Day-tripper delights
As we begin to venture beyond our back garden, here are some great day trips to ease your way gently out of lockdown. By
ENGLAND
Norfolk Fiery displays of rhododendrons and azaleas and woodland canopies give way to sea views on a two-mile trail through the landscaped estate of Sheringham Park, designed by Humphry Repton in 1812. Capability Brown’s successor also designed the tranquil temple. Car park ticket £6.50. nationaltrust. org.uk/sheringham-park
Hampshire Get up close to the UK’s largest land mammal at Sky Park Farm, near Petersfield in the South Downs, home to more than 200 red deer. Follow the trails on the 75-acre farm and kids can have fun in the outdoor adventure playground. Opens May 21. Entrance: adults £6/children £3.50 (under-3s free). skyparkfarm.com
Manchester Opening for the summer on First Street, outdoors art space Homeground will take centre stage with a 400-seat socially distanced theatre for magical performances and music. Productions lined up include Filter Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (June 3-26) and a new version of Alice in Wonderland (July 15-August 7). Book at homemcr.org/ homeground
CUTE Dogstival is June 5-6
New Forest Burley Park plays host to this fun festival dedicated to our four-legged friends featuring dog displays, flyball, agility and scent training with vet tips from ITV’s Dr Scott Miller. And there’s a fun fair and live music. June 5-6. Tickets: adults £13.90/children £8. dogstival.co.uk
London Blackfriars Road, Waterloo, Golden Jubilee, Westminster and Lambeth Bridges have now joined the Illuminated River installation. From dusk, the world’s longest work of art will light up the Thames with colourful light sequences. Book a tour ( from £8) or download a route at illuminatedriver. london/discover/explore
SCOTLAND
East coast Standing 100ft tall, it’s hard to miss the Kelpies, the largest equine sculptures in the world. Take a tour inside the horse head sculptures (adults £5, children free) while the park itself is home to a
lagoon, adventure zone and splash play. thehelix.co.uk
Scottish Borders A raft of events are planned for the 250th anniversary of one of Scotland’s literary sons, Sir Walter Scott. Fans of Ivanhoe, Rob Roy and The Lady of the Lake will enjoy walking a section of the 92-mile long Sir Walter Scott Way (ldwa.org.uk) and a visit to Abbotsford, Scott’s Baronial home, is a must (adults £11.70/children £5.10, under-5s free), scottsabbotsford.com, walterscott250.com
WALES
Snowdonia Combine a walk to the Aber Falls waterfall in Snowdonia National Park with a visit to the Aber Falls Whisky Distillery, in the village of Abergwyngregyn, for a taste of their single-malt, launching in May, the first whisky made in North Wales for over 100 years. One-hour tour, adults £8/children (6-17 years) free. aberfallsdistillery.com
Abergele Visitors to the Grade I-listed 19th-century country house which hosted last year’s I’m a Celebrity... won’t find bushtucker trials on the menu. Instead there’s a chance to see key locations used in the reality show and explore its 250 acres of gardens and grounds with views over to the Irish Sea. Adults £5/children £2.50 and guided tour £15pp. gwrychcastle.co.uk
ENGLISH-WELSH BORDER
Offa’s Dyke National Trail is celebrating its 50th anniversary and to mark it, National Trails is launching 25 new itineraries to enjoy the 177-mile path which crosses the border between England and Wales over 20 times. nationaltrail.co.uk