Royal Victoria CP Story Trail

The story trail is called “Time Trouble at Royal Victoria Country Park” and is one of Hampshire CC’s Story Trails. The trail starts at the chapel,

goes along the seafront

and ends at the Royal Victoria Country Park Play Area.

Bring a Pen!

Along the route, you have to answer questions and enter numbers into Professor Nutrino’s Great Agent Device for Gaining Extraordinary Time (‘GADGET’) so be sure to bring a pen!

Royal Victoria CP Adventure Play Area

The Royal Victoria Country Park Play Area is a well-equipped play area with a large wooden castle, slides and a jeep. 

Netley Hospital

Royal Victoria Country Park itself stands on the site of Netley Hospital, a vast Victorian military hospital that was the world’s longest building.

All that remains today is the central chapel section. 

The Beach

The park overlooks Southampton Water and has a shingle beach.

We found lots of tiny shells and a some crabs. 

Other Things to Try

Royal Victoria Country Park has seafront walks as well as a permanent orienteering course, a miniature railway and a fairy garden. They also hold regular family events.

The Cedar Rooms

Next to the play area is the Cedar Rooms, a restaurant and cafe with a large outdoor seating area. We had a delicious, wood fired pizza.

Hampshire CC’s Story Trails

This is one of Hampshire County Council’s Story Trails.  These are walks with interactive stories to read along the way, which are told by a cute character called the Story Snail.

Each Story Trail is about one mile long and divided into numbered sections. Numbered markers prompt you to read the sections of the story along the trail.

Find a Story Pack

To follow the Story Trail you need a free pack that you can either borrow from a specified place (with a Hampshire Library card and a £20 returnable deposit) or download a copy of a story trail from the internet in written or audio form. 

Each pack has a map to follow and the trail itself is marked with arrows and/or pictures of the Story Snail. 

Nearest Town: Netley, near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO31 5GA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice creams, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There are several good sized, pay and display car parks around the park.
Cost of Parking: From £1.80 per hour to a maximum of £4 per day.

Wildlife You Might See: Deer, ducks, seabirds and sea creatures.

Information Written: May 2017
Information Checked: July 2025

Our visit to Royal Victoria Country Park, including following the Royal Victoria Country Park Story Trail, in Netley, near Southampton, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Netley Park

Royal Victoria Country Park stands on the site of Netley Hospital, a vast Victorian military hospital that was the world’s longest building. 

Today, all that remains of the quarter of a mile long building is the central chapel, but by walking around the park you can get a sense of its enormous scale.

This photo was taken from one end of the hospital building – the chapel was the middle of the building, there was a whole other wing on the other side!

Southampton Water

The country park overlooks Southampton Water, which has a busy, slightly industrial feel – boats of all sizes regularly sail past and there is what looks like a refinery on the opposite shore.

The Beach

The shingle beaches are covered in little shells.

We collected about thirty in ten minutes.

There are ramps down onto the beach for easy access. In other places you have to jump!

Rock Pools and Crabbing

It might not look like it, but rock pools form amongst the pebbles along the beach.

If you look closely, you may spot a crab!

We managed to find quite a few.

Then let them go and watched as they buried themselves again.

Royal Victoria CP Story Trail

The Royal Victoria Country Park Story Trail is called “Time Trouble at Royal Victoria Country Park“ and follows Professor Nutrino, a Time Agent, as she battles to fix a tear in time…with a little help from your children.

And There’s More

The park also has fields to play in

a miniature railway called the Royal Victoria Railway

a permanent orienteering course (course map available from the Visitor Centre), family activities and a fairy garden…

…with a huge picnic table guarded by a wizard!

The Cedar Rooms

Next to the play area is the Cedar Rooms, a restaurant and cafe with a large outdoor seating area. We had a delicious, wood fired pizza.

The Paths

The fields were dry and the paths were flat and easy to push a buggy along.  

Some still show signs of the past.

Royal Victoria CP Adventure Play Area

The Royal Victoria Country Park Adventure Play Area play equipment includes things like:

• a large wooden fort with slides, tunnels, nets, a wobbly bridge and easy to climb ramps
• lots of different swings
• a roundabout
• a music wall
• a multiplay for younger children.

Nearest Town: Netley, near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO31 5GA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: The Cedar Rooms cafe and restaurant or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice creams, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There are several, good sized, pay and display car parks around the park.
Cost of Parking: From £1.80 per hour to a maximum of £4 per day

Wildlife You Might See: Deer, ducks, seagulls, waterbirds and sea creatures.

Information Written: May 2017
Information Checked: July 2025

Our visit to Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley, near Southampton, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Locks Ride Splash Pad

The splash pad has jets of water

and overhead buckets that gradually fill with water and then suddenly spill down onto the people below.

The Beach Area

The beach area has sandy play areas

and picnic tables and barbecues that can be pre-booked.

There are also toilets.

Opening Hours

The Locks Ride splash pad has set opening hours so be sure to check before you go. 

It is often very busy during hot weather.

Locks Ride Play Area

Much of the play equipment in Locks Ride Recreation Play Area is built over the sand and includes:

• climbing nets to scramble over and under
• a spider’s web net
• a rope bridge
• a balance beam
• a slide set into a hill
• a basket swing
• zip wires a trampoline.

Beside the play area is a multi-gym, two football pitches,

a cricket pitch and a pavilion.

Nearest Town: Winkfield Row, Bracknell
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG42 7NJ

Opens: The splash pad is open daily from mid-May to mid-September. The play area is open daily.
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Picnic tables or the cafe.
Facilities: Ice creams and toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: August 2017
Information Checked: July 2025

Our visit to Locks Ride Recreation Ground Splash Pad and Play Area in Winkfield, Bracknell, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Locks Ride Play Area

Much of the play equipment is built over sand and includes:

• climbing nets to scramble over and under
• a spider’s web net
• a rope bridge
• a balance beam
• a slide set into a hill
• a basket swing

• a sand pit
• swings
• a toddler swing
• an accessible swing
• a trampoline
• a double zip wire.

Locks Ride Beach Area

The beach area has picnic tables and barbecues that must be pre-booked. 

Beside the play area is a multi-gym, two football pitches,

a cricket pitch and a pavilion.

Locks Ride Splash Pad

The Locks Ride Splash Pad is open from mid-May to mid-September. It’s lots of fun, especially on a hot day but can be very busy.

This has jets of water set into the floor and also overhead buckets, which gradually fill with water and then suddenly spill down onto the people below. 

Nearest Town: Winkfield Row, Bracknell
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG42 7NJ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, picnic area, barbecues.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Car park and they can open additional spaces for busy times.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: October 2016
Information Checked: July 2025

Our visit to Locks Ride Recreation Ground Play Area in Winkfield, Bracknell, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Nearest Town: Old Woking
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU22 8JH

Adult Cost Range: £10 to £14.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: 3 years and under

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: There is a cafe in the club house.
Facilities: Cafe, ice creams, snacks, toilets, accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: March 2019
Information Checked: February 2025

Our visit to Mr Mulligan’s Pirate Golf in Woking is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Trails

Various trails criss-cross Alice Holt Forest. Some are easy access, others are wilder.  Some are flat, others have steep hills. They are all marked and there are free maps available.

Story Book Trails

Alice Holt Forest is one of the venues that hosts story book activity trails based on the books of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. 

Trails have included The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, The Highway Rat and Zog.  At the time of writing, there is a Superworm Trail.  

You buy a map bursting with activities to try along the trail – drawings to colour, puzzles to ponder and woodland things to spot.  

Along the way you also come face to face with characters from the stories, including the Gruffalo, Stick Man and the Gruffalo’s child.

The Timberline Play Trail

The 1km long Habitat Trail leads you past both adventure play areas 

and also hides huge play sculptures.

The Adventure Play Areas

Alice Holt has two adventure play areas.

Playwood Adventure Play Area is next to the cafe and has large wooden climbing frames, slides and swings.

Timberline Adventure Play Area is a five minute walk from Playwood and is a huge, circular obstacle course with wooden climbing frames, slides, bridges and nets. 

Other Activities

Alice Holt also has an Activity Centre and Shop that offers cycle hire 

table tennis 

volleyball 

and badminton.

There is also orienteering 

Go Ape 

and lots of picnic spots to try.

The Cafe 

This is located next to the main entrance and Visitor Centre.  You can its picnic tables to eat food you have bought there or brought from home. 

Nearest Town: Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 4LS

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic, hire a barbecue or eat at the cafe. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, barbecue hire, cafe, ice creams, drinks, snacks, toilets, accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Various, starting from £3 for one hour. 

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, geese, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, tadpoles, frogs, birds, insects and the odd story book character.

Information Written: March 2016
Information Checked: February 2025

Our visit to Alice Holt Forest and the Alice Holt Adventure Play Areas in Farnham is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Playwood Adventure Play Area

Playwood is next to the cafe and has play equipment that includes:

• a large wooden climbing frame with a slide, tunnels, towers with easy to climb stairs, nets, a fireman’s pole and ladders 
• a smaller wooden climbing frame for younger children with a slide, a bridge, a fireman’s pole and easy to climb stairs
• a wooden hut with a rope
• a wooden shipwreck climbing frame 
• swings 
• toddler swings 
• a basket swing 
• an accessible roundabout
• picnic tables
• seats to sit on.

Timberline Adventure Play Area

Timberline Adventure Play Area is a five minute walk from Playwood and is a huge, circular obstacle course with slides, ropes and climbing frames.

Alice Holt Forest

Alice Holt Forest is full of things to do – play trails, cycle tracks, table tennis, orienteering, adventure play areas and even story book characters like the Gruffalo…

Story Book Trails

Alice Holt is also one of the venues that hosts story book activity trails based on the books of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. 

Trails have included The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, The Highway Rat and Zog. At the time of writing, there is a Superworm Trail.    

The Timberline Play Trail

The 1km long Habitat Trail leads you past both adventure play areas and hides huge play sculptures.

Nearest Town: Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 4LS

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic, hire a barbecue or eat at the cafe. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, barbecue hire, cafe, ice creams, drinks, snacks, toilets, accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Various, starting from £3 for one hour. 

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, geese, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, tadpoles, frogs, birds, insects and the odd story book character.

Information Written: November 2022
Information Checked: February 2025

Our visit to Alice Holt Forest and Playwood Adventure Play Area in Farnham is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Timberline Adventure Play Area

The play equipment includes:

• wooden climbing frames
• two slides
• a fireman’s pole 
• nets  
• ropes 
• wobbly bridges 
• climbing walls 
• picnic tables
• seats to sit on.

Playwood Adventure Play Area

Playwood Adventure Play Area is the second of Alice Holt’s play areas and is next to the cafe. It is about a five minute walk from Timberline Play Area.

It has play equipment that includes:

• a large wooden climbing frame with a slide, tunnels, towers with easy to climb stairs, nets, a fireman’s pole and ladders 
• a smaller wooden climbing frame for younger children with a slide, a bridge, a fireman’s pole and easy to climb stairs
• a wooden hut with a rope
• swings 
• toddler swings 
• a basket swing 
• an accessible roundabout
• picnic tables
• seats to sit on.

Alice Holt Forest

Alice Holt Forest is full of things to do – play trails, cycle tracks, table tennis, orienteering, adventure play areas and even story book characters like the Gruffalo…

Story Book Trails

Alice Holt Forest is one of the venues that hosts story book activity trails based on the books of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. 

Trails have included The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, The Highway Rat and Zog. At the time of writing, there is a Superworm Trail.    

The Timberline Play Trail

The 1km long Play Trail leads you past both adventure play areas and hides huge play sculptures.

Nearest Town: Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 4LS

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic, hire a barbecue or eat at the cafe. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, barbecue hire, cafe, ice creams, drinks, snacks, toilets, accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Various, starting from £3 for one hour. 

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, geese, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, tadpoles, frogs, birds, insects and the odd story book character.

Information Written: November 2022
Information Checked: February 2025

Our visit to Alice Holt Forest and Timberline Adventure Play Area in Farnham is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Thursley Common Fire

At the end of May 2020, a fire tore through the boardwalk area of Thursley Common. Lots of trees and vegetation were lost and so was the boardwalk, with its Dragonfly Trail. 

This is a picture of Moat Pond before the fire.

This is a picture of Moat Pond after the fire.

Happily, the Dragonfly Trail has been rebuilt!

Moat Pond

We start our visits at Moat Pond, with its pine scent and marauding ducks.

In the autumn it is surrounded by fungus – we spotted 50 different types last autumn! (I’m sure it goes without saying but we never touch fungus, we just look at it). 

The Dragonfly Trail

This leads you along the boardwalk and over the peat bogs. 

Along the way you can spot lots of insects and lizards 

and also sundews.

The Trails

When we want a short visit we walk around Moat Pond and watch the wildlife from one of the many little beach-like areas. 

If we are after a longer walk, we venture along one of the marked trails. 

The Wildlife

Thursley Common teems with nature and you can almost always see something wonderful.

From spring to autumn, you can see animals on every visit, including animals such as dragonflies, lizards, caterpillars, birds, and spiders. 

On one visit there were thousands of tiny toads hopping across the paths in every direction. 

The Lizards

The lizards are easiest to see when warming themselves on the boardwalk during sunny days. 

Can You Spot the Lizards?

To ready your eyes for lizard spotting, have a look at the photo of a log below. There are three lizards hiding on it – how many can you spot?

Answers highlighted below!

Two are hiding here:

And another here:

Thor’s Den

There is nearby a play area called Thor’s Den on the edge of Thursley Common. You can walk there from Moat Pond but it is quite far so you may prefer to drive (GU8 6QD).

Nearest Town: Thursley, near Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU8 6LW

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a blanket and a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: Up to 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly – we use an all terrain buggy as some areas are sandy and there are roots along some of the paths. 

Parking: There are lots of places to park along the road and a few car parks. We use the Moat Pond car park (GU8 6LW) as it is closest to Moat Pond. 
Cost of Parking: Free but a donation using a parking app is suggested.

Wildlife You Might See: Toads, frogs, wood ants, dragonflies, lizards, caterpillars, birds, spiders, grasshoppers and ducks.

Information Written: July 2019
Information Checked: October 2024

Our visit to Thursley Common National Nature Reserve is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Rowhill Nature Reserve

There are stumps to balance on, trees to climb, hills to explore, bridges to build and places to paddle. 

The Source of the Blackwater

The source of the Blackwater River is an area of bog. It is next to the pond and marked with an information board.  

There isn’t much to see but the bog trickles into a stream that flows into… 

Stickleback Pond

…Stickleback Pond, which has a small dam and waterfall. 

The River Blackwater

The River Blackwater quickly becomes stream-sized 

and has little waterfalls and spots to paddle in.

Den Building

The paths wind through deciduous woodland with a spot for den building…

Rhododendron Avenue

…and along Rhododendron Avenue before coming to a tranquil meadow and field surrounded by trees.

The Paths 

I found the paths easy to use and push an all terrain buggy along. There are paths that are narrow in places but they were all just ok for my narrow double buggy.

There are two paths that both start from the car park on Cranmore Lane:

1. The Blackwater Valley Path

The Blackwater Valley Path starts at the end of the car park near the white house and meanders through the reserve staying close to the River Blackwater.

This is Section 1 of the Blackwater Valley Path and is not a circular path and follows the river out of the reserve at Parkland Grove.

2. The Nature Trail

This is about 1.5 miles long and is marked by a series of posts, starting at the field centre (the wooden building next to the car park).

This is a circular path and begins and ends at the car park on Cranmore Lane.

This trail leads up over steps and a steep hill but these can be avoided if you follow the Blackwater Valley Path to the source of the River Blackwater, where the two paths meet up.

A copy of the nature trail can be found on the Rowhill Nature Reserve website, which marks the steps and an easy access, special needs path that can be accessed from Parkland Grove (GU9 9HA).

50 Things to Do

You could also tackle the 50 Things to Do at Rowhill Copse sheet the reserve have put together.  

How many can you complete?

Nearest Town: Aldershot
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU11 3BD

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a small car park on Cranmore Lane (GU11 3BD). This can be busy.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Kingfishers, birds, badgers, lizards, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: April 2017
Information Checked: May 2024

Our visit to Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Play Area for Younger Children

The first play area is for younger children up to the age of 12 years and has:

• a sand play area
• toddler swings
• a basket swing
• a seesaw
• a play house
• spinners
• a roundabout and
• an entertaining multiplay with three slides, nets, a climbing wall, fireman’s poles, binoculars, a loud hailer and an easy access ramp.

Play Area for Older Children

The second play area is for older children and has:

• various swings
• a basket swing
• an obstacle course 
• a climbing pole
• a rope climbing frame
• a trampoline
• a much larger slide that can be reached by climbing ropes, a climbing wall or a ladder and 
• picnic tabes.

Sports Grounds

Also at Aldershot Park are football, rugby and cricket pitches. 

Scooters and Bikes

A scooter track runs through the play area. 

There is also a surfaced path that runs around the outside of the play area and past the lake, which you can cycle or scooter along. 

The Lake

Around the outside of the play areas is a fishing lake with ducks, swans and geese. 

Parkside’s Cafe in the Park

There are also picnic tables, public toilets and Parkside’s Cafe in the Park, a cafe run by a local charity.

Blackwater Valley Path

If you fancy a walk then head over the playing fields towards the River Blackwater and the Blackwater Valley Path where we found butterflies, ducks and caterpillars. 

Aldershot Park is on Section 2 of the Blackwater Valley Path. 

Nearest Town: Aldershot
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU12 4BP

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at Parkside’s Cafe in the Park. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans and Canada geese.

Information Written: March 2017
Information Checked: May 2024

Our visit to Aldershot Park and Play Area in Aldershot is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Ninja Warrior UK

Based on the TV series, the park has several sections – an inflatable course 

Mount Sasuke

and the obstacle course, which ends with The Wall.  

Can You Beat the Wall?

The Wall is just like at the end of the TV course – you have to run up it as far as you can and then pull yourself up the rest of the way. 

We have always found the staff friendly and ready to offer technique tips so everyone has a good chance of making it to the top. 

Mini Ninja Soft Play

These are also sessions run away from the main area for children aged 0 to 3 plus an adult.  

Nearest Town: Guildford
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU1 1DQ

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost: Various – depending on the session you choose. 
Child Cost: Various – depending on the session you choose. 
Free if: You aren’t taking part. 

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice creams, toilets, accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a car park but it can be busy.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: August 2023
Information Checked: May 2024

Our visit to Ninja Warrior UK Guildford is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Warning: Steep and Uneven Paths!

…but it is not an easy walk and involves steep hills.

This walk isn’t for everyone and should not be chosen without careful thought. 

The Walk to Combe Bottom 

Trying to locate the quarry myself was the really exciting part, and actually took me two visits. 

But for anyone without the luxury of time, here are the directions. 

From West Hanger Car Park there are two ways to walk down the hill to Combe Bottom but be warned, the hill is very steep – it’s not called West Hanger for nothing…

Route 1:  Along the Road

Walk out of the car park to the road. Turn right onto Staple Lane and then right again onto Combe Lane. 

Follow Combe Lane down the hill, around a sharp bend to the right and you will come to this sign on the left. 

Please be careful – there is no pavement and cars and cyclist use the road too. 

Route 2:  Straight Down West Hanger

Leave the car park by the path on the left and walk into the woods. 

After a short walk through the woods, you meet a trail running to your right. 

Be careful – the trail is very steep and uneven 

and the path may be used by mountain bikers. 

Near the bottom of the hill you will see the road. 

This is Combe Lane and it runs along the bottom of the hill. 

Cross the road and walk a short way to the left, until you see the Combe Bottom sign on your right. 

Again, please be careful – there is no pavement and cars and cyclist use the road too. 

Finding the Holloway

From the Combe Bottom sign, follow the wild path for five to ten minutes, under trees, 

through brambles patches

and into a holloway. 

If it isn’t too overgrown, you might be able to spot the pillbox on your right. 

The route to the quarry is near the end of the holloway, up the steep bank on your left. 

If you reach this sign and the end of the holloway, you have gone too far. 

To the Quarry!

You should now be standing on top of the steep bank with the holloway behind you. You will notice a second holloway in front of you, which seems to run parallel to the first. 

Believe it or not, this is the path to the quarry!

Follow this to the left until you come to a fallen tree blocking the way. This is the entrance to the lowest part of the quarry. 

A Neolithic Quarry

The only information I can find about this quarry is that it dates back to the Stone Age, or Neolithic period, and was used to quarry flint. 

Today it is a huge, bowl-shaped hole in the hillside with steep sides. 

Flint Tools

As you walk back up to West Hanger car park, and pause for the odd rest or two, keep an eye out for flints lying around or amongst the roots of trees. 

You may spot a flint tool!

Have a look at the Wessex Archaeology website for details of the types of flint to look out for. 

Combe Bottom

Combe Bottom is part of the enchanting Shere Woodlands and sits at the bottom of West Hanger hill.

There is not much to see unless you would like to find the quarry. 

Nearest Town: Shere, near Guildford, Surrey Hills
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU5 9TE

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket or use one of the picnic tables. There is also a mobile cafe that visits (please see their website for details). 
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Definitely not! 

Parking: West Hanger Car Park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies, dragonflies and other insects.

Information Written: August 2023

Our visit to the Neolithic flint quarry in West Hanger and Combe Bottom in Shere Woodlands near Guildford and in the Surrey Hills is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Shere Woodlands

The woods have a wild and enchanted feel.

Pools of water collect amongst the beech tree roots

hidden pathways lead you to secret dens

and the trees seem alive. 

This is a special spot for us and we often come here to tell fairy tales about the creatures who might live here. 

The View

If you follow a path through the woods, you eventually come to a bench that looks out over the hills. It is a wonderful spot to watch the sunset.

Combe Bottom

You can also walk down the hill to Combe Bottom 

a Stone Age quarry and a World War 2 pillbox…but be warned, this isn’t called West Hanger for nothing.

The paths down are very steep 

and uneven.

From West Hanger Car Park

From the car park there are two paths into the woods. 

The path on the left goes into the woods and is flat but bumpy, although I had no problems with an all terrain buggy. 

The path on the right is the North Downs Way and is wider and smoother, although it was still rutted and muddy in places.

Both paths join up just before the view point, if you stay on the top of the hill.

Nearest Town: Shere, near Guildford, Surrey Hills
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU5 9TE

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket or use one of the picnic tables. There is also a mobile cafe that visits (see the website for details). 
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: We used a buggy on the paths on top of the hill but the paths down the hill are much too steep. 

Parking: West Hanger car park
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies, dragonflies and other insects.

Information Written: August 2016
Information Checked: August 2023

Our visit to West Hanger and Combe Bottom in Shere Woodlands near Guildford and in the Surrey Hills is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Thomas Land

Thomas Land is a world of Thomas-themed rides 

and attractions.  

You can see characters like James 

Toby 

Cranky 

Henry 

Gordon 

Flynn

and Harold. 

Thomas, Percy and Rosie make regular appearances, pulling passengers riding in carriages Annie and Clarabel between Knapford station and Tidmouth Halt station. 

Tidmouth Halt Station

Once at Tidmouth Halt station, you find Spencer and an adventure play area 

a dinosaur trail and some zoo animals.

Drayton Manor

Drayton Manor is a theme park with rides for all ages, zoo animals and crazy golf. 

Nearest Town: Tamworth, near Birmingham
County: Staffordshire
Nearest Postcode: B78 3TW

Adult Cost Range: Various prices depending on when you go. Please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various prices depending on when you go. Please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 2 years old

Opens: Various times and days throughout the year. Please see their website for details.

Where to Eat: Various restaurants, cafes and picnic areas.
Facilities: Toilets, accessible toilets, shops, cafes, snacks and ice creams.

How Long We Spent There: 5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly 

Parking: Large car parks
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife you might see: Zoo animals, including tigers, red pandas, monkeys, meerkats, lynx, capybara, tapir, gibbon, marmoset, porcupine, frog, snake and bird like emus, cockatoos, flamingos and rheas.

Information Written: July 2020

Our visit to Thomas Land at Drayton Park in Tamworth, near Birmingham, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Ashford Hangers

The Ashford Hangers is a National Nature Reserve with invigoratingly steep hillsides covered in clinging trees and breathtaking views extending across Hampshire and Sussex.

Shoulder of Mutton Hill

This is the view from the top of Shoulder of Mutton Hill and it is every bit as spectacular as people say. 

The stone you can see is a memorial to the poet Edward Thomas, who lived in this area from 1906 to 1916. 

Where to Next?

From Shoulder of Mutton Hill you can continue on to Cobbett’s View on Wheatham Hill

or back down to Lutcombe Pond and Ashford Stream.

Finding Shoulder of Mutton Hill

There are different ways to reach Shoulder of Mutton Hill and the top of the Ashford Hangers but these are the three routes I use, all of which involve climbs:

Route 1: From Lutcombe Pond:

From the car park at GU32 1AB, follow the path that runs along Ashford Stream, keeping Lutcombe Pond on your right. 

Keep walking straight up the hill and when you are nearly at the top,  you come to these steps. 

Follow this path all the way to Shoulder of Mutton Hill.

Route 2: From Lutcombe Pond Using the Little Bridge:

From the car park at GU32 1AB, follow the path that runs along Ashford Stream, but this time cross the little bridge and keep Lutcombe Pond on your left.

Follow the path to the right and you come to these steps, which are at the foot of Shoulder of Mutton Hill. 

A short but very steep climb will take you all the way to the top.

Route 3: From Ashford Farm:

From the car park at GU32 1AB, 

follow the path as it leads up the hangers.  

After a climb and some twists and turns, you will find yourself at these stairs and Wheatham Hill. 

Continue on this fairly flat path and Shoulder of Mutton hill is a little further on and on the left. 

Nearest Town: Steep, Near Petersfield
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU32 1AA or GU32 1AB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a blanket and a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: The first path from the car park to the pond is buggy friendly but the paths quickly become steep and uneven afterwards. 

Parking: There is a small space for a few cars to park off the road (GU32 1AB) on Ashford Lane. There is also an area where cars park to the side of Ashford Farm (GU32 1AA). 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies, other insects and birds.

Information Written: January 2024

Our visit to Ashford Hangers National Nature Reserve in Steep, near Petersfield (including Lutcombe Pond, Ashford Stream, Cobbett’s View on Wheatham Hill and Shoulder of Mutton Hill) is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Ashford Hangers

The Ashford Hangers is a National Nature Reserve with invigoratingly steep hillsides covered in clinging trees and breathtaking views extending across Hampshire and Sussex.

Wheatham Hill

Wheatham Hill is 249m high, making it one of the highest hills in Hampshire. 

At the top is a trig point, a bench and a spectacular spot for a picnic. 

The beautiful views extend to Selbourne Common and beyond to what I think are the Hogs Back, Gibbet Hill and Crooksbury Hill. 

Cobbett’s View

William Cobbett (1763-1835) was many things – radical, journalist, farmer, MP, political and social reformer. 

Starting in 1822, he went on a series of journeys to see for himself the conditions of rural life. He recorded his findings, which became the book Rural Rides.

On 24 November 1822, Cobbett arrived at the Ashford Hangers and describes his adventure through the hangers to Wheatham Hill, which is now known As Cobbett’s View.

To the Top!

I will let William Cobbett explain about the spectacular joys of walking to the top of Wheatham Hill!

“On we trotted up this pretty green lane; and indeed, we had been coming gently and generally up hill for a good while. 

“The lane was between highish banks and pretty high stuff growing on the banks, so that we could see no distance from us, 

“and could receive not the smallest hint of what was so near at hand. 

“The lane had a little turn towards the end; so that, 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 so delighted! 

“I pulled up my horse, and sat and looked; and it was like looking from the top of a castle down into the sea, except that the valley was land and not water…

“These hangers are woods on the sides of very steep hills. The trees and underwood hang, in some sort, to the ground, instead of standing on it. Hence these places are called Hangers.”

The above description of Cobbett’s adventure in the Ashford Hangers starts on page 127 of Rural Rides. You can find a free online copy on the Project Gutenberg website. 

Finding Wheatham Hill

There are different ways to reach Wheatham Hill and the top of the Ashford Hangers but these are the two routes I use:

From Lutcombe Pond:

From the car park at GU32 1AB, follow the path that runs along Ashford Stream, keeping Lutcombe Pond on your right. 

Keep walking straight up the hill and when you are nearly at the top,  you come to these steps. Follow this path to Shoulder of Mutton Hill and then on to Wheatham Hill, which is at the top of these stairs. 

From Ashford Farm:

From the car park at GU32 1AB, follow this path as it leads up the hangers.  

After a steep climb and some twists and turns, you will find yourself at these same stairs and Wheatham Hill. 

Nearest Town: Steep, Near Petersfield
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU32 1AB or GU32 1AA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a blanket and a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: The paths up the hangers are often steep and/or narrow. I have seen a couple of families taking little children on these walks but never with buggies. 

Parking: There is a small space for a few cars to park off the road (GU32 1AB) on Ashford Lane. There is also an area where cars park to the side of Ashford Farm (GU32 1AA). 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies, other insects and birds.

Information Written: January 2024

Our visit to the Ashford Hangers National Nature Reserve in Steep, near Petersfield (including Lutcombe Pond, Ashford Stream, Cobbett’s View on Wheatham Hill and Shoulder of Mutton Hill) is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Paultons Park

Paultons Park itself is a family theme park that also has 

dinosaurs to spot

animals to watch

adventure play areas and splash pads

a wide variety of rides for all ages 

and a train and several garden walks for anyone who prefers something a little more gentle. 

Peppa Pig World

This Peppa Pig themed part of the park brings the Peppa Pig stories, characters and illustrations to life and allows you to explore Peppa’s town

meet her family and friends

 ride in their trains and boats

cars and helicopters 

and even meet Peppa herself. 

Peppa Pig Prep!

Believe it or not, we visited Peppa Pig World without having watched or read anything about Peppa Pig!

We still enjoyed our first visit, even without knowing the characters, but reading the books definitely made subsequent visits more magical!

George’s Spaceship Playzone

This is a soft play area with slides and climbing frames 

as well as an area for smaller children. 

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs roam around the Lost Kingdom!

We spotted several, including Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Velociraptors and the staggeringly large Argentinosaurus. 

The Dinosaur Tour Co. offer dinosaur safaris by Jeep! 

Water Kingdom

Paultons Park has two splash parks – a large splash pad with tipping buckets, fountains and water shooters and another smaller one called Muddy Puddles.

Adventure Play Areas

There are three adventure play areas, including one that is themed around Mr Potato from Peppa Pig and another dinosaur-themed one where you can dig for fossils. 

Nearest Town: Romsey, Near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO51 6AL

Adult Cost Range: Various prices depending on when you go. Please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various prices depending on when you go. Please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 1 metre tall

Opens: Various times and days throughout the year. Please see their website for details.

Where to Eat: Various restaurants, cafes and picnic areas.
Facilities: Toilets, accessible toilets, shops, cafes, snacks and ice creams.

How Long We Spent There: 5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly 

Parking: Large car parks
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife you might see: Penguins, giant tortoises, flamingos, pelicans, tropical birds, owls, fish, lizards and insects.

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: April 2021

Our visit to Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World in Romsey, near Southampton, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

So Much to Do!

Hobbledown has an unbelievable amount to do, including:

Crystallite Mines  

A sandy play area mining town where you use water, buckets and chutes to pan for little green Crystallite gems. You can swap an ounce of Crystallite (about twenty gems) for a lolly.

Fairy Tale Castle Play Area

Complete with tube slides, walkways, tunnels, a dragon and a fairy to save! 

It also has a water pillow to tackle, which is one of the strangest experiences – like you are walking on water. 

Hobbledown Village 

An adventure play area that is home to the Hobblers and has towers, tube slides

more walkways and bridges

obstacles to climb and a network of tunnels.  

Here you can also fly on Rumpletump and the double zip wire.  

The Imaginarium

An area with reptiles and insects

water play 

and an interactive jungle. 

Courtyard Play Village

This outdoor sand and water play area with a huge ball run is one of our favourite areas.  

Can you fill the tanks using this Rube Goldberg water machine ?!

Indoor Play Barn

An indoor play are that has a wooden climbing section with ball turrets, climbing walls and role play rooms

a second soft play frame with tubes and slides (including an area for the under 3s) 

and a cafe with indoor and outdoor tables. 

Animals

Hobbledown is also home to animals, including sheep, rheas

goats and wallabies.  

Characters and Books

Hobbledown sells books about the characters its adventure areas are based on. Details of how these can be bought are on the Hobbledown Epsom website. 

Next time we visit, I will read these stories to my children beforehand so they know who and what to look out for. 

Nearest Town: Epsom
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: KT19 8PT

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: From £11
Child Cost Range: From £11
Free if: Under 2 years.

Where to Eat: Cafe or picnic areas.
Facilities: Cafe, shop, snacks, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: Full day
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a large car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Lemurs, armadillos, camels, meerkats, wallaby, prairie dog, otter, goats, maras, alpacas, rabbits, capybara, sheep, pigs, rheas and birds of prey.

Information Written: October 2022