways of Leeds. In doing so, you should not become labelled a tramp or start drinking Special Brew. Mission accepted so I'm off to Rawdon. Micklefield Park is a bit further out then some of the other ones in Leeds but it's still a tidy little number. I was told it's near to the library but that's about as useful as a chocolate teapot to me. However, on finding it I do see said building and wonder at what joys reside in there. Oh well I'll save libraries to another day. Back to the task in hand. Yet again I find a pleasant and tranquil corner of the city with lots of stuff to keep ma, pa and John Boy happy for an afternoon. There are a few well kept gardens and of course the compulsory bowling green. You've also got a kids area and tennis courts. The raucous din points me towards the skate park area and I quickly move on for a stroll around the grounds. It's pretty and it's ours, good work Leeds council on maintaining a nice area.

Nice to walk around the pond/boating lake any time of the year. You can watch the planes take off…read moreand land as it is right next to the airport runway. The park is ok, but getting a bit run down now (its same park i used to play on when i was little) but still in good condition. Perfect as everything is free, even the car park.

I only recently found this place and it great. There's a large kids play area with lots climbing…read moreframes slides and swings good for kids of all ages.There public toilets too near the play area. Its a lovely walk around the tarn itself and there's plently to look at with boats on the lakes and areoplanes coming into land at the near by bradford airport. Lovely place for a free family day out my son loved it.

Yeadon Tarn is a lovely place to visit if you have small children or dogs that need walking. With a…read morenice dam to walk around, plenty of ducks and concrete pathway, its a surefire winner. It features a bandstand, childrens park area and even has its own sailing club. The park is open to the public all year round and has exciting views of the aeroplane strip at Leeds Bradford Airport. There are numerous picnic areas and fishing opportunities. I prefer to visit extremely early in the morning to have a run and I must say, it is rather beautiful at sunrise...

This is a great place to stretch your legs on a weekend. No matter what the weather this place…read morealways seems to be busy. The path way around the tarn is suitable for little ones on bikes or wheel chairs. There's a children's play area, band stand, picnic tables, bike track, benches and plenty of parking. I love visiting in the winter when the water is frozen over and the ground is covered in snow. It's beautiful! Just a note: as I am local to the area on my last visit I noticed a fair bit if litter not exactly at the tarn but the surrounding areas.. If we all club together and bin our rubbish or even pick other peoples up and dispose if it we can all help keep this place looking nice for others :-)

Who's your daddy? I am! Okay maybe not but in terms of outdoor areas to go in the area, Otley…read moreChevin has a real claim at using that statement. Otley itself is a wonderful retreat in the heart of some stunning countryside. So it makes sense that the Chevin is a quality place to go. I go purely for the views. Anything else is just a bonus but that's a bonus it can boast. Not only do you have a wealth of wildlife and conserved areas but you've also got loads of activities to get stuck into. There are plenty of events spread throughout the year and copious amounts of guided walks. I can highly recommend a guided walk to get the most out of your trip. Not only that, try your hand at orienteering or it's sister sport Geocaching. Don't worry I'd never heard of it before either but if you want to find out more check out www.geocatching.com. See I'm a walking public service machine. There is even a wildlife group and the friends of the park are always looking for volunteers to help out with the general maintenance so if you're feeling generous give a little back. All in all this is a must for outdoor lovers', walkers or people who just love the sensational county that is Yorkshire. Sheer class.

Chevin Forest is a place I stumbled across by accident when I was out for an afternoon drive with…read moremy friend. We went to one of the many car parks spread around over Otley and decided to go for a little walk. We came across some amazing views where we could see the whole of Otley, really beautiful. It's a great place for serious walkers as it's so huge and has so many alternative pathways. It's also a nice place to go for picnics with children or just friends as there's lots of beauty spots with benches and tables to sit down at. Beware though, the Forest is literally huge. We turned up unprepared, got lost and ended up wandering around a village on the opposite side to where we'd came from! It was quite an adventure though, and one we've re-created many times since!

With lashings of lemonade I fancy a jolly old adventure and a spot of fresh air. Sorry to go all…read moreEnid Blyton on you but everyone has a personality crisis from time to time. My adventure took me to Yeadon Tarnfield Park. What a great area of over 17 hectares and it was brimming with people of all ages. No wonder really because you've got a fair few things to do. Drop the little ones off in the playground or let them loose on the BMX track. The tarn area itself is worth a wander around and is a fantastic way to blow away those cobwebs. Of course there is a bowling green too but they've also got a band stand. Now being the backend of a Baltic winter and colder than Eskimos underpants, live music hasn't really got into full swing yet. However, when we thaw out and through the summer months there are plenty of chances to see various brass bands do their thing. If you like to see planes (you can admit it), the airport is pretty close so it's a good place of spot them coming in and taking off. Add to that some water sports and plenty of fishing for the rod happy and it's a winner.