Life as a SEN mum

I was going to talk about Autumn walks in general, but as I started, I realised that, with half term here it was maybe a good idea to give a little review of Calke Abbey’s Halloween activities.

You’ve probably figured bye now that we love Calke, there is so much to explore for all ages. Throughout the year they always have extra trails and activities, many of which are free. So it makes it ideal for a family day out without breaking the bank.

For Halloween there is a free trail that kids will love and the servants tunnels have also had a spooky makeover. Pick up your trail sheet from the ticket office, and follow the directions to see what the resident skeletons have been up to and join in with them to help keep active on a cold autumn day. If you want something a bit more relaxing then you can also sit and have a go at drawing Calke Abbey yourself.

If you’re not walking around the house itself you can still visit the tunnels as these can be accessed from the side of the house near to the bag store. If you are visiting the house be sure to put your bags safely in a locker and collect before you enter the tunnels as you’ll exit these by the stables.

I haven’t done the tunnels at Halloween purely because I wasn’t really sure how James would be. Having done Halloween tours of basements etc. even family friendly ones, I know they’ve been a bit too far on the spooky side, and knowing that simply being in the dark is enough for James I really didn’t think it was a good idea. Knowing that I was by myself and would have to deal with a potential meltdown and still keep an eye on Charlotte, the tunnels have always been a no go. This year, however, was totally different. Knowing I had the extra support meant I didn’t have to worry as much. Charlotte was all for going in, and I knew worst came to worst one of us could go in with Charlotte while the other waited with James. As it turned out I didn’t need to worry. The entrance to the tunnels is very wide and you can see quite clearly how it was decorated etc. which if you’ve got someone in your group who is a little unsure, they can make their mind up before entering the tunnels.

There are some themed decorations throughout the tunnels, but honestly, I’ve seen scarier displays in supermarkets in the past. It’s all done in a completely family friendly way. It gives that “feeling” of Halloween, but in a completely family friendly way. There was a giant wooden spider just as you exit the tunnels, which James wasn’t overly keen on, and I did think we were going to end up having to double back on ourselves. But to my surprise he just focused on where he was going and managed to get past it. For those of you visiting with young children, whilst the tunnels themselves are not scary, the stairs to exit are narrow and quite steep. So it is worth baring this in mind as it might cause slight problems for little legs.

If you’re in the area this October half term then definitely pay Calke a visit. Calke explore also remains open for the season, so you really can make an entire day of it, you’re not simply restricted to the house and gardens.