Swinley Forest and Caesar's Camp

The best place to park to access miles and miles of woodland track, Caesar's Camp and the big adventure playground is the car park at the Look Out Discovery Centre (see map). 

Weeks of incessant rain were not enough to keep us indoors - we wrapped up in wellies and waterproofs and headed to Caesar's Camp, which is about a mile walk from the car park.

The site was an iron age fort and the high defensive groundworks are still obvious.  Every turn brings new adventure - muddy muddles, fallen trees to climb over and through.  There are also plaques giving description of the history.  Over to the west is the area destroyed by fire last year.  If you have the time (and energy) you can head to Devil's Highway (so called because "only the devil himself could build a road so straight" - or, of course, The Romans) and follow it West to Broadmoor Hospital and the area worst affected by the wildfires.  It's quite amazing to see the re-growth since then and there may be areas you can't even tell were burned.

Once back at The Look Out you can enjoy a picnic as there is a large picnic area.  This does become very busy during the summer but you can spread out onto the grassy area just outside the gate to the woods.  The kids can let off steam in the big playground. 

There are often families building dens in the surrounding area too.  This is generally enough fun to last the afternoon!  But, if your kids still have the energy then there are plenty more routes to follow on foot or bike.  Our favourite walk, is a 2.5 mile route to Mill Pond.