A wintry woodland walk at Hughenden Manor

For our last family day out of 2016, we headed over to Hughenden Manor. Having enjoyed the knights and dragons trail there in the summer, we were looking forward to trying the fairytale trail. As we walked the short distance from the car park towards the information hut, we passed several chalk boards with passages and clues relating to different fairy tales. There were white pebbles lining the path and a sign telling us to follow the white pebbles.

 

Near the information hut, we saw another sign. This suggested that the fairy tale trail was in the woods. We needed to follow the purple trail through the woods which was about two miles long. We couldn’t find the start of the purple trail at first but spotted a gingerbread house which the girls made a beeline for. It made a welcome shelter from the rain that had just started. While the girls and I waited at the gingerbread house, hubby went back to find out where we needed to go.

A shot from behind - Jessica, Sophie and Daddy walking along outdoors

It turned out that we needed to go back to the car park for the start of the trail. It was now raining heavily though. We decided to stop in the cafe for some lunch in the hope that the rain would ease off.

Jessica and Sophie spot one of the chalkboards

Over lunch, hubby looked at the trail route on his phone. We decided that we would do the trail in reverse as the end of the trail would take us back in the direction we had just been. Two miles is a very long walk for Jessica. Both of us were keen not to have to increase it by having to turn back on ourselves. We found the path into the woods ready to start our trail.

Jessica and Sophie at the gingerbread house

We had a lovely walk through the woods and the girls enjoyed it. I was a little surprised not to see anything along the way relating to the trail though. I wondered whether perhaps the trail was only on part of the route.

Jessica sitting on a bench and Sophie standing on the footpath

The girls weren’t bothered about the lack of fairy tale things to spot though. They were just happy to collect sticks long with way. Jessica coped very well with the length of the walk. She had a few stops along the way to catch her breath and the occasional ride on Daddy’s shoulders.  Considering how muddy it was along the way (plus Sophie managed to fall over in the mud several times) this was a brave move on hubby’s part!

Hubby carrying Sophie on his shoulders

It wasn’t until we got back to the car park that we realised we had done the trail on the way to the information hut. It seemed like a very short trail though. I can’t help thinking we must have missed something!

 

Although the lack of trail to make the walk a little more interesting was slightly disappointing, we did all enjoy just being together and having a nice wintry walk in the woods.

 

If anyone did do the fairytale trail though and knows whether I completely missed it, please do let me know!

 

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

26 thoughts on “A wintry woodland walk at Hughenden Manor

  1. Even though the trail didn’t sound too successful looks like you all had lots of outdoors fun. Look at those happy smiles, just gorgeous x

  2. It looks like you had a wonderful time exploring the woods together as a family, the girls have such big smiles on their faces all the way through! It’s a shame that the walk wasn’t as good as you were expecting, maybe there was something you missed as you enjoyed the Knights and Dragons trail so much? Overall at least you all had a wonderful day together, family days will give the girls such happy memories as they get older.

    Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.

    1. I’m sure we must have missed something – the trails aren’t usually so short! It was lovely to have a walk together even if it wasn’t what we were expecting! 🙂

    1. The gingerbread house was cute. I’m sure we must have missed something along the way but at least we had a nice walk 🙂

  3. Oh what a shame that you missed it, how daft that it’s not better signposted. I’m glad you had a good day out anyway though and didn’t they do well walking so far?
    Nat.x

    1. I was very impressed with how well they both coped – it was quite a long walk for both of them! 🙂

    1. Thankfully the rain stopped during our walk in the woods! The lack of trail was a little disappointing but still lovely to get out and about together 🙂

  4. Mr Tin Box always ends up with muddy shoulders on our walks these days 🙂 What a shame the trail wasn’t very well sign posted but, like you say, it was good to get out for the walk! #countrykids

    1. Muddy shoulders are definitely an occupational hazard of being a dad! It was lovely to get out for the walk even if we didn’t get to do a trail along the way 🙂

    1. We loved the gingerbread house too and the walk was lovely even if we didn’t find the trail 🙂

  5. Aww those pesky fairies hiding from you hey!? Definately sounds like a good day out though and as you say you enjoyed spending the time as a family! I made the mistake of doing a shoulder carry with a muddy one recently, I wasn’t amused!! Glad it washes off! #countrykids

    1. It was a good day out even with the lack of fairies! Shoulder carries are always hubby’s job so I avoid muddy shoulders but we all come away from walks like this a little on the muddy side – as you say it washes off! 🙂

  6. Oh no! We’ve had similar trail incidents! Two miles is a long walk, they did brilliantly well. I love the little gingerbread house too. I only ever consider places with cafes too, espically with the unpredictable weather! Stopping by from #CountryKids

    1. I always love a stop at a cafe on a day out – even if it’s just for tea and cake! 🙂

  7. How cute are their matching coats. This trail looks great. We are hoping to go to the hundred acre woods this weekend. The little gingerbread house is so sweet.

    1. Thank you Stacey. The Hundred Acre Woods sound fun – hope you managed to get there 🙂

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