Nine get muddy in Puzzlewood
We visited Puzzlewood in the Forest of Dean last summer. I was instantly captivated by this enchanting place. Karen from Mini Travellers saw my post and was very keen to experience it for herself. So on Good Friday, we met up with her and her gorgeous family to go on the Easter Egg hunt at Puzzlewood.
One of the things that amazes me about Puzzlewood is that it has a very different feel to the rest of the Forest of Dean. It really does seem like you have entered a strange new world as you first step into the woods. Amidst the huge trees are giant rocks that have been engulfed in a blanket of lush green moss, interspersed with leafy ferns. All the greenness surrounding you, makes the wood feel so alive.
As the path meanders between the trees and rocks, there are wooden bridges to cross the forest and provide another view of the forest.
Back in the summer the ground at Puzzlewood was quite damp underfoot. Following a few days of rain it was very muddy. Thankfully, there are tree trunk stepping stones throughout to help you negotiate the mud. All five girls loved walking across the stepping stones!
Because of the nature of the pathways round Puzzlewood, pushchairs are not allowed. Last summer, Emily was in our backpack and we had a lovely, relaxed walk around the woods. This time Emily was walking. Our fiercely independent and puddle-loving toddler was let loose around the wood. It was slightly less relaxing this time as one of us had to help Ems across the stepping stones and up and down slippery stone steps. She had a whale of a time – even if Rich and I were in need of a sit down and a cuppa once we had finished our walk!
Over the Easter period there was an Easter Egg hunt on through Puzzlewood. Eight giant eggs were hung up throughout the woods. On them were various shapes, and the children were provided with a wordsearch to complete in which the names of the shapes were hidden. Freyja and Lily especially enjoyed looking out for the eggs and naming the shapes, whilst us parents frantically completed 5 wordsearches between us! It was a nice addition to the walk and something that could entertain children of a variety of ages.
After the walk, the girls had a brief break for food before playing in the giant sandpit, whilst the mummies and daddies enjoyed a rest and a hot drink from the café. We had a fantastic time exploring this amazing and unique place with brilliant company – one of the things that I love most about blogging is the people that I have met through it. It was lovely to see our families getting on so well together – and they would never have met if it weren’t for our blogs. We said our goodbyes and left Puzzlewood happy and muddy!
All that walking and playing soon caught up with the girls, and within minutes of us driving home, there was the sound of snoring and this was the view as I looked back….
I would whole-heartedly recommend a visit to Puzzlewood. Make sure that you have suitable footwear and are prepared for mud. The Easter Egg hunt was a lovely touch and I will definitely be taking the girls later in the year when they have their “witch hunt” at the end of October. There are loads of other events on during the year – take a look here. The prize for completing the Easter Egg hunt was a bouncy egg. I think Freyja was very happy with her prize – what do you think?
Disclaimer: We were given a free family ticket in exchange for an honest review – we really did have an amazing time!
Love that photo of the girls snoring away. Mine did exactly the same after our muddy day! Let’s do it again soon! K
We must! Maybe try and do a weekend either up in your neck of the woods, or come down here again.
We went to Peppa Pig World last year and I spotted a leaflet for Puzzlewood, sadly we didn’t have enough time to go but the kids would have loved it! Looks like you had a wonderful day :0)
It is lovely! Hope you get a chance to go soon!
Oh now I want to go there! We’ve been saying we should visit the Forest of Dean for a few days, so now I have more to add to that agenda! x
You have to – it is AMAZING!! So many gorgeous places to visit in the Forest of Dean though – sculpture trail at Beechenhurst Lodge is worth doing.
It looks like you all had a great time exploring the magical Puzzlewood. I always think it looks so mystical when I see posts of it, all the kids look like they’re really enjoying their time together getting as muddy as they possibly could. It’s great that Emily was big enough to walk this time, even if it made the walk a bit more on-edge for you. Thanks for linking up with Country Kids.
I love these reviews Karen, I so want to visit puzzled it looks amazing, I think we will try to visit when we are that way at a Q Hotel xx
This wood really does look amazing. I will have to find out where it is as I have never heard of it before. I’m glad the girls enjoyed the Easter Egg hunt x
It is brilliant! It is in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
This looks such a great place – I hadn’t heard of it before but love the atmosphere of being almost lost in the woods. #countrykids
It looks both very alien and yet familiar as it has been used in a lot of different TV programmes
Awww lovely place! Love those quirky bridges! #countrykids
It is amazing! Well worth a visit.
What a fab place, it does look magical xx
It is gorgeous!!