1) Nostell Priory, National Trust
Nostell is one of our favourites; you can walk around the extensive parkland and lake. The membership area is behind the house and includes the wooden adventure playground. The rear of the house is full of daffodils and if you walk to other other side of the Middle lake, The Menagerie has some beautiful magnolia trees … my favourite!! This area is also great for the kids to play hide and seek and if often so quiet!!
In the parkland, the carpet of bluebells appear next to the lake!
For more information visit the Nostell website HERE
9:30am – 5pm (last entry 3:30pm)
Doncaster Road, Nostell, Wakefield WF4 1QE
2) Yorkshire Sculpture Park
YSP holds a special place in my heart, as it’s where we got married and we love sharing this special place with our children too! Children are free to run around and explore the sculptures in 500 acres of parkland!
Why don’t you find your favourite sculpture (ours is the octopus) , become a Wild Explorer with the free trail guide (download here) or take a look at YSP’s 50 ways to play (download here).
For more information visit the Yorkshire Sculpture Park website HERE
10am – 5pm
Pre-booking is essential. Price is per person at £6, under 18’s are free
West Bretton, Wakefield, WF4 4JX
3) Fairburn Ings
You can enjoy the beauty of the lake on a circular walk at any time. There are always plenty of opportunities to spot birds and wildlife especially at this time of year.
The visitors centre, cafe and toilets available
For more information visit the Fairburn Ings website HERE
6am – 8pm
Access is free, parking charges apply (can use cards to pay)
Newton Lane, Castleford, WF10 2BH
4) Coxley Woods
This time of year is when Coxley Woods is at its best!! The smell of wild garlic and bluebells starting to appear! If you haven’t heard, these are our favourite woods to explore in Wakefield and you can read more about them HERE
Access & parking is free but please be respectful when parking in housing areas
You can access Coxley Woods from a number of locations including Netherton, Middlestown, Coxley Lane, Water Lane, Earnshaw’s Timber Merchants
5) Upper woods at Newmillerdam
If you park in the main car park at Newmillerdam, just head up the hill and away from the lake and you’ll end up walking through the woods and not seeing many people at all!! Whilst you’re up there you can spot quite a few gnomes from the Gnome Roam trail too. The woods are perfect for adventuring in Spring and building dens!!
Access is free & there is 2 hours free parking (you still need to get a ticket from the machine!)
Newmillerdam, Wakefield WF2 6QQ
For more ideas of family walks in and around Wakefield click here
