Dear mummy, we’re not usually up this neck of the woods, but while we were visiting friends and family we decided to stop by Anglers Country Park in Wintersett, Wakefield. The country park is 64 hectares in size and dominated by a huge lake, surrounded by grassland and woods. It used to be a open-cast coal mine in 1974! One of the deepest in the country. The lake is entirely man-made! It’s now been filled in with water and is a top nature reserve, attracting migrating birds….and visitors* each year. *inc. the occasional witch and dragon!*

The country park is maintained and run by Wakefield Council and is open every day of the year. It’s free too, with no parking charges which is refreshing. The visitors centre is open from 10.30 – 4pm in low season and 11-4pm in high season. There is a kids activity centre which includes information on bird watching and conservation. An adventure playground and great, cheap little cafe. Baby changing and toilets. All facilities and paths are buggy and wheelchair friendly and the route around the lake plays host to walkers, cyclists, joggers and even horse riders! We saw a group of girls on horseback cantering (even though I’m sure they should have been walking or trotting! 😉 ) it was a beautiful sight. Everyone was friendly and we had a good time roaming.

The main reason why we are here is to catch up with old friends who live nearby and see the Room on the Broom Trail which we’ve heard so much about!

The trail is not for the faint hearted though…it’s a two-mile walk around a large lake, which on the day we visited, was very cold and windy.

We weren’t disappointed with the carvings though as there were at least 5 that we saw, but we were walking aimlessly. The visitors centre had run out of Room on the Broom activity packs (£2) and we didn’t have a map, we just followed the path around the lake.

We saw all our favourite characters from the Julia Donaldson book ‘Room on the Broom’. We saw the witch on her broom with her hat and cat, the dog, the bird and the frog…and then the most exciting part..we saw the dragon! RARGHHHH!

A great place to visit for fresh air and exercise – the lake is deceptively big! I was knackered when we reached the cafe afterwards!

If you love Room on the Broom – you won’t be disappointed. A great FREE day out.

Love Bella x