Planning family days out during the summer holidays can be a headache. We have compiled a list of lovely places within a short drive from Preston to (hopefully) keep everyone entertained.Planning family days out during the summer holidays can be a headache. We have compiled a list of lovely places within a short drive from Preston to (hopefully) keep everyone entertained.
Planning family days out during the summer holidays can be a headache. We have compiled a list of lovely places within a short drive from Preston to (hopefully) keep everyone entertained.

School summer holidays: 11 of the best places to take your children that won't break the bank in and around Preston

By Catherine Musgrove
Published 21st Jul 2023, 13:46 BST
Updated 21st Jul 2023, 13:46 BST
The school holidays are upon us.

Parents and grandparents will be looking at diaries – and the weather forecast – planning out activities to keep their little ones occupied.

But days out can be expensive, so we’ve compiled a list of tried and tested places to visit that won’t break the bank.

Chorley's increasingly popular Yarrow Valley Country Park is a 700-acre facility, run by Chorley Council, including a café and information centre built using Heritage Lottery funds. Yarrow Valley Country Park has been awarded Green Flag status since 2004. Since July 2011 the park has been home to "Yarrow Rocks", a play space which includes a giant rope swing, natural climbing wall, rock stack, embankment slide, basket swing and sand pit.

9. Yarrow Valley Country Park in Chorley

Chorley's increasingly popular Yarrow Valley Country Park is a 700-acre facility, run by Chorley Council, including a café and information centre built using Heritage Lottery funds. Yarrow Valley Country Park has been awarded Green Flag status since 2004. Since July 2011 the park has been home to "Yarrow Rocks", a play space which includes a giant rope swing, natural climbing wall, rock stack, embankment slide, basket swing and sand pit. Photo: jp

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With 650 acres of woodland, parklands, argricultural lands, meadows, a lake, the River Lostock and 10 miles of paths Cuerden Valley Park is a refuge of countryside at the heart of Lancashire. A perfect place to enjoy picnics, enjoy the walks on secluded paths through the woods, relaxing in the award winning restored Victorian Walled Orchard and seeing the wide variety of birds, insects and other creatures who inhabit the Park. There's a cafe near the car park (parking charges apply) and historians would enjoy the ruins of the Lower Kem Mill Bleach and Dye works excavated and interpreted at the southern end of the park.

10. Cuerden Valley Park, Bamber Bridge

With 650 acres of woodland, parklands, argricultural lands, meadows, a lake, the River Lostock and 10 miles of paths Cuerden Valley Park is a refuge of countryside at the heart of Lancashire. A perfect place to enjoy picnics, enjoy the walks on secluded paths through the woods, relaxing in the award winning restored Victorian Walled Orchard and seeing the wide variety of birds, insects and other creatures who inhabit the Park. There's a cafe near the car park (parking charges apply) and historians would enjoy the ruins of the Lower Kem Mill Bleach and Dye works excavated and interpreted at the southern end of the park. Photo: UGC

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According to gpsroutes.co.uk: "The area is something of a local hidden gem with peaceful waterside and woodland trails to enjoy. "You can start the walk from the car park at the picnic site on Brock Mill Lane. From here you can pick up a waterside footpath heading south along the River Brock to Brock Bottom. "It's a photogenic spot with nice woodland, babbling brooks and the ruins of the old mill building to admire. In the spring months there are also lots of pretty bluebells to see. You could extend the walk by heading north from the car park to see the rushing weir and the Thirlmere Aqueduct."

11. Brock Bottom

According to gpsroutes.co.uk: "The area is something of a local hidden gem with peaceful waterside and woodland trails to enjoy. "You can start the walk from the car park at the picnic site on Brock Mill Lane. From here you can pick up a waterside footpath heading south along the River Brock to Brock Bottom. "It's a photogenic spot with nice woodland, babbling brooks and the ruins of the old mill building to admire. In the spring months there are also lots of pretty bluebells to see. You could extend the walk by heading north from the car park to see the rushing weir and the Thirlmere Aqueduct." Photo: Google

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In the heart of Penwortham, this park offers something for everyone. There's a recently-refurbished children's playground, a new cafe, picnic areas, woodlands, ponds, and free parking off Hill Road.

12. Hurst Grange Park, Penwortham

In the heart of Penwortham, this park offers something for everyone. There's a recently-refurbished children's playground, a new cafe, picnic areas, woodlands, ponds, and free parking off Hill Road. Photo: NW

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