Locations where you can spend three to four hours.
Zebon Copse is very special for me – it’s the place that inspired me to start this website way back in 2016! The boardwalk was wonderfully overgrown and felt more like exploring a hidden jungle path than taking your children for a walk, as you can see from this photo.
There is so much to do at Royal Victoria Country Park – paddle in the sea, follow a story trail, puff along on a miniature railway, tackle the orienteering course and
Locks Ride Recreation Ground Splash Pad and Play Area is somewhere you can spend a summery day being drenched. It also has a beautiful play area with sand, palm trees and barbecues.
Like the setting for a summer holiday, Locks Ride Recreation Ground has a play area with sand, water, and palm trees. Much of the play equipment is built over sand.
Runnymede Pleasure Grounds is on the banks of the River Thames and is a great place to begin a walk along the Thames Path or explore the memorials of Runnymede. It has an unusual amount to do, including the Runnymede Pleasure Grounds Play Area, a paddling pool, amusements, boat trips along the Thames and a cafe.
Gasps erupted from the back seat as we arrived at Jocks Lane Recreation Ground. It was easy to see why – the car park was enclosed by a brightly coloured play area, a splash pad with spurting jets of water and a large field with a zip wire.
Climbing the Zig-Zag path to Selbourne Common feels like ascending to a magical woodland world, hidden away in the treetops from everyone but you. Selbourne Common is
With sandy paths galore, James Bond connections and World War 2 remnants, Hankley Common is full of surprises. Hankley Common has beautiful
What would you discover if you “took a stroll through a deep dark wood”? In Alice Holt Forest, it could be almost anything – play trails, cycle tracks, table tennis, adventure play
Today I found out that the Dragonfly Trail along the Thursley Common boardwalk has been rebuilt and is open! At its best, there is something almost primeval
One of the surprises hiding along the Basingstoke Canal are flashes – one minute you are walking along a narrow canal and the next, a beautiful lake known as a flash.
This beautiful walk along the Basingstoke Canal has the added bonus of three play areas, three locks and plenty of ducks! Section 5 of the Basingstoke Canal
Don’t be fooled by the Basingstoke Canal Centre’s unassuming appearance – it’s a convenient gateway to the beautiful Basingstoke Canal, complete
Arguably the most interesting stretch of the Basingstoke Canal, this walking or cycle route takes you past 11 of the huge locks that lift the canal 100 feet in just 2 miles
Hidden around Lakeside Nature Reserve are brass rubbing posts, lakes, an orchid meadow, woodland, and an adventure play area. You can also find the Basingstoke
A cheeky boggart and some wood and water nymphs are just some of the creatures waiting to meet you along the Blackwater Valley Path. You may also spot fish, butterflies
This stretch of the Blackwater Valley Path offers clear views of the tree-lined river and some colourful graffiti, if you will brave its puddled paths. This section is 2 miles
Section 4 of the Blackwater Valley Path follows the river’s route along the busy A331 dual carriageway. Unfortunately, you tend to be more aware of the road than the river.
Stumbling across a canal flowing over a bridge is one of the biggest surprises I have had on a local walk! The Ash Aqueduct and three play areas all wait along Section 3
Along the Blackwater are patches where you can find four and even five leaf clovers. These are very rare so be sure to only give one to someone you love very much!
The Blackwater begins in the tranquil Rowhill Nature Reserve and so does the Blackwater Valley Path, which winds with the river, past the source, waterfalls and bridges
Rowhill Nature Reserve hides the source of the River Blackwater amongst charismatically named areas like Stickleback Pond, Rhododendron
Aldershot Park is bursting with things to do – play areas, a sand pit, ducks, sports pitches, a trim trail and river walks. Its two play areas packed with equipment.
A Stone Age quarry hides in the deepest parts of Shere Woodlands. Tracking it down was one of those wild occasions where I began to feel like an explorer…
Beautifully situated Petersfield Heath Play Area has it all – a pondside play area with a cafe, plenty of ducks to feed, a circular walk past ancient monuments
There is something magical about Shere Woodlands. Maybe it’s the paths that twist past old, gnarled trees, secret hideouts and quiet copses. Maybe it’s the stone
Broadwater Park’s sandy play area is by a lake, so when you have finished playing you can go for a walk, feed the ducks and have a picnic. The play area is for
Beaulieu is home to all things with motors – everything from famous motors and racing motors, to model motors and vintage motors. You can race model motors at
If you know someone who longs to discover more about birds of prey, then consider a visit to the Hawk Conservancy Trust. Their mission is to conserve birds of prey
Hidden along the banks of the River Test, Stockbridge Common Marsh is a tranquil spot for a picnic, paddle and walk. As you enter, you pass a sign that says ‘The Lions Den’
Some say that on a clear day you can see eight counties from the top of St Martha’s Hill! I am not sure about that but the views are picturesque and we did
Sitting next to the River Wey, The Phillips Memorial Park has a wooden play area, a field, skate park and also a riverside walk. The play equipment includes a multiplay
Thomas Land brings to life the Island of Sodor, complete with Thomas the Tank Engine and many of his really useful friends and their theme park style rides.
Sitting high on a hill, Corfe Castle guards a gap in the Purbeck Hills, and is a fun castle to explore. Corfe Castle dates back to about 1066 and the Norman invasion of England.
A walk to St Catherine’s Hill involves the River Wey, bridges, a lock, a sacred spring and water meadows. St Catherine’s Hill used to be called Drakehull (or Dragon Hill)
It’s not often you are given the chance to visit the 1940s but a trip on Swanage Railway is one of those occasions! This full-size heritage railway operates a range
Of all the places I have explored, Shoulder of Mutton Hill is my favourite – it’s also the place I visit most often. I love the climb, I love the views and I love the
In 1822, William Cobbett was surprised to discover Wheatham Hill, “…out we came, all in a moment, at the very edge of the hanger! And never, in all my life, was I so surprised and
Ever wished to ride in Daddy Pig’s car, on Grandpa Pig’s train or George’s dinosaur? If you love the Peppa Pig stories then consider spending the day at Paultons
In the adventure-filled world of Hobbledown, you can mine for Crystallite, explore the Imaginarium, save Fern the Fairy, play at Hobbledown Village, meet
Once described as a ‘delicious house’ by the Queen Mother, Polesden Lacey is a gorgeous place to spend a day, with plenty of places to play and picnic.
Longleat is fantastic – one of the best days out I’ve had with the children. We had an action-packed day full of fun, adventure and wonder, during which we hand-fed beautiful animals
I have always loved the idea of finding a secret garden, so you can imagine how excited I was to stumble across a secret orchard on Normandy Common. And it’s not just
A trip to LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort is a fun-packed adventure into a kingdom full of play areas, splash pads, rides, shows and LEGO® brick models.
Frensham Little Pond is a picturesque place for a paddle and a pond dip, surrounded by the fresh scent of pine, sandy beaches and Frensham Common.
Frensham Common is an area of open and airy heathland with woods, beautiful viewpoints and two popular ponds – Frensham Great Pond and Frensham
With not one but two sandy beaches you can swim and paddle from, it’s easy to see why Frensham Great Pond is a popular local spot to cool off on a hot day.
Wellington watches over the start of Wellesley Woodlands’ brass rubbing trail, which leads you through the woods to 10 different posts and a WW1 firing wall complete
It’s surprisingly hard to work out where the source of the Thames is. Is it bubbling Lyd Well? The marker stone in Trewsbury Mead? Or Seven Springs, some 14 miles
Our challenge was to find the source of the Thames. We began at Buscot Lock, walking upstream to the river’s last lock and the statue of Old Father Thames,