In an era of iPads and YouTube videos zapping our youngsters' attention, it's rather refreshing to spend a day out with the kids where simply running around in a woodland keeps them deliriously happy for hours and hours. Although not many woodlands are quite so adventure-packed as the BeWILDerwood family attraction in Cheshire, it's fair to say.
This vast outdoor adventure park has just been named Visitor Attraction of the Year for Cheshire - beating off the likes of Chester Zoo, Jodrell Bank and The Ice Cream Farm in the process. So I headed along with my two children to see just what it is that won it the accolade.
The first thing to say is it really is a full day out for the whole family - just attempting to discover every element of this vast woodland park felt like an adventure in itself and racked me up 10,000 steps on my Fitbit. It's pretty much all outdoors, so you'll need to prepare for all weather eventualities, although we struck extremely lucky with a gloriously sunny day on our visit.
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As soon as you walk through the BeWILDerwood gates you see the hotchpotch cottages in the woods, and are transported to the wonky fantasy world of the 'Twiggles' and the 'Boggles' of the children's books by Tom Blofeld. Walking into the main adventure park sparks plenty of "oohs" and "ahs" from my 7-year-old and 3-year-old, and they get extremely excited when they spot another little house in the trees belonging to the magical characters.
Large story books can be found across the park to get children further involved in the adventure. But, naturally, it's when they see the first huge play area with the 'Slippery Slopes' slides that excitement levels head to fever pitch.
For smaller kids, the first main attraction to explore is Toddlewood on the Hill, with cute little slides that won't strike as much fear in the heart of parents as the Slippery Slopes may initially do. Here there are little cottages and bridges as well as a sandpit that my three-year-old really loved.
Meanwhile the braver 7-year-old headed off to try his luck on the Slippery Slopes, where you grab a bag to put over your feet to give you a smooth old journey down the very steep-looking metal slides. When you've had enough of these slides, you can find even more Slippery Slopes further inside the play park.
But first, we decide to tackle the first of the wooden mazes that we encounter, the Mish Mash Maze. You get to navigate your way around narrow wooden bridges that weave through the trees, while I let the kids try and work out how we get out.
Once we escaped, it was on to the Broken Bridge, that felt a very action-packed mix of steep walkways, rope nets and slides. I was initially worried that it was a bit too much for my three-year-old, but he really threw himself into it all.
Then there was Tiptoe Valley, which again offered much to enjoy for the children, walking across various wooden beams, jumping from log to log.
There were also more sandpits here, and both large and small swings for all ages to enjoy. There is also the storytelling theatre nearby, where there are regular shows throughout the day.
Perhaps knowing that it's at around this point that visitors can start to flag a bit after all the running around in the trees, the second of two cafes, the Munch Bar, is based in this zone.
Both the Munch Bar and the Cosy Cabin offer the same menus - a mix of hot snacks like the BeWILDerwood bangers for £4.95, sausage hotpot for £4.80 or baked potatoes from £2.95.
There's also a range of sandwiches from £3.95 for adults, while there are 'Munch Boxes' for kids that include a sandwich, snack and drink for £5.25 - or just a sandwich roll for £2. There are ice cream bars and hot and cold drinks at both sites.
But one of the good things at this attraction is that you CAN take your own food and drink into the park which can help to cut down on costs. There's plenty of picnic benches all across the site, and at this zone there's also a large covered seated area too if the weather takes a turn.
Here is where you'll also find the face painting tent, which is all included in your ticket price. On our Easter visit there was the option of a bunny face or literal eggs on your face which my older boy took on with glee.
You continue on from this area through the trees to find more brilliant adventures - including the Sky Maze and Telescope Tower. These are more wooden walkways up into the trees which really get the heart rates pumping.
On the Bewilderwood website the attraction is recommended for ages 2-12, although it adds that it is an adventure park for ALL the family so parents and carers can get just as involved. So yes, if you feel the need to go on those mega slippery slopes you can do that too - but personally I was leaving that one to the kids.
By the time we weaved our way back the Twiggle Village, we were all feeling in need of a sit down, and so took the opportunity for a change of pace with some crafting at the Big Hat. This was another covered area, where there is themed crafting.
Again, being the Easter holidays on our visit, it was a bunny themed hat that the children could make. Each boy was given a choice of coloured cards and glittery bits and bobs that they could then stick on.
Time really did fly during our visit, and I was surprised to see that we really did make a full day of it, arriving as soon as the park opened at 10am, and leaving towards the end of the day at 4pm. There were areas we even forgot to explore during our visit, including the zip wires and the den building.
I literally had to drag my two kids out of the park at the end, even though I could see my youngest was seriously flagging, but they just loved it so much they didn't want to leave. It made for an extremely satisfying day out in the fresh air - and I felt like I'd had a serious workout as much as an enjoyable day out with the kids.
How much is it, and is it value for money?
Ticket prices are based on your height for BeWILDerwood - so for most children as well as adults you're looking at paying £21.50 each for the 'over 105cm' tickets. Children from 92cm to 105cm are priced at £19.50, while those under 92cm go free and you can book online here.
At first glance the prices might seem quite steep, especially if you are a family of four or more. But having spent a full day at BeWILDerwood, I'd say it was a fair price for everything that was included, when you consider the face painting, crafting and story-telling, and that car parking is free at the site.
If you compare it to the price of the other nominees for the Visitor Attraction of the year at the Marketing Cheshire awards, you're looking at paying around £29 for adults and £22 for kids on weekends at Chester Zoo, at Jodrell Bank it's £12 for adults and £8 for children, while standard access to The Ice Cream Farm's play attraction is £2.50.
Having been to all four of these attractions, I'd say BeWILDerwood is most comparable to Chester Zoo in size and scale, in that you really will spend a full day out here if you wish to. It may not have the rollercoasters of a theme park type attraction, but it really is a great action-packed day for little adventurers.
If you're local to the area and are likely to return more than a couple of times over the year, there's also the option of an annual pass ticket, which has just been reduced in price. You now pay £45, £65 or £75 which allows unlimited daytime visits between February-October and receive 15% off all food and gifts whilst at BeWILDerwood.
How to get there
BeWILDerwood is just off the main A49 Tarporley Road at Bickley Moss near Nantwich in Cheshire. It is around an hour's drive from Manchester.
For sat nav, use the postcode SY13 4JF - it's close to Cholmondeley Castle. There's free parking on the site, including disabled access parking close to the entrance.
Public transport options directly to the site are quite limited, but the nearest mainline train station is Whitchurch, which is around five miles away.
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