Park life

I thought I was the only person with children who are up with the larks. How I found myself in Haylodge Park, Peebles, very early one Sunday morning I will never know. I had been rudely awoken, dragged out of bed by my daughters Eve, nine, and Hope, five. It didn’t matter to them that we don’t live nearby or that the weather was drizzly, sometimes the need to run around a park is all consuming. Surprisingly we weren’t the only ones enjoying the retro rocket or the climbing frames or even the leisurely walk past Neidpath Castle, proof that other families must be afflicted with early birds too. Here are a few of our favourite parks, the best bit being that they don’t cost loads of money.

The Meadows, Edinburgh

Packed full of play goodies. The girls both love scrambling up the climbing wall, and make the most of the basket swings, slides and frames. Personally I cannot see the attraction of the twirly metal cup; it makes me feel dizzy thinking about it. Sadly, my two are now too big for the little red cycles that go round in circles.

Kirkgate Park, Loch Leven, Perth and Kinross

You can find a grassy amphitheatre for the theatrically minded, although the girls preferred the pay-for, speaking loos. There is a pretty good range of play equipment, including slides, rope structures and a zip slide, which they pretended was a flying school. There are plenty of healthy walks, which we haven’t got around to exploring yet, but we did discover a mini-beach for a reviving lochside paddle.

Larghan Victory Park, Coupar Angus

Gifted to the community in 1945 although refurbished since, this place offers a fabulous selection of stuff to play on, packing in a skate park, football pitches and a cricket oval. Or you can amuse yourself for hours, with the trampoline, mini sand diggers and a climbing frame that looks a bit like a revolving Christmas tree. Go crazy on the basket swing or try to remain steady on the revolving circle.

Camperdown Park, Dundee

Ship ahoy with a vast array of obstacles to clamber over, themed around the famous naval battle of Camperdown, which was won by Admiral Duncan. Crow’s nests, and all things nautical are fun for all ages. During the summer there are pedalos, but they cost extra, so we gave them a wide berth.

Let us know your favourites so we can plan an early morning raid to see how they compare. [email protected]