The first three months of 2015 have been busier
than I could have ever imagined. There's been little time for myself + Hollie to grab a coffee together, let alone escape somewhere for a weekend. With
Easter looming I knew it would be the perfect time to step away from work, put down the laptop and disconnect for a few days. We'd
planned to stay in Liverpool – as a late 9th anniversary celebration – but something else came up, something I knew
was too good to refuse. We were invited to go off the grid for a long weekend, with Mud House Wines, in the
beautiful Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. How would we refuse?
Catch you later 3G!
In fact, four days of absolute peace was just what the doctor ordered. We usually spend our anniversary in busy cities, dashing around endless shops with zero down time. This weekend was going to be about discovery and adventure. What a way to celebrate!
Mud House was founded by a British married couple: John + Jennifer Joslin. They set sail to travel the world and found themselves drawn to New Zealand. On their continuous search for new cultures, the couple fell in love
with New Zealand's rich countryside and outdoor lifestyle. It suited their taste for adventure, and they decided
to stay put. Two decades on and Mud House are producing award winning
wines, recognised across the world.
We were inspired by Mud House's drive and passion for exploration and their craft, and made it our mission to encapsulate their message through our time in the forest.
We stayed in the sweetest log cabin, on the Forest Holidays resort – a concept which I didn't even know existed until a few weeks back! Just look how lovely it is? We instantly made ourselves at home, unpacked our bags and started to plan our adventure in the Forest of Dean. With three whole days ahead to explore the surrounding forest, we sat down and researched into exciting activities to get involved with. We looked for local landmarks to visit, suggested trail walks to conquer and beauty spots...but we knew we wanted to keep things a little spontaneous, so in the end we pencilled a few things in and let the rest happen. Let's do this!
I felt like Tintin in Tibet, we had the taste for adventure!
It felt like bliss to get out in the open and totally disconnect from technology. Our first day lead us on the Highmeadow Trail - a cool 12 mile walk filled with mixed gradients, wildlife and stunning views. With homemade trail mix packed, we laced up our walking boots and set off early. It may sound like a cliche but it instantly made us feel refreshed and alive - working behind a computer screen for weeks-on-end can bring you down at times, and every so often you need to reward yourself with a real life experience.
The sounds, the smells, the crisp fresh air. So peaceful – we couldn't have asked for more.
Our legs led us to the top of Symonds
Yat – a popular destination for ramblers, local villagers and
novice-adventurers like us. It took us a good three hours to reach the highest point, and boy was it worth it. The views from the top of
the Yat were just beautiful. Hollie commented on the fact that we're
constantly scrolling Instagram "liking" other people's lifestyle, but to experience
them yourself really put things into perspective.
At the top of Symonds Yat we
were joined by groupes of bird spotting enthusiasts and nature enthusiasts. We had
the chance to join some of these people on a night walk, but we couldn't make it
in time. I'm marking that down for future adventures. Loved their passion.
A steady gradient climb was followed by a incredibly steep decline down the other side of the Yat, where we ended our walk with a well deserved pint from a local brewery and steak at the highly recommended The Saracens Head pub.
On wandering back to the cabin with a full day behind us, we knew that this day wouldn't easily be forgotten. It gave us time to bond and share an experience like we have never done before. It felt like a new connect. After nine years together we're still discovering, still learning. We ended our night with Scrabble and a glass of wine. I let Hollie win as always...
Being greeted by an early morning downpour didn't deter us from finding other activities to keep us busy. We came across an old iron mine just a few miles north of the Forest of Dean in Clearwell, intriguing! My only other experience in a mine was in Wales, but Clearwell Caves was on another scale, and something which we both enjoyed immensely. It's these kind of things I associate with Bank Holidays and weekends, shared experiences for the whole family.
We spent around an hour exploring the upper levels of the caves, learning about the history and relevance of this particular mining village, which was once a important source of iron for the UK during the Industrial Revolution. There was the option to go "deep caving", but we'll save that for another visit. 200ft down takes a little more preparation!
Hollie wears - Marmot Jacket | Whistles Jeans | CAT Boots | Headphones c/o Sony
Wearing - Jacket c/o Timberland | Albam Jeans | Red Wing Boots | Patagonia Backpack | ASOS Shirt + Hat
Our final day followed in similar fashion: woke up early, laced our boots, packed our bags and jumped on one of the many surrounding trails. I'd brought my bike with and planned to cycle around the local area. The Forest Retreat within the forest site had a mountain bike rental service, which I'd recommend to anyone considering a break like this. I stuck to the main trails but it would have been great to get off road and muddy. Next time.
Truth be told, when our final day in the forest arrived I wished we'd booked
for a little longer. The thought of leaving such a beautiful, peaceful part of
the British Isles wasn't agreeing with me. Our adventure actually brought myself + Hollie closer together – it gave us the chance to bond with each other away from busy city life, and the chance to mute our busy lifestyles.
Before we arrived we couldn't wait to see the forest, but it went far beyond our expectations. So much so we're already thinking about planning our own adventures in other parts of the British Isles, we've truly been missing out! My passion may be within the city, but I discovered my adventurous side in the forest.
Where would your Taste for Adventure take you? Visit Mud House on Facebook and you could win a trip to New Zealand!
Buckets & Spades was a guest of Mud House Wines for the weekend at Forest Holidays in the Forest of Dean
