Play Days and Day Trips - Shaftesbury Snowdrop Festival

Possibly best known for it's famous Gold Hill, there's something else brewing in Shaftesbury this half term.

And despite moving away, it's lovely to have an ongoing connection with Dorset. So as you can imagine we were thrilled to be asked by the organisers of the Shaftesbury Snowdrops to supply some of our gorgeous hats and clothing for their festival this year.

You may have seen them on The One Show a couple of years ago when they asked for help with their challenge to plant thousands of bulbs.  To date they have now planted over 120,000!

Their aim is to create Britain’s first ‘Snowdrop Town’ with a series of free and accessible Snowdrop walks within the publicly open spaces and along the pathways throughout the town. 

Making snowdrop lanterns for the festival

And to celebrate, each year they hold a festival in February, details of which you can find here.  As well as a free trail through Shaftesbury, there is a host of other activities taking place: talks, films and workshops including wood turning, calligraphy, floral design and scrap booking.

And of course, don't forget to pop in to their pop up shop where you'll be able to buy all things snowdrop related, including our hats, T-shirts and aprons.

And if you can't make it, you can always buy something from the snowdrop range online from our website.

www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Great Escapes - Wales

It doesn't surprise me to read that Wales has been voted the top country in the world to visit in 2014 by readers of one of the planet's leading guide books.  Rough Guides readers cited 'some great mountain ranges, lush valleys, a ragged coastline and ancient castles' as their reasons for putting Wales at the top of their list.  Here is a selection of images that will more than demonstrate what the readers had discovered.

Abereiddi

Snowdonia

Lllyn Fan Fach

 These are some of the places I'm lucky enough to walk each day with my dog, Tyler.

Laugharne

Amroth

And sitting right at the far west of Carmarthenshire, we're just a stone's throw from Pembrokeshire with its sweeping beaches and quaint villages to lily ponds and ancient stone churches.  These images could be mistaken for being any number of places around the British Isles, from Cornwall to Cumbria, but they were all taken in a single county.

Barafundle

Bosherston

Marloes

Pentre Ifan

Porthgain

To celebrate the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s 60th anniversary, they have published photographs they hope will inspire people to get out and visit one of these special views.  You can visit the authority's website to see more and to download some walks around these beautiful sights.

And hidden away far from the pages of Lonely Planet and often known only to the native or the inquisitive are some gems every bit as exciting as Caernarfon Castle or Broad Haven beach.  Here are a few that you can discover for yourself.

Ceibwr Bay

Pistyll Rhaeadr

Llanthony Priory

And because we're proud of our Welsh heritage and association we've got the perfect hat for your little 'un too!  Check out our Red Dragon.

We hope to see you soon.

www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Days Out - Holkham Nature Reserve, Norfolk

If you're looking for endless beach and big skies, the beach on the Holkham Nature Reserve which is part of the Holkham Estate is just the ticket.

Marshes, dunes, beach and wooded areas, what more could you really ask for, totally unspolit.

Wellies might be useful so you don't have to worry about dodging all the riverlets that run down the beach.   

And twitchers won't be disappointed as the area is great for birdwatching. 

If you keep walking towards Wells-next-the-sea you'll be welcomed by the sight of a row of beautifully painted beach huts.  

Wells itself is small, with about twenty shops that will cater for most of your needs, especially that all important crab line.

On your bike - Haldon Forest Park, Devon

Haldon Forest Park is 10 minutes from Exeter and offers a wide range of trails as well as cycle hire, café and many non-cycling activities.  

You can even Go Ape there as they have a high ropes course, complete with zip wire.

From the saddle of a bike you can explore deeper into the forest than you have before, take in amazing views, watch out for wildlife and enjoy safe off-road cycling in a peaceful setting. 

For the more advanced mountain bikers there is the longest, most challenging cycle trail which takes in the thrilling ride on Haldon’s imposing ridge. Not for the faint-hearted, or the inexperienced! 

The skills park and pump track offers the perfect place to develop your riding and try out new techniques. 

All Images (c) 1 South West Cycle Adventure

Many of the trails are perfect for even the youngest cyclist.  So what are you waiting for? Go!

Days Out - Bluebell woods

It may be a little early but this is the time of year when bluebells should be carpeting woods with their ultraviolet colours.

Having lived in Marlborough for several years I was spoilt by the local West Woods and enjoyed many early morning walks, midday picnics and evening strolls amongst these flowers contrasting beautifully with the vibrant green beech leaves.

The Woodland Trust have a great website with suggestions of woods around the country and list their top ten.

Ashridge Estate in Buckingham;         Calke Abbey, Derbyshire;

Garston Woods, Dorset;                    Heartwood Forest, Hertfordshire;

Burroughs Wood, Leicestershire;       The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire;

Hardcastle Crags W Yorkshire;           Glen Finglas, Trossachs National Park;

Coed Cefn, Powys;                          Carnmoney Hill, County Antrim.

And for other suggestions try the National Trust, Woodland Trust or RSPB.

Day trips - 50 things to do outdoors

Climbing trees, building dens and flying kites were all once common childhood pleasures.  And each year the National Trust put together a list of 50 things kids should try before they're 11 and three quarters.  

How many have you done?

Climb a tree

Go fishing

Roll down a hill

Build a den

Fly a kite

Walk in the rain (and jump in puddles!)

Hunt for fossils.