THINGS TO DO BEFORE THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE OVER

This summer we are inviting you to complete the ultimate kids summer bucket list. Try and tick off as many of the things below before you go back to school. Each and every one can be done in spots around Lancashire during your visit to our fantastic county. What are you waiting for?

1. FLY A KITE – We have kite festivals up and down our coast, but Lancashire also has hills and plenty of fun open spaces for you to test your skills.

2. BUILD A DEN – We have so many great places to explore and build dens in the woods and forests, Brockholes in Preston often holds den making events so be on the lookout for those.

3. SLEEP IN NATURE – there’s nothing like waking up to the sounds of nature, and camping is so much fun, choose from a countryside site like Royal Umpire Holiday Park near Croston or a coastal retreat like Red Bank Farm overlooking Morecambe Bay.

4. LEARN ABOUT LANCASHIRE’S HISTORY – visit one of our local museums to learn more about the history of the area, some ideas can be found on page 71.

5. SCAVENGER HUNT – Ask your adults to create a special scanvenger hunt of things or places that you can find in the area you’re visiting. This can be a great way of finding new spots and learning about nature or the area around you.

6. GO ON A BUG HUNT – Why not head along to Mere Sands Wood to discover the bugs that call Lancashire their home. You could also spot a bird or two!

7. GO ROCK CLIMBING – From Anglezarke Quarry to Witches’ Quarry there are plenty of fantastic climbing spots in Lancashire, but if actual rocks aren’t on the agenda yet, why not start your bouldering adventure at PrestonWall Climbing Centre.

8. SKIM A STONE – A simple yet enjoyable past time, enjoy a visit to one of our many lakes to skim a stone or two and see who in your family can skim theirs the most!

9. HIT THE SLOPES – Give skiing or tubing a try at The Hill in Rossendale, which celebrates 50 years of outdoor skiing this summer.

10. VISIT A DARK SKIES AREA TO STARGAZE – the Forest of Bowland is the perfect place to stargaze, maybe even catch sight of a planet!

11. GO FISH, OR JUST SPOT THEM! – Our rivers and lakes are perfect for spotting a fish or two, with Abbey Lakes in Up Holland providing a great angling facility for those keen on the activity.

12. GO BAREFOOT – Walking barefoot helps get in touch with nature. Why not go for a walk on the beach at Morecambe and feel the sand between your toes.

13. GO ROCK POOLING – in North Lancashire you can find the beautiful Silverdale Cove, one of the best places to go rock pooling whilst admiring the view across the Bay.

14. GO WILD SWIMMING – Wild swimming is great to boost your brain power! And thankfully there are lots of places to enjoy the water safely in Lancashire, Wyresdale Park have weekly wild swimming sessions to join in with!

15. GO ON A NIGHT TIME NATURE WALK – Hedgehogs, bats, moths, owls, foxes… so many animals wander at night, why not go see what you can see or hear? Brockholes have a family bat walk to join in with.

16. GIVE ORIENTEERING A GO – at Gisburn Forest you can test your map reading skills with a permanent course in Birch Hill.

17. HIT THE WATER – Choose from a range of water sport activities, including paddleboarding, rowing boats, canoes and pedalos at Fairhaven Lake in Lytham St Annes.

18. WATCH THE SUNSET – As the sun sets in the West, our coast is one of the best places to catch the sunset. Head to the hills on Heysham’s coast for a truly stunning place to enjoy the end of the day.

19. LEARN ABOUT ANIMAL CONSERVATION – Visit Blackpool Zoo to learn more about the animals that they help from across the world.

20. PLAY TORCH TAG – Get outside in the dark and play torch tag, run from hiding spot to hiding spot and try and shine your torch on your friends and family, while avoiding their torches too.

21. PAINT ROCKS – The rivers by Clough Mines in Rivington are perfect for picking up a rock or two to take home and paint. You could even decorate them then leave them in places for others to find and re-hide

22. GET ON YOUR BIKE – We have so many great cycling routes in Lancashire, including the Heritage Cycle Route in Burnley where you can discover stories of life in the past from the area.

23. BUILD A SANDCASTLE – Our beautiful beaches are the perfect spot for a sandcastle. Head along to Morecambe’s west shore for a great sandcastle building spot.

24. APPRECIATE ARTWORK IN NATURE – From the Mythic Coast in Cleveleys to the Pendle Sculpture trail in the shadow of Pendle Hill, there are lots of great outdoor artwork trails in the area for you to explore

25. CATCH A SHOW – Our theatres often have great family friendly shows for you to enjoy during your visit, including the fantastic Duke’s Outdoor Theatre which allows you to roam around Williamson Park in Lancaster watching the actors perform