The Story of the Nymphs and the Boggart

This story trail is a series of short stories.

They aren’t connected to anything you could actually see at Hawley Meadows so they were less engaging than some of the other Hampshire CC story trails.

 

 

Hawley Meadows

Hawley Meadows is a beautiful spot, with open fields, the Blackwater River and wading grey herons. 

Unfortunately, it is bordered by the M3, the A331 and an industrial estate so it is not as tranquil as you might expect.

 

 

The Blackwater Valley Path

The Blackwater Valley Path is 23 miles long, marked by signposts and divided into 12 sections.  

These sections follow the river, are not circular and do not finish where they start.  

 

 

Section 6 of the Blackwater Valley Path runs through Hawley Meadows. It is a walking and also cycling trail but is not hard surfaced.

 

 

 

The Paths Around Hawley Meadows

The meadows were dry when we visited and the paths were flat and easy to push a buggy along, although I have read that this area can become very wet and muddy after rain.

There are no barriers between the path and the river.

 

 

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: Camberley
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU15 3YH

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly but with some uneven paths.

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

Wildlife You Might See: Herons, birds, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: April 2017
Information Checked: June 2024

 

The Modern World

Unfortunately, life has moved on during the last 100 years and the modern world now surrounds the meadows – they are bordered by the M3 and the A331 as well as an industrial estate.

 

 

 

The continuous drone of road noise detracts from the picturesque surroundings of the rolling fields, lazy river and wading herons.

 

 

 

Hawley Meadows

This is an area of floodplain meadow with a river walk, bridges to play Poohsticks.

 

 

 

 

The Story of the Nymphs and the Boggart

It also has a Story Trail* called “The Story of the Nymphs and the Boggart” which leads you around the meadow, telling tales of wood nymphs, water nymphs and a cheeky boggart.

 

 

The Paths around Hawley Meadows

There is a path around the outside of the meadows, which took us about an hour to walk around at a slow pace.

 

 

 

 

The Blackwater Valley Path

The Blackwater Valley Path is 23 miles long, marked by signposts and divided into 12 sections.  

These sections follow the river, are not circular and do not finish where they start.  

 

 

Section 6 of the Blackwater Valley Path runs through Hawley Meadows. It is a walking and also cycling trail but is not hard surfaced.

 

 

 

Hampshire County Council’s Story Trails

*These are walks with interactive stories to read along the way, as told by a cute character called the Story Snail.

Each Story Trail is about one mile long and is divided into numbered sections that you read out as you reach number markers along the trail.

 

Finding a Copy of the Story Trail

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 the 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: Camberley
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU15 3YH

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly but with some uneven paths.

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

Wildlife You Might See: Herons, birds and butterflies.

Information Written: April 2017
Information Checked: June 2024

 

Two Museums 

The history of Andover and the surrounding area is told across two museums under one roof – Andover Museum and Musuem of the Iron Age. 

 

 

 

 

Andover Museum 

Andover Museum lays out the history of Andover in exhibits, including recreations of a Stone Age person,

 

 

 

 

the Andover workhouse

 

 

 

 

 

and a creepy cupboard…

 

 

 

 

 

Boo!

 

 

 

 

 

It also has a children’s activity room and a trail around the museum. 

 

 

 

 

 

Witch Bottles

These are bottles full of urine, hair, pins and salt that in the 17th century were believed to ward of witches and their spells. 

 

 

 

 

The Cockatrice

Believed to roam around the picture perfect village of Wherwell,

 

 

 

 

the cockatrice was a fearsome creature with the body of a rooster, the tail of a lizard and the wings of a bat.

You can see it on the old weather vane from Wherwell Church.  

 

 

 

Museum of the Iron Age 

Musuem of the Iron Age tells the story of Danebury Hill Fort with a recreation of a roundhouse

 

 

 

 

and other exhibits. 

 

 

 

 

 

Danebury Hill Fort 

About 2,500 years ago, Danebury Hill Fort was a series of earthen ramparts, ditches and gateways protecting a central area. 

 

 

 

It is believed that during the Iron Age, about 300 to 400 people lived at Danebury Hill Fort, along with grain stores, livestock, temples and shrines.

 

 

 

Danebury Hill Fort is about a 15 minute drive from the musuem. 

 

Nearest Town: Andover
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SP10 1DP

Adult Cost Range: £1 to £4.99
Child Cost Range: £1 to £4.99
Free if: Under 5 years

Opens: Wednesday to Sunday

Where to Eat: Cafe.
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, shops, toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly

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

Information Written: June 2022

 

The Story Trail

The Story of Salterns, Sea Monsters and Saving the Day is a walk of just over a mile that guides you through the Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve

 

 

 

and a little of its history, whilst telling you a story of salt farmers, sailors, smugglers and a huge sea monster. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Reserve

The Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve is an expanse of coastal lagoons, mudflats and marshes and an important nesting site for birds.  

 

 

 

In the past it was used to farm salt. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Paths

The paths are flat and easy to walk along with a range of surfaces.

 

 

 

 

 

Finding the Reserve

To find the reserve, follow the post code to Maiden Lane, where you can park. Where Maiden Lan becomes Normandy Lane, you will see this side road.

 

 

 

To start the Story Trail, follow the road past the sailing club and you will come to this gate, which is where the story trail begins.

 

 

 

 

* 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: Lymington, near Christchurch in the New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO41 8AF

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours
Buggies: The paths are flat and easy to walk on.

Parking: You can park on Maiden Lane by the side of the road. 
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Birds and seabirds.

Information Written: July 2022

 

The Reserve

The Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve is an expanse of coastal lagoons, mudflats and marshes and an important nesting site for birds.  

 

 

 

The mud flats look very different at high

 

 

 

 

and low tide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salt Production

To produce salt, coastal lagoons were built into salt docks, called Salterns, which trapped the sea water.

 

 

 

 

The sea water was left to evaporate and, once reduced to a salty solution, it was heated in metal pans until only salt crystals were left.  

 

 

 

All that remains of this industry are the lagoons and this building, which was once a salt barn.

You can find this between points 4 and 5 on the Story Trail map. 

 

 

 

The Story Trail

The Story of Salterns, Sea Monsters and Saving the Day is a story trail that takes you back to 1832 and the life of a salt farmer as they meet sailors, smugglers and a huge sea monster. 

 

 

 

The Paths

The paths are flat and easy to walk along with a range of surfaces.

 

 

 

 

 

Finding the Reserve

To find the reserve, follow the post code to Maiden Lane, where you can park. Where Maiden Lan becomes Normandy Lane, you will see this side road.

You can either take the small footpath on your left (next to the green bin in the photo)

 

or follow the road a little further and enter the reserve through this gate, which is where the story trail begins.

 

Nearest Town: Lymington, near Christchurch in the New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO41 8AF

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours
Buggies: The paths are flat and easy to walk on.

Parking: You can park on Maiden Lane by the side of the road. 
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Birds and seabirds.

Information Written: July 2022

 

Hobbledown has an unbelievable amount to do, including:

 

The 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.  

 

 

 

 

The 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. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Courtyard Play Village

An outdoor sand and water play area with a huge ball run

 

 

 

 

and a Rube Goldberg water machine – can you fill the tanks?!

 

 

 

 

 

The 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 wallabies, rheas, goats and sheep.  

 

 

 

 

The Characters and Books

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

 

The Festival of Light

The Festival of light happens over the Christmas period and is one of our favourite festive adventures.

You can either buy tickets for the whole park or just to see the lights. 

 

 

Every year the theme is different.

The photos I have used are from the last five years, with themes like the many stories of Roald Dahl

 

 

 

Grimms’ Fairy Tales

 

 

 

 

 

monsters from the Greek myths

 

 

 

 

 

and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which was the theme for Christmas 2023. 

 

 

 

 

Longleat

Longleat itself offers an action-packed day, during which you get up close to animals and safari by land and water.

 

 

 

There is also a huge Adventure Castle play area.

 

Nearest Town: Warminster
County: Wiltshire
Nearest Postcode: BA12 7NW

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 3

Opens: The Festival of Light happens during the Christmas period. Longleat itself is open daily during the summer but with seasonal closures.

Where to Eat: There are various cafes and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, cafes, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Zoo and safari park animals, including zebra, giraffes, camels, vultures, monkeys, an elephant, rhinos, deer, lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, insects and spiders, hippos, seals, gorillas, bats, anteaters, giant otters, meerkats and wallabies.

Information Written: January 2024

 

Rushmere Country Park

Rushmere CP is somewhere to head out into nature and explore.  

 

 

 

 

It is covered with sculptures, play spaces

 

 

 

 

trees and dens

 

 

 

 

 

and is criss-crossed with footpaths,

 

 

 

 

 

cycle routes and bridleways.

 

 

 

 

 

The Fairy Trail

The fairies hide along the short Access for all footpath, which has smooth, easy to walk along paths.

 

 

 

 

We spotted a fairy dinner party

 

 

 

 

 

fairy doors

 

 

 

 

 

sculptures

 

 

 

 

 

and a reading chair for a giant.

 

 

 

 

 

Woodpecker Trail

Following the longer Woodpecker Trail (which is bumpier with a steep hill you go up and down) leads you deeper into the park,

 

 

 

down a hill

 

 

 

 

 

past Stockgrove Lake

 

 

 

 

 

and several play spaces.

 

 

 

 

 

The Play Areas

There are seven play spaces scattered across the park.

This includes a play area for younger children (those under the age of 6) and has equipment that includes a playhouse, roundabout, giant snails and a sand pit with a static digger machine.

 

Also scattered along the trails are other pieces if play equipment, like a wobbly bridge and balancing stumps. 

 

 

 

 

Treetops Cafe

Treetops Cafe perches high on the hillside with beautiful views over a lake where herons breed.

 

 

 

 

Along the viewing balcony are tables and also binoculars you can use to look at the herons and their nests. 

 

 

 

 

The Leighton-Linslade Children’s Trail

We visited Rushmere Country Park after trying the Leighton-Linslade Children’s Trail.

 

Nearest Town: Heath and Reach, near Leighton-Linslade
County: Bedfordshire
Nearest Postcode: LU7 0EB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, ice cream, snacks, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic area.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: The Access for all path is buggy friendly. The paths along the other trails vary, although I did see people with buggies on each one. 

Parking: Large car parks.
Cost of Parking: Various – please check their website for details.

Wildlife You Might See: Adders, insects, common lizards, herons and other birds.

Information Written: February 2017
Information Checked: August 2023

 

 

 

Can You Help?

Luckily, you can help to track down each of these escapees. Pick up a trail map identifying where each is hidden and follow it until you see a blue footprint on the floor. Look around until you spot something out of the ordinary.

 

 

 

 

 

Look Everywhere

It could be anything…you never know what is just around the corner in this town – a magical shadow or hidden animal, secret writing or an overt phrase, a tiny mouse or a huge pencil, a high up cat or a low down rat!

 

 

 

The Challenge…and Reward

When you have found it, fill in the clue on the back of your map. Once the map challenges are complete (or not!), take your map to the White House on Hockliffe Street to pick up your reward. We were given a badge, bookmark and an art card.

 

 

 

Leighton-Linslade

We spent a magical morning following the trail past old buildings, up winding mews and along busy streets.

It leads you to parts of the town you would never have realised were there. 

 

 

 

The Play Area and Splash Pad

You arrive at Parson’s Close Recreation Ground towards the end of the trail.

 

 

 

 

It is a park with a large playground, a superb splash pad with jets of water and a huge sand pit. We played for hours.

 

 

 

 

Which Story?

Essentially, this is an art work or sculpture trail with pieces inspired by books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter, The Borrowers, Alice in Wonderland and The Gruffalo.

 

 

 

 

Some of the art works are easy to connect to a particular character or story and others tie more generally into themes commonly found in children’s books – for example, doors to other worlds, making wishes and magical items.

 

 

 

Have a look at the Children’s Trail Reading List before going if you feel in need of inspiration.

 

 

 

 

Where to Start?

Maps and a pencil are available for free from Leighton Buzzard Library or The White House (on Hockliffe Street).

 

 

 

 

Alternatively, you can download a map from The Leighton-Linslade Children’s Trail website.

If you’d like to see the Children’s Trail in action, check out the video that has been made to celebrate the 5th Birthday of the Childrens’ Trail.

 

 

There is One Teeny Tiny Street!

Access was easy but one of the streets the trail leads you down is called Peacock Mews. This is a charming, tiny street with a narrow alleyway. My double buggy managed to squeak through.

If you do get stuck, you can go around onto Hockliffe Street and into Peacock Mews that way.

 

 

 

Magical Fun

We have visited the trail twice now. On both occasions we have had a fantastically magical day.

Everyone was so friendly – it is no exaggeration to say that in February we were invited to two events, given several hints, and were spoken to at least another 10 times.

 

 

Rushmere Country Park

If you would like to continue the story trail theme then head over to Rushmere Country Park for some fairy tale fun in the forest.

 

Nearest Town: Leighton-Linslade
County: Bedfordshire
Nearest Postcode: LU7 1RX (or LU7 1HJ for the nearest car park)

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: There are cafes along the trail and places to picnic towards the end.
Facilities: Cafes and shops.

How Long We Spent There: 3.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Hockliffe Street car park (LU7 1HJ), which is at the start and finish of the trail. It is a pay and display car park and was busy when we visited on a week day.
Cost of Parking: From £1 per hour

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: August 2023

 

Leighton-Linslade

We spent a magical morning following the Children’s Trail past old buildings, up winding mews and along busy streets.

 

 

 

 

The Play Area and Splash Pad

You arrive at Parson’s Close Recreation Ground towards the end of the story trail.

 

 

 

 

The large playground has towers, slides, nets, swings and a huge multiplay. There is also a sandy play area

 

 

 

 

and a super splash pad with jets of water. 

 

 

 

 

 

Rushmere Country Park

If you would like to continue the story trail theme then visit Rushmere Country Park for some fairy tale fun in the forest.

Nearest Town: Leighton-Linslade
County: Bedfordshire
Nearest Postcode: LU7 1SD (or LU7 1HJ for the nearest car park)

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: There are cafes in Leighton-Linslade and places to picnic at Parsons’ Close.
Facilities: Toilets, accessible toilets, cafes and shops.

How Long We Spent There: 3.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Hockliffe Street car park (LU7 1HJ), which is at the start and finish of the trail. It is a pay and display car park and was busy when we visited on a week day.
Cost of Parking: From £1 per hour

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: August 2023