Last Updated on 31 October 2023 by Colette
This post features gifted experiences
We stayed at Watercress Lodges in Hampshire for two nights at the start of October half term and packed quite a bit into our visit! Watercress Lodges are about a four hour drive from our home in Manchester so we arrived mid afternoon on Monday giving us just enough time to take a walk near Arlesford before heading for a pub tea.
Over the following two days, we packed in visits to:
Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Ln, Chalton, Waterlooville PO8 0BG
Butser Ancient Farm is a self funded not-for-profit organisation which focuses on scientific experiments in prehistoric archaeology – much of the modern understanding of life in the Iron Age is down to the early work conducted at Butser!
The Butster Ancient Farm Research Project was set up over fifty years ago with the initial aim of reconstructing an Iron Age farm. Since its origins as an Iron Age Farm, Butser has expanded to cover over 10,000 years of human history spanning the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Anglo Saxon periods making it a popular destination for local primary school trips!
Book tickets to visit Butser Ancient Farm
You can read more about Butser Ancient Farm here:
Gilbert White’s House and Garden, The Wakes, High Street, Selborne, Alton GU34 3JH
Although dogs are welcome in the gardens at Gilbert White’s, they are not allowed in house itself. Initially we had thought that would mean we wouldn’t be able to go in the house but Poppy was pretty tired after our adventures at Butser Ancient Farm so we were able to leave her in the car for a short while.
Autumn is such a glorious time to visit Gilbert White’s garden, the trees were laden with apples and pears, and many of the trees were just starting to turn into the gorgeous oranges and browns that we associated with this time of year. That said, I’d love to be able to visit in the spring or summer to see the gardens in full bloom!
Book tickets for Gilbert White’s House and Garden
You can read more about Gilbert White’s House and Garden
Gilbert White’s House and Garden – Review
National Trust Hinton Ampner, Hinton Ampner, Alresford SO24 0LA
With it being October half term, National Trust Hinton Ampner were in full Halloween / autumnal celebration mode with a Hallowe’en Trail and Harvest Displays when we visited.
Although dogs are welcome at National Trust Hinton Ampner, they are not allowed in the house or café so our visit was very much focused on the outdoor spaces
National Trust Hinton Ampner is free for National Trust Members otherwise standard admission charges apply.
You can read more about National Trust Hinton Ampner here:
Visiting National Trust Hinton Ampner at October half term
Watercress Line, The Railway Station, Station Road, New Alresford SO24 9JG
The Watercress Line is a heritage steam railway linking four heritage stations covering ten miles of beautiful Hampshire countryside.
October half term was Wizard Week at Watercress Line and as such there were lots of spooky activities to keep the kids entertained when we visited.
Excitingly, Watercress Line is a dog friendly site and dogs can travel for free so Poppy was able to experience her first ever steam train ride too (though I can’t say she really liked it)!
Book your Watercress Line visit.
You can read more about visiting the Watercress Line here
Wizard Week on the Watercress Line
A day out with Thomas on the Watercress Line – What the Redhead Said
You can read more about Watercress Lodges here:
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