A few weeks ago, faced with a small clutch of younglings (and two grandparents) to entertain, we visited two of our local county parks – Hampshire County Council’s Royal Victoria and Eastleigh Borough Council’s Itchen Valley.
These proved to be outstanding choices. I’ve visited both parks before, but being accompanied by such a range of ages helped me to appreciate what marvellous leisure assets these places are.
Royal Victoria Country Park
At Royal Victoria, we started with a visit to Sophie’s Pond to feed the ducks (no white bread – it’s bad for them) and then walked round the Swamp – a wetland area just inside the entrance. Feet stay dry – there is a boardwalk.
Having built up a small appetite, we found a comfortable place on the extensive grassed area for our picnic and then the children played ball games (we’d taken bats and balls with us) while the adults sat and watched.
Looking around, the place was busy (but by no means packed) with young families doing pretty much the same thing.
This didn’t fully wear the younglings out, so our next stop was the children’s play area – a recent addition to the park, and designed to give children lots of entertainment and excitement. It took a while to persuade them to leave, but eventually we managed – with the promise of ice cream.
And finally down to the beach (well, foreshore – not sure it really counts as a beach). A few hardy souls were swimming, but we satisfied ourselves with watching the boats, skimming stones and searching for shells. Again, this provided at least an hour’s entertainment for the younglings (and another hour’s rest and recuperation for the oldlings)
The chapel and tower are currently closed for refurbishment, but there were lots of other thing we could have done had we had time – such as a train ride, a longer walk (there is a war cemetery that I’ve yet to visit), or the sensory garden.
Itchen Valley Country Park
At Itchen Valley, we started in the play park.
Again, lots of exciting apparatus for the younglings. They particularly liked the large basket swing that they could all fit on. Meanwhile, some of the oldlings took the opportunity to explore the park.
Another picnic lunch and more ball games (I declined on account of “the bone in my leg”), before we all walked to the woods to watch some people brave the Tarzan swing on the Go Ape course.
A quick aside here: you don’t have to be an adventure junkie to tackle Go Ape. It is great fun and a fantastic sense of achievement when you’ve completed the course.
We then walked through the play trail to High Wood Barn where we bought a well-deserved ice cream.
More fun for the younglings on the play trail – a number of animal-shaped structures, designed to allow children to climb over, through, and slide down. Another play park (for smaller children) gave the adults another rest, and cows in the adjacent field gave another diversion.
Again, we could have done so much more had time and energy allowed, such as following one of the trails through the nature reserves (woodland and water meadow).
All in all, two wonderful days out, and perfectly suited to the age range of our party (from just-turned 4 to well-over 60). And very good value for money – all you have to pay for is parking.
Vital Statistics:
Royal Victoria Country Park
Location: Netley Abbey, Southampton, SO31 5DQ
Opening Times: 1000-1630 April to September; 1000 – 1600 October to March
Prices: Admission free; pay for parking (up to one hour – £1.80; over one hour – £4.00)
Website: Royal Victoria Country ParkItchen Valley Country Park
Location: Allington Lane, West End, Southampton SO30 3HQ
Opening Times: 0830 to 1900 (GMT); 0830 to 2130 (BST)
Prices: Admission free; pay for parking (up to one hour – £1; up to four hours – £2.50; over four hours – £3.90)
Website: Itchen Valley Country Park
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Totally agree with you. We visit Itchen Valley Country Park more often than Royal Victoria. At Itchen Valley, they have improved the facility over the years, and the play areas are brilliant. The play trail is good. I can’t remember there is a Go Ape there – I won’t be brave to try it anyway.
Parking could be a problem at Itchen Valley sometimes. There were times we just simply couldn’t find a place.
On the way back, we would often go to Hobby Craft and Haskins – lots to see there too. (There used to be lots of pets at Haskins you could see).
They have extended the parking area at IVCP recently. There is also a separate area for coaches and minibuses.
Watch out for the parking machines. It takes a few seconds for the coins to drop, so if you press the “go” button too early, you won’t get the time you think you’ve paid for. I’ve been caught out – but the nice people at EBC agreed that it was a genuine mistake, and cancelled my parking fine.
You have inspired me to visit these parks again. Haven’t been for over 20 years. Are dogs allowed?
Yes, dogs are allowed – possibly on leads. Not sure whether there are “free of lead” areas.
Is that skunk cabbage in the first picture? We have some in the garden. I believe it is an imported plant from Canada.
RVCP is great. I used to work in the RV Hospital, not in the Victorian building, that was derelict by then but in army huts behind it. The army is good at huts.
The Officers Mess still functioned then and I went to a formal dinner there. The catering Sergeant gave us instruction on how to pass the port. It was very good port too. The Mess building is now apartments.
The cemetery is quite small considering. If you survived your wounds long enough to reach the hospital, you were almost certain to recover.
At the time I was there in the late 1970’s the hospital was a small psychiatric unit.
Philip Hoare’s Book, Spike Island, gives a good history of the hospital and the region.
Spike Island: The Memory of a Military Hospital: Philip Hoare: 9781841152943
I don’t know whether if it is skunk cabbage. I have to admit that the picture was taken on a previous visit so may be out of season.
Royal Victoria Country Park – in autumn, its Autumn Pumpkin Festival is very famous and is extremely popular.
This year’s event will be at 12:00pm on Saturday 08 Oct 2016
“Come and visit the Autumn Pumpkin Festival. There’s plenty to see and do: Giant pumpkin weighing, local food & produce, Live bands, crafts, circus skills & puppets and much more. Don’t forget to bring along a scarecrow! 12noon – 5.30pm.”
Cost: £5/adult, children and parking free
Venue: Royal Victoria Country Park
Promoter: Jubilee Sailing Trust
Just checked the website and found the dipping ponds had been closed at Itchen Valley Country Park, due to a problem with an invasive weed.
We used to find lots of ‘things’ there though I didn’t recognise most of them!