Friday 24 August 2012

Making the Most of Summer

I'm not at home right now, but I'll be back and visiting my favourite blogs soon. Meanwhile, here's what we did one day during the recent sunny spell. We took the kids to Chorleywood, on the outskirts of London.


Chorleywood Estate was once a private mansion with substantial grounds. Now, it is open to the public. Most of it is only accessible by foot, cycle or horseback. We were heading for one particular bit, a green bank alongside a shallow stretch of river where families like to come on sunny days. The river is very shallow and it's ideal for children, and since it is cut off from the road, there is no risk of traffic.


We could have taken the tube to Chorleywood, but we chose to drive. Maybe not such a great idea since A got sick. But anyway, we parked about half a mile or so from the river and walked the rest of the way on a nice little track, carrying the picnic. It wasn't arduous (but then, it wasn't a very large picnic).

The place was a little busier than usual - as you'd expect on a holiday weekend - and there were enough other families and kids there for them all to find friends, and for adults to watch out for the kids.

They found their own amusements. They fished for tiddlers and spotted some larger fish, too. One of the kids had brought along a bucket and several had nets.


... and played in inflatable boats.


And the charming little river is much nicer than a man made paddling pool.

And what about the wildlife?



44 comments:

  1. That looks like a fantastic place to be! Fun for all! Glad you're enjoying the last days of summer.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fishing for tiddlers - we haven't done that in years. Jam jar on a string?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my such cute scary wild life! You sure found a wonderful spot to romp and play, and spend family fun time on a beautiful summer day! Enjoy your trip and time away, see you back here soon!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That looks like an ideal day out...

    ReplyDelete
  5. That will be a happy memory for the kids when they grow up - and for you as well, of course! The idea of a place that is mostly accessible only on foot, horseback or bike certainly appeals to me very much.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It looks a great place to spend a summer day. Wish we could have had more than two or three summer days. Have a happy bank holiday.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This post brings back many happy memories of riverside picnics in the Uk, although never in Chorley Wood.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great place for kids to explore nature as we did as kids on the farm! Today's children just don't have that opportunity much of the time.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beware of the crocodile, jajajaj, happy holidays. A greeting.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great time you had - kids playing, adults sitting about ... (so how come I've been playing Olympics for a week ...?)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Such a place that summers are made for!

    I remember fishing for tiddlers too...

    Anna :o]

    ReplyDelete
  12. You had a chance to take The Tube, but didn't? For me, that is unthinkable. I absolutely adore The Tube. Of course, I've only taken rides on it during my visits to London, and perhaps a more intimate acquaintance might make my love less palpable...

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a lovely, old-fashioned, traditional family day out.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The best summer days are made of this.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Looks like a wonderful time, and that is the kind of wildlife that I like!

    ReplyDelete
  16. What an idyllic spot! I bet those kids will have magical memories of this. I hope you are having fun wherever you are!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hope you're enjoying the summer break - what a nice day out, thank you for sharing this lovely place. I've not managed to visit it, but am adding it to my list :) (I like the tame look of the wildlife!)

    ReplyDelete
  18. As a person from way down south - where summer holiday, Christmas and New Year coincide - I'm still getting used to the fact that August is a write-off up north. Everybody disappears. Blogs go quiet. Nothing happens.

    And ... people have fun. I enjoyed these photos! ^^

    ReplyDelete
  19. What an idyllic spot. But watch out for those crocs. I hear the English variety are full of hot air. Ha!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Without a doubt that children and adults enjoy about a sunny day.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ah, THIS is what a summer day is all about! How lovely to have a lake on your own mansion grounds. But watch out for the crocodiles ;) I envy the kids in the little boats. I used to love rowing/paddling about as a youngster. Enjoy whatever remains of the sunny days!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ahh, massacring the indigenous wildlife...it's what makes kids grow into well-adjusted sociopaths, and what made the British Empire great.

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a fun day for the kids! I would love to have a picnic here. LOL at the crocodile. Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  24. ha watch out for the gators....smiles...looks like there is lots of fun to be had...

    ReplyDelete
  25. Looks like a fab place! And it's at the end of a Tube stop? All the better!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Gator's in England? I had no idea!
    Seriously though, it looks like fun. At one of our local parks, there is a place similar to this and I remember as a child playing in the stream (though around here we call them creeks). In one spot, there is a hill side that had a mud slide as in you used it as a slide. Fond memories of riding in the back of the car because my clothes were too muddy to ride anywhere else.

    ReplyDelete
  27. This took me straight back to my own kiddylingdom! We don't see enough of this kind of break any more. Chorleywood looks invitingly pleasant indeed.

    I'll be heading London's way next Monday to spend some time with my much missed daughter. She and her hubby actually reside in High Wycombe, a very peaceful part, in which I sleep soundly at night. Usually I'm a very poor sleeper in beds and background noise I'm not used to. But it's my trip to the heart of London (and the sleepy town of Marlow with it's astounding church and bridge) I look forward to the most!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I read your title and thought "what summer?" :-) Looks like a fun place to visit.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I think that some of the happiest times in my life have been when I was playing in rivers as a child. What a wonderful memory jogger, Jenny.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Looks like an idyllic little stream. This is the type of fun that will make great memories for the children as they grow up.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Looks like a perfect spot for the kids with the shallow water...despite the wildlife--LOL! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Ha, I like that kind of wildlife!

    You know, I wish I had taken more advantage of summer. I really didn't do much of anything at all, and now that it's over, I'm regretting it.

    ReplyDelete
  33. It looks great for kids. I used to go to Kew garden every week-end but my children need a new option. This one sounds great!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sun? Sun? this is bank holiday weekend. The kids are swimiing. How can this be.
    I've dug out my autumn clothing to wear today.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Funny, as a child I lived very close to Chorleywood but I've never heard of Chorleywood Estate. Perhaps it wasn't open to the public when I was young.

    ReplyDelete
  36. "Recent sunny spell" There is no two ways about it, I must head for Chorleywood immediately as the most recent sunny spell up here was in May last year.

    ReplyDelete
  37. this is so lovely---and i love that gator :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Haha not this weekend, guys. I am talking about the sunny weather last weekend, when it was even rather uncomfortably hot in London. Ideal day for splashing around (and dodging gators. ) Nick, the house was apparently Chorley Wood library at one time, and was also partly converted into council flats but now they are all privtely owned, wouldn't you guess. I think the grounds have belonged to the council for many years. Oh, Bonnie, I am imagining that mud slide! :D
    Thanks to everyone for the nice comments

    ReplyDelete
  39. Sounds like you all had a lovely day out. I have tried to make the most of good weather this 'summer' as it has been so infrequent.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wow that looks like the perfect way to spend a summer day!!!

    ReplyDelete
  41. The Clun at Valley's End is just like your little river, and on a really hot day I hear the happy shouting of children coming up into the garden. Inflatables, home made rafts, nets, the children have a wonderful time. Sadly, it's not been hot enough most of time.

    ReplyDelete
  42. What a fun place to bring the family! The shallow waters and smiling wildlife make it a fairly safe place to play.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Seems like it was the perfect day! We had an alligator just like that one for the pool. Someone decided to try and use him as a surf board. Poor thing didn't make it!

    ReplyDelete

Blog Archive