These experiences are run by Swainswick Explorers, who organise many outdoor play opportunities for children and youth.  

Gentle guidance through the countryside by an experienced Explorer, called Barney. The adventures are all year round in termtime.  The walks are particularly suitable for children 3+ year olds, younger siblings welcome.  It's a walk in lovely countryside, with something new to learn. Every week we build a small camp and share picnic.  Come dressed for the outdoors and bring some food to share.  
Have a look at our playwalk poster

Who are the playwalks for?
The walks are suitable for children of all ages. Most parents come with a child who can walk, as well as sometimes babies in prams and backpacks. Children younger than 3 may find the Nov-Feb months too cold to stay out for the whole 2 hours. The price is per family so you can bring all your children... grandparents are welcome too!

When and where are the playwalks?
The Tuesday group meets between 10:15am - 12:15pm and this term will be running from 21st Feb - 27th March 2012.
The Thursday group meets between 10am - 12pm and this term will be running from 23rd Feb - 29th March 2012.
The Thursday playwalk starts at Upper Swainswick House, BA1 8BU and then goes on little walking journeys in the countryside around Upper Swainswick.
The Tuesday playwalk starts at Paragon School, BA2 4LT and explores the woodlands and countryside there. Please park on Lyncombe Vale. No parking available at school. Gather at the outdoor theatre outside of the school.

What happens on a playwalk?
Please look at the blog (to the right) to see what we get up to each time. Edward, Rachel and Barney are experienced and qualified outdoor Play Leaders. We show the grown-ups, week by week, activities which work well outside. Activities covered: Responding to children's ideas for play, campfire lighting and keeping it going, campfire cookery, natural clay, forest skills (e.g. making things using hand saws and penknives), mini beast hunts and identification, shelter building, water play at streams, swinging on rope swings, using shelters to keep out rain and to shade, picking petals and grass etc for environmental art projects. Please bring a little food to share. We have a picnic at some point along the way.

How much are the playwalks?
The cost, per family, is £5 a session if you pay for the whole term (usually 6-7 weeks) or £7 if you choose to come for one off drop in sessions.

Directions to other venues we have met at but not currently using:
Chilcombe Bottom - A valley with lots of wooded areas for play and few steep banks. It is about 15 mins walk from Larkhall. If coming from Bath/Larkhall:
* come up old A46 (gloucester road), turn right to go under a bridge (which is dual carriageway above) and park in lay-by on left after you've swung round the corner
* come up new A46 dual carriageway, turn off at Swainswick turning, go past garage on right and turn left under bridge and park in lay-by on left after you've swung round the corner

Kensington Gardens - Turn into Grosvenor Road, off the London Road (opposite Larkhall end). Come along Grosvenor Road, all the way, ignoring turns to your left until you reach the end of the road. There'll be some blocks of flats opposite you. Park up and we meet on the bridge, along to the end of the road on your right.