The smell of damp conifers was incredible after all the rain. Inhaling deeply you could almost feel the fresh air kick start your lungs. The sun was shining, there was hardly a cloud in the sky and it was mild.
Managed by the Forestry Commission, Alice Holt covers over two thousand acres of Corsican pine with 350 acres oak.
The forest looked awesome. A shiny sheen was visible on the leaves and there was green moss was everywhere. Like an immense carpet framed with bracket and conifers. Rays of sunlight peeped through 
the trees making the ground below sparkle.
The pirate sheep in the timber play area is always a hit as POD can climb the side ropes to get on board and steer. She loved pretending to be a pirate with Daddy, shouting “you can’t have my treasure” up above.
There were a lot of puddles to wade through after that and POD tested the majority. Christening her new coat and snazzy welly warmers in the meantime.
POD likes to collect things when we’re in the forest but today was all about escaping. Running off as fast as she could with Mummy and Daddy chasing behind. It was the most hilarious game ever!
With the crash helmet in place, it was time to test out the new scooter. POD decided to keep her helmet on afterwards providing on tap entertainment to unsuspecting passers-by. Nothing like a bit of forest fun in a beautiful woodland setting to blow those cobwebs away!
100 comments
Anna J January 13, 2014 9:14 am
Sounds like a fab day, and what beautiful pics! Anna J. x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 5:14 pm
Thank you Anna. After a toddler meltdown we had a lovely day. Awesome weather too for a change!
The Reading Residence January 13, 2014 9:44 am
Escaping is always fun! Looks like a wonderful place to visit, and you’ve some lovely photos there. Thanks for hosting x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 5:14 pm
Thank you Jocelyn and for joining! Alice Holt is a lovely forest, the smell was divine at the weekend
anna January 13, 2014 10:01 am
Looks and sounds like a great place! Can’t beat exploring the forest for outdoors fun
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 5:15 pm
Definitely not – it’s such great fun isn’t it
Coombemill January 13, 2014 10:12 am
I only ever hear great things about Alice Holt, looks like a forestry commision gem and what could be better for mind and body than a game of chase in such a beautiful spot. Thank you for linking up to Country Kids
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 5:16 pm
You would love Alice Holt Fiona, it’s an absolute gem of a place. There’s something rather calming about being surrounded by huge trees – weird I know
Honest Mum January 13, 2014 10:14 am
Stunning still, I would love to see all of them as large images, does your theme support this (if you want to)-you are wonderful behind the camera so a shame not to! Alice Holt looks like a super place for little and big people x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 5:18 pm
Hehe I do large images in some posts and not in others. The theme does support it but this post has lots of photos – I may make an exception with a few just for you though! Alice Holt is brilliant
Pinkoddy January 13, 2014 10:15 am
It is nice to see what the photos I see on instagram are about. We ought to get out to Forests more. Gorgeous photos looks a lovely place.
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:24 pm
Thank you Joy – you really should get out to forests, really good fun
hannah clementson January 13, 2014 10:28 am
How cute, ‘you can’t have my treasure’ I wonder what her treasure is
xx
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:26 pm
The mind boggles Hannah
Katie January 13, 2014 10:29 am
So in love with the dark forest and fern shot and Pod’s gorgeous eyes!
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:26 pm
Thank you Katie
Dean January 13, 2014 10:39 am
Oh I love forests and this one looks amazing! As always POD looks so adorable
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:27 pm
Thank you Dean that’s so kind of you. We love Alice Holt
LauraCYMFT January 13, 2014 10:41 am
Sounds like a beautiful place. Lovely photos.
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:27 pm
Thank you Laura
Afra Willmore January 13, 2014 11:10 am
I love the slideshow thingy here – how did you do that!!! And the pictures are amazing. Really enjoyed this post. #whatsthestory
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:28 pm
Thank you Afra – always have a slideshow when we’ve been out and about. Love it! It’s built into the theme
Charlotte January 13, 2014 11:17 am
How funny, we were going to go there yesterday and I realised I had forgotten to get our national trust membership this year! It looks at nice as I thought it would be
x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:29 pm
You don’t need membership there Charlotte – just pennies for the car park. It’s awesome
suzanne3childrenandit January 13, 2014 11:38 am
Alice Holt is a fabulous place to go with kids. All you need now is a dog! x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:30 pm
We were talking about a dog recently funnily enough. I’m allergic to anything with fur though so it’s going to have to wait. Love Alice Holt
Mummy of Two January 13, 2014 11:41 am
Another beautiful place and it sounds like POD had a great time!
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:31 pm
Thank you – it’s wonderful there. Had lots of fun once she’d regained her SOH
Keri-Anne January 13, 2014 12:23 pm
Oh, these photographs are wonderful!! You should link up your post on my new link up project
x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:34 pm
Thank you Keri-Anne – I’m all linked up. What a stroke of luck that was!
Kizzy January 13, 2014 1:22 pm
Looks like you had a great time!
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:34 pm
Thank you – was good fun
amanda walsh January 13, 2014 1:42 pm
Sounds like a fun day, we love traipsing through the woods collecting things
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:34 pm
It’s such good fun isn’t it – POD just wanted to run away this time!
Notmyyearoff January 13, 2014 3:12 pm
Looks a really nice adventure I really like the wooden carved owls!
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:35 pm
Thank you Tas – the owls are new I think, not seen them before
Vaidehi @vaichin January 13, 2014 3:20 pm
There is something about puddles. They just have to be jumped in. Wellies need to be knee high, in my opinion
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:36 pm
You’re right there – POD just so wet and muddy just before Christmas jumping in a huge puddle!
Kate Williams January 13, 2014 4:09 pm
Looks absolutely gorgeous there! You should make your pictures bigger, they look fabulous!!
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:38 pm
Thank you Kate and for the photo complement – I’m tinkering with different photo options at the moment so good to know
Karen Bell January 13, 2014 4:13 pm
Looks like a lovely fun day. Gorgeous photos
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:38 pm
Thank you Karen
Funky Wellies January 13, 2014 4:34 pm
What a wonderful place! Love the carved wood sticks… and your daughter’s coat!! xx
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:39 pm
Thank you Katia – it’s a fabulous place. POD is sporting her new coat, it goes so well with her eyes! Not that they’re purple obviously
Mary @over40andamumtoone January 13, 2014 4:59 pm
How wonderful, I’m sure we went to Alice Holt as kids, but I can’t remember it really, just the name. #whatsthestory
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:40 pm
Thank you Mary – it’s a great place to go. Maybe you did go
Mums do travel January 13, 2014 5:07 pm
Alice Holt looks lovely – whereabouts is it?
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:42 pm
Hehe I should have said in the post – normally do. It’s in Surrey, not far from Farnham
Cass@frugalfamily January 13, 2014 5:41 pm
That looks like a great day – your photos are fab too x x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:42 pm
Thank you Cass
Aisha from expatlog January 13, 2014 6:53 pm
Always great when the weather cooperates! Looks like you had a wonderful day – that comment about the fresh air kickstarting your lungs had me deep-breathing at the kitchen table! I know exactly what you mean, with the temperatures above freezing for the first time in weeks I’ve had the windows open this morning.
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:43 pm
Hope you survived the kitchen table breathing – sorry about that! Really hard to describe such an incredible smell. Least you got to have the windows open today!
Mum of One January 13, 2014 7:05 pm
Sounds like she had a great time! Beautiful photos.
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:44 pm
Thank you – she really did
Lori January 13, 2014 7:59 pm
What a great day! I love the smell of the woods x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:44 pm
I think you’ve probably guessed I do too – the wet just made them smell incredible! Lovely day
Hannah January 13, 2014 8:57 pm
Such a wonderful post. Adored every word and picture. Perfect for our link up. Thank you for sharing x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:45 pm
Thank you Hannah – and for hosting
mellissa williams January 13, 2014 9:11 pm
I really love these photos, so picturesque. Your daughter is so pretty!
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:45 pm
Aww thank you Mellissa, what a lovely thing to say
Aly January 13, 2014 9:28 pm
What great photos! I can’t wait to get back to doing proper walks soon.It’s just too wet here at the moment.
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:46 pm
Thank you Aly. The weather has been horrible hasn’t it – we keep sneaking out when it stops. Mind you I got soaked today!
Kara January 13, 2014 9:36 pm
I keep looking at Alice Holt online and really want to visit. Your pictures make me want to go even more and it really isn’t that far away……fancy a meet up?
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:48 pm
Thank you! I thought you were miles away from me, will drop you a note if it’s accessible
Vicky January 13, 2014 9:37 pm
Alice Holt – wow you are so close to me – I live in Alton
Your photos are fantastic – it looks like you had a fantastic time. I’ve actually never been to Alice Holt as I’m in a wheelchair, but I have heard rumors that there is a wheelchair and buggy accessible path there – do you know if that’s the case?
Love Vicky x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:55 pm
We’re in Guildford so not far from Alice Holt which is Farnham way. There are lots of flat concrete paths to follow there so you should definitely check it out
Shell Louise January 13, 2014 9:43 pm
Pod looks like she had great fun
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:56 pm
She really did, was lots of fun
HPMcQ January 13, 2014 9:45 pm
alice holt look like our kind of place! lovely lovely photos too x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 9:56 pm
Thank you – it was awesome
Sara (@mumturnedmom) January 13, 2014 10:42 pm
The fifth photo in the slideshow is absolutely stunning, magical fairy forest, beautiful. And, POD looks adorable as always
Looks like a really fab day x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 11:09 pm
Thank you Sara – I love that photo other that a couple of twigs in the foreground! Alice Holt is a wonderful place to visit and smelt utterly divine. POD had a ball (once she’d got over an initial grump!).
Astrid January 13, 2014 10:53 pm
I love the smell of conifers too. I can really sense nature from this.
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 11:13 pm
Thank you Astrid, what a lovely thing to say
Carolin January 13, 2014 11:26 pm
Beautiful photos again. I love the one with the light shining through the trees. So so beautiful x
Charly Dove January 13, 2014 11:49 pm
Thank you very much Carolin, I do like that one with the light coming through the trees
Pingback: Forest adventures at Alice Holt
Dragonsfypoppy January 14, 2014 6:55 am
I can just imagine the smell – lovely. And how wonderful to find pirates there! Great photos as usual lovely x
Charly Dove January 16, 2014 9:08 pm
Thank you lovely – the smell was divine!
Mummy Glitzer January 14, 2014 8:05 am
Once again, some lovely pictures from you! Sounds like a lovely day out as well!
Charly Dove January 16, 2014 9:08 pm
Thank you very much – was great to get out. Think we were starting to go stir crazy!
Mammasaurus January 14, 2014 9:07 am
I have been shocking at getting outdoors ,especially with all the honk shizzle going on, I’ve need to be at the computer and I’ve missed the woods. Tomorrow morning I’ll be sure to head out and enjoy it!
Alice holt sounds familiar but I can’t think why !
Charly Dove January 16, 2014 9:09 pm
You must get some fresh air in those lungs Mrs, will do you the world of good. It’s been hard recently with all the rain but so nice to breathe in that wonderful smelling forest
Wicked World of Lucas January 14, 2014 9:27 am
Fab post and I always so enjoy looking at your photos – sounds like you all ad a fab day #whatsthestory
Charly Dove January 16, 2014 9:10 pm
Thank you Cathie
Fritha Strickland January 14, 2014 10:30 am
lovely pics as always! x
Charly Dove January 16, 2014 9:10 pm
Thank you
oana79 January 14, 2014 11:22 am
Sounds like a magical day out! #whatsthestory.xx
Charly Dove January 16, 2014 9:10 pm
It was good fun thank you
brinabird and son January 14, 2014 9:40 pm
Sounds lovely! Her coat is very nice. #countrykids
Charly Dove January 16, 2014 9:11 pm
Thank you very much
Emily @amummytoo January 14, 2014 10:03 pm
Lovely pics as usual. This has made me determined to get out into the forrest soon.
Charly Dove January 16, 2014 9:11 pm
You really must Emily – so nice breathing in that fresh air. Thank you
Sonia Constant January 15, 2014 9:10 am
Amazing photos. POD is beautiful.
I love the forest exploring, many adventures to be had in the forest! Looks like a lot of fun. x
Charly Dove January 16, 2014 9:13 pm
Aww that’s so kind. Love playing around in the forest, such good fun
Becky Cowley January 15, 2014 3:12 pm
Beautiful pictures! Looks like you had a fantastic day
Charly Dove January 16, 2014 9:14 pm
Thank you Becky – fabulous day
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Claire @ Clarina's Contemplations January 22, 2014 11:19 pm
Stunning pictures!! What lovely wintery outdoor fun! I think this place isn’t too far from us. Need to go visit methinks!! Thanks so much for linking with #SavouringtheSeason Hope you can join again tomorrow!
Charly Dove January 27, 2014 12:03 pm
Oh you must go and visit Claire, it really is wonderful there. Thank you for hosting, must join in more