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To the Trees! Forest Adventures in the Lake District

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Grizedale - camping in the Lake District

I might have said this a few times, but there are very few trees in Shetland. We live on a wind-swept, saltwater-battered rock in the middle of the North Sea. There are a few little groups of trees here and there, and one deciduous area which gives a tiny taste of what it feels like to be in a proper forest, but for the real deal we have to head to the mainland.

In the summer of 2014 my husband and I took our younger two children south to the mainland for our first proper family holiday away. For our youngest, it was the first time he’d ever been off the island. For madam, she’d only been to the mainland once, that Spring, to receive an award on behalf of her classmates.

We packed up our RAV 4 with camping equipment, took the overnight ferry 200 miles south to Aberdeen and drove to the Lake District via an overnight stop in Edinburgh (and a visit to the zoo!), for a spot of camping in the forest.

Grizedale Campsite - Bowkerstead Farm

GRIZEDALE CAMPING SITE

The Grizedale camping site is located in a quiet corner of the Lake District, in between Coniston Water and Lake Windemere on Bowkerstead Farm. It’s an active farm, and tent pitches are available in the lower fields.

We opted for a camping pod located in the heart of the forest up behind the farm. I’d chosen this particular campsite because a) it was fairly quiet and b) we were permitted to have open fires. I’d spent ages researching different camping sites in the Lake District and most of them didn’t allow fires. What’s the point of camping if you can’t have a fire?!

The camping pod was very basic – nothing but a floor with a roof, small window and door. There was just enough room to set up air mattresses and store our bags. There’s a small wooden deck area to the front of the pod ideal for setting up a kitchen area, plus, each pod has its own fire pit (yay!). The site also has a male and female toilet and shower area and small kitchenette with a coffee machine.

The campsite owner, Arthur, is a fantastic fellow who made sure our stay was comfortable and pleasant. He regularly brought up bags of wood and kindling (we weren’t permitted to gather our own on his property) on his four wheeler and was happy to answer any of our questions about the area.

As I mentioned earlier, the campsite is on an active farm, so we regularly had visits from Arthur’s goat. A giant metal ant in the garden next to the farm house was a talking point – apparently it was commissioned for a Prodigy music concert in 2010, and has somehow made its way to Arthur’s garden!

Grizedale Campsite - Giant Prodigy Ant

Apparently it rains a lot in the Lake District, and we’d brought our waterproofs just in case. It rained, a gentle little pitter patter on the roof of our camping pod early on the first morning. For the next five full days – pure, glorious sun and blue skies!

In Shetland if the BBC weather app shows a picture of a white cloud with a sun peeking out from behind it it means it’s going to be really cloudy all day and the sun might, on the rare occasion, peek out. In the Lake District a sun peeking out behind a cloud means blue sky horizon to horizon with the occasional little white fluffy cloud floating by.

It was my husband’s birthday while we were camping here, and a birthday means cake. It took some figuring out, but I developed a recipe for a chocolate orange camp fire cake using actual ingredients (and not boxed brownie mixes like most recipes I found on Pinterest!). I also served up some Middle Eastern spiced campfire chickpeas, which were really rather lovely.

Grizedale Camp Site - Bowkerstead Farm

Evenings were spent around the campfire, sipping wine and taking in the sounds of the forest and, during the weekdays we were there, the quiet murmurings of our camping neighbours. The weekend was a bit different when the city kids arrived with their parties and tinny digital music. Still, it was a fantastic campsite and base to explore the surrounding area.

The camping pods at Grizedale cost £30 per night, and they recommend booking in advance.


 Grizedale Go Ape Treetop Adventure

GO APE

Just up the road from the Grizedale Campsite you’ll find the Grizedale Forest Park Go Ape facility. Now, keep in mind that this was the first time my children had ever been in a proper forest – just imagine how amazing this experience was for them!

Although this was my idea of heaven, I was two stone heavier at that time and still recovering from a foot crush injury, so I didn’t want to chance going up into the trees myself. My husband took them up for the Treetop Junior Adventure.

Grizedale Go Ape Treetop Adventure

Staff were very friendly and kitted the kids out in a safety harness before providing instructions on how to get through the course.

The Junior Treetop Adventure is a shorter course designed for Tiny Tarzans, with just enough canopy exploring and traversing to get a good feel for the site. The ultimate test is the zip wire at the end. If your child has the confidence to do the zip wire then they can go back up and do the longer, higher tree top route.

They flew around it like they had wings! Well, DD (then 7) did, while our 5 year old preferred to cling on to his father’s legs. DD whizzed down that zip wire while DS opted for the stairs.

Grizedale Go Ape Treetop Adventure

It’s an absolutely brilliant idea, and these Go Ape facilities are located up and down the country. Visit their website to find out where your nearest one is. Prices start from £18 and it’s definitely money well spent.

There’s a cafe and gift shop next to the Go Ape facility too, or if flying through the treetops isn’t your thing, there are plenty of trails to explore. Ask at the information desk for a leaflet detailing the paths.

Grizedale Forest Park

THE CLOCKWORK FOREST

One of the nearby trails is the Ridding Wood Trail, which, in 2011, became home to The Clockwork Forest, created by the internationally renowned artist group Greyworld. Their artwork takes the form of multiple giant clockwork keys which, when turned, activate magical sound compositions.

We had no idea this was here when we started down this trail – we were there because it was the 15th anniversary of the Gruffalo, and this was one of the Gruffalo Trails organized by the Forestry Commission. As far as this Gruffalo Trail went it was rather underwhelming (cardboard cut outs of the characters were cable tied to the trees), but finding clockwork trees – now that was pretty awesome.

Grizedale Clockwork Forest

Grizedale Clockwork Forest

Another strange phenomenon we encountered many times during our adventures through the forest were the random appearances of trees with coins, usually 2 pences, hammered into them. Apparently these money trees are examples of ‘wishing trees’ and their existence is rooted in superstition. People make offerings to the tree in the hopes that the spirits inhabiting the tree can grant them.

Grizedale Money Tree

Have you ever added a coin to a money tree?  Why? Did your wish come true?

All in all this was a pretty fantastic first experience of a real forest for the kids, and as I sit, typing, on a miserable dreary cold and wet Shetland winter’s day I’m missing the warmth of the real sun!

To the trees! Our adventures in the Lake District.

OTHER LAKE DISTRICT POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Appleby and Ullswater Staycation by Farmersgirl Kitchen
Grasmere Ginger Shortbread by Tin & Thyme
L’Enclume: A Little Piece of Paradise by The Foodie Couple Blog
The Hat Trick Cafe by Kavey Eats

Monkey and Mouse

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Disclaimer: This is not a paid post. We paid for this holiday ourselves.

Comments

  1. Literally just spent the last 15 minutes going through all your travel posts! I love love love England beauty and think it is something we often disregard quickly for international travel.

    Thanks for sharing this! I love the lake district.

    Aishah x

    Reply

  2. All of my favourite things in one blog post- trees, the Lakes, camping, goats and GO Ape!

    Th Prodigy ant is SO cool. I was at their show in Milton Keynes 2010 so I bet it was from that.

    Sounds like you had the most wonderful holiday in the Lakes

    Jenni Tulip

    Reply

  17. I’ve never been camping – love the idea of it, but I’m not convinced I’d enjoy the reality. I like my comforts too much, I think 😉 It looks like you had a fab time though, and the chocolate orange cake looks great!

    Reply

  20. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting back to nature and actually camping properly, but I’m not a big fan – I think I look at it through rose tinted glasses! However, seeing your trip to the Lake District coupled with the glorious weather makes me think I could do it! It looks like a wonderful trip and your camp fire birthday cake looks fantastic. We’ve been to a GoApe near us and it’s brilliant isn’t it? Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes
    Ting at My Travel Monkey recently posted…Holiday Snapshots #41 Santa Monica, CaliforniaMy Profile

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  21. I loved this post. I’m a massive fan of the Lakes and cannot wait to head back there, especially as now we’ll have Finn with us as well. I can’t wait to camp with him and explore the area. We came across a money tree at Aira Force, quite a spectacle 🙂 #MondayEscapes

    Reply

  22. I was commenting only recently with a friend about how I would find it hard to live without trees. I know Shetland has a few but not enough for me. I need their rhythm. I need their height. I am definitely a tree person although, I admire them from ground level. No high tree climbing for me! #MondayEscapes
    Rosie @Eco-Gites of Lenault recently posted…18 December Gardening TipsMy Profile

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  23. Elizabeth I loved going with you on this virtual tour of such an interesting place. A U. S. West coaster here. I’ve never heard of camping in the trees. Such a lovely trip for you and your family!
    Diane recently posted…Candy Cane CookiesMy Profile

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  31. I very much enjoyed this post. It was a relaxing moment in my day. I just came back in from watering my new plants, so this fits right in. I love the tree climbing, and that chickpea dish looks awesome. Thanks for sharing all of this.
    Debi @ Life Currents recently posted…Chocolate Cherry Meringue CookiesMy Profile

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  33. The camping pod sounds so great!! I’d love to go to a go ape one day too. Your pictures are absolutely stunning. I miss the sunshine! I adore the money tree too. I’d love to stay somewhere like here. Thank you so much for linking up to #whatevertheweather x

    Reply

  36. You kept this one a secret! What a lucky break with the weather you had, I don’t know the Lakes art all well but I know they are renowned for the rain. It all sounds so idyllic from your post and I would love to take my family on a go Ape adventure, there are none near us or I would definitely do it. It all looks so beautiful, lush and green, mind you I love your little windswept island too! Thank you so much for sharing with me on Country Kids.

    Reply

  40. The camping pods look great! I’m very envious of your camp food, I think I need some of your recipes next time we go camping! I can’t wait until my boys are old enough for Go Ape, although I can pretty much guarantee that my eldest won’t go on it, but littlest might when he’s old enough. I loved the adult one we went on pre-kids. I’ve never seen those clockwork trees, we are definitely going to be going back to the Lake district soon, they look so much fun to play with and the trails are great too!
    Thanks so much for linking up your lovely holiday in the lakes with #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x
    Jenny Eaves recently posted…December Bucket ListMy Profile

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  52. I have been to the Lake District lots of times, as it’s only an hour away from us, but I didn’t know about that Clockwork Firest, I’d love to visit it. We went to a sculpture walk through a wood when we were in Mull in Seotember and enjoyed it very much. Lovely stories and photos, thanks for sharing a little summer on such a bleak day.
    Janice recently posted…Slow Cooked Challenge Round Up – November 2015My Profile

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