Everyone is familiar with Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and the Hundred Acre Wood where Pooh and all of his friends live.  When A.A Milne’s story about a bear was first published in 1926, he could not have possibly imagined that over 85 years later children would still be falling in love with the plump bear and his piglet friend. 'Return to the Hundred Acre Wood' the lovely sequel published by Egmont Publishing is sure to be a favourite in so many homes.

So, what better way to make the stories come alive, than to venture out with the whole family (grandparents will love this adventure too) and find Pooh’s favourite places for yourselves. Thousands of people visit the real Hundred Acre Wood each year. It is part of Ashdown Forest in East Sussex.

There you will find two walks that are perfect for discovering some places from the world of  Winnie the Pooh. One is 1km and suitable for younger children. The Enchanted Place and The Sandy Pit (where Roo liked to play) can be found on this walk. The other walk is 3.25km and might need a few cheerful songs to keep the children following along, but you can stop at Eeyore’s sad and gloomy place along the way to give everyone a chance to grumble. Some of the wood is privately owned, so, while you may not be able to see the exact spot where Rabbit’s house is, there is no harm in using a little imagination and encouraging your children to “think, think, think” where Rabbit would have lived.

If your family complains of being “rumbly in my tumbly” there are plenty of picnic spots along the way. Picnics can still be fun in winter, have a warm drink, hot soup, warming pasty or pie to keep everyone’s energy up. The fresh air will make sure everyone gets a good night’s sleep. Just remember to wrap up in layers and keep small children well wrapped up as they can feel the cold much quicker than adults.