Days Out: Lightwater Valley

Set just off the A1, north of Ripon, the road winds through country lanes until you reach the opening into Lightwater Valley Theme Park which is set in 175 acres of beautiful North Yorkshire countryside.

Life-like dinosaurs greet visitors with roars and moving tails (four-year-old was mesmorised “are they real?”) before you head through the entrance and into a fantastically huge Angry Birds Activity Park - the UK’s largest. Big tick!

Both kids were off like shots, up the climbing frames and ladders, through the tunnels and down the slides, both shrieking with delight. Honestly we could have stayed there all day.

After a ride on the tractors, it was now back to the map which is helpfully colour coded into recommended rides for ages. We headed to the mini adventures area and worked our way through a host of rides including the spinning teacups (brilliant for both kids), the Vintage Car Rally (we ditched the buggy and all four of us got on) and the wave rider.

Buggies can be kept by entrances to rides so it means the toddlers don’t always have to miss out, there’s also plenty of parkland to enjoy and there really is something for all ages.

My husband couldn’t bear to leave without an adrenalin hit so he shot off for a blast on the Eagle’s Claw. Like I said, something for everyone.