Top Astley Arms - Tameside

As a child, I always longed to explore the wooded area nearby, but my parents warned me to stay away, saying it wasn't safe. It wasn't until Karen took my children away that I truly understood sadness and the desire for revenge. I would often cry myself to sleep on the grass, imagining ways to get my kids back. One day, I will. The cafe nearby is also quite nice, serving delicious chips.

Stamford Park is a large public park that hosts various events throughout the year. The Bonfire night celebrations are particularly impressive, but it is recommended to arrive early due to traffic congestion. Parking on the roadside can lead to vehicles getting trapped, so it is not advised. The events are well funded, resulting in impressive firework displays and a strong presence of police and ambulances for emergencies. The park is also worth visiting on regular sunny days, as it is well-maintained and offers good accessibility for disabled individuals.

I remember this park as a kid. My mum used to bring my sister and I along to see the rabbits, peacocks and other birds before having a picnic on one of the many lawns. We'd then visit the conservatory to see all the exotic plants before heading home. Well, some 30 years later, I now take my boys to the park for what I hope will become childhood memories of their own. Sadly, the animals are no longer there and the playground has changed a lot but the boys still have great fun. They can ride their bikes along the winding paths creating their own adventures in the more overgrown areas. Even our dog enjoys the huge park area. There are still plenty of beautiful green lawn areas to enjoy a picnic and plenty of ice cream vans in summer to enjoy an obligatory ice cream. The cafe isn't quite what it was in its heyday but you can pick up a burger and chips or cup of tea if that's what you need. Just across the road from the park is the boating lake which offers boat rides and an opportunity to feed the ducks when little legs run out of steam. You could easily spend a day out at this magnificent park.

So this park is a little gem of a find. It's lovely and spacious but designed so if your sitting at the picnic tables you have a 360 degree view of all the kids I love the fact they have made use of the space. A large sand area pit with a merry go round! a range of different climbing bits like a ship and bouncy horses the kids (or adults) can ride and other things like slides etc. There are 4 good sized well spaced swings. I know that's sounds like I'm work for health and safety but it's important! The slide is huge and fast for the kids. There is also a Small zip wire that I wanted a zip on. There are a few Large cargo net type bucket swings and the climbing frame is great for the bigger kids. Ours had an absolute ball. The grass was freshly cut and great if you want to take a picnic. Alternatively the little cafe is delicious. Good value and very friendly staff. I would recommend the minted lamb panini!! Gorgeous!! There is also an ice cream van as well and it was great as they had a large variety but also its wasn't too expensive. There is easy parking outside on the road and at the weekends there was a bouncy castle and trampoline. Again great fun for the kids and free!! Finally the water fountains are great. The kids stripped down and had an absolute ball running through the waters. Parents can sit round the edge and watch. Take towels though as it was sunny but water was freezing. This was a great few hours out. Fresh air and fun. Defo recommend this.

Stamford Park is spacious and perfect for a leisurely stroll. My family enjoys exploring its winding paths in any weather, always discovering new corners to explore. There are tennis courts and bowling greens for the more active visitors, as well as plenty of park benches for those content to simply relax and people-watch. The park's well-kept flower beds make it a beautiful place to take Grandma for some fresh air. Dog and child friendly, the park even allows kids to ride their bikes and features a fantastic playground to keep little ones entertained.