Days out Northamptonshire - Country Parks

In Northamptonshire we are luckily enough to have 5 brilliant country parks to walk, cycle and play and hopefully tire out the kids.

Next time you are stuck for somewhere to go maybe check out one of these.  All country parks are open all day, every day.  Parking is £3.00 daily. Country parks annual car park passes are available.  The cost of an annual season ticket is £49.00 to cover all five parks or £36.00 for parking in one named park.

Sywell Country Park

Sywell has a beautiful reservoir to walk around, sand pit outdoor play area, woodland play area with tunnels/big slide and an indoor play area for the little ones which is attached to the case and open 10am to 3pm.

7:00am to 7:00pm daily (except Christmas Day)

Cycling is not permitted within Sywell Country Park

Pump House Cafe open daily (except Christmas Day

Brixworth Country Park

Brixworth sits beside Pitsford Reservoir and you regularly see boats sailing/canoes/windsurfing.  There's signposted easy walks, play area and cycle routes.  For the more active you can do the 7.5 mile Pitsford water trail.

• Free admission
• Free WiFi
• Cycle hire
• Willow Tree Café open 10am to 4.30 pm (5pm Saturday and Sunday)

Pitsford Cycle - Bike hire and shop

Irchester Country Park

Former Ironstone quarry with lovely walks around the trees, big play area,jungle parc high ropes and Narrow Guage Railway Musuem.

Free Admission but additional charge for high ropes

Quarrymans Rest Cafe open daily except Christmas Day

Jungle Parc Adventurer Course Price per child £14.00 (free for supervising adults)

Xplorer Course Price per person £20.00 (participants aged 10-adult) Family Ticket £70.00 for 4 participants.

Jungle Parc

Fermyn Woods Country Park

By Rockingham Forest this country park is slightly smaller with a great play area.

• Skylark Café - Open 10:00am to 4:45pm daily March to October    
• Open 11:00am to 3:00pm weekdays November to February
• Open 10:30am to 4:00pm weekends November to February 
• Toilets - Open 8:30pm to 5:30pm daily (except Christmas Day and New Year's Day

Barnwell Country Park

This country park is located in Nene Valley. 3 waterside trails, boules court, play area and lots of ducks to feed.

Toilets 8:30am to 6:00pm daily

Kingfisher Café open daily.  10am until 4pm weekdays, closes 5pm weekends.

Emma xxx
Life in the Mum's Lane

Crap I don't have time for!

Some mum's are uber organised. Some mum's are uber house proud.  Some mum's like me just think life is too short for perfection and crap I don't have time!

• Ironing - Just Urgh!!! I hate it.  I iron the bare minimum.  I'm a firm believer in hanging things up and the creases (might) fall out.

• Make up - Although I have been attempting to wear it slightly more often now I'm edging towards the big 40.  I just don't understand  mums who have time for a full face of make up every day! How do they do it?

• Exercise - I know I should make time but seriously I'd rather watch Youtube or catch up on some telly.

• People telling me what to eat - I hate the new craze for clean eating, 5:2 plans, Paleo diet, dairy free etc. Although the photos on Instagram look nice I don't like being told what to eat by mostly unqualified people.

• Hangovers - I'm seriously too old. The hangover can last longer than the drinking. Just blur!!!

• Rudeness - There's just no need. Smile. Say please and thank you.

• Homework Projects - I feel homework is less for the child and more for you. Well at least at primary school. If its a craft project my heart sinks.  In the last couple of years I've had to make a rainforest, fire engine, shoe, miniature garden and air raid shelter. Thank god for Google!

What crap don't you have time for?

Emma xxx