If you've ever enjoyed reading Julia Donaldson's "The Gruffalo" to your kids, and you find yourself in Northeast England, make your way over to Hamsterley Forest and walk the Gruffalo Trail - one of 15 such trails scattered across forests in the UK, with each trail ending at a unique Gruffalo sculpture.
Hamsterley is a lovely little forest, largest in Durham County, with several hiking and biking trails that are longer and more arduous than the one we took along the river with our young ones and their cousins.
The trail begins across the street from the forest headquarters, where we had to go in to pay our £4 parking fee as the only pay station in the main car park that was not broken would only take one-pound coins, and we didn't have enough. Along with a map they also gave us a copy of Julia Donaldson's more recent book "Superworm" - apparently the Gruffalo Trail is now also one of 20 designated Superworm Trails. But the kids were here to look for the Gruffalo, not get distracted by worms, however super they may be.
Hamsterley's Gruffalo Trail starts off gently down a meadow and then crosses a bridge, with a fast flowing but shallow river underneath. Watching all the water and greenery was a sight for our sore drought-stricken California eyes, and our girls refused to walk by a single muddy puddle without jumping in it - we were so happy we had the foresight to have them in their Wellingtons!
There are plenty of things to look for and do along the Gruffalo Trail, such as an obstacle course designed for kids, informational boards about woodland flora and fauna, and scattered among the trees, hidden creatures from the Gruffalo book! Like The Snake and The Fox and The Owl and of course, at the end of the trail, The Gruffalo - standing over eight feet tall and complete with horns, purple prickles on its back and a wart on its nose!
After the hike, we had a small picnic in the fairly large play area by the river, enjoying biscuits and fruit and juice while bees buzzed around the beautiful wildflowers that were everywhere! Refueled, the kids then spent an hour splashing around in the shallow stream next to the play area - the Forest Service have thoughtfully dammed the river at this point so that the water becomes a shallow trickle - even our tiny two year old had no trouble crossing it.
So if you ever find yourself in the Northeast you know,
Go Walk a Trail with the Gruffalo! read more