The Crocky Trail is well signposted and thus easy to find just off the A41, near Chester. You drive in and pay before parking your car (I am happy to report that since the last reviewer visited, there is now the facility to pay by credit card), and then head off to the main activity area at the start of the trail. Once you have exhausted the options there, you set off on a circular walk which runs alongside a ditch, effectively skirting the outside of a big field, before ending up back where you started.

The best part of the experience from the kids' point of view is definitely the initial play area - there are a number of slides and activities which are really quite fun for all ages, although it was a shame that some people chose to ignore the signs asking for the mats provided to be used on the slides, as this led to them getting marked and thus not being as fast as they would have been. After you start the walk, there are a number of situations when you can clamber across the ditch on various different bridges, or use the path. There are also some swings and roundabouts dotted along the trail.

Overall I would say that my kids enjoyed it, as we were there for around four hours. There were also a lot of dogs there, so I suspect that they enjoy it too, and it is quite a good way of combining fun for the kids with exercise for all the family. However the biggest drawback for me was the price - I really do feel that £10 per person (under 5s free) is way too much for what it offers, even in a day and age when entertaining your children is often an expensive business. Although adults can go on some of the slides etc., it really is a kids playground (and one which I would suggest is only really suitable for under 12s), so to pay that much to walk around a field does seem somewhat exhorbitant. I know it never happens anywhere, but I would almost rather pay slightly more for the kids and have adults let in free, or at least some sort of family ticket at a slight reduction. The other main problem is that on an even slightly busy day, with everyone following the same trail, you are faced with waits to get on the swings etc, and unless you are very thick-skinned, you tend to limit your kids to a brief go to ensure that the queue behind them does not build! Either that, or the activities which you can share end up overcrowded, meaning that the enjoyment factor is diminished.

It is also worth bearing in mind that the food on offer to buy onsite is very limited, so a good picnic (and good weather!) is essential - however there is a large picnic area set aside for this, with tables and chairs etc.

So overall I would say that the concept is a good one, but it is definitely overpriced for what is on offer.