Given the rarity of good UK sledging (despite living in the ‘cold’ north east) it was exciting to hear snow reports in the Midlands on the very day we were travelling there to visit family after Christmas.
People were advised to stay home or avoid certain roads. We assumed it was the usual over-reaction to a few millimetres of sleet! Nevertheless in true Scouting style we checked alternative routes, crammed the camper with sledges, blankets, hot chocolate, left-over turkey sandwiches, homemade Yuk Sung (must post this recipe, it’s amazing) and headed into the great white unknown.
We May Be Some Time…
The journey took 6.5 hours (due to traffic volume not blizzard). We arrived after dark to several inches of snow, having sung LOTS of carols and festive songs along the way!!
So what to do after a long drive with a hyper-excited 8-year-old (who’s desperate for snow and been cooped up in hospital with cancer for half a year) plus 9 crazy adults similarly hyped up about the weather?
Get outdoors for night time sledging of course. Two and a half hours of it to be precise!
Caroline poised at the top of a steep hill.. (Phone pictures poor – it was about the fun not the photos – so action shots impossible!)
A sled-ful of Wood!
My brother-in-law, an avid though somewhat frustrated adventurer, bushcrafter and all round mountain man, loaded a sledge with wood, cooking equipment and a bottle of Baileys. Head torches were lit and three generations of family headed for the hills, aged 8 to 76, with Wild Grandma and Gump as excited as anyone!
I occasionally feel sorry for Caroline in a world of grown-ups but this night it was hard to tell who was older than whom, proving that real kids of wild come in all ages!!
Snow Fires at Night
We crumped in the dark through glittering snow, slithered on black ice, puffed up the hill and admired stunning Vale of Evesham views and Broadway‘s distant sparkling Christmas lights. The moon was almost full, in a velvety clear night sky. It couldn’t have been more Christmassy, nor more perfect.
Caroline helped the bushcrafters make fire, with an intriguingly decorative windbreak of snow, to heat water for hot chocolate!
By the end of the evening the Baileys was empty, bottoms were sore, gloves were soaked, races lost and won. Dragging Caroline away was a challenge but I’d achieved my best sledging run ever. Truly magical memories made. I love my outdoor family!
Sledging in the Sun
Far from melting overnight, the snow froze so we braved the steep Fish Hill for more sledging at Broadway Tower. Snowball ambushes, snow angels, spectacled snowmen, daring toboggan runs, hilarious crashes and unexpectedly meeting old friends made for another unforgettable few hours in pristine snow.
Check out frustrated Fidgie throwing a ball at us..!
So what’s the recipe for enjoying a rare moment of sensational British snow?
Get outside into it of course!
Mix in lots of layers, good waterproofs (especially gloves), a sledge, hot drinks, a sense of adventure, gigantic smiles and blend together with a generous sense of fun! Gotta love a British winter.
Snow Holing?
In a recent moment of madness I agreed to go snow holing in the Cairngorms in March. Click the link to read all about our mammoth Scottish mountain adventure.
For more ideas on things to do outdoors with the family see Family Time and look out for more wild ideas in 30 things to do outdoors.
More outdoor inspiration
For more fab family walks check out Kids of the Wild’s walking and hiking pages
Browse The Outdoor Guide for walks near where you live.
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Oh and this is my 100th blog post since starting the blog in August 2016. Happy anniversary to me!
I loved reading this. I wish we had snow down South so we could go night sledging. Getting out there and building a ‘snow fire’ and making your own brews is genius. Awesome.
It’s so unusual to get decent snow we just had to make the most of it. Never done night sledging before but head torches made it all possible and the snow fire meant we could stay out longer with a quick warm up every so often. Highly recommended all round!
We’ve never seen a snow fire before! This looks like amazing winter fun x we’re hoping for some more snow tomorrow in the south of England x #CountryKids x
It was our first snow fire too. I can’t claim the idea, it was my brother-in-law. Hoping for snow here too. Thanks for popping by #CountryKids
We didn’t have anywhere near that kind of snow. Looks like you had a great time in it though #CountryKids
It was perfect timing that we were in the Cotswolds on those two days, there was only a sprinkling back home. Thanks for reading
Oh wow this all looks like the most amazing fun! I hope we get some more snow, my daughter had such fun building a snowman in the snow we had before Christmas #CountryKids
We’re keeping everything crossed too, we love the snow! Thanks for dropping by
Good fun you all had. Wish we had snow.
How utterly amazing! Caroline will remember this forever I’m sure. I have such fond memories of sledging as a child, but here in Cornwall we just don’t get more than the tiniest dusting at best. My kids have never seen snow like this, I’d love them to experience what you all did.
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
It was a truly magical evening which Caroline will definitely never forget, nor the rest of us! My brother sent a lovely message to us all afterwards, might have to get his permission to add it!
Awww I am so jealous. The activities that you did here is just lovely and makes me wish we have a bit of snow to do something like this where I am. #countrykids
It’s all in the luck of the British weather; if we’d visited before Christmas we’d have missed it. Thanks for reading
Happy 100th post! I love that you went out and played in the snow at night, so many people would not have bothered, in my experience. I grew up near Stockholm so spent much of my childhood winters playing outside in darkness, more or less. Not so keen on cold weather nowadays, possibly cause I got enough of it when I was younger ☺️ But I do know how much fun sledging can be – and next time I might bring some Baileys too, lol 😋 #CountryKids
Thanks re the 100!! Doing things in the dark always adds magic and mystery for children and so few people take the kids out after dark now. Lucky you in Stockholm!
Yes, I liked the darkness as a child. From my teens onwards however I’ve found it more depressing than magical 😏x
Wow what an amazing memory to have created. We’ve had no snow in Devon and it’s been 5 years since we last went sledging or built a snowman. #countrykids
I think 2010 and 2011 were the last year’s we had decent snow too so we HAD to make the most of this year, night and day!! Magic moments
Happy 100th post anniversary! Loved your article, as you say you got to love British winter and keep your sense of adventure with you when needed! As I grew up in Romanian mountains, I miss so much huge quantities of snow, making igloos and skating on lakes – but certainly I don’t miss the freezing temperatures! 😉 we are heading for skiing half term, this lovely post puts us very much in the mood of snow fun and mischief, thank you! #countrykids
Great to hear from you. Igloo building and skating on frozen lakes is something Caroline and I would love, lucky you! And enjoy skiing.
Wow! It sounds like you had a great time in the snow. At least it all made that rather epic journey worth it. Extra points for doing over two hours in the dark too! I’ll certainly look out for your snow holing post. Thanks for joining us on #adventurecalling . We open again for more posts tomorrow morning. I hope you can join us.
Glad you enjoyed the read, I will hopefully be posting again tomorrow
How I loved reading this!!! Sledging in the dark has just gone to the top of my bucket list – I’d never thought about it, let alone tried it! I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas – precious memories being made, by true and tested Kids of the Wild!
#Adventurecalling
It was certainly one of the best memories of last year, especially as all the family were there. I’d highly recommend it. A good head torch and you’re sorted!
I loved reading this post, it just made me smile! The sense of fun and excitement leapt out of your writing and brightened up my day. It’s always the spontaneous adventures that end up being the best. Thanks so much for sharing with us #AdventureCalling
Thanks Lauren, it was a wonderful evening that’s for sure. Great to be part of #AdventureCalling
This looks amazing – what a journey to get there though, 6.5 hours? The snow fire looks fantastic – an awesome experience and glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Sim x #TotsTravel
It was an epic journey, did the return in 4.40, but so worth it for the experience and memories! Thanks for reading
Thanks for the link,I’ll pop over to read the others now.
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Thanks for stopping by