It has become a running tradition in our family over the last couple of years that we will take part in the annual Easter activities up at Brockholes. For those who have never been, Brockholes is an “un-reserved nature reserve” up at Samlesbury, Preston and it is one of our favourite places to go on a sunny day.
Each year there are a whole host of events scheduled, all sorts of craft classes, planned walks and seasonal activities, but our favourites are most definitely the treasure hunts. And this year was no different. At just £3 per entrant it is an affordable way to spend a day, especially for larger families like ourselves, even with the inevitable ice cream from the restaurant afterwards!
Run in partnership with the British Orienteering Association, this years Easter Xplorer Challenge took us through woods, fields, walkways and rough terrain. Although advertised as pram friendly, the state of our pram wheels strongly refuted that claim, and yet it was exactly what we needed to get outside, breathe in the fresh air and let the little ones run wild!
Over the course of the afternoon we followed the map to find the fifteen hidden clues, solved the problems (simple questions that the children could answer, eg. What is a baby duck called?) and wrote them down on our answer sheet. The most difficult part was reading the map, something which neither Gaz nor I did very well at, and more than once found ourselves way off the mark wandering around in the woods!
We were very lucky that the weather was so lovely, there is nothing nicer than getting outdoors and enjoying the blue skies and spring sunshine. Harry especially just loves to run, once he is out of the restraints of his pram there really is no stopping him!
Eventually we found all fifteen clues and, despite getting one wrong, (Who knew a baby rabbit was called a kit?!) the children checked in their answers and received their prize!!
And almost everybody was happy……
But despite being tired and a little bit grumpy, we had such a lovely day. We will most definitely be returning to Brockholes for the next event, or just the next sunny day, for a walk, a play on the play area or a picnic. I always think that there is something so relaxing about being on the water, and this place, and these views, most definitely re-inforce that.
I hope that you all had a lovely, relaxing, sunshine filled Easter, we certainly did!!
Jayne Thornhill says
Love reading your blog
ljdove23 says
Thank you Jayne!! Xx
Mess stress and fancy dress says
Sounds gorgeous. Having spent 2 hours writing my own and designing clues my 4 year old could read for herself which essentially had her hunting in the cupboard under the stairs, I am so jealous! What a fab day out! #bigpinklink
ljdove23 says
Haha and that is exactly the reason why we go here!! But well done you, that’s dedication!!! Xx
Coombe Mill says
What a lovely place to spend the day and I adore the girls cardigans, they look adorable together and such good friends. If you’d red my last post you’d have got all your answers right, we have kits on the farm at the moment, a hit with all our guests. Well done for getting out on the best day of the Easter weekend and a great value place to visit too. Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
ljdove23 says
Well I’m blaming the girls who told me to write “bunnies” ? Thank you for reading, hope you had a lovely Easter!! Xxx
A mum track mind says
You must be somewhere near me! We go there quite a bit, it’s lovely isn’t it! Great pictures x
A mum track mind says
Forgot to say I’ve come from #TheBabyFormula
ljdove23 says
We are near Chorley?! They do some really fun days out don’t they? The scarecrow one was our favourite but the kids love the Easter eggs!!! Xx
A mum track mind says
Yeah we are near Lytham so not far really! X
ljdove23 says
Oh we love Lytham!! We’ve had so many lovely days out there! Xx
Katy (@hotpinkwellies) says
All your photos are gorgeous, but the one of your two girls at the end is just lovely! #bigpinklink
ljdove23 says
Thank you, that’s my favourite too, definitely one for the wall!! Thanks for reading!! Xx
The Mum Project says
Sounds like a great day out! I’ll have to check this out when the little one is a bit older…especially now that I know what a kit is haha. I absolutely love the photos! They are so cute. #TheBabyFormula
ljdove23 says
Thank you! I’d never really thought about what a baby rabbit was called, I thought it was a bunny!! We did have to google a couple of the answers though…!! Thanks for hosting!! Xx
Mummy in a TuTu (@mummyinatutu) says
This looks like you had a wonderful time. Your kiddies are actually adorable – loved the girls outfits too!
#marvmondays
ljdove23 says
Thank you! We had a fab time, can’t believe we’ve had snow today after such glorious sunshine!!! Thanks for reading! Xx
pinkpearbear says
This looks such a lovely place and such a lovely day out. Your kids are just adorable, I love how your girls are dressed the same. Their cardis are gorgeous. It’s great when you have somewhere so nice nearby isn’t it? Thanks for linking up with us. #bigpinklink
ljdove23 says
Thank you! It’s a lovely place and gets us all out! Well apart from my eldest who insisted on seeing his mates instead! Thank you, the cardis are from tesco! Thanks for hosting! Xx
Tamuria says
What a fun day! Looks like your little ones had a ball. We’re not so good at map reading either. We used to do a car rally that got us into all sorts of trouble because we couldn’t read the map. 🙂
ljdove23 says
Well you know what men are like, it wasn’t HIM that was the problem, it was the “rubbish map!”…? Thanks for reading! Xx
My Petit Canard says
What a lovely day! It looks like a lovely place, I really cant think of anything better than getting outside like this with little ones. Hope you all had a lovely easter 🙂 Thanks for sharing this on #MarvMondays. Emily
ljdove23 says
We had a fab Easter thank you, hope you did too! Thanks for hosting. xx
newmummyblogcom says
Happy Easter! What a lovely post, and so many gorgeous photos – you’re all so photogenic! It looked such a fun day, thanks for sharing #TheBabyFormula
mrshsfavouritethings says
Gorgeous photos. It looks like you had a lovely day. I really like these family traditions. And I wouldn’t have had a clue that a baby rabbit was a kit either. Hugs Lucy #MarvMondays
ljdove23 says
Thank you! I thought it was quite a hard question for young children! You learn something knew every day though! Thanks for reading! xx
ethannevelyn.com says
I’m so glad you have a beautiful day with the family on such a glorious day. You truly deserves it. Your photos are also so very beautiful, escpially the one where everyones are busy with opening and easting their easter chocolate eggs. So adorable! Thank you so much for linking up with us on #FabFridayPost
ljdove23 says
Thank you! We had such a lovely Easter, very relaxing and with some beautiful sunshine! Just need it to come back now! xx