Stanwick Lakes

Stanwick Lakes is situated between Thrapston and Wellingborough on the A45.  It is a marvelous place of peace, serenity and beauty.  Stanwick Lakes are rather new, having been a site for quarrying minerals between 1985 and 2004.  Prior to the quarrying, the Stanwick site has a rich tapestry of history from farming, a sewage farm, a tannery, railway stations and sidings, and even further back - thanks to archaelogical excavations - the area also once had a Roman settlement too.

Stanwick Lakes are now a really important site within the Nene Valley for breeding, feeding, wintering and migrating birds including golden plover, pintail, teal, oyster catchers, lapwing and great crested grebe, not to mention numerous dragonflies and other delightful mini-beasties.

You can hire a boat or canoe in the summer months, or hire a bicycle and make use of the full 7 miles circular route around the lakes (don't miss the hide) and there is also a linear route of 4 miles between Irthlingborough and Thrapston (the old railway line) which gives the local people a good excuse to leave the car at home and go green - horse riders need a permit, and all paths are flat and well maintained and wheelchair friendly.

There is a cafe and shop, visitor center with lots of information about the local area and (thankfully! as not many places do) toilets, and also there are picnic tables dotted around, benches along the way to stop and admire the view and a play/adventure area for the kids.

All in all a great place for a great day out. You just need to remember you'll need 3 one pound coins to lift the barrier to leave, or pay £25 per annum.

Rutland Water - nature reserve

Rutland Water nature reserve is vast,   I couldn't possibly do it justice here other than to offer you a glimpse of what you may see when there.  If you are interested in birdwatching, there are 22 hides dotted around and there is always something new to see.

The other side of the reservoir offers leisure activities for the whole family, including sailing, fishing, cycling and of course detailed walks. 

I must thank Owen and Easton for some of these photos as mine weren't as good as theirs.  ;-)

Pendower Beach, Cornwall

A mile long gorgeous sandy beach - best visited in the winter months with your dog, avoiding the emmets!  Just kidding, holidaymakers make a beach, right?  Right?  Although....empty and quiet and peaceful is how I prefer it - sorry!

There is also a hotel with a bar open to non-residents so if you go in the high season you can sit outside and enjoy a pint of west country zyder or a cream tea.  

If you are into fossil hunting, this website is quite informative - http://www.pendower.ukfossils.co.uk/

National Science Museum, London

Nearest tube station is South Kensington on the Circle, District and Picadilly lines.  There is a pedestrian walk way to the main entrance, or you can use Gloucester Road station and walk for about 10 minutes.

The science museum is fantastic.  There are of course many permanent exhibits, and also there are many new ones each visit.  It is really impossible to see everything in one visit, and of course each time you go there will be something new to see, so its a great place to go often.   It's a good idea to check out their website before you plan your trip so you can decide what particular exhibits might interest you.

I couldn't possibly post all photos so here's a small sample of what you can see there.   The Natural History Museum is just next door and the V & A is across the road, so you could spend  little time in each, every time you go.

Chessington World of Adventure

Wow, I can't believe it took me 40 odd years to discover theme parks!!!

The only ride I had the courage to go on was the "Vampire" - I felt queasy just watching the one I videoed, but the boys loved it!

If you love theme parks and want to go more than twice in one year, definitely get an annual pass as you will save a fortune.

Chessington is 12 miles from London off the A3 to Hook, then signposted on the A243.

It is just 2 miles from the M25 - from the south, off Junction 9, from the north Junction 10.    It's well worth a day trip! 

Teesdale

Technically, not a 'day out' - students' work experience week heather burning, but I think the photos are great and they had a great time.  I bet its a beautiful area to visit for the flora and fauna in the warmer months too.  Though I doubt the vehicle sinking in the ice was much fun at the time!

Summer Leys

Summer Leys Nature Reserve near Wellingborough, Northants is owned and managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough (BCNP).  The reserve has SSSI status, an important refuge for wintering and breeding birds including golden plover, shoveler, lapwing and widgeon.  The wetland is within the Upper Nene Valley and is made up of flooded gravel pits, flood meadows, species-rich neutral grassland and mature hedges. 

There are a couple of hides overlooking the lake where you can sit and watch the moorhens, shovelers and all the other water-loving birds, the hides are very roomy - I took my wheelchair in with no problem. Incidentally, thanks to the great flat landscape of the county, the paths are a doddle!

Rare breeds of sheep graze, and there are teems of different kinds of birds, dragonflies, butterflies, all manner of bugs and plants - I am particularly hopeful one day of spotting a kingfisher and an otter.

Don't forget to take your flask of coffee and sarnies as there are picnic tables near the carpark , but alas so far I've not found the loos so it may be only suitable for just a few hours to visit if you dont live nearby.