Brungerley Park & Sculpture Trail
Woodland, riverbank and an old quarry scattered with more than 20 sculptures, a mile from Clitheroe town centre. Turns an ordinary walk into a treasure hunt, and it costs nothing.
Parks & outdoors Clitheroe & Ribble Valley
Parks & outdoors in Clitheroe & Ribble Valley
Playgrounds, country parks, woodland trails and nature reserves. Most of these cost nothing.
4 in Clitheroe & Ribble Valley4 free4 suit under-5s
On the first warm Sunday of the year half of Clitheroe ends up at Edisford Bridge, where the Ribble runs shallow over shingle. It costs nothing beyond the pay and display, a new play park has been going in on the old pitch and putt site with a September 2026 finish date, so check it has opened, and the miniature railway only runs at set times. Brungerley Park is free too and scatters more than 20 sculptures through woodland and an old quarry, while up at Clitheroe Castle the grounds and the view cost nothing and only the museum charges.
Parks & outdoors in Clitheroe & Ribble Valley
Clitheroe Castle
One of England's smallest Norman keeps on a rock above the town, with a labyrinth, sculpture trail and a museum that tells the Ribble Valley's story briskly. The grounds and the views cost nothing.
Edisford Bridge
The Ribble runs shallow over shingle on the town side of the bridge, which is why half of Clitheroe turns up on a warm Sunday. Picnic space, a miniature railway at weekends, free to use.
Gisburn Forest
Forestry England's big forest in the Forest of Bowland, with a Room on the Broom trail for 3 to 9s, a play area, four walking and four cycling trails and the Hungry Pine cafe. Entry is free. Parking is not cheap.
Parks & outdoors elsewhere in the North West
Walton Hall & Gardens
The reliable default: gardens, a children's zoo, a big playground and plenty of room to run. Pay for parking, nothing else.
Risley Moss
A raised peat bog nature reserve at Birchwood with woodland trails, bird hides and a visitor centre with toilets. Free, close and short enough for little legs, but closed on Fridays.
Sherdley Park
St Helens' biggest park. Play areas, open space and a walled garden, and it costs nothing.
Dream, Sutton Manor
A 20-metre white head rising out of a reclaimed colliery, with woodland trails around it. Genuinely strange and memorable for kids, and a short walk rather than a hike.
Sankey Valley Park
A green corridor of canal towpath and parkland running from St Helens down towards Warrington. Flat, traffic-free and ideal if the bikes or scooters are coming.
Speke Hall
A Tudor hall with woodland walks, a maze and a natural play area in the grounds. Free if you have National Trust membership, and the indoor house is a good rain fallback.
What’s on near you, every Friday
One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.