Arley Hall and Gardens

This is a great place to go with young children if you are a garden lover. We have visited both in summer and at Christmas and have found Arley a treasure trove for young and old alike. With the car parked, it's a short stroll along an impressive tree-lined avenue. On entering the estate via the gift shop, you'll find a cobbled stable yard bordered by the restaurant and toilet facilities.   In the warmer months several tables are set out for eating here. The cobbles are a bit awkward with a pram but the rest of Arley is very accessible. Passing under the clock tower, which houses a bell...

Bramall Hall Park

Just outside Bramhall village near Cheadle Hulme, Bramall Hall Park is 70 acres of breathtaking parkland surrounding one of Cheshire's grandest black and white timber-framed buildings. There is a pay and display car park, 70p for one hour, £1 for two hours, but entrance to the parkland is free. Designed in the style of Capability Brown, the park offers magnificent vistas from the Hall, which is perched on the brow of a hill. Grass terraces lead downhill to three substantial man-made ponds and the diverted River Ladybrook, which snakes its way through the grounds. The ponds contain island...

Chatsworth House

Whilst the road from Manchester and particularly North Manchester may be a long and winding route, it is definitely worth making a day trip to Chatsworth. I have been with my boys in both summer and winter and each trip has been a huge success. The farmyard and adventure playground are superb.   These two features alone make it worth the trip. At the farmyard you can stroke the guinea pigs, watch the cows being milked, sit on a tractor, and see, among other favourites, the shire horses, piglets and goats. The adventure playground can be accessed by a child-sized tunnel and ladder. Water...

Clitheroe Castle, Grounds and Museum

Towering above the charming town of Clitheroe is the 800-year-old Norman keep of Clitheroe Castle, which following a restoration project and complete refurbishment of the associated museum was reopened in May 2009. We visited on a Sunday and found free road parking in the town centre, however on busier days it may be worth heading for a car park. Alternatively, arrive by train, as the station is only 0.2 miles away.   The keep itself is small, in fact the second smallest in Britain, but considering its age, it is pretty much intact. There are two ways up, either by climbing about 100 st...

Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey is a personal favourite for easy, enjoyable walks. The grounds of this country estate are beautiful - a stunning mix of parkland and maintained gardens (you have to pay extra to get into these unless you're a NT member). There are plenty of deer roaming free and you can get close for the children to have a good look.   A moat surrounding the early Georgian house is full of ducks and swans to feed, whilst nearby rabbits hop around. I spent a lot of time here when my son was a baby as there are no steep hills and the wide paths make it ideal pushchair terrain. Now he is olde...

Haigh Hall and Country Park

During the summer holiday heat wave, we zipped up to Wigan and spent a glorious day here. I know we're a family that's become increasingly obsessed with trains, but the fact that Haigh Hall has got a rather good one made the day for us.   The winding country road brings you in at the top of the estate - you arrive at the pay and display car park, adjacent to Haigh Hall Golf Club and right next to the cafˇ, shop, outbuildings (including toilets) and children's playgrounds. A short walk down a hill brings you to the Hall itself. Georgian Grade II listed, this is generally closed to the pu...

Lyme Park

Lyme Park is a stunning mansion house that closely resembles an extravagant Italianate palace surrounded by gardens, moorland and ancient deer park. It was used as the setting for the 1995 TV version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth.   If you go hoping to see Mr Darcy appearing from the lake, prepare to be disappointed, but if you are looking for somewhere to take the children where they can run around in beautiful surroundings then Lyme Park fits the bill. It's an ideal venue for meeting friends with children, and is perfect for picnics.   After paying t...

Norton Priory

I ended up at Norton Priory quite by accident but I am very glad I did. The approach is through a dull business park that is off putting, but once inside the grounds you will find a little haven of rural England. We were two families and a dog (who was allowed everywhere except the cafˇ and walled garden).   We also had scooters in tow, which the staff were happy for us to take in. The children were initially drawn to the gift shop, which sold a selection of pocket money toys as well as more educational items. After persuading them there was more than a gift shop on offer we scooted thr...

Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Estate

Quarry Bank Mill is a great place to go on a rainy day and if it does turn out nice, the gardens are beautiful and the walk down by the River Bollin is easy for pushchairs and toddlers.   There is a good play area at the start of the walk plus, as an added incentive, a small cafˇ selling ice lollies, cakes and cups of tea. Inside the mill, it is pretty impressive. You can't take a pram as you start at the top and wind your way down, but shoulder seats for babies and hip carriers for toddlers are available for a deposit of £5. These can be collected at the Mill entrance. There are ...

Tatton Park

Tatton Park is one of Britain's great country house estates and it's on our doorstep. It's a fine neo-classical mansion set in 50 acres of beautiful gardens but admittedly not a major attraction for toddlers. Where Tatton comes into its own for the under fives is in what surrounds the house and garden. Its 1,000-acre parkland is home to deer, cattle and sheep and boasts a rare breeds farm, an adventure playground and even a land train.   Tatton also hosts a heap of special events throughout the year. The day we went there was a selection of small fairground rides. We left the car in one...