Maze Urges Visitors to Go-Loco and Max Out on Value

Double national Maze of the Year award-winner, the Lakeland Maze Farm Park is cutting the ribbon on its 2023 maize maze on Saturday July 15 and literally inviting adults and children to ‘let off steam’, go loco and discover the day-out value for money they seek in 2023, according to research.

Anyone making tracks for Lakeland Maze Farm Park, will find the maze celebrating the magic of steam travel, with the pathways that have been cut into the 6-8-foot-high maize crop, across an 8-acre area, taking the form of a steam train when viewed from above.

Over 60-90 minutes, depending how quickly they crack the puzzle and find the correct route, maze adventurers can have enormous fun discovering whether pathways offer ‘green lights’ to proceed or not. With ‘controllers’ sitting at ‘junction boxes’ within the maze, to offer some helpful advice when needed, nobody can get lost for too long!

If the ‘wheels’ won’t turn for that length of time, there is the option of the mini maze instead, which can typically be cracked in 15-25 minutes.  To support the steam train theme, this is designed as a pocket watch – one worthy of any ‘station master’ keeping things to schedule.

The steam train theme is very fitting in a year marking the centenary of the Flying Scotsman and at an idyllic Lake District location at which West Coast Railways’ steam trains pass by a few times a week, on the line running right alongside the farm park.  

However, whilst the mazes are most definitely stars of the show, it’s the farm park’s overall offering that is likely to bring 2023 visitors on board, according to research commissioned by attractions’ marketing experts, Heritage Buzz.  More than a quarter (26%) said the cost of living crisis means they will only visit attractions providing good value for money. Lakeland Maze Farm Park is doing just that.

It has added yet another thing to do, in the shape of Water Wars – offering the chance for anyone, from nipper to Nan, to engage in a water battle by firing water-filled balloons at an opponent’s battle station.  With a towel or change of clothes at the ready, this is enormous fun. Five water-filled balloons are included with each admission and, if battle spirit takes over, another 7 can be purchased for £1.50!

Water Wars comes one year after the maze unveiled the 150-foot Super Mega Ride n Slide, down which riders travel in an inflatable ring, this year running alongside wildflower planting.  The year before, super giant trampoline Air Bouncers were installed and a new ball games play area was created.

These newer attractions are just some of the things to do within the entrance price, alongside outdoor karting, giant draughts, spring-free trampolines, wooden panel maze and a 15-minute tractor and trailer ride each day at 1.30pm. Indoors, there is soft play, a climbing wall, indoor go karts, a tube maze, giant Lego, vintage tractors and coin-operated quad bikes.  In a few weeks, the sunflower field will also be open for flower picking.

Then there are animal-related activities, enhanced this year by the creation of an outdoor animal walkway.  Visitors can pet animals, buy special food and feed them, and enjoy educational animal demonstrations.  Creatures living at the Lakeland Maze Farm Park include alpaca, llama, goats, rabbits, ferrets, cows, chickens, pigs, horses, donkey, sheep, small rodents and Wally the huarizo – an alpaca and llama cross.

To make access easier, a new tarmac road has been laid and, to help visitors keep costs down, they can bring their own picnic, enjoying this outside or in an indoor picnic area, if rain derails their plans.

“We are doing all we can to pack as much value as we can into a day out in the Lake District and people can easily find enough to do, to make the most of every hour between opening at 10am and closing at 5pm,” says owner, Graham Wadsworth.

“We understand that people want to spend wisely on their days out this year but believe that our steam travel-themed mazes, plus all of our other activities, will be just the ticket, allowing them to max the value they get from their money.”

Admission is also cheaper if bought online at www.lakelandmaze.co.uk where tickets cost £11.45 for adults and children and £7.95 for seniors.  Best value for multiple days out at the park is a £40 season pass, which can be used for the entire year.  As the maze now opens right up to October 29, there is even more reason to consider this, if you are local.

Ends

Editors notes

The Lakeland Maze Farm Park is located at the gateway to the Lake District, in the village of Sedgwick near Kendal, just a few minutes drive from the M6 junction 32. Since opening in 2004, it has twice been awarded the Maze of the Year title, for its annual maize maze - spread over 8 acres and cut into 8-foot-high maize - and its min-maze. However, the park is much more than just the mazes, with animal petting, feeding and demonstrations, a daily tractor and trailer ride, Air Bouncer pillows, wooden panel maze, Water Wars water battle attraction, a 150-foot Super Mega Slice n Ride slide, karts, climbing wall, bouncy castle, indoor play area, outdoor ball game area, coin-operated quad bikes, vintage tractors and much more. Families can bring picnics and enjoy those indoors or outdoors.