Black Park, Magnificent Maleficent
Firstly, you do need a car to get here but it’s worth the journey. Also, if you decide to drive and you do all you can in Black Park, you can pop across the dual carriageway to Langley Park, which is equally attractive.
Black Park spans over 500 acres and encircles a large lake. If you enter from the car park, walk in an anticlockwise direction and you’ll see Café San Remo, which has very clean toilets and baby-changing areas—as well as food, naturally! If you decide to bring your own lunch, there are plenty of benches next to the café and sprinkled around the walking trails. Many enjoy picnicking in the large ‘Open Space’ area.
Next to the café, you’ll find a large play area that also has trees within the enclosure. For older children and planned journeys there’s also the option of ‘Going Ape’, or Go Ape as it’s actually called. It’s always fun to zip-wire, swing like Tarzan or tightrope above a huge drop—or watch others do the aforementioned! They also have Segways and bikes for rent, although the Segways are only around during designated times and in organised groups, so don’t worry, your country walk won’t be interrupted by two-wheeled motors. However, it is worth noting that on certain days they have running and bicycle clubs that follow ushered and cordoned-off routes. If you’re interested in joining either of these you’ll need to book first.
The specially paved or wood-chipped walkways are large enough to fit two or more pushchairs parallel to each other. (There is nothing worse than going for a stroll with a friend to find you have to walk in single file.) For those without a pushchair there are walks and cutouts throughout the woods and parkland where you will be greeted by all varieties of wildlife. Special boards display details of what animals and plants inhabit the area.
Now for you movie buffs: You probably know Pinewood Studios is near. Well, if you venture away from the lake you will eventually meet the end of the walking path that leads onto….yes, the movie studios! If you’re lucky, you might see a bus full of extras digging into their lunch and if you look up, you’ll see a blue screen where all the computer wizardry is made. Of course, Maleficent was filmed there recently, and Harrison Ford was airlifted out of Pinewood whilst filming the latest Star Wars. (I didn’t see him but I did see the helicopter.)
Finally, as you can see from the images, the park is so picturesque it makes an amateur like me look like an expert.
For more on Black Park, including how to get there, visit their website.
