Last year when we went to see the tall ships in Blyth we came across Ridley park and we promised the kids that one day we would go back and visit when it wasn't so busy....
Last week we decided the time was right....Blyth is about 30 minutes from us by bus and on Friday the weather wasn't too bad so we packed a bag and off we went.....We stopped off at Greggs bought some food and drinks then headed for the park which was only a 10 minute walk from the town centre.
There is two playgrounds at Ridley Park. One for younger children and one for the older children.....We headed for the younger playground first....By rights Becky shouldn't have been allowed in as it is for under 11's but there were kids older than her there.
The playground was perfect for little one's....There was slides, roundabouts, swings and even a sandpit....There was a water area too with pumps and fun things. In the summer I could see this getting a lot of use....
My girls had a go on the roundabout and the slide but the queues were massive for anything else....It was packed and little kids are ruthless. They don't queue for anything and think nothing about pushing in.....My girls are far too nice to stop a little one going before them....hehehe
After about half an hour we decided to try our luck in the playground for older children....It was just as busy but older kids know how to queue. hehehe
Some of the equipment and rides looked quite terrifying but the girls have no fear.....Before I even had chance to tell them to be careful they were off.....
They both had to go on the huge slide first....It was up a steep hill and within seconds they had both whizzed down and were running back up for another go....There were kids going down headfirst. Eek! They had no fear!
Next up was the zip wire.....It was fantastic! Stu came in handy for this and gave them a push to start the girls off....They shrieked and screamed but had a blast....
They made their way around every piece of equipment at the park....Balance ropes, swinging things and even climbed and jumped off a huge rock....
The girls had about 4 hours at the park and could have easily stayed for much longer.....We only left because it started to rain.....
The only negative I have about the park is the toilets. They are pretty grim. They are in brick buildings near the cafe and it looks like they haven't been cleaned in years.....Eww! It didn't put it off Ridley Park though. We will be back sometime soon.....
Such a shame aboutvthe younger children pushing in. They do seemed to have loved the older children's park, that slide looks amazing
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest shame was the parents were just stood watching and laughing. Grr!
DeleteThey loved the slide. They must have went on it at least 50 times each x
You mentioned kids going to the park and Greggs in the same post . you will be pilloried forever. Because you didnt make them a hummas and crudite filled lunch box and they wernt at some expensive organised play park...lol good on you , fun shouldnt have a price tag
ReplyDeletehahaha! Let people judge. If I gave my kids hummas they would think I've lost the plot. lol They are quite happy with a sausage roll and a fruit shoot. hahaha It's not like they get them every day. x
DeleteAh lovely photographs. Ridley Park is one of our favourites too, esp in summer when the water fountains are on.
ReplyDeleteThank you. My girls loved the water fountains last year when the tall ships were here but we didn't spend long playing because there was too much to see. We will be back if it ever warms up. x
DeleteI haven't been to Ridley park in years, my eldest used to love it in the summer. We love the park at Morpeth, especially in summer when the outdoor pool is open and the rowing boats are on and most importantly the Chinese van is open haha xx
ReplyDeleteAhh! I haven't been to the one in Morpeth but I just googled it and it looks fantastic. We will be visiting in the summer :D x
DeleteIt looks like lots of fun! The toilets always tend to be grim in these places, doesn't it? x
ReplyDeleteIt was. Thank you. You're right the toilets are awful. Ugh x
DeleteHi Kim, it looks like your girls had a fantastic time at the park. A picnic lunch from Greggs sounds like a treat too. Little children can get a little over excited at a park, you're two were better off at the one for older children, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up with the #MMBC.
xx
Oh yes. It felt so much calmer in the older kids area. lol
DeleteThank you x
That does sound like a popular play park, I've never seen anyone queuing at parks around here, I guess village life is very different. Mind you, I don't think we have parks with so much equipment either. that long slide looks lots of fun, I'd like one of those here and a big sand pit. I can see why the girls were keen to return here.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
Ahh! We don't usually have queues at our local parks here but this one was in a biggish town. It was a fab park! Thank you x
DeleteOh wow, it looks awesome! We took our girl to the park for the first time last week and she loved it - especially the swings!
ReplyDeleteAww! How sweet! Thank you x
DeleteThat looks like a fun park to play at and the girls looked like they really enjoyed it. It's a shame some parents stand by and watch their kids take over isn't it? Least there was no pushing in on the older section :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining in with #MMBC lovely xx
It is a shame about parents just letting their kids run riot. Eesh! hehehe
DeleteThank you x
That looks like a lovely park to have some great fun in #countrykidsfun
ReplyDeleteIt was fantastic. Thank you x
DeleteI love that you can see how much fun was being had in your lovely pictures.
ReplyDelete#countrykids
Thank you x
DeleteIt looks a great park and that wiggly slide is fantastic. Mich x #Countrykids
ReplyDeleteThe slide was the best thing...hehehe They loved it. Thank you x
DeleteWow, 4 hours at a park is impressive. We never spend anywhere near that long at them #countrykids
ReplyDeleteThey could have stayed longer but the rain stopped our fun. Thank you x
DeleteGreat post - it doesn't matter where we take our kids, breaking the bank to go to zoos or days out, it's the free play parks they like the best :) #countrykids
ReplyDeleteVery true indeed. I have paid a fortune for days out in the past and had an average day. At a free park or the beach are where we have most fun x
DeleteThat looks like an amazing park! Your girls are clearly having a fantastic time - love the shots of them on the slide :) #countrykids
ReplyDeleteThat park looks amazing. I love the huge slide - I'd have been tempted to go on that too! Becky and Ellie look like they are having a wonderful time :-) #countrykids
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a great park, I bet my kids would have loved that slide too!
ReplyDeleteWe never spend enough time in parks!! Must try harder. That slide looks immense and although he's a bit young for it I know Monkey would love it! #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteI love spending time at our local parks with my son, he loves it so much. These spaces are so important to our towns and villages. It looks like your girls had a great time (also very jealous of the Gregg's picnic, really fancy a sausage roll now!) #CountryKids
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