It’s been a while since we’ve visited Cunningar Loop, but we finally made it back today! 🌳 The weather was perfect for a stroll, and it was so nice to reconnect with the natural beauty of the area. The boys had a blast running around, exploring, and spotting wildlife. We even managed to enjoy a little picnic in the sunshine.
What a day! I’m absolutely knackered after trying to keep up with this pair. 10,200 steps later and I’m definitely feeling it! Balloch Country Park at Loch Lomond was gorgeous, but while they were zooming around on their scooters, I was doing my best to keep up on foot. 😅 We had a blast though, with stunning views and plenty of fresh air. Totally worth the sore legs! #BallochCountryPark #LochLomond #ScooterVsWalk
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Spent a lovely few hours down at Rouken Glen Park—perfect weather for a walk while the boys zipped around on their scooters. The sun was shining, spirits were high, and it felt so nice to just slow down and enjoy the day. We grabbed hot chocolates from the Boathouse Café and found a quiet spot by the pond to sit and soak it all in. Simple moments like these are the best.
Today’s trip took us to Carlisle, a city we’ve visited a few times before, but this time we decided to skip the usual visit to the Castle and explore a little more of the town instead.
We kicked off our adventure at Bitts Park, which is just behind the Castle. The boys were absolutely delighted when they saw the park—it’s a fantastic spot for families! The climbing frame with slides, the gym equipment, the flying fox, and even a water park made it a great place to let off some steam. We even had a picnic here, so we were able to fully enjoy the park for quite a while. If you’re ever in the area and looking for somewhere to keep the kids entertained, this park is definitely worth a visit.
After finally prising the boys away from the park, we strolled into the town center, passing a monument of Queen Victoria along the way. The monument is a nice historical touch to the walk, adding a bit of culture before we reached the heart of the town.
Once in the town center, we couldn’t resist a little break and stopped by a quaint square where we treated ourselves to a Costa—because sometimes, nothing beats a warm drink while watching the world go by. The boys also got a chance to spend some of their pennies in The Entertainer, which, as you can imagine, was a big hit.
Our final stop for the day was the Cathedral, a place we’ve always wanted to explore in more detail. It was as stunning as we remembered, and the boys enjoyed a treasure hunt inside, which kept them engaged while we wandered around. One of the most impressive sights was the sheer size of the organ—it was absolutely massive! We all agreed that it would have been amazing to hear it played, but even just admiring it from afar was a treat.
All in all, it was a lovely, relaxed day spent exploring a familiar city in a new way. Whether it’s the fun of Bitts Park, a quiet moment with a Costa, or the awe-inspiring beauty of the Cathedral, Carlisle proved once again to be a perfect spot for a family day out.
Today, we had planned to visit Stott Park Bobbin Mill, but when we arrived, we found out it was closed for conservation works and wouldn’t reopen until Wednesday. A bit of a bummer, but no problem—we whipped out the map and decided to head to Wray Castle, just a short drive away.
The road between the two destinations was a bit hairy, with some narrow, winding lanes, and we encountered a few tractors along the way. But the highlight? We met a sheep on the road, just casually strolling along. Welcome to the countryside!
When we finally arrived at Wray Castle, it was lovely. The castle had a Peter Rabbit adventure trail that the kids absolutely loved, along with activities like dress-up and crafts, including origami. There was also a table tennis and snooker table, which kept them entertained for a while. The castle’s dining room doubled as a place to eat your picnic, which was a nice touch.
However, we were a little disappointed by the lack of furniture and information about the castle’s history and what it would have been like when it was fully furnished. That said, the adventure playground across from the car park was amazing and definitely the highlight for the kids.
As National Trust members, we thought it was worth the visit, but with the cost being £25 for a family ticket and an additional £6.50 for parking (on top of entry), we’re not sure we’ll be back. The price felt a bit steep for what it offered.
Later that evening, we headed back to the chalet, where we played a game of Junior Cluedo. It was a tight competition, but David emerged victorious!
We ended the day with 5,788 steps on the clock. Not a bad day despite the detour!
The day started with the boys having a blast in the garden, and then we all gathered for a family game of cricket. Let’s just say I’m not the most skilled player, but I did manage to catch the ball and get David out—ha, victory for me! After our cricket fun, we headed to Jervaulx Abbey, which was only a mile away from the cottage. The Abbey is a beautiful ruin, and it was amazing to see the remaining fragments of the monastic buildings. It had such an impressive atmosphere, and we made sure to soak it all in.
Once we’d explored the Abbey, we found a perfect spot to have a picnic on the grounds. It was the ideal setting to relax and enjoy our lunch surrounded by history and beautiful scenery.
After our peaceful picnic, we headed to Brymor Ice Cream Parlour, which was just around the corner. The ice cream was made on-site, and let me tell you, it was incredibly tasty! I highly recommend the ginger ice cream—it was absolutely delicious. While there, we also visited the viewing platform to see the calves, and the boys had a great time playing in the outdoor and indoor play areas. It was a great stop and definitely one we’d recommend to everyone.
All in all, a perfect day spent with a mix of outdoor fun, history, and, of course, some of the best ice cream around!
Today’s adventure took us to Pateley Bridge, a charming little village nestled on the River Nidd, not far from Harrogate. We arrived around lunchtime and managed to snag some incredibly cheap parking at just £1.20 for 4 hours—what a bargain! The River was right there, so we grabbed our picnic lunch and a blanket, then headed off to find the perfect spot to relax. We stumbled upon a lovely area beside the Riverside Caravan Park, which turned out to be ideal for a peaceful lunch by the water.
After lunch, we went for a stroll along the river, and it was glorious! The scenery was beautiful, and we would have loved to walk further, but we hadn’t brought enough water with us and it was scorching hot, so we decided to save that for another day.
On our way back, we discovered a fantastic little park where the boys (and us) had a blast playing for a while. It helped burn off some energy (and left them a bit more tired—bonus!). We then wandered around the village and came across the Nidderdale Museum, which is housed in an old workhouse. The museum had loads of interesting local memorabilia, and for just £2 per adult, it was a bargain! We spent about an hour there, and I particularly enjoyed the coal mine tunnel exhibit. It was fascinating to see how life used to be in the area.
Before heading back to the cottage, we made a quick stop in Ripon for some shopping, and then the boys had even more fun playing in the garden back at the cottage.
All in all, a lovely day exploring a beautiful village, learning a bit of local history, and making some great memories!
Today, we decided to take a trip to two charming local towns—Leyburn and Bedale. When we arrived, we quickly realised that we’d actually visited both towns during our trip to Yorkshire back in October last year! Still, they’re such quaint and beautiful little villages that it was a pleasure to return.
The boys had a great time playing in the park behind Bedale Museum. It’s a lovely spot for kids to run around and burn off some energy, with lots of green space and fun little areas to explore. After letting the boys enjoy the park, we continued our journey and made a brief stop at Thornton Steward Reservoir on our way home. It’s a lovely spot, but word of advice: don’t wear sandals! The area is covered in sheep poo, so next time, we’ll be sure to bring trainers!
It was a relaxed and enjoyable day, revisiting some familiar spots and discovering a few new ones along the way. We’ll definitely return to these towns, but with the proper footwear next time!
Gilchrist Family Adventures 