Pendle Wavelengths
Nelson's leisure pool under a pyramid roof, with a wave machine, a 130ft twisting slide and a new waterplay beach for little ones. A junior swim is £4.20 and a family of four £20.50, which is cheap for a wave pool.
Ball Grove Park
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- 3 to 14
- Where
- Pendle, Lancashire
- Weather
- Mostly outdoors
- Booking
- Just turn up
Ball Grove is Pendle's lakeside park, on the Colne side of the valley that leads up to Wycoller, and it won a Green Flag in 2014. The council lists the main attractions as the play area, the millpond and the lake, and that is about right: feed the ducks, do the loop, have a picnic. There are plenty of picnic benches, and a very active Friends group keeps the place tidy.
The play area has eight pieces of equipment aimed at 5 to 14 year olds, including equipment for disabled users, so toddlers will mostly be watching. Many of the paths suit buggies and people with low mobility. Anglers fish the lake on day tickets. The real bonus is the walk. A community woodland and the Fearndene Way run through the park, and the nature walk goes right up to Wycoller Country Park. Two car parks: one off Keighley Road via Ball Grove Drive, the other by the Cotton Tree pub off Winewall Road.
What it costs: Free to visit. The council page does not mention a parking charge.
Know before you go
- The north car park, off Keighley Road via Ball Grove Drive, opens 8am to 5pm from October to March (to 7pm April to September). Don't get locked in.
- For a longer day, follow the nature walk up the valley to Wycoller and back. Wellies help.
Worth knowing: Play equipment is for 5 to 14s.
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Giddy Kippers
Soft play on Lomeshaye with a three-storey frame, a separate under-3s area, an enclosed football zone and Kipper's Cafe. Children are £6 on weekdays and £7 at weekends and in the holidays, and adults pay £1 or £2.
Funda Land
Big active soft play inside The Leisure Box at Brierfield, with bumper cars, a VALO climbing wall, UV laser tag and a baby and toddler space. Term-time weekday soft play sessions are free if you book. Weekends cost £10 for 3 to 12s.
Wycoller Country Park
A county council country park of woodland and farmland around the Bronte-linked hamlet of Wycoller, with footpaths along Wycoller Beck, toilets and a picnic area. Parking is £1 a day and cars stop at the car parks.
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.