Occasionally I get to go out alone, minus an exuberant three-year-old. And that’s when I head straight for the antiques emporiums, vintage shops or anywhere else with very pretty, old and breakable objects.

Holden Wood Antiques is housed in an old church, surrounded by hills and reservoirs, and boasts two floors of lovely things from secondhand books to kitchenalia, jewellery and linens. As you go through the big, heavy door and escape from the cold Pennine winds you immediately get the aroma of delicious baked things wafting through from the attached tea rooms.

The food is tasty and there’s a range of hot meals, salads and cakes as well as a daily specials board. You can sit and read a book quite happily whilst enjoying a toasted teacake and indulging in some truly wonderful hot chocolate. I’d recommend the dark variety, so good it’s sure to become a regular habit of mine.

After browsing the antiques booths and perhaps making a little purchase or two – there are treasures to found for all budgets – you can pull on your wellies and take a bracing walk around the nearby Calf Hey Reservoir. The perfect way to work off some of that cake!

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We all remember the museums we visited as children; particularly those nearby which warranted repeat trips and whose exhibits became familiar to us. For me it was the Rossendale Museum at Whitaker Park. And the things I loved best? The stuffed elephant.

It was the kind of museum which was like a Victorian cabinet of curiosities on a grand scale; not much rhyme or reason to anything but exciting nonetheless. Sadly, the museum was deemed too expensive to maintain by the local council in 2013. The doors were closed and the future was uncertain; fortunately it was saved and is now The Whitaker.

I hadn’t set foot in the museum in decades but recently visited with my partner and little boy. I loved it, we all did. The natural history collection is intact and looks great (yes, the elephant’s still in residence) and there’s a truly lovely cafe with views out across the park. It’s very family friendly with facilities thoughtfully provided to make your visit a fuss-free experience.

Upstairs there’s a fine art gallery which hosts some great revolving exhibitions of contemporary work. The mix of old and new sits comfortably together and despite the building having received a much-needed makeover it still retains its architectural and historical integrity. The collections are displayed beautifully, the staff are welcoming and, being a smaller museum, it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Outside, the park is perfect for a leisurely stroll. Children will love the play area, and there are raised beds housing fruit, herbs and vegetables which are available for visitors to pick from. The Whitaker is within easy walking distance of the East Lancs railway too so perfect for making a day of it exploring this little corner of the glorious Pennines.

Images by Sarah Hardman

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We’re regular visitors to Dunham Massey, a National Trust-owned house, garden and deer park. It’s a great place to go if you fancy a walk with little ones; they love seeing the swans on the lake and the deer who wander freely about. Recently though, I took a weekday opportunity for some ‘me’ time and visited alone.

A new cafe and shop recently opened along with a reconstruction of the old Stamford Hospital, which received injured soldiers during WWI. I’ve never actually been in the house before so was excited to go in. It was impressive – there are even actors lying in the hospital beds and nurses on duty – and photographs and sound recordings all evoke a real sense of history. A word of warning, though – this part of the Dunham experience may not be suitable for very young children as there are some graphic descriptions of what went on and not every tale has a happy ending… some aspects of it are very moving.

The high point of my visit, though, was the stunning gardens; the perfect place for a bit of quiet contemplation and daydreaming. The rose garden wasn’t yet in bloom but was still very pretty with gravelled walks and wrought-iron benches. The wooded areas were still carpeted with bluebells; tulips were growing in drifts everywhere and I came across the biggest, most glamorous-looking peonies I’ve ever seen.

Oh, and another thing – don’t miss the shop. There are lots of lovely buys: books, cards, woollen blankets, toys, gardening gifts and plants. And if you’re feeling peckish try the new cafe (or my favourite – the Stables Restaurant. They serve huge, cloud-like meringues to enjoy with your tea).

Images by Sarah Hardman

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The village of Bunbury, on the Shropshire Union Canal, will have you dreaming of a life in a cosy cottage surrounded by meadows and postcard-perfect country lanes. We visited last May when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and the fields were dotted with buttercups and mayflowers.

Bunbury is actually made up of two parts: Upper and Lower (separated by the River Gowy), and it’s the quiet Upper Bunbury we tend to frequent. The village has a huge church which dates back over 1000 years. The churchyard is lovely to wander around on a sunny day. You can admire the quaint houses from an elevated spot and find somewhere quiet to sit and lose yourself for a little while. The area is criss-crossed with footpaths too; perfect for an amble by the river and woods.

But the real draw for us is the pub, the Dysart Arms. It has a pretty beer garden and a delicious menu (winning the Cheshire Dining Pub of the Year in 2009) with locally-sourced, seasonal produce. Indoors is nice and relaxed too; we love the book-lined dining room at the back. I’d recommend the ploughman’s lunch: perfect for a quintessential English afternoon in the countryside.

Images by Sarah Hardman

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My fiancé Jay and I recently set ourselves a challenge: a thrifty day out without spending any money. So we went somewhere without shops, cafes or restaurants.

Hilbre Island is a nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. We checked the tidal times then set out across the beach from the town of West Kirby. Having quickly explored the first island, Little Eye (it’s tiny) and the next, Little Hilbre, we reached Hilbre proper. It’s a wild and windy place – perfect for de-stressing and looking out to sea. On a good day you might even spot some grey seals.

We were lucky with the weather. On reaching the island, the clouds parted, the sun came out and it seemed the only thing to do was to simply lie in the grass watching the sky and listening to the waves crashing below. We’d have stayed all day if it wasn’t for those pesky tides…

Be sure to take a bag with waterproofs, a picnic and make sure you wear sturdy shoes or wellies. And don’t forget your camera. Even the most amateur of photographers can’t fail to get some beautiful pictures. And I guarantee that after all that fresh sea air you’ll have a great night’s sleep!

Images by Sarah Hardman

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