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Cardinham Woods
If you go down to Cardinham Woods today, you might not find a teddy bears’ picnic, but there are plenty of opportunities for family adventures. Cardinham is an attractive mixed woodland that’s popular year-round with locals and visitors alike. It’s great for families with children of all ages, as the little ones will be happy exploring, paddling in the stream, or spending time in the imaginative animal-inspired wooden play area next to the Woods Café. Those with older children can venture deeper into the woods and walk or cycle the trails. We spent hours at Cardinham. Megan loved paddling in the stream with her wellies on, trying everything out in the playground and scooting around the tracks. We also enjoyed taking a closer look at some of the plants and flowers. Walking Cardinham has some excellent walking trails which reveal fantastic views and a taste of the area’s history. There are four waymarked trails to choose from, and plenty of other tracks to explore. You can find out about all the trails and download maps from the Forestry Commission website. Cycling Cardinham has a wide variety of paths that are suitable for walking or cycling. There are also some new trails for off-road cyclists and mountain bikers which are great for families with older children. The Woods Café Pop in to the Woods Café to refuel. It was once a woodsman’s cottage and still has lots of character – in the winter, you can warm up beside a real fire. The food there is delicious, and there are plenty of seasonal dishes to choose from. We love their squidgy brownies, divine carrot cake and white chocolate and raspberry muffins. Mmm…