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.
