Good places to meet up in the East Midlands

[flowerpotmike]

Over the Easter weekend I'd like to meet up with my Elderly parents who I haven't seen since October. They live in Sheffield and are frail so can only travel for about an hour. My sister would be driving them ( same household) We have young children, live in the south west and I don't think we could do Sheffield and back in one day.
So we are looking around the Ashby de la zouch or Loughborough areas.
I don't know the area at all, can anyone recommend a good outdoor place for a meet up? Could be a farm shop, nice drive through cafe, park, national trust etc. Ideally it would have toilets and car parking. All suggestions welcomed. Thanks.

Conkers is near Ashby and great for children. Not sure if it'll be opening yet though.

Calke Abbey is National Trust and is South Derbyshire / Leicestershire border.

Hicks Lodge is nice, there is a cafe- I haven't been for a while, but last time I did it was take-away only, there are picnic benches though.

There's also Calke Abbey, about 7 miles from Ashby.
Or Staunton Harold?

Amazing, Thank you. I shall start looking those places up.

Burbage woods perhaps if they are mobile enough for a walk. Decent cafe, good playground, tea shop at far end too, just off m69.

Nice but potentially very busy is bradgate park, deer, nice cafe, but most of Leicester will be there.

There's nice woods near the Coventry ring road as another option, or Thornton reservoir maybe?

I agree with @minniemoocher about Bradgate Park. It’s ideal for what you’re looking for, but half of Leicester will be there if the weather is good and parking will be a problem between 11 & 4. The cafés in Newtown Linford are great, but are currently operating as takeaway only, obv.

Wollaton Park wollatonhall.org.uk/deer-park-and-gardens/

www.melton.gov.uk/info/200096/visit_melton_mowbray/341/melton_country_park

wollatonhall.org.uk

www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/rushcliffecountrypark/

Foxton Locks! Can't get enough!

Bradgate park is great. And has open and clean toilets. Go to the Hunts Hill entrance as it will be less busy.

Hicks Lodge is lovely but very popular for families so will be busier

Echoing the Calke, Conkers, Staunton Harold and Hicks Lodge.
A little further north, and years since Ive been, but Elvaston Castle?
Melbourne Hall - and/or Melbourne village.

How young are the kids? Conkers is brill, but £££, for primary children.

The Pear Tree have just done up their outside area. Try them.

Another possible suggestion is Beacon Hill. It’s a 5-10 minute drive from the M1 junction at Loughborough. Has a cafe, a few childrens playgrounds and a maze which is drier if wet.

Ooh also ( I'm not sure how mobile your parents are, so might not be suitable) there is Charnwood Alpacas in Boundary, just outside Ashby. They've got alpacas you can take for a walk around. Think they also have some other animals too, and there's a tearoom
That does need pre-booking though, and I'm not sure if they will be open by Easter.

Clumber Park

You've all been so helpful, thank you so much. I'll let you know what we decide.

Depending on which side of Sheffield they’re coming from and if you don’t mind the A1, Belton House near Grantham might be an option. National Trust so you need to book. Might be a bit too far east but we’ve met Sheffield based family there.

Clumber Park is a really good suggestion.