Free Things to do in Preston Lancashire

It’s Friday afternoon when went to visit my friend Gina who is living in Preston Lancashire. The drive going up north was nice and smooth from M5 to M6 aside from some major motorway roadworks abit slow in some part running 40-50mph, it took me 2  1/2 hours from Cheltenham not bad I would say. On the following day
Gina and I, decided to go for a stroll around Preston area.

Free things to do in Preston Lancashire Area:

Harris Museum and Art Gallery

We went to see the Harris Museum and Art Gallery. It is centrally located in City center, its free to get in which is a bonus. It is housed in a Grade I listed museum building in Preston and has the largest gallery space in Lancashire, England.

There are extensive displays of pottery work and it’s history in Britain. From porcelain  ceramics, chinaware, silver bottles,cameo glass,and modern glass works. There’s also displays of different costumes from 17th century to the present days.

The upper floor are painting displays. One collection that caught my eyes is the “Puck”  it is a character from Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was painted by Richard Dadd the infamous Victorian artist know for his fairy paintings.

Brockholes Reserve Park

As usual I referred to my AA road atlas and soon we were driving towards Blackburn theres a reserve park. The Brockeholes reserve is perfect place for a family day out, either you choose to go walking around the area, there’s a play area for the kids or bring a binocular for birds watching, and theres also a cafe in the floating village.

The beautiful concept of the floating village design was inspired by the flooded plain and consideration to the ecotourism.

Avenham and Miller Parks

Its a spectacular park that has undergone an improvement was funded by Heritage lottery project. Come and experience the beautiful parks either family picnics, with 21 mile path for walking or cycling , or just have a relaxing time and go by the pavilion café. The stunning Victorian English Heritage grade 2 listed Park also host wedding cermonies. The two park offers a wonderful heritage and breathaking landscapes in a riverside setting.

Visit the Blackpool seaside

The nearest seaside area from Preston is the Pleasure beach in Balckpool, its only about 30 minutes drive. It offers a variety of things to do, walked along the promanade, have a swim, if you want a aerial view climb up the Blackpool Tower. This place is famous for the Blackpool illuminations and get away place for hen night and stag doo, the place can get crowded at times.

Belas Knap an English Ancient Monuments

Random Road trips is my favourite, I normally get my AA Road Atlas and look for the nearest place to explore. Today I decided to go and see an ancient monument The Belas Knap. I never knew about this not until today, a quick browsed on the internet and off for my drive in the lovely scenic route of Cotswold.

A cairn is a man-made pile (or stack) of stones. A word originates from Scottish Gaelic: càrn (plural càirn). Cairns are often erected as landmarks, used since ancient times, but prehistoric time they have also been built for a variety of other reasons, such as burial monuments, and for defence and hunting, as well as ceremonial, astronomical, and other purposes.

Visiting this prehistoric monumental site is such a great way to dig in some history. The Belas Knap is a neolithic long barrow with the mound still intact and surrounded by a stone wall. The chamber tombs is over 5500 years old , they have excavated the area and where the remains of 31 people and animals were found. This is now an English Heritage Site,and its free to visit. Getting to the cairn is abit tricky. But if you are fond of hiking and walking, it wont take time to reach it while enjoying the scenic view along the way. Belas Knap is located between Winchcombe and Charlton Abbots its a short drive from Cheltenham. It’s about 30 minutes, it is well sign posted. Before your visit if you want to do a proper hiking you can download the National Trail Winchcombe and Belas Knap.

Well sign posted you can park your car by the road side.

Trail to the monument

The Belas Knap Mound

The Portal Setting or False Entrance

After my visit to the Belas Knap I headed to the Haile Abbey but unfortunately by the time . When I got there the place is already closed. With my determination to still want to see the ruined abbey, I walked around the area and snapped some photos outside the fence. Didnt had the chance to see it up close but I have captured beautiful photos of the ruined abbey

I then decided to drive around the scenic area of cotswold. While driving around, I drove passed a field full of rolled hay or locally called hail bail. The view was so picturesque its a shame not to stop and take some photos.

A random roadtrip that turns out to be a lovely day out. Cotswold countryside is beautiful place to do a road trip. It offers varied point of interest from a rolling hills of cotswold, ruined abbeys and churches, not to mention the castles and lots of parks to explore, and the small quirky villages. Only needed a 365 days of sunshine to enjoy every place.