Survival Fun
A Walk on the WILDISH SIDE
NIDD GORGE, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Acres of broadleaf woodland brimming with wild- life adorn the steep cliffs and slopes of Nidd Gorge. Nestling between Harrogate and Knaresborough, Nidd Gorge, which dates back to at least 1600, is actually made up of fi ve individual areas of woodland. The Nidd Gorge Adventure Trail awaits families who visit - dive in and discover secret viewpoints, twisty timber walks, gunpowder plotters, a looming totem pole and a seriously scary scramble along the winding river.
PRESSMENNAN WOOD, Dunbar, East Lothian
Pressmennan wood is located 8km west of Dunbar, accessible to vehicles via a minor road from the village of Stenton. The wood has excellent public ac- cess with approximately 6.5 km of paths of different grades. Visitors to the wood can enjoy panoramic views towards the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock or walk along the tranquil Pressmennan Lake.
Elusive creatures live among the old dying trees in Pressmennan wood. With keen eyes and a few
clues as you see the signs of their habitation – you may be lucky enough to meet one of the Glingbobs and Tootfl its who have made the wood their home.
HEARTWOOD FOREST, Sandridge, Hertfordshire
At Heartwood Forest near Sandridge, St Albans, the creation of England’s largest new native forest is well underway. There are ambitious plans to create an 858 acre woodland with a total of 600,000 newly planted trees, all planted by volunteers. There will also be a community orchard, new wildfl ower meadows, open spaces and miles of footpaths and bridleways created over a 10 year period. The site also contains existing ancient woodland alongside the newly planted trees, with wildlife in abundance. On the August bank holiday weekend families are also invited to the ‘HeARTwood Festival’ which plays host to a wide range of activities for children and is absolutely free.
PLAS POWER WOODS, Bersham, North Wales
One of The Woodland Trust’s most popular sites in Wales, the woodland offers plenty of opportunities for walking. Although there are only two short sections of public footpath, there is extensive pedestrian permis- sive access throughout the site including part of the famous Clywedog Trail. Parking and picnic facilities are available at the adjacent Nant Mill Visitor Centre which has developed a number of local self-guided walks, one of which is based on Plas Power Wood.
BOVEY VALLEY WOODS, Lustleigh, Devon.
Above: ‘THAT’S what a Glingbob looks like!’ Children enjoying Pressmennan Wood
The Bovey Valley Woods lie within the valley of the River Bovey, on the South East side of Dartmoor National Park. The woods are full of interesting features
A trip to the woods is a great way to enjoy quality family time during the summer months for anything from an hour up to a whole day.
VisitWoods.org.uk lists over 10,000 publicly accessible woods owned by the Woodland Trust, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, Forestry Commission and others. All are found throughout the UK and many are absolutely free to enter. Below, we’ve selected six from around the country that the whole family will enjoy.
Above: Adventures in Plas Power Woods
and varied landscapes thanks to its location, and as a result, they are the perfect location for a day out. The site has recently been found to contain a rare colony of Barbastelle bat, one of only 17 such colonies that have been found across the whole of the UK, so if you fi nd yourself there as day turns to night keep your eyes peeled and your head down!
CARNMONEY HILL, Newtonabbey, Northern Ireland
Carnmoney Hill, an ancient green monument, is one of Newtownabbey’s greatest landmarks. It is one of a chain of hills, steeped in history and folklore, that watch over Belfast City. This green oasis of grassland, wetland and woodland forms a honey-pot for wildlife, which includes the long-eared owl, sparrowhawk and Irish hare. Walkers can choose between a lower woodland walk, which will take about 45 minutes and, for the more energetic, an invigorating hilltop walk lasting approximately two hours. Be prepared for some steep inclines, but in return you have the promise of breathtaking views over Belfast Lough and the sur- rounding countryside.
WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDES.CO.UK 35
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