Sywell Country Park was one of my favourite places to visit when I lived in Northampton. It is a beautiful location with activities for all the family, and the perfect day out for those who wish to spend some time outdoors.

The reservoir, which used to be a water supply, is at the centre of a lot of the activities. There is a path around the water that dogs can be walked on, it goes through a wildlife preservation area, where there are several bird hides for those of all levels.

A new activity that has been introduced using the lake, is fishing. There is a small charge to do so, but apparently Sywell is one of the leading Trench fisheries.

The Butterfly Garden is definitely a place that holds a lot of good memories. It was Nana’s favourite spot whenever she went with us, she loved the beautiful flowers and the tranquility of the place, something that I can completely relate to. There are plaques around that explain which butterflies you can expect to see dependent on the time of year and the flowers that have been planted.

For Kids, there is a playground and several play areas focused on water activities around the reservoir. There are also different trails that you can get from the information centre, (some are seasonal while others are based on the wildlife and foliage) which are a great way to help children learn about their surroundings as well as encourage their enjoyment of being outside.

Like I said, this is a great place to spend the day outdoors in Northampton, even in the Winter.