The Monkey Sanctuary, Looe, Cornwall

We visit Cornwall a couple of times a year but until now never been to The Monkey Sanctuary, and now we are wondering why we haven't been before as it was a really good day out.

 The Monkey Sanctuary is down quite a few country lanes, but very well sign posted. We were surprised by how many cars we were following and so pleased nothing was coming the other way. This being Cornwall what should be a single track road isn't.
Along the walk in were funny little monkey statues that Charlotte would spot amongst the trees and a wonderful view down to the coast. The lady at the entrance gave a quick brief on what you can and can't do and then we were off to explore.

The monkeys houses are built into the hill/cliff side. There are currently 37 monkeys and on the day we went must have seen about 15 of them. Some of them are playful and lively and others a bit more calm and some hiding away not wanting to be seen. Near each monkey house is a keeper to explain about the upkeep of the animals and their history. If you get to stop for a while and listen (Charlotte doesn't let us stop for talks very often) its really fascinating stuff and shows just how much the keepers really care about the animals they are looking after.

We would all love monkeys to be in the wild not in captivity, but things don't work out like that. The sanctuary is a rescue centre for those who have been kept as pets, some were circus acts and others came from zoos. There is a display room that goes into detail of how some of the animals were brought up, some of the foods they had been fed (or taunted with), and the cage that one monkey (Joey) had lived in for 9 years. Charlotte had a go at the monkey puzzle, which was easy for her with her little fingers but not so easy for the rest of us.

There is a bat cave with a night vision cctv so you can pick out the bats, very cool, and a wildlife room that covers the other animals that live on the site (think insects and birds not zoo animals). There is cctv set up in one of the birds nest and we could see the mother blackbird feeding her babies.

There is a lovely garden to walk around and a great childrens play area. The day we went there was a entertainer in the play area doing tricks for the kids. I'm guessing this was an extra put on for the summer holidays, the kids really loved it... and even some of the adults joined in with "boo, hiss, you're rubbish" when he dropped the items he was juggling.

On our way out we were getting hungry so took a look at the Tree Top cafe. We are veggies but other family members were meat eaters so went in with open mind of ok we will head to Looe for lunch if there is nothing carnivores can eat (usually its the other way around). We shouldn't have worried as the selection is excellent and the food was so good I wanted another plateful. They try to use local suppliers where possible, the cider came from Cornish Orchards just down the road and you can buy a bottle or 2 in the shop, which we did. The tree-top part made the cafe a unique experience.

The Monkey Sanctuary was a great find, and if you gift aid you get free return entry for a year so we will be back next time we are down that way. I would recommend combining your day with a trip to Seaton or Looe as its positioned between the two. Seaton has a dog friendly beach and a lovely walk up the valley, or Looe with a family beach, boat trips and shops.

As I said earlier it is built on a hill/cliff side so navigation with babies is not so easy. There were plenty of people dragging stollers up and down the slopes and steps but anything bigger or heavier would not be easy to manage. Its quite a small site so younger walkers shouldn't have too much trouble but i would pop babies into a carrier.
http://www.monkeysanctuary.org/

Chimney Meadows Nature Reserve, nr Bampton, Oxfordshire

Approx time: 1 - 2 hours
Paths:  grass and boardwalk
Points of interest: trees, wildlife, streams, pond, cows, river
Amenities: car park
Grading: all terrain buggy
Weather: all seasons

We saw so much wildlife on this walk today, it really was excellent. In a field near the car park we saw 4 deer, we were down wind so got a good watch of them without them knowing we were there. There were grazing sheep and cows.

 From the bird hides we saw a heron and swan. We saw 2 more deer in another field, they had spotted us so we saw them racing across the field. We saw rabbit holes and badger sets, heard woodpeckers a few times too.

There are various footpaths you can follow round chimney meadows, just doing the pond and bird hide would take about an hour, to go across the Thames and into the fields beyond took us about 2 hours. The walks are almost circular.

There are 2 picnic benches positioned close to the Thames path, so perfect if you want to take a picnic or snack with you.
The footpaths can be a little bumpy in places, but an all terrain buggy could handle this, the footpath to the bird hides is wheelchair friendly so this area is all very flat.

More information about Chimney Meadows can be found on the BBOWT website

Lashford Lane Fen Nature Reserve, Dry Sandford, Oxfordshire

Approx time: 45 mins
Paths: mud, board walks
Points of interest: trees, wildlife, reed beds, streams, cows
Amenities: small car park
Grading: wet and boggy, only suitable for walkers or a baby carrier
Weather: all seasons

On our walk today we saw two woodpeckers and a pheasant, and that's with a noisy 4 year old signing we're going on a bear hunt most of the time. Did get a quiet moment when we listened out for the woodpecker and followed the sound.

Lashford Lane fen is very boggy and wet, with steams running through it. There are 2 circular walks you can do, shorter 30min wildlife walk or the permissive footpath of about 45mins.

 I think in autumn time they allow cattle on the land for grazing. Charlotte loves going from one bridge to another, and walking on the board walks.

We also peek under the pieces of corrugated iron found near the start of the walk to look for grass snakes (not seen one yet).
http://www.bbowt.org.uk/content.asp?did=23593

A Festive Walk: Broad Arboretum, Earth Trust, Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire

Approx time: 1 hour
Paths: grass
Points of interest: pond, wildlife, trees
Amenities: parking (toilets and cafe seasonal)
Grading: bumpy underfoot so all terrain buggy
Weather: all seasons

We have passed this walk many times but finally got round to it and we really enjoyed it. Why is it festive, have a look for the Christmas trees,

 holly and reindeer.

But its also great in the summer with a bench over looking the pond and a picnic table. Only downside to the walk was having to retrace your steps back to the car park.

Start at the Earth Trust car park, and if you face the buildings take the grass footpath to your right that heads out across the fields. After a while the footpath bears right, keep the farm outbuildings on your right and carry along towards a signpost.

 At the signpost turn right towards the arboretum.

There is a circular path around the arboretum. When complete retrace your steps back to the car park, note the excellent views across to Wittenham Clumps.

http://www.earthtrust.org.uk/Places/at-little-wittenham/BroadArboretum.aspx

Little Wittenham Nature Reserve Walk, Oxfordshire

Approx time: hour to hour and half
Paths: woodland footpaths
Points of interest: view, history (iron age fort), wildlife, trees
Amenities: free car park
Grading: baby carriers or good little walkers, at two half LO got a bit tired as a few slopes
Weather: good on a windy day for kite flying

There are many footpaths used to explore Wittenham Clumps, Castle Hill and Little Wittenham Woods but we chose to do a walk suggest by the Northmoor Trust. The leaflet/map is available from the car park, other leaflets are on their website, but sadly not this one.

We started at Castle Hill, and the famous Poem Tree, navigated the edge of a field then took a walk through Little Wittenham Wood. Within the woods we found a couple of shelters people had made, log bridge across a stream (ideal for kids) and a bird hide, a few seats along the way for any tired legs. Didn't see much in the way of wildlife, but then two year olds aren't designed to be quiet, good at animal poo spotting though. Finished off with a walk up round hill to the clumps and then back to the car park.

Information about the Northmoor Trust Estate and some walk ideas to download

Minster Lovell, Witney, Oxfordshire

Approx time: 30mins - 1 hour
Paths: road, paths, tracks
Points of interest: Cotswold village, church, ruins
Amenities: 2 car parks, one at the church for route 1 and one at the recreation ground (just over the bridge) for route 2.
Grading: route 1: any except a double buggy, route 2: baby carrier
Weather: all (bad weather would add to the atmosphere!)

Minster Lovell Hall is the remains of a 15th century manor house.
If you are taking a pushchair take route 1, if you have a baby carrier or your child can walk then route 2.
map for route 2.

Route 1, park at Minster Lovell church and take the short walk along the road to the church and beyond that to the ruins.

Route 2, park at the recreation ground, cross the ground taking a kissing gate at the far side of the field into the next field.
Through a couple more kissing gates and then across a small stream and head towards the church, the ruins of Minster Lovell Hall are to the right.
After exploring the ruins (and possibly taking a stroll to the Dovecote) leave the ruins through the graveyard and to the opposite side of the church and follow the road back to the recreation ground car park.

If you have walking children or a baby carrier and would like a longer walk the following AA walk is good
http://www.theaa.com/walks/mysteries-at-minster-lovell-656486

Cowleaze Wood, Stokenchurch

Approx time: 1 hour
Paths: mud
Points of interest: open areas, picnics, trees, wildlife, red kites, scenery, sheep
Amenities: large car park, no toilets, often an ice cream van in the summer
Grading: 3 wheeler/all terrain only, baby carrier would be better
Weather: dry

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/Recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandBuckinghamshireNoForestCowleaze
This was once known as the sculpture trail but after funding was withdrawn they were all removed in 2008, it’s still a good walk though.
There is a circular walk starting from the north end of the car park, there used to be picnic benches here but they have also been removed. Just follow the mud track through the wood, lots of little short cuts and detours to take along the way.
On the west side of the road is the Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve. We haven’t yet done any of these walks but there is an information board at the car park with details of the various walks.
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006007.aspx

Christ Church Meadow, Oxford

Approx time: 1 hour
Paths: gravel
Points of interest: open areas, picnics, trees, wildlife, birds, scenery, river
Amenities: very limited parking in Oxford city centre, no toilets but cafes close by
Grading: suitable for all pushchairs
Weather: Good for all seasons
Warning: open water along most of the walk
Enter Christ Church Meadow from the west side through the memorial garden from St Aldate’s. These are the only gates wide enough for pushchairs to get through. Walk through the gardens and past Christ Church College on your left. This is a circular walk first following the boundary of Christ Church and Merton College, followed by the river Cherwell and then the River Thames and back to the memorial gardens.

Depending on the time of year there may be sports being played on the college sports field, rowing on the river and cattle grazing on the meadow.

The Oxford Botanical Gardens can be accessed from the Rose Lane Gate, but you have to pay to enter (you will have to fold down the pushchair to get through Rose Lane Gate). The Colleges are open most days to the visiting public but again you have to pay to enter.

Looe, Cornwall

Approx time: 1 hr depending on route
Paths: mud
Points of interest: picnics, river
Amenities:pay and display car park adjacent, toilets, shops, cafes and restaurants in the town, beach
Grading: baby carrier only
Weather: best on a dry day
Ok we were told that this was a lovely walk in a forest at the end of the Looe Millpond car park. What they neglected to tell us about was the steps. We set out with our pushchair with all best intentions to get only a ¼ of a mile up the track before we saw the steps going up into the forest. We forgot to take our baby carrier so no chance of turning round and starting again. I have been led to believe that this is a lovely walk in the woods so great for children and those in baby carriers. There are walks of varying lengths and a picnic bench at the half way point.
As we had paid for our parking we went into the centre of Looe and spent a while on the beach which kept little one amused for quite a while.