Tag: Leeds

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Otley Chevin for families

Posted on | by Rachel (Muddy Boots Mummy) | Leave a Comment on Otley Chevin for families
otley-chevin-maze

As a family with primary school-aged children, we love enjoying a local walk and the views and countryside in Wharfedale are breathtaking. After launching Wharfedale & Craven Mumbler, the hyper-local parenting community, 3 years ago, we have done plenty of exploring of the local area. One of our favourite places is Otley Chevin– there is so much to see and explore there. 

The Chevin is situated on the outskirts of Otley. It’s one of our regular go-to places to visit with the children, who can enjoy following a trail, going off the path to explore the forest and build dens, take in some local history and even enjoy the dry stone wall maze! Whatever the weather, the Chevin has something to offer. The tracks are steep in places so a carrier is advised for little ones and it can get a little muddy – but which kid doesn’t love a muddy puddle to splash in?? Read about the great choices of walks for families on Otley Chevin here.

If you would like to find more ideas to entertain the kids in Wharfedale & Craven please visit our website, follow us on Facebook or Instagram, and join the Facebook Chat group for local parents and carers.

Roundhay Park’s Adventure Trails

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The beautiful Roundhay Park in North Leeds is a much-frequented spot among many local families. A family trip there often includes a visit to the play area, a stop at the café and a stroll around the lake. But there is SO MUCH more to see!

A great way of seeing some of the hidden gems of the park is by following the Friends of Roundhay Park Adventure Trails. There are two trails, one for pre-schoolers and one for primary school children, but each trail is split into sections so you can do as much or as little as you want!

The trails are a great way to engage the children with the fun of walking, as well as introducing you to areas of the park you may not have known about before. The trails can be downloaded for free from the website, though they do ask for a donation to support the charity’s running costs.

North Leeds is a wonderful place for families, with plenty of things to do and lots of activities and events going on! To find out more, check out North Leeds Mumbler, a go-to parenting website that has all the information you might need. You can also follow the news page on Facebook, Instagram, or join the North & South Leeds Mumbler Facebook Chat Group for local parents and carers.

Buggy-friendly Temple Newsam, Leeds

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As a family with two young children, we’re always on the look out for places to go that really make you feel that you’ve done a ‘proper’ walk, but are also buggy friendly! Aaagggghhhh they are definitely few and far between, but we are persisting with our pursuit, and you can find descriptions on many of my walks on my Muddy Boots Muddy site.

Temple Newsam Estate in Leeds is one of our favourite places to go for a family day out. As well as the playground, Home Farm and cafe (which makes it great for children) the walking is brilliant- and largely undiscovered!

The Temple Newsam Trailway takes you on a seven mile route around the estate, but for a buggy-friendly 3km version, walk from the house and take a short circular route that brings you back in the estate at the back of the ponds. This is a walk that we’ve done with our own buggy many times during the drier months- but please be aware that the track can get VERY muddy in winter and after rain. You’ll get lovely views up to the House, pass below the Little Chapel and see some of the more unexplored areas of the estate. Read more about this walk here.

Family adventures at Meanwood Park

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This Meanwood Park and the Hollies walk is sponsored by Weetwood Hall Estate

As a mum, I love getting out for walks. In fact, I thank walking for saving my sanity when I had a new, colicky baby. Walking has no rules, it can be as far or as challenging as you want it to be and you can do it anywhere! This walk is in Leeds, a fantastic place to visit without even leaving the city!

Meanwood Park, in North Leeds, is one of my absolute favourite places to visit as a family. It’s not at all what you think of as a park, especially being so close to Leeds centre (but does have a good cafe and playground if that’s your thing). It has little streams and bridges, fabulous woodland and LOTS of opportunities for little explorers to, well, explore! We love this route which is just over 3km and takes you up to the Hollies.

Luckily I’ve found that a lot of new parents share my love for getting out with their babies and children on walks. My Muddy Boots Mummy blog has a range of suggestions of family-friendly Yorkshire walks, and has led to the Muddy Boots Baby Walking Group, who meet weekly to go on walks with our babies! Meanwood Park is a favourite of ours because it is so accessible to families! We’re always on the look out for new friends, so feel free to join in!

Useful links

Visit Leeds

A nature reserve, marina, canal and river in Leeds!

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canal-path-at-lemonroyd-marina

As a family with small children, we love walks that offer a bit of everything, with lots to see and explore. One of the main reasons that I wanted to suggest this place to all you walk-lovers, is that it’s such a great example of the diverse environment in Leeds. Families don’t need to travel to the Yorkshire wilderness to enjoy some fantastic nature and beautiful walking.

Lemonroyd Marina, is in Woodlesford to the South East of Leeds City Centre. It’s one of our regular places to visit with our children, who can enjoy a walk down to Woodlesford Lock (to meet the Guffalo) or cross the River Aire to take a circular route around RSPB St Aidan’s, with up to 12km of trails as well as the transpennine trail. In dry weather the tracks are great for pushchairs, but be aware that they can get a little muddy in places. Read about walking from Lemonroyd Marina here.

The canal at Lemonroyd Marina (L), and RSPB St Aidan’s (R)

South Leeds Mumbler is a website that provides loads of ideas and support for local parents; everything from children’s classes to days out and activities when your stuck at home. We’ve got loads of walks around South, East and West Leeds for families with children to enjoy, have a look at all our suggestions here.

Find the Gruffalo on the Leeds Canal

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Sometimes it’s prettttttttttty difficult to get your children out on walks. My first tip is NEVER call it a walk; it’s an adventure, it’s going exploring, it’s finding some sticks or collecting treasures….. or in the case of this walk, it’s going to see the Gruffalo!

Woodlesford Lock is a fantastic place to visit with children. There’s about a mile between the lock and the next one towards the City Centre (Fishpond Lock), and here you can cross the canal to return on the other side. You can ramp up the excitement by getting the train to Woodlesford Train Station (just 12 minutes by train from Leeds) and the canal is just a few hundred metres down the hill.

But the real attraction here (yes, on top of the locks, the canal boats, the ducks to feed, and the train journey) is the collection of character carvings that can be discovered. The Gruffalo takes a starring role, but you can also find Olaf, Stick Man, Donkey and more! Read more about this lovely walk here.