In the deep dark woods…
Dear Mummy it’s funny how some places just get better and better with age.
The Vyne in Basingstoke is one of them. It’s a large National Trust estate. We’ve been many times before and each time we visit a new memory is made.
We’ve been in every season, Autumn is our favourite time to visit…but it’s nearly winter now and all the golden and red leaves lay on the ground exposing bare branches and creepy looking trees.
It was a really mild day, but very dark and glooming. The place was dead. Dead quiet. All we could hear was the wind rustling through the reeds by the river and the whistling past branches.
It was a great time to visit and it felt like we were walking around in the grounds of our own property *I wish*. We stuck to the paths until we reached the woods, then I decided to lead the way, crunching on leaves up the hillside deeper and deeper into the woods.
The rain was threatening and there was water in the air, we didn’t have waterproofs (very unlike my folks to forget) so we were praying the heavens didn’t open.
We found a secret den off the beaten track and I hid underneath the tree branches from the Gruffalo.
I inspected fungi we found amongst the leaves. The ground is damp and perfect for these mushrooms. We talked about the fairies that hide in the woods and lived by the toadstools and we looked for tracks and little iridescent wings.
It was a really great walk and blew away the cobwebs and my mummy’s hangover from Daddy’s 40th birthday the day before.
A walk in the woods was a massive contrast to being in Giraffe Restaurant surrounded by friends and family celebrating my Daddy’s birthday. Even though I had a great day hanging out in the restaurant, playing around amongst tables and chairs can get a bit boring. I had freedom to roam in the wide open space at The Vyne and it was bliss.
What did you get up to this weekend?
Love Bella x
dearmummyblog.com 
Love the Vyne. It’s one of my favourite NT places. Although it does always seem to be raining whenever I’m there!
What a lovely place to visit. Autumn is such a fab time of year #twinklytuesday
What beautiful photographs! That place looks really gorgeous. Autumn is absolutely my favourite season, and perfect for walking in the woods. Thanks for sharing #twinklytuesdays
How gorgeous, it looks like you had a wonderful weekend!xx #PointShoot
We love the Vyne too. There is always so much to explore and you’re right every season it’s different. Love the fun you created in the fresh air.
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
Thanks for hosting Karen!
The Vyne looks amazing – we have never been. Great photos! Thanks for sharing #LetKidsBeKids
Thanks Sara!
A lovely woods to be in and having it all to yourselves, well done for not worrying about the weather and enjoying some fresh air fun, I love the contrast with your Birthday fun too. See you on Country Kids, stopping by today from Let Kids be Kids
What a lovely place, I love the skeleton leaf and those mushrooms are called mosaic puffballs. My son had the same Storm Trooper cake for his birthday last month (he was four though!). Sarah #letkidsbekids
Hahahahaaaaa…my daddy just added an extra ‘0’ on it! Just goes to show that STAR WARS is for any age 😉
Looks like a fun day, walks in the woods are the best. Lovely photos xx #TwinklyTuesday
Oh, autumn is the best time for walking in the woods, all the pretty colours and leaves everywhere. All looks lovely.
Absolutely perfect, nothing beats walking in the woods. Looks like you had a fantastic weekend X #PointShoot
Oh Bella you are just so gorgeous and I just love reading about what you get upto! How gorgeous does that dried out leaf it looks so lacy and delicate.xx #pointshoot
The leaf was rather pretty and does look like lace! Amazing the beauty that’s still around at this time of year! Thanks for popping by to comment 🙂
What a lovely outing! Your pictures are gorgeous! I love that you talked about the fairies in the woods. It’s so awesome to create that magic and wonder with children and nature.
Ah this sounds like a wonderful weekend. We love the Vyne too! Thanks for linking up to #PointShoot x
We love the woods, it’s so much fun to visit and even better in autumn when it’s dark and mysterious. Must have been lovely to have the entire place to yourself! The photos of your day out are lovely and it looks like your daddy had a fantastic 40th birthday too.
Thanks so much for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x
Lovely photos! Nothing like an Autumn walk in the woods. x
Delightfully written and accompanied with such lovely photos. So beautiful. Thank you for sharing. xx #letkidsbekids
I absolutely adore your blog and your little adventures!!!! It always makes me smile and is definitely one of my faves. What a fab day out and beautiful pictures. Happy 40th birthday to your Daddy. I hope Mummy has recovered from her hangover ok! 😀 I love the little den in the woods and the writing on the bench too. So adorable! Thank you so, so much for linking to #whatevertheweather xx
Gosh — it looks like SUCH a magical place!! I love walking in the woods too — there’s something very calming about being out in ancient woodland isn’t there? Thanks so much for linking up with us on #TwinklyTuesday