Beautiful green space close to Hebden Bridge town centre and the canal.
There’s an outdoor gym, children’s playground, a skate park, bowling greens, football pitch, tennis court, basketball court and a cafĂ©.
It’s lovely to walk on the adjacent canal towpath to watch the narrowboats sail by.
Calder Homes Park, New Road, Hebden Bridge
Whether it’s walking through the 33 hectares of mature oak and beech woodland, picnicking on the grass or playing in the fabulous children’s play area, there’s plenty in Centre Vale Park to help you enjoy the great outdoors.
You’ll find all-weather 5-a-side football pitches, bowling greens, a skate park, a cycle way, an outdoor gym, a conservatory and an animal house, which is open every day, between 10am and 4pm.
The play area includes a zip wire, a space net, an inclusive climbing unit and a fully inclusive roundabout.
Centre Vale Park, Burnley Road, Todmorden.
Calderdale Council maintains 114 equipped play areas throughout Calderdale, ranging from playgrounds to new adventure play areas, multi-use games areas (MUGAS) and skate parks.
To find one close to you, log on to: www.calderdale.gov.uk
Nice park with good green spaces to run about in and a play area. There’s also a skate park, a bowling green, tennis court, basketball court and a large stone war memorial.
Crow Wood Park, Rochdale Road, Sowerby Bridge.
This park provides a lovely space for walking, feeding the ducks, picnicking and even a paddle in the stream! There are two car parks, both are free and have plenty of space. Onsite cafe and ice cream also available.
Tel: 01132 610374
Address: Otley Rd, Bramhope, LS16 8BQ
Beautiful park with a paddling pool, just half a mile away from Huddersfield town centre.
There are two lovely children’s play areas with picnic tables, a skate park, tennis court, two cafĂ©s, a lake and a fabulous paddling pool to cool off in during the summer months.
A miniature steam train chugs along a track during weekends and bank holidays, and there are horse and carriage rides and children’s rides (weekends, bank holidays and school holidays, check before visiting).
Other park activities include Nordic walking, exercises for new mums, drama classes for pre-schoolers and the 5K Parkrun.
This Green Flag park is a hub of the local community, with plenty to do and a variety of events through the year.
There’s a fenced in children’s play area, two beautiful lakes to walk around, a bowling green, sports pitch and free exercise circuit (trim trail) for children and adults
Harold Park, Park Road, Bradford, BD12.
This park is open all year round and has a play area, outdoor gym, sunken garden, walled gardens and café. There is also a water play area open April to October. Visit the Jungle Experience, for just £1pp, to see botanical gardens, plants, butterflies and animals.
Tel: 01422 365631
Address: Manor Heath Rd, Halifax, HX3 0EB
Made up of Northcliffe Woods and Norman Raw Playing Fields, Northcliffe Park has something for everybody.
There is a fenced-in play area, a bowling green, tennis courts (if the bowls hut is shut and the courts are not in use by the tennis club, anyone can play for free), a sports pitch and flower gardens.
Northcliffe Park, Bradford Road, Shipley.
Oakwell Hall dates back to 1583 and is now run as a living museum, furnished as the Batt family home in the 1690’s.
There are restored gardens, a visitor centre, a gift shop, cafe, nature trail and picnic sites.
There is also a lovely park with a good, fenced-in children’s play area and a fun slide.
Oakwell Hall and Country Park, Nutter Lane, Birstall.
Located in the heart of a conservation area, People’s Park has been revitalised and restored with new facilities.
There’s a children’s play area, visitor’s centre, bandstand, water features, pavilion and public toilets, and disabled access is provided through the college entrance.
Events are put on through the year, including brass bands and gardening workshops.
It’s also one of the best surviving examples of a Joseph Paxton Park. Created in 1857, it was donated to the people of Halifax by Sir Francis Crossley, and has been awarded the Green Flag status.
People’s Park, King Cross Street, Halifax. Phone 01422 284428.
Recently restored with money from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Roberts Park boasts a great new play area and skate park, as well as a bandstand where concerts are staged throughout the summer months.
There is also a café with seating inside and out, with facilities for parents of young children and people with disabilities.
Roberts Park, Higher Coach Road, Saltaire.
Roundhay Park is one of the most popular parks in Leeds, due to its size, grandeur and array of things to see and do.
As well as over 700 acres of rolling parkland, lakes (great for duck feeding and puddle jumping in the mud on the lakeside path), woodlands and formal gardens, there are also several cafes, two playgrounds, the popular visitor attraction Tropical World and much more.
Parking is available at both the upper and lower parts of the park.
The park is great for scooters and bike riding and there is also a train (weekends and bank holidays) which takes you from the upper and lower parts of the park for ÂŁ2 a person.
Roundhay Park, Mansion Lane, off Princes Avenue, LS8 2HH
A large park just outside of Halifax town centre, Savile Park boasts lovely views, good paths and the walking is fairly flat.
Often used for family events, such as the circus and the Halifax Agricultural Show.
Savile Park, Skircoat Moor Lane, Halifax.
As well as being one of West Yorkshire’s most important heritage sites, the Shibden Estate is full of fun to keep all the family entertained.
The beautifully restored grounds, commissioned by Anne Lister, are wonderful to walk through and there is the tranquil Wilderness Garden, the cascade and pools, restored tunnels within the terrace walls that lead through to Cunnery Wood, the site of the old kitchen garden.
There’s a lake where you can feed the ducks (duck food sold in the cafĂ©) or hire a rowing boat, pitch and putt and depending on the season, a miniature railway and a land train (charges apply).
The kids can burn off steam in the playground and there is a café for refreshments afterwards.
There’s also a permanent dry stone walling exhibit.
Inside Shibden Hall, which dates back to 1420, you can enjoy a fascinating journey through the lives of the people who lived and worked there, including Anne Lister, whose life is soon to be explored in a new BBC drama written by Sally Wainwright. There is a 17th century barn and workshops with a carriage collection and displays including a blacksmiths, coopers, wheelwrights and saddlers.
Special events run throughout the year.
Shibden Park, Godley Lane, Halifax. Shibden Hall, Lister’s Road, Halifax. Phone: 01422 352246.
Explore the woodland paths and pond and enjoy the playground, sports field and bowling green. There is also a Gothic drinking fountain.
Parkrun takes place here every Saturday at 9am.
Shroggs Park, Lee Mount Road, Halifax.
The St Ives Estate is a fabulous free day out, a short drive from Calderdale and a huge favourite with my mini Mumblers.
Made up of a gorgeous country park with woodlands, open moor, a wildflower meadow and paths throughout, it’s easy to spend the day here, parking is free and there are plenty of places to picnic.
The playground is fabulous (sand play, large climbing frames, a rope bridge, tyre swings and natural elements such as rocks, fallen trees and a dry river bed), and from there it’s a short walk to Coppice Pond, which is actually more like a lake. There’s a bird hide where you can sit and watch the birds and squirrels, and you can feed the ducks with duck food bought from the cafe. It’s great for riding a bike or scooter around too.
We had a pram with us so didn’t really venture into the woodland, but a friend tells me her girls love exploring the woods and having a paddle.
The ladies in the visitor centre are lovely and have some fun trail leaflets to hand out. My kids left with a handful of conkers too!
St Ives Estate, Harden, BD16 1AT.
Lovely grassland with mature trees (gorgeous during Cherry Blossom season) and a good children’s play area, a basketball hoop and War Memorial.
The Stray, Wakefield Road, Lightcliffe.
Close to the centre of Brighouse, Wellholme Park boasts beautiful floral displays, a children’s play area with a double web net that stands at over 6m high, a skate park, outdoor gym and a cafĂ©.
You can also play crazy golf, hire one of the four tennis courts, or play on one of the bowling greens.
Depending on the time of year, you might see bluebells, wild garlic, tree creepers and herons.
You could also bring a picnic and explore the natural woodlands, or follow the Clifton beck path.
Wellholme Park, Bradford Road, Brighouse
