Exploring Malham with GORE-TEX Big Days

Earlier this year we were chosen to be one of the GORE-TEX Big Days 2015 families and both Ben and Elizabeth were sent some lovely new shoes to wear for their summer adventures!  

We've enjoyed so many adventures this summer it was difficult to choose which one to share with you, I settled on our trip to Malham though as we had so much fun in the great outdoors and the children really put their GORE-TEX shoes through their paces. I believe that good quality footwear is really important for my children, both for their comfort during a day out and for the future health of their feet. If we go on a long walk I don't want them to come home with blisters or sore feet.


We walked to Malham Cove and down to Gordale Scar, through fields and puddles, streams and garlic scented woodland and in one day experience both strong sunshine and pouring rain! It was the perfect day to test out some new footwear. Both our children love exploring nature and their GORE-TEX shoes were sturdy and supportive, protecting their feet and allowing them to continue their adventures even longer.

Ben wore funky demin blue Superfit trainers from GORE-TEX, they are smart to look at, have strong velcro fastenings and have been made using SURROUND technology so they are both breathable and offer durable waterproof protection. The large openings in the sole construction meant that stones and pebbles wouldn't dig in to his feet when walking along or climbing so they are ideal for active kids. Ben really likes the look of these and finds them really comfortable, even after a full day of adventure. The aren't just for outdoors either, they look just as good dressed up with jeans and a shirt as they do with combats and covered in mud!

Elizabeth wore the Primigi 3608000 SURROUND™ in pink. These stylish canvas style hi-tops have silver studs forming the logo on the outside, an inner zip and while laces at the front. These also offer breathable technology and weatherproof protection with open weave soles to catch stones and pebbles, however the fabric of these isn't as thick as the superfit version and after splashing in a fair few muddy puddles we found they weren't quite as waterproof either. They are sturdy and hardwearing through and seem to support Elizabeth's feet and ankles well even when climbing up rocks and trees.

My four year old daughter loves that they are pink and sparkly and will choose these to go with almost any outfit, however we do have one issue with them and that is with getting them on and off. The fit is great and when her feet are in the shoes they are comfortable and supportive but they are really difficult to get on and off and Elizabeth almost always needs help with this. Despite having the zip down the inside of each shoe, the laces, (which I thought at first were just for show) need to be loosened significantly to get the shoe on, this is not ideal for a four year old who has not yet mastered the art of knots and bows.

Overall, I'm really impressed with both of the children's GORE-TEX shoes, they are breathable and lightweight and despite climbing up rocks and waterfalls and walking miles around the Yorkshire Dales, neither child had any rubbing or discomfort. I look forward to sharing our next adventures with you soon.

Disclaimer: As a Gore-tex Big Days 2015 family, both children received shoes from the summer range, all views and opinions are our own. 

Easter Egg Hunting and Fun in the Sun at Dunham Massey

Yesterday we planned to visit one of our favourite National Trust locations to take part in their annual Easter Egg Hunt with Cadbury's. We were a little disappointed  to wake to cloudy skies and fog however we packed up our picnic and set off with hope that the sun would still come out to play.

Thankfully our wishes came true and not long after we arrived the fog cleared and the skies turned a brilliant shade of blue.

The magnificent hall at Dunham Massey has been transformed into the Stamford Military Hospital as it was almost 100 years ago, during the First World War. We decided to take the tour around the house learning about some of the characters that worked and were treated there during the war years. I found it really interesting but I have to admit there wasn't a lot to hold the children's attention.

They were much happier when we stepped outside into the beautiful gardens to begin the Easter Egg Hunt. They have been looking forward to this all weekend and loved every second!

Despite a huge amount of visitors, the staff were extremely organised and we had soon parked up the scooters and collected the Maps and guides ready to follow the Easter Egg hunt! The clues all centered around Buzz the dog who had befriended the soldiers when Dunham Massey was a hospital during the war. The children excitedly skipped from one clue to the next while my husband and I trailed behind, enjoying the natural beauty of the gardens.

After figuring out all six clues Ben and Elizabeth eagerly exchanged their sheets for a Cadburys chocolate EggHead each while Daddy headed to the car to collect our picnic.

The beautiful sunshine warranted a sweet treat so we queued up for a delicious ice cream, that was definitely worth the forty minute wait!

Despite being a very busy bank holiday, Dunham Massey didn't feel too crowded and we enjoyed relaxing on the grass watching the children play with their scooters until it as time to go home.

We had a wonderful Easter Monday and thanks to being National Trust members it only cost us the price of our ice creams!

I've written before about the benefits of our Family National Trust membership for an annual fee of just over £100 not only do we contribute to a very worthwhile charity we also have unlimited entry to a  multitude of amazing places to visit. We're already looking forward to our next National Trust adventure at St Michael's Mount on our Cornish holidays.

Did you have an Easter Egg hunt for your children?

MY Sunday Photo #countrykids

My children love exploring the outdoors an while my eldest as away on Beaver camp I promised my daughter that we would visit the Incredible Edible Forest Garden open day at Prestwich Clough, unfortunately I was not well enough to go. However Nanna stepped in and took my little fairy to explore this local woodland garden and get crafty with some natural resources. They had a lovey time and I really wish i'd been able to join them. 

           

A Bank holiday Boat Ride...

If you're a regular reader you may be aware that one of my favourite places in the whole wide world is Heaton Park. It is a lovely park, in fact the biggest park in Manchester and the largest Municipal park in Europe. I count myself very lucky to live so close to it.

Heaton park has played such a significant part in our family's lives. After my husband and I found out we were expecting our eldest, it was one of the first places we visited. We sat atop a hillside and watched children around us playing, wondering what our little one would be like in years to come. When Ben was born one of our first trips out as family was to visit the Farm to 'show' him the animals. The following year we celebrated our wedding in front of family and friends in the Grade II listed building which is Heaton Hall. I have also taken part in Race for life there over the last two years.

On Bank Holiday Monday the weather wasn't great but in our family we live by the motto, 'there is no such thing as bad weather just unsuitable clothing!' So we got the waterproofs and wellies out and decided to go for a puddle walk and scoot around the park.

After jumping in some rather muddy puddles the weather started to brighten up just as we reached the boating lake.

I love water and find it really calming and relaxing, whether it be the sea, a river or a lake. So when my lovely husband suggested we hire one of the boats on the lake I was ecstatic! I'd been wanting to do this for years but whenever we came on Sunny days it was always so busy, on Monday although it had started to brighten up it as quiet with just two other families out on the lake.

We spent a wonderful 45 minutes rowing around the beautiful lake. I think I have found my new happy place, and at jut £8.50 for 45 minutes it's a happy place I hope to return to very soon.

I've linked this post up with:

 

Where is your happy place?

#mysundayphoto #silentsunday 1/6/14

Barnardos #Bigtoddle #countrykids

On Saturday morning our family returned to Heaton Park for the second charity walk of the week (Have you read our race for life post yet?) this time it was my two year old Elizabeth who was being sponsored, to take part in the Barnardos Big Toddle. 

We slapped on the suncream and packed a picnic, then walked up to her nursery to meet up with all her friends and their families ready for a lovely walk around one of our favourite parks...

It was a really enjoyable day and it was really nice to chat to the nursery staff and other parents in a less formal environment and hear lovely little anecdotes about our daughter, apparently she is a very keen hugger in nursery! (And a bossy boots but we knew that already!)

After waking for a little while we went to visit the animals at the farm centre, the children were quite taken with the ducks and goats, and I fell in love with the tiny baby piglets that were less than 3 weeks old, Adorable!

We had a snack and a cool drink and then we were off walking again in the direction of the small play area. Elizabeth looked so grown up walking along in her Frugi bunting sundress with her little friends.

They all had a lovely time on the play area, the wooden horse and carriage is always a favourite! We also got to have a run around on the grass and both my adventurous children had a go at climbing trees, they definitely get their love of nature from their scout leader Daddy...

We finished off our adventures by enjoying a yummy summer picnic on the grass...

It was a really lovely day but it was also about raising money for a good cause.

Barnardo's say... 

"The money you raise doing the Big Toddle helps fund Barnardo’s vital work with Britain’s most vulnerable toddlers and helps give them the childhood they deserve."

 Have your family taken part in a Big Toddle event? I would love to read about your experiences in the comments below...