| The summer holidays are on the horizon. The six | | | | roundabout end towards the far end of the park. |
| weeks' school holiday can be the best of times, | | | | If you bring a picnic I suggest you leave it in the |
| and the worst of times. If you are short of ideas | | | | car until you are ready to eat. This is a good |
| for a day out with your precious siblings, there is | | | | excuse to buy a return ticket train ride on the |
| a relatively unknown child magnet here in the east | | | | light railway steam train, appropriately named the |
| midlands. | | | | "Markeaton Lady". The train ride is an |
| MarkeatonPark - Mundy Play Centre for Under | | | | approximate fifteen minutes round scenic trip, |
| 16's | | | | with two stops. You can embark from the Mundy |
| Markeaton Park is a very popular park with junior | | | | Play Centre to go to the car park. Whilst enjoying |
| age children here in the East Midlands. It boasts | | | | the scenery we like to play, 'spot the squirrel'. |
| the widest range of outdoor activities within the | | | | There are many of them around the park and |
| city of Derby. | | | | you can usually be observed scurrying around the |
| Mundy Play Centre - The Main Attraction | | | | grounds and scrambling into the trees, around the |
| Make your way into the Mundy Play Centre car | | | | grounds. Enjoy your picnic on the acres of green |
| park, either from the A38 Kedleston roundabout | | | | grass in the park, or by the river where you can |
| or from Markeaton Lane car park. The nearest | | | | watch the rowing boats paddling up and down by |
| entrance to the Mundy Centre is form Markeaton | | | | the lake. |
| Lane car park. Park up and walk over a short | | | | The Orangery Cafe |
| bridge, over a small stream abudndant ducks, and | | | | The Orangery café is set in the beautiful |
| you will be greeted by the donkey rides, a | | | | flower gardens of Markeaton Park. Sit inside or |
| motorised mini car track, two bouncy castles, and | | | | outside to enjoy a delicious assortment of |
| the crazy golf. A good tip for you, is to buy a | | | | toasties, rolls, pasties and children's anything with |
| few tickets at a time from the kiosk in the middle | | | | chips prepared on the premises. It really is good |
| of the Mundy centre because on a hot sunny day | | | | place to go if you fancy a light snack. The large |
| in peak summer time the queues can get very | | | | mugs of hot chocolate are wonderfully sweet, |
| long. I speak from experience. The free paddling | | | | and absolutely delicious with one of their cakes or |
| pool is set apart from slightly from this area. | | | | gateaux. Ice-creams, lollipops and candy floss can |
| Further towards one end of the part find two | | | | also be bought here. |
| traditional play areas with swings, slides and | | | | After lunch make your way back to the canoes |
| roundabouts. The smaller play area for the under | | | | on the small lake inside the Mundy Centre. You |
| 8's includes picnic tables. I've found this particularly | | | | may decide to feed the ducks along the way. |
| useful as children have a short attention span to | | | | Afterwards you can cool down in the outside |
| eating, when the swings and slides are beckoning. | | | | paddling pool. The little ice-cream kiosks dotted |
| You can enjoy your lunch in this play area in | | | | around the play area are forever popular. |
| peace while keeping a watchful eye on your little | | | | We have had a lot of fun in the kids summer |
| ones. The second play area, for older children, | | | | holidays at Markeaton Park. Oh, by the way, I |
| includes a web net climbing frame. | | | | forget to tell you, it's free to get in and parking is |
| Car Parking | | | | only £1.40 for 4 hours, or £2.80 up |
| The main car park is just off the Markeaton | | | | to 8 hours. |