FORESTS IN FINERY

Ellie House explores the trails at Foggieton with her young son in tow, remembering warm childhood memories along the way among the beech trees’ autumn colours and tranquillity

When I think back to my childhood, some of my clearest memories are of muddy walks with my parents and our assortment of shaggy joyous dogs. I would tear through the bracken with our springer spaniel in the autumn and watch our Labradors plunge into lakes all year round.

It sounds idyllic and I imagine I must have asked to be carried at some point.

But for the most part, I stomped up country lanes in pink wellies, which my mum still can’t bear to part with.

It is perhaps no surprise that I still love a good walk, as I put it, and thankfully our Jack Russell does too.

My doll’s pram has been replaced by my eight-month-old son and thankfully, he seems to love the great outdoors as well.

Scotland offers the most stunning walking routes, from rolling hills to snow-peaked mountain ranges.

But steep rocky terrain is off limits whilst