To come to Bakewell is most definitely fun for all the family and there’s nothing nicer than to take the children to Bakewell park and recreation centre on a warm spring day and let them cut loose for a while. It gives you all a break from the shopping, and provides a little rest to get your breathe back until it’s time to hit the shops once more. Take some fish and chips and walk in the 5.25 hectares undisturbed, there’s so much space to get some peace and quiet, and be away from others if you wish.
With some fantastic outdoor sports facilities, Bakewell Recreation Ground has not one but two large football pitches all marked out ready for action, home to Bakewell Town FC, Red Lion FC and the up and coming Bakewell Juniors. It has a multi use games area for simply messing around at will, an area which has been recently upgraded and features facilities for five aside football. The tennis courts are very popular so get your booking in early.
The quintessentially English cricket square is home to Bakewell Cricket club. The club is a small, friendly one founded over 150 years ago in 1861. The picturesque ground stands by the glorious River Wye and plays its cricket in the Yorkshire/Derbyshire league division two on Saturdays. There is also a junior quick cricket section for younger members. With the gorgeous green willows flanking the River Wye, there is nothing more British than seeing the stark white uniforms of the cricket players against the pale green leaves, the rush of water in the background adding to the chocolate box cover.
The recreation ground also has two fantastically manicured croquet lawns and is home to Bakewell croquet club. The young team is increasingly successful and has now completed its fifth season. Not stuffy and formal, the croquet club concentrate on the fun side of the game and tend to play golf croquet. It’s a game of skill, artistry and cunning and is played on two full-sized lawns which are situated in front of the cricket pavilion. It’s great to sit and watch, close your eyes and hear the thwack of the wooden cricket or croquet ball, and bask in the summer Bakewell sun.
Fringing the town centre and with the toilets situated close by, it is so easy to get to and from the car parks, including a lovely stroll across the river from the footbridge access at the Derbyshire district Council’s Agricultural Business Centre . It’s so convenient for wheelchairs and prams, totally flat and a wonderful walk and you don’t have to walk far if you don’t feel the need. The River Wye runs alongside the whole of the recreation ground, making it a beautifully picturesque place for a stroll, a jog or a picnic.
The childrens’ play area at the ground provides a very safe place the children to play. There are a lot of benches for parents to sit and keep a close eye and with the exciting new dry play equipment, recently installed as part of an upgrade in the summer of 2009, there is also a brilliant new interactive splash pad section, ensuring the kids will have fun for hours if you let them. The play areas for both Bakewell and Ashbourne’s recreation ground and Memorial Gardens came from the Big Lottery Fund Provided by Derbyshire Dales District Council and the park is superbly equipped for older and younger generations, with thanks to that.
The main toilets in Bakewell, are situated in the town centre on Granby Road opposite the police station, just a five-minute stroll from the recreation ground but there are some there as well. The public conveniences include baby changing facilities and disabled toilets and were refurbished in the summer of 2011. There are also toilets in the Agricultural Business Centre, so if your little one is caught short you don’t have too run very far!
Bakewell recreation park is just a few minutes stroll away from the town centre of Bakewell so it’s great to pack up some sandwiches or buy some drinks, eat ice cream or have a Bakewell pudding packed up and have a picnic in the grounds. There are lots of litter bins provided so keep the park tidy and let others enjoy the view. Dogs are allowed but again with owners ensuring the park is kept clean. It’s a really wonderful respite from the morning’s shop that it is also great for bribing the kids and letting them have a fantastic time as well.