Six of the Best: Summer Days Out

The school summer holidays are fast approaching, which means parents need to be prepared. Here are half a dozen suggestions for fun days out, whether you have children or not. Words by Neil Hudson
The new Angry Birds Activity Park at Lightwater Valley Theme Park. PIC: Ben ParsonsThe new Angry Birds Activity Park at Lightwater Valley Theme Park. PIC: Ben Parsons
The new Angry Birds Activity Park at Lightwater Valley Theme Park. PIC: Ben Parsons

CAMP HILL ESTATE

NORTH YORKSHIRE

There aren’t many places where you can go quad biking, play footgolf, ride a Segway, explore a woodland kingdom, try glamping, go on a high ropes course or try your hand at an Olympic standard bobsleigh push start.

But the Camp Hill Estate, just off the A1 near Bedale, is one of those places.

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Entry starts at £5 per car, meaning the whole family (and the dog) can pile in and enjoy the great outdoors. Take a picnic or a barbecue and eat while the kids explore the woodland kingdom. Filled with slides, swings, a ropes course, climbing walls and even a giant treehouse.

SNOZONE

CASTLEFORD

In Castleford it snows all year round...Snozone, located inside the Xscape centre, is an outstanding all-weather attraction that promises to keep all generations entertained.

If you’ve always wanted to try snow sports or are looking to plan a skiing holiday then there is nowhere better to learn than Snozone.

Having taught 1.8 million people to ski and snowboard, their dedicated instructors will inspire you with confidence and have you skiing independently in no time.

It’s minus 5°C, so take warm clothes.

Snozone Jan/Feb Events & Special Invitation

 SnozoneFreestyle_portraitSnozone Jan/Feb Events & Special Invitation

 SnozoneFreestyle_portrait
Snozone Jan/Feb Events & Special Invitation SnozoneFreestyle_portrait

ANGRY BIRDS

LIGHTWATER VALLEY

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Lightwater Valley Theme Park is set in 175 acres of beautiful North Yorkshire countryside. Life-like dinosaurs greet visitors with roars and moving tails

and once inside, there’s a fantastically huge Angry Birds Activity Park - the UK’s largest.

Children can climb ladders, crawl through tunnels and whizz down the slides.

There’s also tractor rides and spinning teacups and a wave rider.

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There’s also plenty of parkland to enjoy and there really is something for all ages, including the gravity defying Eagle’s Claw for big kids.

WENTWORTH CASTLE

SOUTH YORKSHIRE

WITH beautiful tranquil gardens, 500 acres of landscaped parkland, a deer park and a stunning Grade I listed mansion, Wentworth Castle Gardens are one of South Yorkshire’s best kept secrets.

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Autumn woodland garden country 
Thorp Perrow Arboretum, Bedale, North Yorkshire
Marcus Harpurtperrow134
Autumn woodland garden country 
Thorp Perrow Arboretum, Bedale, North Yorkshire
Marcus Harpur
tperrow134 Autumn woodland garden country Thorp Perrow Arboretum, Bedale, North Yorkshire Marcus Harpur

Located South West of Barnsley, just two miles from junction 37 on the M1, the gardens are an oasis of calm filled with fantastic flowers and plants, whose colours come to life during the months of March and July. With more than a dozen different gardens and areas to explore, including a Victorian flower garden.

THORPE PERROW

BEDALE

With one of the finest collections of trees and shrubs in the country, a spectacular flock of birds of prey and a mob of friendly and inquisitive meerkats, Thorp Perrow Arboretum is the ultimate family day out. Situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, not far from the pretty market town of Bedale, this 100-acre arboretum houses 66 champion trees and five national collections, as well as beautiful woodland walks, nature trails, and a fantastic children’s play area, making it the perfect place for kids to let off a bit of steam. Don’t miss the birds of prey and mammal centre.

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