We visit stunning East Midlands country park: Full day of fun for price of parking and an icecream

If you’ve got kids, a picnic bag, and a bit of sunshine, Shipley Country Park is basically your happy place.

We piled in with our three (full of pre-trip excitement… and snacks), met up with friends, and the day just flowed perfectly.

First up, the space here is huge – and I mean properly huge.

There are lakes, meadows, and wooded bits that feel like you’re miles away from anything.

The kids were off like rockets the second we hit the play area, and we barely saw them except for when they needed a drink or wanted to show us the best stick ever.

We took a stroll around one of the easy trails (bug spotting was a big hit), and even with little legs in the group, no one moaned about the walking.

The paths are well kept, so buggies or scooters are totally fine. Bonus: there are loads of benches dotted about for snack breaks – which in kid terms means stopping every 15 minutes.

Picnic time was the dream.

We set up by the water, the grown-ups caught up over coffee from the brand new Bluebell Café (the cake situation is dangerously good), and the kids made friends with a family of ducks.

No meltdowns, no “I’m bored” – just fresh air, running about, and that lovely end-of-day tiredness that makes bedtime a breeze.

If you’re after a low-stress, high-fun day out where you can actually relax while the kids run themselves happy, Shipley Country Park is a winner.

Just pack snacks, sun cream, and maybe a spare change of clothes… because those muddy puddles are irresistible.

Best part? It’s a full day out where you only really pay for parking and maybe an ice cream.

Shipley Country Park is near Derby and Nottingham and offers 700 acres of attractive and varied landscape.

For more visit here.

The park's address is Slack Lane, Heanor, DE75 7GX.