IF YOU'RE going to spend at least a few of your Saturdays this summer watching local cricket, keep an eye out for your surroundings as well as the match under way.

Every ground is different - here are some of my recommendations when it comes to views, food and other matters.

THE BEST VIEWS

* See Huddersfield town centre in all its glory from Kirkheaton.

* From Scholes, enjoy unlimited moorland and farmland.

* Stunning industrial vistas can be enjoyed from Dalton.

* Look up at Castle Hill's Victoria Tower at Hall Bower.

* Admire the hillside cottages at Golcar.

* At Cartworth Moor you'll feel like you're on top of the world.

* Look up the Colne Valley from Paddock.

* See right across to the other side of the Holme Valley at Upperthong.

* There's greenery as far as the eye can see at Old Almondburians.

* Enjoy the Pennines from Marsden.

WARNING! HAZARDS!

These clubs won't let a minor nuisance put them off!

* Midges at Holmbridge.

* Church bells at Thornhill.

* Floods at Denby Dale.

* Noisy motorway, Outlane.

* Snow at Cartworth Moor.

TEA TIME

Hungry? Here are my recommendations for what's on offer.

* Turkey balm cakes, sausage rolls, pasta, potato salad and sponge cake - Honley.

* Chicken breasts and Bakewell tarts - Badger Hill, Rastrick.

* Ham and pork pie salads - Bradley & Colnebridge.

* Swiss roll and Rice Krispie cakes - Liversedge.

* Salad buffet and new potatoes, plus sponge cake with lots of icing cream in the middle - Marsden.

NEW AND IMPROVED

Some grounds are boasting great new clubhouses for the 21st century. They include:

* Denby Dale, total cost £370,000 (main funding body: Lottery).

* Almondbury Wesleyans , who spent £340,000 (Sport England).

* Cumberworth, £55,000 (Lottery).

* Meltham - £1.2m, (Sport England).

* Lepton Highlanders, £340,000 (Football Foundation).

WATCHING THE WILDLIFE

Look out for plant and animal magic:

* Monkey tree at Hopton Mills.

* Sheep grazing on the outfield - Holmbridge.

* Vivid-purple blossom near the scorebox - Marsden.

* Horses in an adjoining field - Clayton West.

* Troublesome moles - Cartworth Moor.

HISTORY LESSON

These clubs in particular are steeped in heritage:

* Lascelles Hall - the oldest club in the area (1825).

* Hullen Edge, Elland - hosted the Australians in 1878.

* Bankfield, Kirkheaton - home to England Test legends Wilfred Rhodes and George Herbert Hirst.

* Fartown - county venue till the 1980s.

* Dalton -the second oldest club in Kirklees (1831).

CHEERS!

Some clubs back on to pubs:

* Leymoor - Walkers Arms.

* Armitage Bridge - The Monkey Club.

* Primrose Hill - The Crimea.

* Heckmondwike - The Cricketers Arms.

* Holmbridge - The Bridge Tavern.

HIGH & MIGHTY

Grounds with altitude:

* Cartworth Moor - 1,014 feet above sea level.

* Upperthong - 863.

* Marsden - 843.

* Scholes, Holmfirth - 827.

* Denby - 823.

* DR PETER DAVIES starts a 10-part series on cricket heritage in Huddersfield in the Examiner on Mondays, from June 26.

Trivia from the world of local cricket

* Workers with time on their hands during the 1926 General Strike helped to construct Flockton CC's ground.

* Edgerton play at Dalton and have just officially become Edgerton & Dalton CC.

* Golcar Band practise in the pavilion at Leymoor CC.

* An episode of Last of the Summer Wine was once filmed at Woodhead Road, home of Holmbridge CC.

* Ex-Town manager Neil Warnock used to keep wicket for Holmfirth CC.