We love Alice Holt Forest. Located in Hampshire, just a few miles south of Farnham, this wonderful forest is part of the South Downs National Park. It’s just one of the many forests managed by the Forestry Commission. Whether we’re following The Gruffalo, Stick Man or one of the trails, Alice Holt is always good fun and a great place to blow away a few post Easter cobwebs. On this particular day, five year old POD decided we’d embark on our very own treasure hunt.
Having enjoyed the wonderfully serene Frensham Little Pond last month, the mist surrounding Newlands Corner offered much of the same. A well-known beauty spot, near where it’s thought Agatha Christie ‘disappeared’, Newlands Corner is part of the North Downs and boasts some of the best views of the Surrey Hills. Even with the morning mist lifting you could still see for miles. While I look back at our years in London with great fondness, there’s something to be said about breathing in fresh country air. Newlands Corner is the ideal spot to blow away a few cobwebs or pretend to be Tinkerbell (as POD did recently) and it’s popular with dog walkers too.
Box Hill in the North Downs is renowned for its panoramic views and for cyclists, its iconic climbs. Owned and managed by the National Trust, the popular beauty spot lies within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are several walks you can undertake at Box Hill and we’ve mostly gone for the Nature Play Trail which POD loves as it’s a lot of fun. As she’s got older we’ve been able to explore a bit more with the circular hilltop stroll another favourite. There are several other trails available (from the gentle to the strenuous) but one walk in particular has eluded us thus far – the stepping stone walk. I’ve been itching to do it for ages but with 275 steps to get to the stones, we figured it would be too much for five year old POD.
It doesn’t seem that long ago since we were at Frensham Little Pond. Managed by the National Trust, this stunning spot is a Site of Special Specific Interest, a Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation. Frensham Little Pond, and the Great Pond, were originally created in the 13th century to supply fish to the Bishop of Winchester while he was visiting Farnham Castle. These days the area provides a sanctuary for wildlife with rare birds, damselflies and dragonflies. There are many footpaths to explore and a heathland of heather, gorse and bracken.
If you’ve been cooped up inside for days on end, especially with a poorly child, you will have certainly experienced cabin fever. POD hasn’t been well recently and although she’s been back in reception a few days now, I was on eight consecutive days indoors. As well as doing an almost three hour journey to and from school thanks to the joy of roadworks!
So this morning after I’d dropped her off I headed to Box Hill – a summit of the North Downs in Surrey owned and managed by the National Trust. I don’t know about you but I find the best way to combat cabin fever is to grab my camera and head for the great outdoors. Being first thing meant there was barely a soul around. The fresh air could be felt in my lungs and the location provided the perfect opportunity to blow away a mountain of cobwebs.
When looking back at photographs from last year, most noticeable is how much POD’s grown and not just in height terms. She’s independent and confident with the best sense of humour. Of course we’re biased but she’s awesome even if she doesn’t always like doing what’s she’s told. As working parents, we do our best to ensure the time we have as a three involves adventures both near and far. Last year was certainly the year she got to experience a lot more. She loves the outdoors and she relishes in everything that comes her way.
We were last at the magnificent Devil’s Punch Bowl a couple of month’s back. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it provides the gateway to the Surrey Hills. The Commons and Punch Bowl is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Owned and managed by the National Trust, the Devil’s Punch Bowl is always a delight to visit whatever the time of year. Its natural amphitheatre, with its heath, streams and woodland, almost take your breath away.
RHS Wisley is home to the largest plant collection in the world. We’re lucky it’s just a short drive from us as we regularly head there for a wander. Whatever time of year you visit, there’s always something to see in one of the numerous gardens. From the rocks and the alpine display houses to the 420ft mixed borders and woodland garden of Battleston Hill, the team work exceptionally hard to make Wisley an inspirational place you can’t help but return to. A favourite of the Doves is the state-of-the-art glasshouse with its three climatic zones. It’s a cathedral-like structure which covers an area the equivalent to 10 tennis courts and rises to 40ft in height. We’ll be there again soon to see exotic butterflies in the jungle-like tropical zone amid tree ferns, palms, creepers and flowers.
Providing a gateway to the Surrey Hills, Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punch Bowl is as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Managed by the National Trust, it’s a great place to explore with a myriad of footpaths and waymarked trails at varying levels of difficulty. The natural amphitheatre is breath taking displaying slopes covered with heath, streams and woodland. If you’re lucky you might even spot the wild ponies or cattle that reside there. We didn’t catch them on this occasion but we have many times in the past.
Even when the rain is bashing against the window, you can’t help but love autumn. I’m a huge fan of colour and it pleases me greatly to see those hues of red, orange and gold. Our lawn is littered with beautiful red leaves. I’ve no idea where they came from but they bring a smile to my face every morning.
