[Archived] Recommended Days Out

[colin]

There was a thread recommending good days out & it seems to have expired. So I just thought I'd start it off again. I know it's getting towards the end of the school holidays, but I've just been to this place:

the forbidden corner

It's a few miles north of Harrogate, so it's a bit of a drive for a day out.

It is brilliant, like nothing I've ever seen or done ever before.

Ignore the "no food past this point" rubbish, take a bag with some butties & drinks in and have a whale of a time. There is no "right way round." Don't take a pram, don't take easily scared 5 year olds. Plan for about 3 hours or more depending on how much energy you've got.

You need to book in advance so that they can stop too many people turning up at the same time and cramming the place.

Best day out we've had in ages. I'd recommend it to anyone.

[cletus]

At this time of year (late summer) & if you get a nice day!! (hardly likely! ) then any walkers & lovers of nature should pay a visit to Settle.

Park up in the town, find the river & follow the path upstream for a few miles. Eventually you`ll stumble upon 3 waterfalls (about 4ft high each) going up in steps. This time of year is great to sit & watch salmon jumping the falls as thgey go upstream to spawn.

It`s cheap (apart from the car parking) & it`s healthy.

Late summer is a good time for the salmon. I last visited in February this year during a cold snap when the edges of the falls & surrounding walls were covered with massive icicles.

[Hasta]

That sounds interesting Colin. I've got some friends and their youngkids coming to stop with me for a weekend soon and was after somewhere different to take them. Might have a look.

Is this the thread you were referring to?

[colin]

Is this the thread you were referring to?

Thanks Hasta, that was the one, The "search" facility was disabled when I went to find it.

I'd recommend The Forbidden Corner to anyone with kids.

[thenodrog]

There was a thread recommending good days out & it seems to have expired. So I just thought I'd start it off again. I know it's getting towards the end of the school holidays, but I've just been to this place:

the forbidden corner

It's a few miles north of Harrogate, so it's a bit of a drive for a day out.

It is brilliant, like nothing I've ever seen or done ever before.

Ignore the "no food past this point" rubbish, take a bag with some butties & drinks in and have a whale of a time. There is no "right way round." Don't take a pram, don't take easily scared 5 year olds. Plan for about 3 hours or more depending on how much energy you've got.

You need to book in advance so that they can stop too many people turning up at the same time and cramming the place.

Best day out we've had in ages. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Wow. Looks very interesting and looking at the images one could be forgiven for thinking that it's prob been designed by somebody on good old fashioned hallucinogens.

[Drummer Boy]

I went to the Forbidden Corner with my two youngest and came to the conclusion there were lysergic connections afoot! It is quite a surreal place, but a good day out nonetheless for all, beating Portmeirion for me. Nearby Leyburn has some excellent pubs that do good nosh as well. As an aside, to shave the journey somewhat, try heading up Wharfedale until you hit Starboton where you turn a sharp right and go up a steep hairpin bend to take the direct road to the place.

[Claytons Left Boot]

As an aside, to shave the journey somewhat, try heading up Wharfedale until you hit Starboton where you turn a sharp right and go up a steep hairpin bend to take the direct road to the place.

Once cycled from Kettlewell to Hawes via Starbotton and Fleet Moss which, I think, is the highest road in Yorkshire at around 17/1800 ft. Hawes is a cracking little place.

[bazza]

Recently spent some time with friends in The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

Somewhere between Coleford and Chepstow on the B4228 there is "Puzzle Wood".

This is well worth a visit. You can get lost in this creepy place that once was a pre-Roman iron-ore mine.

It is said that J R R Tolkein visited here and got some great ideas.

[bazza]

Once cycled from Kettlewell to Hawes via Starbotton and Fleet Moss which, I think, is the highest road in Yorkshire at around 17/1800 ft. Hawes is a cracking little place.

Back in the 1970's we drove to Hawes and Thwaite. I don't know which village it was but it was market day, a Tuesday, and the pubs were open all day. This was unusual then because of strict licensing laws. The market would probably have been for the sale of cattle, pigs and sheep as well as other produce.

We went into a pub for some refreshment. There were fellows in boots and spats all covered in coddy muck and some were sitting playing dominoes.

My wife and I challenged them to a game; best of three; winners get a gill of ale each.

We kept winning much to their disgust.

A very enjoyable day out.

Drink/ drive laws were not as strict in those days.

[jim mk2]

Thwaite brings back memories of family trips in the 1960s ; beautiful place nestling in the Dales. Hawes too I remember being a delightful spot.

Fantastic scenery, best in the world.

[Rachrover]

For me, the best place to spend your spare time is definitely the Lake District, one of my favourite places. Have done some good walks over the summer and have spent alot of time camping, my favourite walk we have done is up Helvellyn over Striding Edge, very scary, but so much worth it for the stunning views, for a smaller walk, the Old Man of Coniston is a good one, can see right out to the Isle of Man on a clear day. Definitely recommended!

oops!! something went wrong when trying to post my reply, didn't realise it had multiplied!!

[blue phil]

Ok , Rach , you've convinced me .......

[Sandiway Blue]

I`ve gone dizzy !

I`ve heard of double vision but not triple vision!

[Darth Paul]

Colin,

I took the family to Forbidden Corner this Sunday as part of my sons 8th birthday treat. I have to say thanks for the recommendation, what an amazing place!

The drive from Blackburn over the Dales made me feel like I had lost all contact with civilisation at times and it certainly takes a while to get there, but it was all part of the fun to be honest!

I can honestly say that I have never seen anything quite like it, not even the likes of Disney have pulled anything off as good as that in my view!

Even a couple of hours driving to get there was worth it and I recommend everyone to give it a try, but book before you go!

[colin]

Colin,

I took the family to Forbidden Corner this Sunday as part of my sons 8th birthday treat. I have to say thanks for the recommendation, what an amazing place!

You make me feel all warm & fuzzy inside. Glad you liked it

[MCMC1875]

Some forthcoming events in September (ALL FREE) details at www.visitblackpool.com :

Sep 11-14, Beach Volleyball, European Championship Tour, Central Promenade, Blackpool.

Sep 12, 19, 26, International Fireworks Contest, North Pier, Blackpool.

Sep 14, Tour of Britain Cycle Race, South Promenade, Blackpool.

[Tris]

Black Pudding throwing event this Sunday.

The aim being to knock as many Yorkshire puddings over as possible.

[JC4LAB]

A few bank holiday specials come to mind.but these have now gone this year..Decent by Chair lift into Gapping Gill...The Wray Scarecrow Festival.....Re live World War Two Weekend at Ramsbottom..

For the adrenilin junkie,something very different is the Velodrome taster session in Manchester....

[Paul]

Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a good visit as it combines some good walking with sculpture in the open air. Located at West Bretton, Wakefield the park occupies 500 acres in the grounds of an 18th century parkland. You'll finds some permanent exhibitions (Henry Moore for example) and some which are only on for a short period (Sophie Ryder as an example). I'm not a great lover of sculpture and our main reason for going was to have a walk. We ended up walking for five hours through a beautiful landscape with some fascinating art dotted around, some of it quite disturbing. The main exhibtions are close to the visitor centre and it isn't neccessary to walk for five hours but our main objective was to walk. When you arrive the new visitor centre is only visible from one of the car parks so you can miss it completely before setting off in the opposite direction!

In the visitor centre you'll find a cafe wth good tea, coffee, cakes and lunches. A great day out which one could repeat every season of the year and enjoy different views every time as well as seeing new exhibitions etc. Put your hiking boots on. Takes about 60-75 minutes from Chorley / Blackburn by car.

[Paul]

Outdoor Action, King Street. You can chose from reasonably priced to breathtakingly expensive!!!

[old darwen blue]

Wow. Last time this thread was touched we had a Big Time Charlie for a manager.

Can anyone recommend a cheap n cheerful outdoor wear shop in Blackburn? Basically me and my Mrs need to get kitted out with boots and caghouls for trekking up Hellvelyn. I remember there used to be an Army & Navy Store (or something like that) just off King William Street.

ET have a look at Winfields at Haslingden

[thenodrog]

Wow. Last time this thread was touched we had a Big Time Charlie for a manager.

Can anyone recommend a cheap n cheerful outdoor wear shop in Blackburn? Basically me and my Mrs need to get kitted out with boots and caghouls for trekking up Hellvelyn. I remember there used to be an Army & Navy Store (or something like that) just off King William Street.

The old Focus building on Throstle St and just off King St. Lots of choice but unfortunately it seems to be another chain store staffed with minimum wage teenagers, so do a bit of research and know what you want before you go. (I only went there to buy a Tilley hat cos I was directed there from the internet .) I think the other outdoor shop that Paul mentioned 'Outdoor Action' is still open at the town centre end of King St so maybe you'd be better going there first.

Unfortunately I can't I'm still on a self imposed ban from Blackburn town centre.

[Paul]

The old Focus building on Throstle St and just off King St. Lots of choice but unfortunately it seems to be another chain store staffed with minimum wage teenagers, so do a bit of research and know what you want before you go. (I only went there to buy a Tilley hat cos I was directed there from the internet .) I think the other outdoor shop that Paul mentioned 'Outdoor Action' is still open at the town centre end of King St so maybe you'd be better going there first.

Unfortunately I can't I'm still on a self imposed ban from Blackburn town centre.

The place thenodrog mentions is called something like "Go Outdoors" and is opposite Bank Top Citroen on the same side of the road. Personally I would go to Outdoor Action without hesitation. Find someone who looks experienced, in fact most of the youngsters are very good, explain what you want to do and get them to show you appropriate kit.

Do be clear on what you wish to do. I do a little walking and needed new boots, after a chat I came away with a percectly good pair for £30, more than adequate for my level. On the other hand my wife is a very serious walker and for her birthday and Christmas I wanted to get her serious trousers and jacket. Again I explained the level we are talking about and came away with the absolute top of the range gear. Breathtakingly expensive but it was the right gear. My wife was delighted as it was precisely what she wanted - and I knew bugger all about the right brand etc. I think this shows the advice is excellent and appropriate provided you are accurate in what you explain.

There's a guy who works there called Mike, who I know through cycling, he seems very knowledgeable. Might be worth asking for him, think he works Monday- Wednesday. Everyone I know who walks seriously uses this shop.

Check the opening times, Outdoor Action is not always open when you might expect it to be.

[Baz]

Sports Soccer usually have some reasonable and cheap karimore boots at around the £30 mark. For occasional use these are probably good enough. As for waterproofs, well in general you get what you pay for. You can get a cheap rainjacket that will keep you dry for £20-30 from the likes of Blacks, Milletts etc...Very occasionally I know tk max get old berghaus stock.

If your looking to be doing more and more walking then invest in something decent at a specialist shop as mentioned above by Paul (theres plenty in the lakes too although some are a bit of a rip-off), if your doing it as a one-off then the cheaper stuff is perfectly ok, just not as comfortable, hard wearing or fashionable as the more expensive gore-tex brands.