Cinderella Spotting at Storybook Glen

Castle spotting!

As Poppet is so in love with all things of a Royal nature at the present moment ( castles, Princesses, crowns, etc.. ) we thought the ideal day trip out for her birthday would be to visit Storybook Glen in Aberdeenshire. It is a large 28 acre park filled with characters and buildings from nursery rhymes and fairytales. Most importantly for us, it has a few castles and Princesses, including Poppet's favourite, Cinderella!

Approaching Sleeping Beauty's Castle

This is a place I used to visit as a child and have fond memories of, so I was apprehensive before going as I thought this might be another one of those times where my rosy childhood memories clash with a less-rosy reality when revisited as an adult (I'm looking at you Flamingo Land). I need not have worried. Storybook Glen was still great for an outdoor adventure.

On a very cold January morning, the park was deserted so we had the place to ourselves. Poppet tried to throw money into the wishing well but it was frozen solid so her coin just bounced over the surface!

Poppet meeting her idol

The highlight for Poppet was when she caught sight of Cinderella and her carriage, although she approached cautiously, asking 'Where's the mother?" as she was worried Cinderella's evil stepmother might jump out on her. Once reassured the stepmother wasn't there she couldn't wait to climb onboard the pumpkin carriage. She similarly did not want to go near the 'Old woman who lived in a shoe' because 'she smacks bums' & started crying when we walked past the 'Wicked Witch of the West'. She's a delicate soul!

Although Poppet may look serious and nonplussed at the experience, I can assure you this was the greatest moment in her life thus far

We had brought hot chocolate in a flask along with scooshy cream and mini marshmallows and she was delighted to be sitting in the carriage with her favourite hot drink while poor Dada, Nana and Little shivered outside waiting for her to finish ( I had forgotton to bring more than one cup!).

Afterwards, she happily posed for a picture with Cinderella.

We managed to squeeze in a few more fairytales before a cold and hungry Little decided it was time to go home. Sleeping Beauty's castle looked very lovely....

                                   

And Poppet was most concerned for her welfare...

                                   

Poppet: 3 yrs!

Little: 15 mos

A Day out at Pitmedden Garden

On Sunday we took an impromptu trip to nearby Pitmedden Garden, picking up a picnic lunch en-route (courtesy of Nana!). We love exploring our nearby parks and gardens because they are a great cheap day out and Poppet loves the wide open spaces and new environments to explore. On this occasion we decided to sign up for National Trust for Scotland membership for the whole family for £5.75 a month. I thought this was great value considering that parking alone is normally a couple of pounds and it gives us free access to over 1000 properties ranging from castles and gardens to nature reserves and museums. We are really looking forward to some great kiddie-friendly days out!

We had our lunch on a picnic bench and then took a lovely shaded walk through the woodland together before splitting up into two groups - Nana, Little and I went to the tearoom for a cream tea while Dada and Poppet went on an adventure!

Poppet was so excited to go off with just her daddy and do some exploring. From what I can gather they went searching for monkeys in the trees, collected pinecones, took some wheat from a field, played Poohsticks, and probably other things that they are not telling me because they were dangerous and I wouldn't approve.

Meanwhile me and my mum enjoyed a lovely cream tea with Little (who was supposed to be sleeping but didn't oblige us).

We had a wander through their Museum of Farming Life and Poppet particularly liked the old farmhouse that you could look round, especially the bedroom upstairs that the whole family slept in - apparently this was "mummy and daddy's bed, my bed, and Little's bed". I do love these recreated rooms to have a nosy in!

We managed a quick walk through the walled gardens but the girls were getting antsy for their nap so we had to make a quick getaway. We will definitely be returning for a proper look round and get there much earlier this time. I love the sound of their herb garden and all the apple trees. On the last Sunday in September they hold harvest celebrations where you can buy fruits harvested from the gardens so I would definitely like to visit again then!

Poppet: 2yrs 6 mos

Little 9 mos