Woodland Family Walks: Tips for having the best experience

Maria
October 17, 2017

Going for woodland walks is a great family activity. Nothing beats clearing your head and getting some fresh air. It’s also a great opportunity to spend some quality time together without distractions.

If you fancy going on some woodland walks this autumn, have a read of the tips below to ensure you get the best experience.

Take a basic first aid kit

You never know when someone might fall over and injure themselves during a walk in the countryside. For that reason, it’s sensible to take a first aid kit that contains some essentials like plasters and antibacterial cream according to St Johns Ambulance. Unless you’re walking in another country, there should be no need for antivenom or anything like that as the UK is pretty safe when it comes to dangerous animals. Still, pack your kit and double check it before you leave home. At the very least, having some plasters handy will mean you can treat any cuts and bruises without your children making too much fuss.

Buy the correct clothing

It’s cold in this country during the autumn months, and so it makes sense to invest in some appropriate clothing for the entire family. You’ll never make the most of the experience if the children shiver in the cold breeze. Countrywear by Schöffel and other household brands should suffice. However, nothing is wrong with opting for lesser-known brand names if you don’t have a lot of money to spend. Just make sure everyone has footwear that isn’t going to cause any problems during the trek and get enough jumpers and coats so everyone can stay warm.

Choose your woodland carefully

When it comes to selecting your destination, it’s sensible to perform some online research. That is because you might want to give yourselves the best chance of seeing wild deer or other creatures that only live in some parts of the country. You might also want to follow an established nature trail or something like that. Your children will love the experience if you put some effort into finding the best places. Most experts agree the best woodlands in the UK include:

Westonbirt, Gloucestershire
Leith Hill, near Dorking
Arley Arboretum, Worcestershire
Cannock Chase, Staffordshire

Of course, you might want to choose a woodland close to your home, and that’s fine. However, you should still take a look at some of the most scenic areas in case you want to plan a camping weekend or something similar in the future.

Whatever you decide, parents should manage to get the most out of their experience if they take some of the advice from this article. Now all you have to do is invest in the right clothing, and make a shortlist of potential destinations. While wild camping is mostly illegal in the UK, most of the open woodlands have campsites and caravan parks. So, you can turn the experience into a break for the family if you want to get away from the stresses of modern life for a few days.

About The Author

Hello and welcome to Suburban Mum! I'm Maria and I'm mum to two boys - E who's 14 and M who's 11. This blog is about my family, the ups and downs of being a working mum and everything in between. If you want to find out more about me and my family head over to our About us page.