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Category:

Walking

30 Days Wild Day 5: Exploring Headley Heath in Surrey
ActivityAdventureEnvironmentExploreParksSurreyUKWalkingWoodland

30 Days Wild Day 5: Exploring Headley Heath in Surrey

I have two days off work to spend time with my littlest, so we decided to try somewhere new. We drove over to Headley Heath, partly in search of butterflies, but also to just have an enjoyable walk around somewhere we’d not been to before.

Headley Heath in the North Downs region and is about 300 hectares large. It’s obviously heathland (which I love) but also there’s pockets of woodland and dry chalk grassland, plus a good viewpoint out over the Downs from one point, so very interesting to visit. There’s lots of wildlife to look out for here including butterflies, birds, insects and lizards.

The info leaflet that I picked up told me that ‘lowland heath is one of the most endangered habitats in the world, even rarer than the rainforest’, which amazed me. And how fortunate we are to live so close to this site.

Headley Heath has a useful 3km ‘lizard trail’ that is suitable for families. I’d say it’s also fine for buggies in the summer months too. It’s quite undulating in parts but definitely doable. There’s two car parks which are free for National Trust members. No cafe or facilities so bring a picnic and cross your legs.

We head off in the direction of the Belted Galloway cattle which graze on the heathland. Apparently they have a vital role in maintaining the heathland habitats. (We visited the Romney Marsh earlier in May and the sheep which are farmed down there are also vital in maintaining the landscapes and rare flora and fauna down there too).

B loved watching the cows. They are an easy win for children as easy to spot! I didn’t want to get too close though.

Headley Heath

Having fun in our nature playground

Then we wandered through the Heath, keeping the orange trail markers in our site, though as the site is fairly small it doesn’t really matter if you veer off onto a different path, it’s tricky to get lost here.

B did better than me and found a colony (?) of ants looking busy going in and out of a small hole, plus a bright purple/red butterfly – possibly a peacock butterfly. We also both spotted a white butterfly, which I think is the most common here – the cabbage white. We’ll try butterfly spotting again soon, but here’s a useful guide to butterfly types. 

We also saw a foxglove, which are common here in summer and attract the bees plus lots of gorse, and these pretty white flowers (my knowledge of flowers is quite poor I’m finding!) which were also attracting the bees.

Headley Heath, ants in the ground

Ants busy making a home

Headley Heath, foxglove at Headley Heath

Foxglove at Headley Heath, a food supply for bees

Headley Heath, bee on flower

We stopped at Brimmer Pond for a rest, to look out for newts and dragonflies (didn’t see any) and to listen for birds. I think we partly had trouble as my toddler is RATHER LOUD. If you take a listen to the short video you’ll understand! I tried looking up what birds were singing when we got home, using the Warbler app (£4.99) and it told me it was possibly a Great Tit, Common Blackbird or Great Spotted Wren.

Headley Heath, Brimmer Pond

Brimmer Pond at Headley Heath

Headley Heath, notice about newts

Notice about the newts at Headley Heath

https://smallerexplorer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IMG_2114.mp4

We also had a poke about for insects. Looking under old bits of wood is a good idea if you are searching for insects. We found a few disgruntled woodlice plus a couple of large beetles. They scuttled away before we could look any closer at them unfortunately.

Headley Heath, Searching under logs for insects

Searching under logs for insects

Admittedly I did have to take B to a playground before we went to Headley Heath, but once we arrived and were exploring he really enjoyed it and didn’t want to come home, so I’m now going to describe any outing to a wilder area as a trip to the nature playground!

Headley Heath

 

June 6, 2019 3 comments
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The best walks in London
ActivityAdventureLondonNatureUKWalkingWoodland

The best walks in London

Ditch all those thoughts of London being polluted and overcrowded. Our capital has some beautiful places to walk in. Did you know London is one of the greenest cities on earth? And that we’re going to become a National Park City in July? Here’s some of the best walks in London you can have. Some of these walks in London are well-known, and with good reason – they are beautiful; others are under the radar, more peaceful and just as picturesque. I’ve noted where you can get the essentials – coffee and cake – as well as where the nearest toilets and playgrounds are,  so all these walks should be pretty family-friendly walks in London too. Settle in with a cup of tea – this is a long post. Told you London was green. 

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February 10, 2019 5 comments
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Wild and remote places in the UK to explore with and without your family
ActivityAdventureClimbingEnvironmentTravelUKWalking

Wild and remote places in the UK to explore with and without your family

When I was thinking about adventure ideas and cool adventurous things parents could do, the one thing that kept coming back to me was how we really don’t need to travel far to experience adventure. The UK has so many dramatic to explore. This is good news for families, who generally don’t have the time or ability to disappear for months on end in the wilderness.

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January 4, 2019 1 comment
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Adventure ideas from all around the world
ActivityAdventureAge rangesCampingCyclingGoing soloRunningTravelWalking

Adventure ideas from all around the world

As well as travel planning, my other top thing to do is thinking up cool responsible adventure ideas that I could attempt one day when the kids are older and don’t need me as much. These are a little more deering-do than those on my family adventure ideas list. I’m not sure where this love of adventure came from really. My mother despairs.

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November 30, 2018 3 comments
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Fun things to do in Northumberland with kids
ActivityAdventureBeachEnvironmentExploreMountainsNational TrustNorthumberlandUKWalkingWoodland

Fun things to do in Northumberland with kids

We spent the week of October half term in Northumberland. I’ve always wanted to visit this stunning part of the country. I had visions of windswept moors, deserted beaches and castles at every turn, and it didn’t disappoint. We visited as a family of three generations so it was important we did things that catered for all ages. Here’s a round-up of fun things to do in Northumberland with kids.

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November 26, 2018 1 comment
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Wild and wonderful family walking in Northumberland
ActivityAdventureNorthumberlandTravelUKWalking

Wild and wonderful family walking in Northumberland

There are obviously many other amazing things to see and do in this friendly but wild area of England but digging out your hiking boots and going walking in Northumberland should be your number one activity if you are lucky enough to come up here. Ancient Hadrian’s Wall, dramatic moorland and craggy hills, wild and wonderful quiet beaches, there’s nowhere else quite like walking in Northumberland.

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October 29, 2018 4 comments
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Geocaching for kids: a short guide
ActivityAdventureAge rangesPrimarySecondaryTeenyWalking

Geocaching for kids: a short guide

Geocaching for kids – a free and easy way to stir up some adventure on your doorstep. In fact, you can have a go at geocaching anywhere in the world, but I like the fact that it’s a good activity to try when you’re feeling a bit bored or uninspired by your local environment and want a quick, mini adventure with your children.

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September 10, 2018 12 comments
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Adventure after parenthood: Fiona Orrell
ActivityAdventureAge rangesEnvironmentGoing soloInspirationMountainsUKWalking

Adventure after parenthood: Fiona Orrell

Mother of two Fiona Orrell from Lancashire is almost halfway through a year-long adventure walking one section of the Coast-to-Coast trail every month with her husband. After a tough year, walking has been like therapy for her.

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June 8, 2018 1 comment
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Amazing family-friendly hiking routes around the world
AdventureAge rangesEnvironmentMountainsOverseasPrimarySecondaryTeenyTravelUncategorizedWalking

Amazing family-friendly hiking routes around the world

The art of adventuring successfully with children old and young is being able to balance what you want to get out of the trip with what is going to satisfy the younger members of the party. These worldwide hiking routes manage to do that. Outstanding views, some challenging sections, and a little off the beaten track for the adults, but safe, well-marked trails that can be tackled in small sections, with features that kids will appreciate too like huge trees, ancient volcanoes and warm hostel stays.

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May 22, 2018 10 comments
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Adventure after parenthood: Catherine Edsell
ActivityAdventureAge rangesBeachClimbingExpeditionExploreInspirationMountainsNatureOverseasPrimaryTeenyTravelVolunteeringWalkingWaterWildlife

Adventure after parenthood: Catherine Edsell

Part of why I set up The Smaller Explorer was to connect with like-minded families. There’s nothing like chatting with others who have managed to do something amazing after having children. It’s so inspiring, and also gives me loads of ideas of what I could do in the future too, and how to do it.

This series hopes to inspire other families who want to get back out there after parenthood, but don’t quite know where to start, or if it’s possible. There was only one lady I could start with – Catherine Edsell.  Catherine is an adventurer, expedition leader, PADI divemaster, Reef Check trainer, yoga teacher, FRGS, TED talker, podcaster and mother of two daughters. Phew.

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May 9, 2018 1 comment
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for families who like to explore

The Smaller Explorer is a blog for adventurous families. I search out the best of what's out there that's fun for kids AND adults (and maybe a bit of a break from the norm), plus provide lots of achievable ideas for exploring and having adventures in the UK and overseas.

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the smaller explorer is an online magazine for adventurous parents. We search out the best of what's out there that's fun for kids AND adults, plus provide lots of achievable ideas for exploring and having adventures in the UK and overseas.

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