Fancy a muddy puddle walk? Then head to Stockbridge Marsh on a wet weekend and you’re be glad that you visited Stockbridge Marsh.
After seeing everyone’s snowy pictures last weekend I was feeling pretty grumpy about our rain. So what better way to embrace the rain, than to go puddle jumping!
The kids adore this and loved it when we took a walk along Titchfield Canal when it was flooded. Just being allowed to run through the puddles, and splash themselves is perfect for kids! So we popped on our wellies, hats, gloves and scarfs, wrapped up and found somewhere new.
Stockbridge Marsh
Stockbridge Marsh is under National Trust ownership, however it is open to the general public with a free car park. It is situated right in Stockbridge and very easy to find. With a car park at Lion’s Den car park.
Stockbridge Marash is a perfect place to walk the dog, with a large open field and dog bins provided for you. Be aware of livestock though, as the field next to this had sheep. We didn’t walk there though, and followed the field along the river edge and around in a circle. They say it is an easy 1.8mile walk, and along with puddle splashing it took us just around 1.5hrs to walk around. However, most of this was spent in puddles and not walking very quickly!
The National Trust website says,
A rich wetland habitat, the Marsh consists of unimproved wet grassland and fen-like vegetation, with herb-rich hummocky areas across the site.
The site is a haven for bird species such as reed and sedge warblers, swans, moorhens, kingfishers, mistle thrush and reed buntings.
Water voles slip secretively around the edges of the river reeds and butterfly species such as Tortoiseshell, small copper and marbled whites can be found basking among the vegetation.
You may also notice Yellow Meadow ant hills, especially to the southern end of the site, which are an important indicator of ancient grasslands.
As it is so wet it was a perfect place to puddle splash, the puddles were massive and some were pretty deep! I was on puddle depth duty as I had the longest wellies on!
We heard lots of rustling in the water edges, I am sure if I didn’t have my noisy 3 and the dog we would have seen something. Just your ducks and swans swimming along the river this time.
It was nice just to explore somewhere different, Stockbridge is a lovely village too, so I am sure there was a nice coffee shop or pub to stop off in afterwards!
However we headed home as it was getting dark, and it was a tiny bit snowing in the air!
Pictures Taken December 2017
Tips For Stockbridge Marsh Walk
- Parking
- Suitable for dogs
- Great puddle walk
- Lots of nature
- Close to shops
- No toilets
- Very muddy in wet conditions
18 Comments
This looks like such a fun days out, you can’t beat a good puddle jump! I think it’s my two year old’s favourite activity.
I think they love the freedom of doing it!
I do love the National Trust properties and being to a few in the last couple of months, hoping to check my local ones again soon. It looks like you guys had loads of fun
I love them too, never thought I would be a National Trust person!!
What a gorgeous walk and fab puddles…our garden is like that at the moment!!!
Oh dear! Our is in places like that too
I feel your snow pain as we didn’t get any either 🙁 I am not an outdoorsy type but my kid would love splashing in the puddles at Stockbridge
SO many places in the UK got it didn’t it!
I do enjoy winter walks like this with the family. It can be hard to motivate everyone to go out in a bleak and almost snowy day but always worth it when you do. It looks very peaceful there and a great way to fill your lungs with fresh air and hopefully not your wellies with water! It always fascinates me to see nature adapting the the cold and wet.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful photos from your day with me at #CountryKids
The kids were so happy to be free to run and splash!
Wow this place looks incredible! I know my daughter would love exploring here and splashing in the puddles. There’s nothing as wonderful as splashing in puddles! #CountryKids
They love it don’t they!
What a fabulous idea to explore somewhere new specifically for puddle-jumping! I shall try this out with my gang. Your photos are stunning, I love those soft close-ups and muted winter colours. Beautiful!
#CountryKids
Thank you very much, thats very lovely!
There’s nothing better than a trip to a NationalTrust area for some puddle jumping is there!
It’s always those simple things they bring such fun #countrykids
Simple pleasures in life hey! Wish I could be a kid again
This looks so pretty and not somewhere I have ever been I don’t think 🙂 Definitely would be interesting to revisit in the summer though to see how different it is!! #GetMooreFromLife
. The views would be great in the summer, see for miles. Thank you