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CATEGORY · A HUDDLEPIN LIST

Parks & nature in Preston

Country parks, woods, lakes and trails for burning off energy.

17 places 6 free to visit

Calm water body surrounded by reed beds and woodland, with water plants visible in the foreground on an overcast day.

Brooms Cross Fishery

Liverpool

Rod-and-line coarse fishing on Owl Tree Pond, plus carp fishing on the Upper and Lower Alt Lakes.

Accessible toiletParkingWheelchair accessible

Illuminated wooden barn venue with open doors at dusk, decorated with neon signage and festive lights.from £60

Catchdale moss Farm

Saint Helens

Pumpkin picking in autumn and a proper Christmas barn later on, with wreath workshops and a tree kitchen and bar for the grown-ups.

CaféFood on sitePicnics allowed

People walking along a tree-lined path in a park with green lawns on either side.Free

Crosby Beach

Liverpool

A wide stretch of sand dotted with 100 cast-iron statues by Antony Gormley, free to wander any time.

A group of visitors walking through a woodland path lined with tall pine trees with reddish bark and moss-covered trunks.Free

Formby Beach Woods

Liverpool

Pinewoods behind the dunes where you go looking for red squirrels, snowdrops and autumn fungi, free to wander.

Parking

Stone country house with ivy-covered walls surrounded by lush gardens, pond and mature trees reflected in still water.from £16

Gresgarth Hall Gardens

Lancaster

Wander through wild garden, vegetable plots and rhododendron woodland on one of the handful of open days a year, kids in free.

Free parking

Holmeswood Flower Farm / Pumpkin Place Pick Your Own

Holmeswood Flower Farm / Pumpkin Place Pick Your Own

Ormskirk

Pick your own pumpkins, sunflowers, sweetcorn and flowers straight from the field.

Dog friendlyIndoor playFood on site

Woodland floor carpeted with blue flowering plants beneath tall trees in dappled sunlight.Free

Mason's Wood Trail

Preston

A free woodland walk near Preston with a proper bluebell show in spring and dogs welcome on the path.

Dog friendlyParkingPublic transport nearby

Adult and children standing on sand dunes with marram grass, facing the sea and sandy cliffs on a clear day.Free

National Trust - Formby

Liverpool

Sand dunes, pinewoods and two beach trails to explore, with sand wheelchairs on loan and no fires allowed to keep the wildlife happy.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+11 more

Lakeside lodges and cabins reflected in still water surrounded by bare trees in early spring.from £8

Newbridge Fishing Lakes

Liverpool · adults only (18+)

Day ticket coarse fishing for carp, tench, bream and chub, open 7am to 7pm, but under 18s aren't admitted without an adult.

CaféToilets

A white trig point stands on rolling moorland with hills and water visible in the distance under a clear sky.

Nicky Nook

Preston

A 3.5 mile fell walk near Preston with reservoir views, a trig point summit and a proper sense of achievement for small legs.

Group of people in athletic wear performing a bootcamp exercise using large tyres on grass.from £250

Ozonefit

Preston · ages 6+

Military-style outdoor bootcamp sessions with scramble nets and tug of war, plus birthday parties for 6 and up.

Booking required

Large group of visitors wearing high-visibility jackets posing on and around a red miniature railway train in a grassy park setting.Free

Park View Skatepark

Lytham Saint Annes

A free outdoor park with a skate bowl and BMX track, plus a toddler playground and woodland trail to wander once the wheels stop.

Café

Cyclist in high-visibility gear riding along a riverside path with grazing horses and woodland trees under a blue sky.

Preston Guild Wheel (Broughton Inlet)

Preston

A 21-mile loop round Preston for walking or cycling, with the River Ribble and Avenham Park along the way.

Woman and child riding a yellow inflatable tube down a water slide together, both smiling with excitement.from £15

Sandcastle Waterpark Blackpool

Blackpool · ages 0+

An indoor tropical waterpark with 18 slides, a big play structure and pools kept at 84 degrees, whatever's happening outside.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredBreastfeeding friendly+12 more

Family playing and building sandcastles on a sandy beach with a pier visible in the background.

Southport Beach

Southport

Miles of open sand near Southport's Victorian seafront, with room to walk, paddle and build without another soul getting in the way.

Aerial view of a wildlife centre with distinctive white-roofed building beside a pond, surrounded by green fields, wetlands and woodland.Free

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust

Preston

Free wildlife reserve with lake and woodland trails, an adventure playground, and a floating visitor village to explore near Preston.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféGift shop+6 more

West Lancs K9 Splash & Hydrofrom £35

West Lancs K9 Splash & Hydro

Leyland

A heated indoor pool near Leyland where your dog swims one-to-one with a wetsuit and float harness laid on.

Booking requiredDog friendlyFree parkingToilets

Good to know: parks & nature in Preston

Are any of them free?

Yes, Crosby Beach, Formby Beach Woods, Mason's Wood Trail, National Trust - Formby and 2 more are free to visit.

What does a paid visit cost?

Paid entry starts from £8 at Newbridge Fishing Lakes. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.

Which ones are indoor?

Sandcastle Waterpark Blackpool and West Lancs K9 Splash & Hydro are indoor, good to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day.

Whereabouts are they?

You'll find parks & nature in Liverpool, Saint Helens, Lancaster, Ormskirk, Preston and 4 more. Every place we list is in or around Preston, and each listing has the full address and directions.

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