Last Updated on 1 May 2023 by Colette
This post forms part of a paid collaboration with Piri Allergy
It’s no secret that we love an adventure and this spring was full of them.  As you know, we have been working with Piri Allergy to show that life is just better when lived outdoors and wow have we been pushed out of our comfort zones.  From “Wild Living” in the Lake District to a city cycling tour or high up tree top fun at Go Ape – we’ve certainly had an action packed couple of months.
One of the things I’ve loved most about working on this campaign is that it has made us do things we would never have normally done – yes we’d have probably gone to Go Ape or to Smithills Farm but I don’t think we’d have braved a family bike ride (not least because we wouldn’t have had the equipment) and we certainly wouldn’t have chosen to spend a week “Wild Living” in the Lake District – it just wouldn’t have even occurred to us.
Dave and I were both terrified apprehensive about our trip to Woodsmoke – we’d never camped before, we were going to be staying in a hut in the woods for a week without a toilet, or a shower, or electricity. Â We didn’t know how the kids would take to it, if we would sleep or even if we’d like Boss Ben! Â But, as you all know, it was a real game changer of a trip for us and we absolutely loved it. Â Being outdoors for a week meant that if anything we actually slept better than we do normally thanks to all the fresh air, exercise and the lack of artificial light. Â We spent quality time together without the distractions of mobile phones, tablets or household chores. Â We worked as a team and discovered that we were all far more resilient than we thought. Â Our Woodsmoke experience was relentless and exhausting but in the best possible way.
Our Bank Holiday adventures – whilst not quite so intense, were still challenging. Â Our trip to Smithills Farm saw Amy overcome her nerves and stroke her beloved cows for the first time. Â Our cycling tour of Manchester turned out to be considerably more of an endurance test than we had planned – but we survived and we had a great time. Â And Go Ape? Â Amy proved she had more guts than we could have ever imagined by going down the zipwire when her big sister wouldn’t do it and Chloe dug deep to take the plunge and jump off the platform onto the zipwire making us so proud of her.
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Since our Piri Allergy adventures we’ve sorted ourselves out with a tent and now have three camping weekends booked in over the course of the summer, Dave and I have started to investigate ways in which we could do more cycling as a family (first up we need to buy me a bike!) and Ben and Chloe have been on another tree top adventure whilst we were staying at Center Parcs. (Chloe had to be rescued but that’s a story for another post!)
Getting outdoors with Piri Allergy this spring has taught us that our children are braver and bolder than we ever thought. Â We’ve learned how to tie knots, track animals, cook salmon on an open fire and even poo in a hole! Â We’ve laughed, we’ve cried and we talked about anything and everything. Â Getting outside together has given us so many new experiences, opened doors to things we never would have tried and we’ve made some incredible memories together in the process. Â None of this would have happened if we had been sat at home with the windows shut avoiding pollen all summer . . .
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As the pollen has spiked through this week’s heatwave Ben’s hayfever in particular has hit him hard but there’s no way he’s going to let it get in the way of him enjoying his summer and with the help of the Piri Allergy range we will both carry on spending as much time as we can outdoors – feeling the sunshine on our skin and living our lives!
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(Catch up on any of our Piri Allergy posts you might have missed)
That’s so good that you’ve had a good experience being outdoors, I really want to do go ape, I’ve been meaning to do it for absolute ages x
It’s lots of fun! Ben’s super keen to go back and trying the harder course when he’s a bit taller!
Wow you have definitely been brave! Not sure I would be a fan of the week in the wild, we’ve been camping many a time and it takes until day 2 before I’m dying to go home for a shower haha. Well done to all of you for getting out there!
I think it will make our campsites this summer feel like sheer luxury!
This is amazing! You’ve had so many adventures, I bet the kids will remember them for years to come! #TriedTested
The videos look great!! I would love to camp out there, but not to sure about having a hole as a toilet. That would be an experience in it’s self #TriedTested
We love getting outside and can’t wait until later in the summer when we can get the babies in the bike trailer!! #TriedTested
I’ve loved reading all of the adventures you’ve had this year. Go Ape can be quite daunting for some children, my daughter refused to try it on her first attempt but on our last holiday she went on a 200 metre zipwire over the beach!!
#TriedTested
I’ve loved watching all your adventures this year. I have been so impressed with how brave your little ones have been by trying something new and embracing the adventures! Good work Burgess Family xx
Looks like you had some pretty awesome adventures…in fact, I am quite jealous!!! Actually, I did Go Ape18 months back and would love to take my little on on the junior course at some point.
We can’t wait to visit Go Ape, but my eldest has just turned 3. But we love being outdoors in any form!
The Woodsmoke experience sounds amazing, scary but amazing! I don’t think we would be brave enough to try it but it sounds really fun and rewarding.
Jodie x
Wow this is awesome. I am not sure I could do this, but you have done fantastic. I have loved reading about your adventure. xx
I love the location so pretty and so much too do, all in one place which is really handy if you have little children X
Ooh how exciting! Not quite sure how I’d manage at Woodsmoke but definitely sounds like a great experience!!
What an interesting holiday. I’d never had considered doing something like this, but actually I think we would all enjoy going back to basics for a week. I’m glad you all had a lovely time.
Wow it certainly sounds like you’ve had an amazing time on your adventures lately! I’m not sure how we’d cope with camping either!
Both my youngest and my husband suffer from relly bad hayfever, it really has been awful over the last few weeks! #TriedTested
Wild living in the Lake District actually sounds like my idea of heaven! What wonderful adventures you’ve all been up to!
I’ve loved seeing your Piri posts, you’ve had some amazing adventures! #TriedTested
We love getting outdoors but sadly haven’t been able to get camping much due to my mummy being in hospital. The Woodsmoke experience sounds right up our tree! 😉 #TriedTested x
Brilliant when you get to try new things and bond together as a family even better
This sounds and looks like fun (she says in the comfort of her home!). But you’re so right – we need to be pushed out of our comfort zones to make these memories. And thank goodness for allergy solutions!
Sounds an amazing experience
It’s looks fun and lovely. How I wish my boys would be as brave as your little ones. I have enjoyed watching your videos as well. . .
What a magical opportunity for all of you. We used to do a lot of camping and exploring when we were kids but I haven’t done the same for my children. We tend to do Air BnB and eurocamps because it’s so affordable these days. But I now realise they are missing out on some of the adventures I had as a child. Hoping to stay in a yurt this summer. Not exactly roughing it. But tiny steps!
What a magical opportunity for all of you. Hoping to stay in a yurt this summer. Not exactly roughing it. But tiny steps!
It’s great that you have been able to go on so many adventures and not worry about hay-fever. I get it sometimes when the pollen levels go high and it’s so uncomfortable, I can barely breath.