Our Blackwood Forest Holiday – Told By Monkey…
When mummy first told me we were going to stay in the deep dark woods, I asked her if we were camping. She told me there wouldn’t be any tents and we wouldn’t be sleeping outside – so I was sad. But then she told me there was a bubble pool in the garden and that we were going cycling, so I got all excited again.
Forest Holidays in Hampshire
After mummy came back from London on the big train, daddy and she were running about the house packing lots of my things, but they still forgot to bring my big fire truck! Silly mummy. It wasn’t that far away the sat nav said, but it felt like ages in the car. I think I may have fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes we were in a really, really big forest with lots of trees, and there was a wooden house in front of us.
I was soon wide awake and ran inside. There was this game on the table with little bricks and daddy said this was called scrabble and it spelt ‘welcome’. I didn’t really care because I just smashed it up and then found something called Jenga, too. It was fun throwing all of them about the big couch, but mummy looked a bit cross when she was picking it all up later.
Our Blackwood Forest Cabin
I looked around the house, mummy said it was called a Golden Oak cabin – I had my own bedroom and bathroom, which was cool! I really liked our Blackwood Forest lodge. And in the living room, there was a big TV and lots of windows so we could see outside to all the trees. On our decking, I could ride my scooter up and down, but the bubble pool was covered up and daddy said we couldn’t go in it till the next day. Boo.
Apparently, it was really late and mummy and daddy wanted to have some dinner and put me to bed. It didn’t look like night-time but mummy kept telling me I had to have a bath. I didn’t want to go and put up a fight, but after a quick splash, mummy read me a story and I was quite sleepy. Although I heard a funny noise before I shut my eyes, ‘twit-to-woo, twit-to-woo’. I was a little scared, but mummy said it was just an owl outside talking to his friends.
I woke up really, really early the next morning. I think it was because I was so excited about going out to explore, but daddy and mummy were a bit grumpy and made me go back to bed. I was bored, though, so didn’t stay for long.
Forest Holidays Bike Hire
After we had breakfast, daddy told me we could go and pick up our bikes from the hire shop. So we had to walk there from our holiday house. I could see lots of other wooden houses in the forest and daddy helped me jump over all the muddy puddles. That was fun!
When we got to the bike man called Josh, he helped pick out a special chair which was going on the back of daddy’s bike, and a cycle helmet which had flames on it. I really liked my hat. Josh was really nice and gave mummy a map to show us where to cycle to. She didn’t seem too worried because all we had to do was follow the coloured trails signposted with stumps – green and yellow.
Exploring Blackwood Forest
Daddy said we should go on the green trail first and we cycled right into the forest – there was no one else there. It was dark under the trees but there were lots of things to see –  and mummy was happy because there were some bluebells. 
Mummy and Daddy were puffing a little bit because they said it was uphill a lot of the way, but the downhill bits were really fast! I like that a lot! I think they did, too.
Mummy asked me to look out for dens, and eventually, we spotted one. We got off the bikes and collected more sticks to build it up and daddy helped me clear a doorway so that we could pretend to hide from the ‘big bad wolf’. I had a really good time building the den, and didn’t want to leave, but mummy told me we had to head back to the house to have some lunch as I was meeting a forest ranger later for some exploring.
Blackwood Forest Retreat
After we had finished our picnic lunch we cycled back to the Forest Retreat which has ice-creams and lollies and chocolate. But daddy said I couldn’t have one till after our bug hunt.
Blackwood Forest Ranger Activities
I soon forgot about the ice-cream after we met our forest ranger, Steve. He gave me a crayon and a paper bag and we had to go into the meadow and find things: Chalk, flint, a yellow flower, a feather and five different types of bugs.
I liked this game a lot and found the flower and feather myself. But I really liked searching for the bugs! Steve gave me a bug pot with a magnifying glass. Mummy, daddy and I were lifting up stumps and going around trees to see if we could find mini-beasts. We found a big beetle first, but Steve told us it was a predator and would eat all the other bugs if we put them in with him, so we had to let him go. But then we found a spider, a slug, a woodlouse and a millipede! That was awesome and they were really wriggly!
Daddy then said I could have a kinder egg for being such a good explorer – and I ate it really quickly. But then I saw the playground and I wanted to go up the climbing wall and go down the slide. It was brilliant.
I was getting a bit tired, but mummy said we still had to go on another bike ride and that we might find some more exciting things in the forest. This time we went on the yellow trail and there was one bit where mummy and daddy just got off the bikes and pushed them up a big hill. But after this slope, we had loads of downhill parts and it was so scary and fun all at the same time. I was screaming really loudly when the bikes were going faster and faster, but Mummy couldn’t beat us. I called her a ‘slow coach’.
We also found loads and loads of tree trunks piled up on the side of the forest. I really wanted to climb on top of them and mummy and daddy came up with me. Hooray! We went over them loads of times and I was a bit sad when we had to leave them. But daddy promised me if we cycled back to the holiday house, we could go in the bubble pool!
Fun in our Forest Holiday Hot Tub
After getting back home, I immediately took off all my clothes but mummy made me put on my swimming suit and said it was getting cold outside. I dipped my toes in the water and it was really hot! Like a bath! Mummy and daddy ‘oohed and ahhhed’ a lot especially when I pushed the buttons and big bubbles and jets came out of the sides. Mummy was lying down and I think she nearly fell asleep. I thought it was funny to splash her. Daddy told me off. So I splashed him, too.
After we all got out and dried ourselves, I got all snuggly in my tracksuit bottoms and so did mummy! I was hungry now, so mummy said she would make dinner and we were having a BBQ! I helped daddy outside when he lit it and there was lots of smoke and fire. Daddy then put sausages and burgers on. It smelled scrummy and it felt like we the camping in the forest!
But I was cold, so mummy said we would have to eat inside, which I thought was a good idea. I ate all my dinner, it was delicious. Mummy and daddy ate it all up, too. They said it was all the fresh air and exercise that made them feel hungry.
I was tired now, and yawning lots. So this time, I didn’t make a fuss when mummy got me ready for bed. I can’t even remember my story or hearing the owls outside.
When we left the next morning it was raining, and mummy said we had been really lucky with the weather. I was really sad to go and wish we could have stayed longer. It was a brilliant weekend and I loved having an adventure in Blackwood Forest.
I really, really, really hope we can go again someday. I think mummy and daddy do, too!
* We were invited to stay in a Golden Oak Cabin at Blackwood Forest in Hampshire by Forest Holidays and given complimentary use of the cabin for two nights, as well as the entertainment package of Sky TV and wi-fi. We paid for bike hire and The Young Explorers trip ourselves. As always, our thoughts and opinions are our own.
Any holiday with a hot tub gets the thumbs up from me! Love the bug hunt too – perfect for pre-schoolers. #MondayEscapes
It was brilliant fun and I’m not a fan of bugs but I coped really well because I don’t want Monkey to be scared like me!
This place sounds lovely. I’ve never heard of it before. Sounds like you needed a soak in that hot tub after all that cycling! Would the younger kids struggle to cycle those trails on their own?
Oh gosh the hot tub was amazing! I don’t think younger kids would struggle at all, it’s fairly easy – I’m just super unfit! And I don’t think my gears were working properly!
Cutely written! Sounds like you had a fun weekend, the bug hotel is an original touch.
Just a shame the bugs had gone on holiday!
It can be hard to find fun weekend spots with a little one in tow. Looks like you found a great location. Fun post!
Thanks and the great thing is it’s only an hour away from London. So nice to get away from the hustle and bustle.
What a fabulous nature holiday. Love the fact you had a ‘bubble pool’ not a hot tub – sounds loads more exciting like that! Great range of activities on offer too – cycling looked fun though hard work! #MondayEscapes
It really is a great place for families and people wanting to get away from the city. The hot tub was amazing – much needed after those bike rides!
Wow, this sounds like an awesome place to stay. Got to love any accommodation that has a hot tub!
The young explorer trip sounds like lots of fun. Always good to teach kids about the great outdoors while wearing them out with fresh air
I loved the hot tub, I could have stayed in it for ever! We all got worn out by the fresh air. I slept like a log
Gosh! Looks like a wonderful place and there’s so much to do too. Glad that you experienced it with the family. Lovely 🙂
It was very peaceful there and we all enjoyed the fresh air!
This looks like a very relaxing holiday. My kids would love it there! #MondayEscapes
Emma, it was pretty lovely. It felt like we were miles away from anywhere!
It looks like you had a really brilliant time even though there were no tents. I love a good BBQ and the bikes look lots of fun! I’ve not heard of it before but it does look like there’s plenty of fun for everyone in the family 🙂
Oh gosh they have so many activities from bush craft to twilight walks. A really great place for families.
How much fun – you packed a lot in, no wonder Monkey was tired! I love the sound of the bug hunt, and a bubble pool and BBQ always gets the thumbs up from me too 🙂
We were tired too! It was the hot tub that did us!
Awwnnnn such a nice perspective Ting!!
It made me see again what you think when you are a kid… such an interesting post.
Monkey is so cute. I hope one day I meet you all 😀
And this place is gorgeous!!!
You will meet us! Soon I hope!
I am impressed by how beautiful the place is – a perfect place to feel close to the nature!
We felt very close to nature and only an hour’s drive away!
That sounds like such a fab break! So fab to be in the outdoors and amongst nature. Monkey certainly sounds like he had a very good time indeed. I love hearing the trip from his perspective! Bet he was exhausted after all that fresh air! #mondayescapes
Ha ha we were all exhausted. It’s amazing what some fresh air and exercise can do for you!
I quite like monkey’s viewpoint on this place, it’s quite cute 🙂 The bug hotel is huge, I was planning of creating one myself, I think it’s great 🙂
Oh you should. It was really interesting! Birds had also made a nest in it!
Looks like a fabulous place to get away from it all. Hardly surprising that Monkey was so tired after cramming so much into a couple of days x
And we were too! Slept like logs! xx
I’m a Hampshire girl but I haven’t heard of Blackwood Forest before. It looks lovely. I particularly like the idea of staying in a cabin with a bubble pool! Well done for all the cycling. Mr Tin Box is the cyclist in our family. My bottom prefers other modes of transport 🙂 #mondayescapes
It’s near Winchester but you feel miles away from anywhere! I must admit my bum much preferred the hot tub! x
Ooh it looks so lovely, I love staying in the forest, just peace and family time there is nothing better is there x
It’s so lovely isn’t it? Under the canopy of trees… A world away from the city! x
This cottage in the woods looks so peaceful! I would love to have such a quiet weekend in the forest!
It was very peaceful. A world away from the city!
What a fun adventure! Thanks Monkey for sharing your perspective! Loved it!
Thank you He did enjoy himself!
Looks beautiful, my kind of camping with kids! #mondayescapes
Haha, loved this, Monkey should write more posts! 😀 And what a lovely cabin, I would love to stay there for a weekend.
Thanks Vlad. We could have happily stayed the whole week! Damn work! 🙂
What a gorgeous and relaxing cabin! I wouldn’t mind spending a few days relaxing in that hot tub.
The hot tub was pretty awesome!
Now that looks like my kind of holiday in the woods as I so DO NOT do camping! #MondayEscapes
Me neither! I hate camping. Hot tubs and ensuite bathrooms all the way 🙂
I loved the narration from a child’s perspective! And it sounds like such a perfect getaway weekend! Pictures are lovely, and the bluebells look so beautiful 🙂
I love bluebells, they really do make me smile!
Oh, that is so cute! And very creative! Love the story! It looks like a beatiful place and that Monkey had a lot of fun! I really enjoyed reading this 🙂
Thanks Hanne. It was really fun writing it, too. A lot easier in fact 🙂
Your post is sooo cute, I like Monkey’s perspective hahaha…
Thanks Kat 🙂
ooh this looks lovely. I have never stayed anywhere that has a hot tub but I would love too. We have been on similar holidays to Bluestone and Centre Parcs and we really enjoyed both. its nice to get out and about away from iPads, xbox and tvs #MondayEscapes xx Mummy2Monkeys xx
It really is, and what amazed us was this idyllic setting was only an hour’s drive away! xx
What a lovely looking place Ting and it sounds as if Monkey had a great time! I would not have been keen on the bugs either but it would have been a great activity for the kids!
I’m not keen on the bugs, but I have to pretend they don’t bother me because I don’t want Monkey to be scared like me!
Forest holidays do remind me of bits of Coombe Mill, I love all the outdoor initiatives, I’ve been studying their bug hotel as we now have one too and I love the log pile to walk over. Lots of fun and a lovely write up, thank you for sharing with me on Country Kids.
Funnily enough, I said to Steve that this reminded me of Coombe Mill from the accommodation to the outdoor activities. You definitely have it sussed like Forest Holidays – although yours is much more personable and on a smaller scale. There wasn’t the sense of community there like there is at Coombe Mill because it’s just so large.
This looks amazing – what a lovely family weekend, definitely going to look this one up as its not too far from us. Thanks for sharing #CountryKids.
Oh do, if you get a chance. It’s a lovely spot to just get back to nature.
Ahh this place looks so tranquil 🙂 My mummy and I went into the deep dark woods too on our adventures this week! #CountryKids x
Love the woods, there’s just so much to see and do!
That looks like a great place to stay, right in the heart of a forest and with all that to do it would be amazing.
It was really special. We felt like we were miles away from anywhere.
Amazing trip! Love love the hot tub! Really lovely to go in there! So jealous =) #countrykids
The hot tub was awesome! What we needed after our bike ride!
Looks like you had a brilliant time – we loved our stay at Blackwood Forest too. I’m glad someone else found the bike trails hard work – the long one nearly killed me! xx
Ha ha! I know and I thought I was fairly fit! Glad you enjoyed your stay too, it’s great to get back to nature! x