Visiting Formby and The Red Squirrel Nature Reserve

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We have been trying to make the most of lockdown by making sure that we get out at the weekend for some much-needed fresh air. We have a huge list of places that we want to visit in the North West For some scenic walks. A few weeks ago we decided to head to Freshfields which is also known as Formby National Trust Red Squirrel Reserve.

It’s been a while since we visited the squirrel reserve but it's probably one of our favourites and we have been visiting since both John and I were little.  It was once home to lots and lots of red squirrels but as the years have gone on there are less and less and unfortunately we didn't see any on our visit this time. It's a nice scenic walk and perfect for some fresh sea air. 

What To Expect At The Red Squirrel Reserve, L37 1LJ

There are some walking trails to enjoy at The Red Squirrel Reserve including

Formby Red Squirrel Walk

​Explore beautiful woodlands surrounding Formby in Merseyside, home to the rare native red squirrel. This walk is mostly covered by trees so if you choose to visit on a wet and rainy day like we did you won’t feel the rain at all.

There is lots of ground to cover and so much for little ones to explore. There are lots of hills to climb and run down and large open spaces perfect for den building.  We even found a tree swing someone had made which was lots of fun. 

Asparagus Walk

Have a wander through the crop fields and discover how a spring vegetable helped shaped Formby as it is today. There are lots of information points along the way to read about Formby Asparagus.

Over The Dunes

The Squirrel Reserve is a short walk away from the coastline and just over the dunes you will find Formby beach which is perfect for a nice stroll or even a paddle in the sea.

Anything Else?

The National Trust Squirrel Reserve can be reached on foot or by car. If you choose to use the National Trust carpark you will be asked to pay £7.50 if you are not a National Trust member.

Toilet facilities are open every day till  3pm however they are closed at 12:30 for a 30 minute deep clean.

There is an ice cream van selling ice cream and refreshments just located by the toilets. Card is accepted however due to poor wifi signal I would recommend taking cash too. There is also a pop-up trailer serving hot and cold drinks and some light snacks including cakes.

If you are heading to the beach upon arrival please take note of the tide times as it can come in very quickly and you do not want to be surrounded by water.

The Red Squirrel Reserve is very popular with local schools so there are lots of picnic benches and family friendly areas situated around the reserve and clearly signposted.  

Please ensure you follow social distancing rules & Government guidelines and if the reserve is busy on arrival, please consider leaving and returning at a later date. 

Check for local lockdowns / travel restrictions before visiting anywhere. 

Always check with the venue direct as things may have changed after this post was published. 

What Is Close By?

Antony Gormleys Another Place (The Iron Men), L22 1RR

Another Place is a piece of modern sculpture by Sir Antony Gormley located at Crosby Beach in Merseyside, England. It consists of 100 cast iron figures facing towards the sea.

Southport Pier, PR8 1QX

Not only does Southport have 22 miles of coast but also boasts the Grade II listed Southport Pier, the oldest iron pier in the country, standing for over 150 years.

Further Away

Blackpool Promenade, FY1 5BB

There’s nothing quite like a day at the seaside, and Blackpool is one of the best beach resorts you will find in the UK.

Speke Hall Estate and Gardens, L24 1XD

Speke Hall Gardens and Estate is a National Trust property just outside Liverpool with lots of walking trails, adventure playground and beautiful views of the River Mersey.

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Family Walk At Rivington Pike

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Sometimes the best thing to do at the moment with all the restrictions and constant change to what we can and can't do is to find somewhere new to explore and have a day outdoors. We had heard about Rivington Pike a few times before so after some research about the type of walk we could expect we headed out on another adventure. 

To start your walk, you can park at either The Great Barn House Cafe, or on the road up to Rivington Hall Barn. We parked further away at the Barn House Cafe, as the toilets and availability of parking suited us better. This made our walk a little longer but it was good to be able to get freshened up before we started. From there you walk up to Rivington Hall Barn and your walk starts here. 

There are multiple paths you can choose to start with, however we followed the signposts pointing towards Rivington Pike which took us around the back of the Barn, past a small waterfall and then up towards Breres Meadow, which has a well maintained path and the remains of a long dead tree that looked fun to climb on. 

As you follow the path you will be heading towards the Terraced Gardens which hide a lot of different areas to explore.  There are maps dotted around the Terraced Gardens so that you can decide which of the areas to explore and plan your route accordingly. 

Within the Terraced Gardens there are many 'crazy paving footpaths' that lead to Man Made Caves, The Japanese Gardens, 2 Summer houses and the ruins of a stone Bothy - where the servants used to live. They are quite spread out, and you will need some time to be able to visit all in one day.  On the outskirts of the terraced gardens there is also Lever Bridge and Pigeon Tower that are also worth a look, and we plan to visit again shortly to be able to pick up the parts that we missed this time around.

Once you break out of the gardens the Pike will be visible, and again there are a number of routes you can take depending on where you come out of the gardens.  We ended up at the far right end of the gardens and our route to the pike from here was quite long with the path more rocky than previous paths had been which made the walk more of a challenge. The path took us out past Bolton Wanderers ground and some great views of the local area, and then swept back round to the left and up to the Pike. 

Once at the top it was noticeable that the temperature was lower and the wind stronger. It was also very busy at the top with lots of people having made the journey enjoying the views and sitting on one of the four benches to have lunch. 

We took a different route down which took us past the Summer Houses and Lever Bridge. You could climb into the gaps in the bridge which was good for Little J who wanted to get as high as he could. We then headed down towards Lower House Car Park, which always has an Ice Cream Van there, to reward Little J for his efforts.  

From there it was a short walk back to Rivington Hall Barn and then back to the Great Barn House Cafe and Car Park. Overall the walk took us around 4 hours, with a stop for lunch at the top included in this time.  It is one of those places that you would get to know the more you visit so you can expect the walk time to reduce depending on the route you choose and how well you get to know the area. 

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Visiting Dream, Sutton Manor

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For the past 11 years we have travelled up and down the M62 for both business and pleasure and every time we pass 'The big white head' I always say we must go and visit and see what it is all about, but we never had until last weekend. We are always looking for ideas for walks in the North West so we headed to Sutton Manor. The big white head which is actually called Dream is situated in the old Sutton Manor Colliery grounds and was created in 2009.

Dream is located in Sutton Manor, St Helens and was the result of St Helens entering Channel 4's 'The Big Art Project' in 2008. Artist Jaume Plensa visited the site and had a vision of a piece of art coming out from the ground. He decided on a neck and head of a woman with her eyes closed as if she is meditating. He later decided to base the sculpture on a 9 year old girl representing the idea of 'future'.

Sutton Manor Woodland is very popular with dog walkers and visitors to Dream. There is a car park and plenty of road parking surrounding the area. 

When entering Sutton Manor via the main entrance sign posts for Dream are dotted along the pathways however if you wish to explore the woodlands and circular paths you can choose a variety of ways. 

Some of the paths are a little steep and not very well surfaced however most of the routes are accessible. 

The Dream Statue is located in the middle of the woodlands and is very hard to miss. Other than visiting the statue there are no other facilities at Sutton Manor Woodland but it was a very enjoyable walk. 

Facts about Dream

Designed by world-famous, award-winning Catalan artist Jaume Plensa

Standing on a plinth, Dream is 20 metres, 66 feet high and is fifty times life size

The sculpture weighs 373 tonnes and sits on the site of Sutton Manor Colliery

Made from brilliant white pre-cast concrete with Spanish dolomite, the whitest marble

The plinth in the shape of a miner’s tally is 17 metres in diameter, made of 36 units

The casting of Dream by Evans Concrete of Derbyshire took a total of sixty days

A total of 6160 man hours were spent in constructing the sculpture

54 different panels each weighing 9 tonnes comprise Dream’s head

The supporting piles go 38 metres underground, nearly twice Dream’s height

An estimated 55 million vehicles pass Dream each year on the M62

We really enjoyed our visit to Dream however I'm not sure whether we would visit again nor would I recommend travelling a great distance to visit. I think if the woodlands itself was to undergo a makeover to include maybe a cafe, toilet facilities, children's play area and other facilities to make a trip worthwhile then I do think it would attract more visitors per year. 

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Go Ape At Delamere Forest

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Little J has been asking us for weeks if we could book to do Go Ape. Obviously with the situation at the moment we have been putting it off however over the past few weeks we have been out and about more so last week we booked to go on a Tree Top Adventure at Go Ape, Delamere Forest. 

We pre booked our tickets online which is advisable as it was almost full. The timed slot we chose was the only one that day that could accommodate us all. 

We arrived about 15 minutes before our time and were quickly checked in, given our wristbands and shown the way to the Tree Top Adventure Course. 

The Tree Top Adventure Course is suitable for both adults and children and lasts 1 hour. 

Staff lay out harnesses on the floor for your party and ask you to step in to them however they were on hand to help if needed. Once the boys were in their harnesses they were shown the demo area for a safety briefing. 

The demo area is a small platform which gives you an idea on how to walk with your harness attached at all times. The boys were told that there is no more than one adult and one child allowed on an obstacle at any one time and only 3 people on each podium in between the obstacles. 

There are two courses within the tree top adventure. Course 1 and Course 2, you can choose to do either or both depending on how much time you have left. 

Once the safety briefing was done they were free to head up in to the trees. They chose course 1 first. I stayed safe on the ground below watching them as they took on the obstacles. It is actually really high but they looked liked they were having lots of fun. 

You are advised to wear gloves. We brought our own. Its protection for your hands as you are attached to a metal wire which you glide your safety harness belt across as you move. 

The course took them approx 15 minutes and at the end there is a zip wire that brings them back to the ground. This was definitely a highlight. 

You can go around the courses as many times as you want within your 1 hour time slot. Course 1 is a little tricky at times but they loved it. Little J was unsure about course 2 as it has more wobbly obstacles so they stuck with course 1, maybe next time!

I wasn't worried about little J being up so high as I knew he had his brother and dad up there with him to help if he needed it. While they were up there a young boy with his brother started to cry, he wanted to get down however you can't once you are up there you have to keep going. 

A member of staff was soon up next to him and was really good with him encouraging him to keep going and finish the course with the staff member behind him. 

If you are spectating there are plenty of benches underneath the course for you to sit at. With regards to social distancing it was quite hard on the ground as people were walking around, watching and taking photographs of their children or family but as long as you try your best then you should be okay.

After the boys had finished their harnesses were popped over the fence and sprayed with anti bac.

The Tree Top Adventure course cost us £19 each for both adults and children. Time slots run every 15 minutes from 10am-4:15pm

It is worth noting that Go Ape, Delamere Forest has it's own car park and you pay at a machine. It only takes cash, there are no card payments. 

There is a toilet block in the car park however this was closed. The nearest toilets were in the Station cafe about 5 minutes walk away however to use the toilets you do have to be a paying customer. We bought some take out drinks after using the toilets.  

The boys had a great time and I would definitely recommend it.

Go Ape have a range of courses and sites throughout the UK. Have a read about the Go Ape Treetop Challenge at Bedgebury

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Michelle

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Play Session At Legoland Discovery Centre, Manchester

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We have been Merlin pass holders for years now and I actually can’t remember when we didn’t own annual passes. We visit Alton Towers the most throughout the year however as there are more attractions now in the North we can now choose from the Tower, the Sea Life centre and Madame Tussaud’s in Blackpool and the Legoland Discovery Centre and Sea Life Centre in Manchester.

We have been to the Legoland Discovery Centre many times in the past. It is in the Trafford Centre which is just outside of Manchester City centre. Last week we visited for the first time since lockdown and if I am honest it was our favourite visit to the centre by far.




The Legoland Discovery Centre is working on two play sessions per day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each session runs for approximately two hours and has to be pre-booked




We arrived 10 minutes before our afternoon session began and there was quite a queue as everyone was getting their tickets checked and also their temperature. Once inside we were given the rules of how the two hours play session work. As you enter the main part of the attraction you are encouraged to go on the ride Kingdom Quest. The ride is closed at approximately 1 hour after the session begins allowing everyone to take a turn on the ride.




Kingdom Quest is a small ride inside the centre. The ride takes you around the kingdom and every now and then stops in front of a large screen where are you then pick up your gun and shoot at the screen to score points and try and save the princess. The duration of the ride is probably less than five minutes long but lots of fun.



Next we headed into Miniland which was unusually quiet. Miniland is a smaller version of the Miniland at Legoland Windsor. It is made up of attractions from the North West. The attractions are made out of Lego such as a football stadium, horse racing stand, Blackpool promenade and Alton Towers.




The boys got to play on the football mini game, watch oblivion at Alton Towers and see Blackpool turn from light to darkness.




After a quick toilet break we then decided to pay for the boys to go on the VR attraction. It costs £5 per person unless you are an annual pass holder and it will then cost £2.50 each. The boys seemed to enjoy the VR experience however it was less than two minutes long so at £5 per person it seems quite expensive.




If you have been to Legoland Discovery Centre before you will know that the main area is for Lego building, especially cars. This Area is still available however you are given your own bag of Lego bricks which stay with you throughout the session. So you can still enjoy making and racing cars however as it’s your own bricks there is no cross contamination. Once you finish you hand them back and you receive a pop badge. 




Other attractions available are the Ninjago climbing wall, Merlins Apprentice ride, the 4D cinema and the café.




Whilst at the centre it was so easy to enjoy the attractions and building without it being overcrowded which it has been many times in the past. For us it was definitely more enjoyable as we where building. We had our own space, own lego bricks, and the queues for the rides and the Ninjago wall where short. 




The Ninjago soft play and the toddler play area towards the back of the centre are closed for now and also the Forest Pursuit electric car ride.

Towards the end of our session we headed to the café for a quick drink and snack before heading home.




I would definitely recommend heading to the Legoland discovery Centre in Manchester this summer.Two hours was plenty of time to enjoy all the attractions and have a good building session too. Having the space to play and build without lots of kids running round made it more enjoyable. Masks have to  be worn inside the Trafford Centre however once inside the Legoland discovery you can take your mask off should you wish. You have to put the mask back on as you exit through the gift shop at the end of your session. 

Overall, we enjoyed this more than any time we have been before. The social distancing requirements have made the attraction a more relaxing environment for all. 

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Michelle

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Eleven Tips For Visiting Tatton Park

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For the past few weeks we have been wanting to plan a day out rather than just brief visits to the park or waterfront. As the lockdown has eased a little, going somewhere a little further is now acceptable however we are still nervous about heading out to more public places. Obviously the further you travel the more you have to plan as you aren't just around the corner from home.

I think for us trying to get back to some kind of normality is going to help us get over this anxiousness we all have about public spaces. After a lot of searching online I hit a brick wall. Everywhere looked so busy on Social Media and I didn't really want to travel somewhere only to find it was overcrowded and we all felt uncomfortable and had to come home.

Last week Tatton Park popped up confirming it was open. We love Tatton Park and the first thing I think of is 'lots of space'. Tatton Park is huge and I felt pretty confident that even if it was extremely busy we would be able to social distance and enjoy it.

To help you plan your visit I wanted to share with you some tips and thoughts about Tatton Park.

1. Tatton Park opens at 10am but we didn't arrive till about 11:30am and the queue to enter the park was very busy. We entered the park via the Knutsford Gate and we had to queue for about 10 - 15 mins on the road outside before turning in to the park. Throughout our visit there was a steady flow of cars entering so I think it will be generally busy no matter what time of day depending on the weather.

2. There is an entry fee for cars and motorbikes of £8 even if you are a National Trust Member. Blue badge holders get 50% discount on parking. Walkers and Cyclists enter for free.

3. The car park was very busy but there were two members of staff directing cars to available spaces.

4. Take a picnic. We took along our picnic and picnic blanket to enjoy our lunch on the grass. The Stables restaurant is open Weds-Sunday for take away only between 10-30-4:30 however it closes between 1:30-2:30pm for cleaning. It looked very busy with people waiting outside as I assume only so many are allowed in at each time. Taking a picnic would save you queuing.

5. The grounds are huge and there is so much space to be socially distanced from others however you may struggle to find a spot that isn't covered in sheep poo! I'm guessing as they have been closed for so long the animals have just had all the fields and grass area to themselves so the amount of poo on the grass was crazy. We did manage to find a poo free spot big enough for our blanket but not much else.

6. The toilets are open which is one of the reasons we chose Tatton Park.  For the ladies 6 women can be inside the toilets at any one time and the mens is 4. It is a one in one out system with a door to enter and another to leave. There is plenty of hand gel outside and lots of staff instructing you when you can enter and reminding you to put on hand gel. Inside the ladies there was a toilet then the next two were closed off and so on, the same for the sinks. Knowing you can go the toilet obviously makes it much more enjoyable for a day out especially with the kids.

7. Enjoy an ice cream. Inside the courtyard there is a tuck shop that was open selling ice creams. Everyone queued leaving the 2m apart and there was a nice selection of lolly ices and ice creams to choose from.

8. The garden shop and gift shop were open when we visited and had a social distance queuing system outside.

9. Just to add the farm, hall and adventure play area are closed at the moment. This may change in coming weeks so keep an eye on the website for updates.

10. Check out the 'What's On' section of the website as there are lots of trail and family friendly activities to get involved in throughout the year. Percy The Park Keep - Secret Path Trail is available until 13th June 2021 in the Gardens. 

11. Have fun.

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Michelle

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Air Unlimited Liverpool

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Disclosure - We were invited to the relaunch of Air Unlimited. All thoughts, opinions and Photographs are our own. 

Over the past few years we have visited many trampoline and inflatable parks but last week we were invited to our first ever trampoline and inflatable park all under one roof at Air Unlimited

Air Unlimited has everything you want from a trampoline park. Lots of trampolines for bouncing fun, airbags and tumble tracks. The trampoline area is quite spacious and there are lots of trampolines to choose from.

Then you have the inflatable area. You can still enjoy lots of bouncing fun with the added bonus of tunnels, inflatable stairs to climb up and slides to whizz down on. 

Little J spent most of his time in the inflatable area. It's secluded away from the trampolines and once inside I couldn't really see him from the viewing area both on the mezzanine floor or on the ground however I would see him occasionally as he slid down the slide. 

Having both the trampolines and inflatables together is a great idea and neither area seemed overcrowded or busy. There was plenty of space and little J had a fantastic time. 

There are party rooms available too, so perfect for a child's birthday party and there is also a cafe upstairs which has a great selection of meals and snacks.

Our Giveaway is now closed.

Win A Family Pass to Air Unlimited Liverpool

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Michelle

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