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.

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.

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. 

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

Our visit to the Hawley Meadows Story Trail in Camberley is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Lymington-Keyhaven 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. 

Lymington-Keyhaven Nature 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

Our visit to Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Local Nature Reserve and the Salterns Story Trail in Lymington, in the New Forest, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

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.

Adventure Castle Play Area

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

Our visit to Longleat and the Festival of Light, in Warminster, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

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, near Luton
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

Our visit to the Leighton-Linslade Children’s Trail in Leighton-Linslade, near Luton, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Preface: Story Trails

A.A. Milne and his son Christopher Robin discovered Ashdown Forest together. 

We decided to follow in their footsteps and create our own Winnie-the-Pooh story trail. 

We used a walking route we found online (full details below) and our copies of Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner .

Introduction: “We’re All Going On An Expotition…”

Like Winnie-the-Pooh, we called our expedition an ‘Expotition’.

We chose three areas of Ashdown Forest to visit: 

• Pooh Corner, Hartfield village (to set the scene at the Poohseum and to pick up maps so my children could ‘plan’ the Expotition over lunch)
• Pooh Bridge car park (as the first chapter of Winnie-the-Pooh starts at Pooh’s house, which is next to Pooh Bridge)
• Gills Lap car park.

Chapter 1: Pooh Corner 

Our Expotition began with lunch at Pooh Corner, a tea room and museum dedicated to all things Winnie-the-Pooh, which helped to set the scene for our story trail. 

We also had a good look at the map in the front of the books, which you also can see here on the EH Shephard website.  

The Pooh Corner staff are lovely and happy to give advice on places to visit in Ashdown Forest with maps.

Chapter 2: Pooh Bridge 

Pooh’s House 

Winnie-the-Pooh’s tree stump house is very near to Pooh Bridge.  

To find it, walk to the bridge from Pooh Bridge car park, cross the river and Pooh’s house is a very short walk away on the left of the path.  

When you find it, don’t forget to knock and “Rnig Also” to see if anyone is home!

Pooh Bridge 

This picturesque spot is where Pooh invents the game of Poohsticks.  

The bridge jumps straight out of the pages of the books, having been rebuilt in 1979 to match Shepard’s illustrations. 

Piglet’s House

You can find Piglet’s tiny house in the woods to the left of the main path (when walking back to Pooh Bridge car park).

Owl’s House

Owl’s high up house is there for the finding too.

Chapter 3: Gills Lap 

Note: We followed the walking route linked to below but in reverse because I wanted our trail to end at the Enchanted Place, the location for the last line of the books.  

These places and the route are shown on the map linked to below. 

Eeyore’s Sad and Gloomy Place (map marker 6)

We didn’t walk all the way to Eeyore’s Gloomy Place – it’s a long way and the name didn’t exactly sell it as a destination!  

Instead, we walked a little way past the stream and gazed across at the Gloomy Place before heading back to the stream and Quarry car park. 

The North Pole (map marker 5)

A little stream runs through this part of the forest and is believed to be the spot where Roo falls into a pool of water and Pooh finds the North Pole.   

Roo’s Sandy Pit (map marker next to the Quarry car park)

This former quarry is now overgrown and is where Pooh and his friends trick Kanga into leaving with Piglet instead of Roo.

The Milne and Shepard Memorial (map marker 3)

The memorial plaque commemorating A.A. Milne and E.H. Shephard has a stunning location

with places to sit and have a picnic or rest tired legs whilst marvelling at the view.

The Heffalump Trap (map marker top left)

If you are brave enough, you can build your own Heffalump trap in this Very Deep Pit dug by Piglet. 

But be careful, Christopher Robin spotted Heffalumps just lumping along in this part of the forest…

The Enchanted Place (map marker 2)

Our final stop, the Enchanted Place, is mentioned in the last line of The House at Pooh Corner, which makes me cry every time: 

“…in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.”

Notes: Planning Your Expotition

Maps and Leaflets

The Pooh Corner staff give advice on which places to visit in Ashdown Forest and also have a little expotition map for children. 

I also printed this map and guide I found on another website called Pooh Walks from Gills Lap.

The Paths

The conditions along the paths varies – some parts are uneven and steep and others are flatter and easier.  

I have easily taken an all terrain buggy to Pooh Bridge from the Pooh Bridge car park but would opt for a sling when exploring the area around Gills Lap car park.

Nearest Town: Hartfield, Ashdown Forest, near East Grinstead
County: East Sussex
Nearest Postcode: TN7 4AE, TN7 4EX and TN7 4EN

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free 

Where to Eat: Eat at Pooh Corner Tea Rooms or bring a picnic and eat in Ashdown Forest.
Facilities: None but there is a cafe offering snacks and ice cream at the Pooh Bridge car park (TN7 4EX). 

How Long We Spent There: Full day
Buggies: You can take an all terrain buggy to Pooh Bridge.  The ground is uneven around Gills Lap. 

Parking: You can park at Pooh Corner (TN7 4AE), Pooh Bridge car park (TN7 4EX) and Gills Lap car park (TN7 4EN). 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Cattle, deer, ponies, birds, butterflies, other insects, snakes and mammals.

Information Written: September 2022

Our visit to the many enchanted places of Ashdown Forest in Hartfield, near East Grinstead, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Ashdown Forest

The atmospheric Ashdown Forest inspired A.A. Milne to write about the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin and friends.

Pooh Bridge

No visit to Ashdown Forest is complete without a visit to picture perfect Pooh Bridge, where Pooh invented the game of Poohsticks. 

Be sure to pick up some Poohsticks on your walk to the bridge – they can be hard to find, probably because they are all in the stream! 

The Walk

We walk to the bridge from Pooh Bridge car park, which has a little cafe. 

The paths are generally flat and buggy friendly, with a gentle hill leading away from the car park. 

The Houses

Following the path to Pooh Bridge leads you past a little balancing course and down a hill.  

If you leave the path and head into the woods on the right you can find Eeyore’s gloomy house

Piglet’s tiny house

and Owl’s high up house. 

The Bridge

The bridge jumps straight out of the pages of Milne’s stories, having been rebuilt in 1979 to match Shepard’s illustrations. 

Pooh’s House 

Winnie-the-Pooh’s house is in a tree stump very near to Pooh Bridge.  

To find it, walk to the bridge from Pooh Bridge car park, cross the stream and walk a little way up the lane.  

When you get there, don’t forget to knock and “Rnig Also” to see if anyone is home!

Other Story Locations

Ashdown Forest is home to other locations from the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, including Roo’s Sandy Pit, the Enchanted Place, Eeyore’s Gloomy Place and the Heffalump Trap.  

It also has a memorial plaque to A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard.

For full details, please see my post about how to create your own Winnie-the-pooh Expotition. 

Pooh Corner Tea Rooms and Pooh’seum

A short drive away from Pooh Bridge is the village of Hartfield and Pooh Corner, a tea room and museum dedicated to all things Winnie-the-Pooh. 

The Pooh Corner staff are lovely and happy to give advice on places to visit in Ashdown Forest with maps.

Nearest Town: Hartfield, Ashdown Forest, near East Grinsted
County: East Sussex
Nearest Postcode: TN7 4EX 

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free 

Where to Eat: Eat at Pooh Corner Tea Rooms or bring a picnic and eat in Ashdown Forest.
Facilities: None but there is a cafe offering snacks and ice cream at the Pooh Bridge car park (TN7 4EX). 

How Long We Spent There: Full day
Buggies: You can take an all terrain buggy to Pooh Bridge.  The ground is uneven around Gills Lap. 

Parking: You can park at Pooh Bridge car park (TN7 4EX). 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Cattle, deer, ponies, birds, butterflies, other insects, snakes and mammals.

Information Written: September 2022

Our visit to Pooh Bridge and the other enchanted places in Ashdown Forest, near East Grinsted, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

100 Aker Wood

Walking through 100 Aker Wood was magical, like walking through scenes from the Winnie-the-Pooh books and cartoons. 

We found Winnie the Pooh’s house 

Eeyore’s Gloomy Place

a bridge to play Poohsticks

Wol’s tree 

Roo’s Sandy Pit 

Rabbit’s house 

a heffalump trap

and a bee tree.  

At the entrance there is a map of 100 Aker Wood that shows the places you can find along your walk.  

Aldenham Country Park

The Country Park itself is full of things to do, including orienteering and cycling trails 

mini golf and trampolines

a lake and nature trails. 

Aldenham Country Park Farm

On Aldenham Country Park Farm, a route leads you past farm animals, including cows and pigs

goats, donkeys and ducks.  

It also has various tractors to ride

and an area where you can pay a little extra and meet some smaller animals, like rabbits, guinea pigs and giant snails.

We even spotted Winnie the Pooh!

The Adventure Play Area

This fabulous Aldenham Country Park Adventure Play Area has wooden play equipment, including a zip wire, sand play areas

and a water play area complete with a water pump.

At the time of writing, you must book to use the play area and there was a charge of £3. 

Some sessions are exclusively for children with special needs. 

Nearest Town: Elstree, near Watford
County: Hertfordshire
Nearest Postcode: WD6 3BA

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: The Country Park is free but you pay to enter the farm and the adventure play area. 
Child Cost Range: The Country Park is free but you pay to enter the farm and the adventure play area. 
Free If: You are only visiting the Country Park.

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe, hire a barbecue or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe offering snacks and ice cream, toilets and accessible toilets, picnic areas. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours at the farm and the rest of the day in the Country Park.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park. 
Cost of Parking: From £4.50 per day.

Wildlife You Might See: Birds and insects and farm animals – cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs – maybe even Winnie the Pooh!

Information Written: July 2022

Our visit to 100 Aker Wood and Aldenham Country Park in Elstree, near Watford, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Tumblestone Hollow Adventure Play Area

The equipment is said to be for children up to around 12 years old that includes:

• a huge, two-storey wooden village with climbing walls, nets, tunnels, ladders, rope bridges, wobbly bridges, balancing logs and a fireman’s pole
• two tube slides 
• a wooden climbing frame with nets and a balancing rope course
• toddler swings 
• swings 

• a treehouse with a slide, rope ladder and rope course 
• a zip wire
• animal springers 
• a spinning bowl 
• a tunnel through a hill
• a wide slide with a hut, net and ladder 

• a sand play area with chutes and pulleys 
• a water play area with a water pump, channels you can direct and a waterwheel
• a basket swing 
• picnic tables
• a covered seating area.

The Legend of Tumblestone Hollow

The adventure play area has been designed around a story book called The Legend of Tumblestone Hollow written by Amy Sparkes and illustrated by Steve Pearce. This book is available to buy at the Visitors’ Centre and will eventually be sold on Amazon so you can read it before you visit. 

The story is about a magical rock called the Glimmerstone and how it came to be at Tumblestone Hollow. 

Stonor Park

Tumblestone Hollow is in the grounds of Stonor Park, an old family house in the Chiltern Hills. 

The surrounding parkland has manicured gardens, woodland, a view point, an ancient stone circle and a herd of deer we encountered on the drive in. 

The Cafes

There are two cafes – one in the Visitors’ Centre and another in the adventure play area that is called The Rumble Hut and offers pizzas cooked in a wood fired pizza oven (but is only open on busy days).

Nearest Town: Henley-on-Thames
County: Oxfordshire
Nearest Postcode: RG9 6HF

Opens: Various times throughout the year – please check their website. 

Adult Cost Range: Various depending on when you go but generally between £5 to £9.99 
Child Cost Range: Various depending on when you go but generally between £5 to £9.99 
Free if: Under 92 cm tall

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at one of the cafes. 
Facilities: Cafes, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly. 

Parking: There is a car with lots of spaces.
Cost of Parking: Free with an entry ticket.

Wildlife You Might See: Deer, insects and red kites.

Information Written: June 2022

Our visit to Tumblestone Hollow at Stonor Park, near Henley, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Adventure of Winnall Moors 

“The Adventure of Winnall Moors” leads you along a story trail through the beautiful Winnall Moors Nature Reserve. Your quest begins with a search for the Roadway, which is invisible unless you know the secret password…

Along the way you’ll meet a cast of characters, including Samuel Slipper, the Toad Emperor, Super Slug, and eventually, King Fisher himself.

The Story Trail

This is essentially a walking route that leads you around the nature reserve with a story to read along the way. 

It stops you at various points to notice or do something – for example, spot a sculpture, make a wand, 

find a stone or solve a clue.

Winnall Moors Nature Reserve

Winnall Moors is nature reserve near the centre of Winchester that is home to lots of wildlife, including otters, water voles, and kingfishers. It also has a reedbed boardwalk, wildflower meadows, and the River Itchen.

Nearest Town: Winchester
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO23 8DX

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Eat at a cafe in Winchester or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic area in the nature reserve and there are cafes in Winchester. 

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

Parking: There are several different car parks nearby. We parked in Chesil Street Multi Storey Pay and Display Car Park (SO23 0HU), which meant we could follow the Water Vole Trail to Winnall Moors. 
Cost of Parking: Varies by car park.

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies, damselflies and other insects; ducks, swans, kingfishers and other birds; otters; brown trout and other fish.

Information Written: June 2021

Our visit to Winnall Moors Nature Reserve and the Winnall Moors Nature Reserve Story Trail in Winchester is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Bransgore and Thorney Hill

The Nevi-Wesh Story Trail is 1.6 miles long and starts from the Holmsley Walk car park, which is near the Bransgore and Thorney Hill areas of the New Forest. 

The trail leads you through the wooded area known as Magpie Bottom,

and across a little river called the Avon Water. 

Along the way there are ponies, wood ants, and a paddling spot. The paddling spot can be muddy so bring wellies.

The Paths

The paths are easy to walk along and range from surfaced to muddy and bumpy. There are a couple of small hills. We spent about an hour and a half walking and another hour paddling and eating. 

Missing Markers

We couldn’t find any of the Story Snail markers (see below) but it was easy to work out where we needed to stop to read the next part of the story.  

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 – although we could not find any markers on the Nevi-Wesh 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: Ringwood, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: BH23 7EQ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: The paths are surfaced in places and muddy in others.

Parking: Holmsley Walk car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Ponies, wood ants, mini-beasts, butterflies, rabbits and birds.

Information Written: April 2021

Our visit to the Nevi-Wesh Story Trail at Ringwood, in the New Forest, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Hill Fort

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

As you can imagine, it has a spectacular location with far-reaching views. 

The Inhabitants

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. 

By about 100BC, Danebury Hill Fort had been abandoned and was probably being used as a farm.

Local Nature Reserve

Today Danebury Hill Fort is a tranquil nature reserve with beautiful views. 

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.

Finding 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: Andover
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO20 6HZ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: It is easy to take an all terrain buggy to the hill fort but not up onto the ramparts, which have very steep sides.

Parking: Car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free.

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

Information Written: September 2019

Our trip along the Danebury Hill Fort and the Danger at Danebury Hill Fort Story Trail near Andover is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Dragon of Butser Hill

The story trail was lots of fun with plenty of laughing, charging and howling as you explore the hilltop. The children couldn’t stop scanning the skies for the dragon. 

Butser Hill

The trail leads you around the top of Butser Hill National Nature Reserve, which is one of the highest points in Hampshire with beautiful views towards the Isle of Wight and the South Downs. It is also an ideal spot for kite flying.

Reaching the Top

You can either walk up the hill from Queen Elizabeth Country Park or drive up from the A3. We considered walking but the Visitor’s Centre staff advised against taking a buggy.

The Paths

It only took us fifteen minutes to walk to the top at a slow pace. We did not find the hill steep to climb and my toddler walked with me.

The hill is covered in rough, clumpy grass but there were paths mown through it.

Queen Elizabeth Country Park

From Butser Hill you can easily reach Queen Elizabeth Country Park by car, where there is a cafe, play areas for a range of ages, orienteering trails and picnic areas.

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 story sections that you read out as you reach number markers along the trail.

Find a 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 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: Horndean, near Petersfield
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU32 1QR

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours
Buggies: We used an all terrain buggy without any problems.

Parking: Near the top of Butser Hill is a pay and display car park with lots of spaces.
Cost of Parking: From £1.80 per hour

Wildlife You Might See: Sheep, butterflies and birds, maybe even a dragon if you are lucky!

Information Written: June 2017

Our visit to Butser Hill Story Trail at Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Horndean, near Petersfield, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Great Binfield Copse

The setting for the story trail is Great Binfield Copse, a smallish area of ancient woodland surrounded by housing developments, Chineham Shopping Centre and the A33.

The Story Trail

The trail starts outside Chineham Library in Chineham town centre and winds its way along a path that darts in and out of woods, fields and residential roads.

The story encourages interaction with the surroundings so try to read the story before you go so you can prompt your children!

Binfield Wood Play Area

There is a play area at Number 5 in the story called Binfield Wood Play Area, which makes a fun stop and a good place for a snack. It also doubles as the giant’s castle!

Great Binfield the Giant

We had lots of fun on this story trail with its magic, spells and statues and my children became really involved.

The Mystery of the Missing Numbers

When we visited, the land between Numbers 2 and 4 of the story was being developed so the story needed some tweaks:

• Number 2: We struggled to find the flying geese and raised beds. We eventually found the geese by leaving the trail and walking a short way up Binfields Farm Lane (away from the school). We never found the raised beds.
• Number 3: The skeleton of the giant three-headed monster (a lamp post) is not there. Luckily, there are several lamp posts around the roundabout you can use instead, although none of these have three heads. We never found the Number 3 marker.

The Paths

The paths were generally wide and well surfaced. The woodland path between Numbers 4 and 5 was narrower and muddier. 

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.

Finding 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: Chineham, Basingstoke
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: RG24 8BQ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

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

Parking: Several options. I used the Chineham Shopping Centre South Car Park (RG24 8BQ), which is the car park marked at the bottom left of the story trail map. If you drive down to the very end of this car park, there are parent and child spaces near the library. The car parks are huge and we parked easily.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Insects and birds.

Information Written: March 2017

Our visit to the Great Binfield Story Copse Story Trail in Chineham, Basingstoke, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Odiham Castle Story Trail

It’s a funny story about Henry, a pilgrim making his way from Winchester to Canterbury. He has a couple of mishaps along the way that made my children laugh out loud. 

Henry eventually encounters the French army and the soldiers garrisoned at Odiham Castle, so before starting the story it is helpful to explain some of the castle’s history (thankfully outlined in the story pack!).

The Wildlife

We saw ducks, moorhens, grey herons and a huge white bird that turned out to be a great white egret.

Odiham Castle

Odiham Castle was once one of King John’s strongholds. By 1605 the castle lay in ruins. 

By 1605 the castle lay in ruins. Today all that remains are the flint cores of the walls. 

Where to Start the Trail

As the story pack suggested, we parked in Greywell village at the Fox and Goose pub (RG29 1BY). 

To reach the towpath from the pub, leave the car park and turn left and then immediately right onto Deptford Lane (RG29 1BS). There are no pavements between the pub and the footpath. 

At the end of the fir hedge on the left-hand side of the lane, is a narrow footpath.  This will take you over the Basingstoke Canal, down a short hill and onto the towpath.

The Paths

The paths were mostly wide level but the towpath can be quite stoney. I did not have any access issues with a double, all-terrain buggy, although it was a little muddy in places. 

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: Odiham, near Fleet and Basingstoke
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: RG29 1BY

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket. 
Facilities: Picnic table.

How Long We Spent There: About three hours.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: We parked in Greywell village at the Fox and Goose pub (RG29 1BY), which the story pack suggested. The pub has a car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, moorhens, herons, birds and insects. 

Information Written: February 2017

Our visit to the Odiham Caste Story Trail in Odiham, near Fleet and Basingstoke, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

A Tragic Story

We struggled with this story, which is about some princesses whose mother has died.

During the story one princess nearly drowns in Fleet Pond and the others are imprisoned under the railway arches by a troll. I had to give up on the story as written and make up my own…

Fleet Pond

Fleet Pond itself is a beautiful nature reserve with woods, heath and marshes surrounding the largest freshwater lake in Hampshire. 

It took us about an hour and a half to walk around the lake at a leisurely pace.

The Paths

The paths are surfaced and easy to push a buggy along but were very muddy in places. Great fun for the little ones but make sure you bring wellies if it’s been raining!

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: Fleet
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU51 2RR

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic area.

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

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

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese and other birds.

Information Written: January 2017

Our visit to the Fleet Pond Story Trail at Fleet Pond in Fleet is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.