California Country Park

Rain or shine, California Country Park is a firm favourite locally. In wellies and waterproofs, kids can spend many happy hours exploring the wetlands (on the walkway) or splashing in puddles.  The pathways have been built up in the last year and wading through flooded areas is no longer necessary (unless, of course, you want to!).  Puddles are particularly fun in mild frost when breaking the surface ice is irresistible! 

As you continue around the lake, you will find the huge rhododendron bushes which provide a natural climbing frame and base for adventure!

Your jungle adventures continue in the playground, complete with zip wire!  If the rain gets too much then you can always escape to the café and indoor play area. 

California comes into it’s own during the summer months when the paddling pool is available.  Entry is £1 per person and is a popular attraction.  You will find the lawn scattered with picnicking families and if all that isn’t enough, there even have events to keep you busy during the summer holidays.

Silchester Roman Walls and Amphitheatre

 

The amphitheatre and walls of Roman Silchester are open to visitors all year round. You can follow the wall around for approximately two miles and also take a small detour to the amphitheatre. Silchester is one of the best preserved Roman towns in Britain because of its late abandonment in the 5th century . (see map)

The central dig site is used by Reading University and not normally open to visitors. However, undergraduate students take up residence for 6 weeks a year and hold two open days. The days are aimed at anyone with an interest in the local archaeology and are particularly interesting for children.

An area is assigned for children to dig where they find tiles, parts of pots, even bones! They can even scrub the pieces clean and you might be surprised to see how keenly they can scrub and clean the finds! A skill that really ought to be helpful at home!
Tours of the site run regularly through the day – offering an incredible amount of insight and information by experts who have been back year after year. One of the biggest surprises may be how much iron age history is found in the area. Tours for children are also on offer, led by students. Some of the many finds are on show with experts on hand to explain their significance.

Children will be kept busy all day with craft activities, face painting and story-telling, which could more accurately be described as theatre – these myths were told so enthusiastically and children were encouraged to dress up and join in. Whenever, the storytime announcement was made, the children flocked to the incredible Jack who brought all the stories to life.

We made a full day of it, by taking a picnic and then, after 5 packed hours at the dig site, we walked to the amphitheatre and followed the wall back to the car park.  There are only two open days a year.  The next one is on 4th August.  Even without the open event, the walls and amphitheatre are well worth an afternoon. 

 

Natural History Museum

London might not be the first place you'd think of for a free day out.  However, entrance is free to the national museums and on Sunday you'll even find free street parking.

There is often a queue to at the entrance, but if you arrive early enough then you shouldn't be queuing for too long.  On our last visit somebody advised us to queue for the dinosaur section as early as possible and it really paid off, because this queue quickly becomes very long and I can imagine people have a very long wait to view this section.  The biggest attraction is the anamatronic T-Rex. It is very popular but quite frightening for some of the little ones.

Nest of velocoraptor eggs

The human body section is very hands-on.  You won't find time to get bored!  There just aren't enough hours to visit everything in one day.

There is always some sort of demonstration going on and staff at hand to explain anything!

Often there are activities for the children at weekend and in the holidays.  On this day the kids had a go at making models of the mammal fossils.  I was so impressed with their work that we took them home and framed them.

One of the best days out (free or not) you and your family can have!

Braywick Nature Reserve

The summer holidays are a great time to head down to Braywick Nature Reserve.  Between Maidenhead and junction 8/9 of the M4 - you can park at the visitors' centre, marked "V" on the map. Our copy of Kiddiwalks in Berkshire makes another appearance for a short walk introducing you to all the best bits of the  park.  Although the walk was only 1.5 miles, we did stay the whole afternoon.  The boys loved the play area, which is not to far to walk from the car park.

The visitors' centre is housed in the old stables and has displays and information on local wildlife and history. During the summer, there are many events which, when combined with the walk, park and a picnic can easily keep the family busy all day.

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Black Park Country Park

On the border of Berkshire and Bucks, Black Park is a huge area of forest, heathland, streams and adventure!

 

You can make the trip as energetic or laid back as you like. (see map)  If you just fancy a sit down while the kids let off steam then head straight across the lake to the huge adventure play area.  Parents can perch on a fallen log with a flask while the children play or make dens.

However, we headed out of the car park to the small kiosk for a quick lunch.  You can just as easily take a picnic and then leave the remains in the car while you head off down to the lake or along one of the many tracks through the woods.

The woods are a natural playground and my boys can (and did) spend hours playing armies, pixies or any number of other adventures.

Some areas look so enchanted, you can't help but imagine some kind of fairy story unfolding whenever you turn your back!  We didn't walk far enough for a glimpse of Pinewood Studios, but next time we will.  As far as I know, there's not much to see, but it's got to be worth a peek!

Then we spotted the stream and how we regretted not taking wellies!  That's another one for next time too.

And who could resist climbing along, over and through all the fallen trees!  This day was one huge adventure!

We followed the stream all the way back to the lake.

Then into the playground.  It's hard to decide if the playground is in the woods, or the woods in the playground!  So many things to play on, including more trees (these are also very useful for parents to sit on!) and a lot of den building.  We stayed until my boys actually told me they were tired - which is really saying something.  We passed a large cafe selling delicious smelling meals and colourul ice creams.  The boys were so tired, we managed to whizz past this without too much protest.  Maybe another one for next time!

South Hill Park Arts Centre

South Hill Park in Bracknell has benefitted from a National Lottery funded project which has brought huge improvements to grounds.  If you haven’t visited in the last two years then you may be surprised! (see map) The mansion now stands proud with an extended terrace and paved area to the rear.  The rear entrance is no longer overgrown but has smart low walls and white paving making a much more welcoming walk as you approach the terrace.

The New Terrace

 

South Lake in April

The play area is no longer recognisable and if you’re children are over 7, they may be disappointed.  The climbing frames and roundabout have been ripped out and replaced by a much more artsy themed area suitable for toddlers.  Take your bucket and spade for the sandpit.

Nature trails now wind their way through the woods – which have also been tidied up.  Trails across the road lead to a bridge over the wetlands which are now looking very attractive.  If you continue up the hill and through the trees you will find a park with mud ramps, great for adventurous BMXers. 

As you head back towards the wetlands, you can continue up to the left.   Following the trail you will find a quiet area with its own climbing frame and a lovely view of the mansion and grounds.

In summer the rear garden is very popular as a picnic area for families.  The South Lake is home to moorhens and ducks waiting for your left over sandwiches!

South Hill Park is home to several  annual events where admission is free.  The Big Day Out is always popular and FusionAsia grows each year and with such amazing food and entertainment, I am sure it will continue to. 

 Drum workshop at FusionAsia

Dancing at FusionAsia

Swinley Forest and Caesar's Camp

The best place to park to access miles and miles of woodland track, Caesar's Camp and the big adventure playground is the car park at the Look Out Discovery Centre (see map). 

Weeks of incessant rain were not enough to keep us indoors - we wrapped up in wellies and waterproofs and headed to Caesar's Camp, which is about a mile walk from the car park.

The site was an iron age fort and the high defensive groundworks are still obvious.  Every turn brings new adventure - muddy muddles, fallen trees to climb over and through.  There are also plaques giving description of the history.  Over to the west is the area destroyed by fire last year.  If you have the time (and energy) you can head to Devil's Highway (so called because "only the devil himself could build a road so straight" - or, of course, The Romans) and follow it West to Broadmoor Hospital and the area worst affected by the wildfires.  It's quite amazing to see the re-growth since then and there may be areas you can't even tell were burned.

Once back at The Look Out you can enjoy a picnic as there is a large picnic area.  This does become very busy during the summer but you can spread out onto the grassy area just outside the gate to the woods.  The kids can let off steam in the big playground. 

There are often families building dens in the surrounding area too.  This is generally enough fun to last the afternoon!  But, if your kids still have the energy then there are plenty more routes to follow on foot or bike.  Our favourite walk, is a 2.5 mile route to Mill Pond.