Clare Country Park

Missus Michelangelo was at it again. "We're going out", I said to the kids. "I want to go to the play park", said Little W. "Me too", said Little Miss. Hmm. I had in mind something a little further afield. "I'll take you to a park you haven't been to for a long time". So we headed off to Clare and its Castle Country Park.

Clare is one of those large villages/small towns that Suffolk does so well. It is worth a visit for much more than just its childrens adventure park. We got there from Bury St Edmunds by driving down the A143 and taking the B1063 at Stradishall. We parked at the Country Park. "But, where's the play park?", asked Little Miss. "You'll have to find it", I answered.

The Country Park is situated in the old motte and bailey castle alongside the River Stour. It contains the old station...

closed in 1967. (There are no other known stations within the ramparts of a castle). The Visitor Centre in the old goods shed has a display and leaflets for 5 trails - Castle, Railway, Sensory, Nature and Heritage. But we did our own - hunt the play park.

You can climb a winding path around the motte to the remains of the keep. You get a good view of the town here.

But what the little ones really wanted is at the north end of the park, just inside the outer bailey.

Rather sneakily, I had got them to do an interesting walk around the park on the way.

We then went into the town to look for ice-cream. We got our lollies at the Co-op and had a little walk while we ate them. There is a town trail with 15 boards along the route describing some of the interesting buildings.

This is the Ancient House Museum, just by the church and town sign.

But ice lollies weren't enough for the grumbling tummies, so we didn't get to do all the trail. Instead off we went home for tea.

P.S. Summer holiday Events at the Country Park include the Chivalry in the Park combat re-enactment, on August 12 and 13, and a Castles and Dragons Day on August 24.