Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve

The teacher's at Charlie's school are striking today therefore the school is closed. (It was terribly bad timing as today was supposed to be my first day back at work after my year off but thankfully I managed to change my day and started back yesterday and nursery were able to change Courtney's day too) It did mean though that we had a bonus day off with Charlie! it's a lovely day today so I was trying to think of a nice outdoor activity, something different. I had thought about Ingleton caves but they are closed in the winter. I googled activities in the Carnforth area as I was planning on seeing Elizabeth and wondered if we could coincide the visit with a trip out. That was when I came across Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve. It's a few years since I have been as I was taken there a few times when I was younger by my parents and grandparents. It's in Silverdale so just outside Carnforth and proved to be ideal! We parked up at the main site and then walked down to the public causeway, Charlie holding my hand and Courtney holding Elizabeth's! Once on the causeway we walked around 400 metres to the hide. We were on our own in there, there were glass slatted windows that we could open to have a good look at the birds. We saw a number of different species but I certainly couldn't name them, LOL! Charlie and Courtney were enjoying watching the ducks swimming and bathing in front of us. The view was beautiful and when the sun caught the edges of the mountains and reeds it was just stunning! We spent quite a while in the hide and then made our way back up to the reserve building where we enjoyed a drink and snack. We then had a look around the gift shop, Charlie and Courtney chose a bird each that makes bird sounds when you press their tummy. I chose a hedgehog for my craft room and so Daddy didn't miss out we bought him some special biscuits, Kendal mint cake and a pen! As you turn right out of the reserve (we came in from the left) there is a bumpy road, the sort of road which as you go over the peak of the bump your tummy flips, this road was one of the highlights of my childhood! Dad and Grandad would drive a long them then we'd have to turn around and go back! I wanted to share this road with Charlie and Courtney, they laughed just as I had as a child, it just filled my heart that they were enjoying the 'bumps' as much as I had as a child! We must take Mark there one day too!