Category: Adventures

Posted in Adventures, Days out.

Cwm Parc Darran 

Posted on by firsttimevalleymam

Sunday afternoons used to be adventure times with J and E, then the winter came and with it one of the four of us sick! We’ve gotten one or two in but not many.

Today we decided it was adventure time. K and J also joined us along with B and B. We headed to Cwm Parc Darran. Something that is just over the mountain and we didn’t know it exaisted. 

The first thing both B and myself said when we entered the park was it was safe, it had grass floor and a gate. Autism friendly park! All four kids loved it, it wasn’t huge but big enough for them to play. 


We stayed her quite a long time, then headed for a walk to the lake. It was a big lake, lots of ducks, and some little ducklings! Z loves ducks, he’ll say duck and quack quack, luckily he’s strapped in his buggy or he’d be trying to swim with them! 


We passed another park, more like an obstacle course, I didn’t leave Z go to play here as it’s quite close to the water and those ducks! Wasn’t taking any chances. 

We walked and found the waterfall, where as E and J could splash in their boots, Z who’s wellies were in the car couldn’t understand that concept so off he went! That’s why I always carry spare clothes, next time I need to remember socks…! 


He loved it, he really didn’t want to come out of the water as was quite happily splashing around. Next time it’ll be his wellies and all in one! 

On the walk back, we didn’t go exploring just headed back to the car, next time we’ll have to walk different paths as there were loads. 


Thought £3 to park the car all day was reasonable they had a little cafe coffee £1 so can’t whinge at that! It was also a place for caravans and tents, maybe next time we could take the tent and the pooch! 

Posted in Adventures, Days out.

Caerphilly Mountain Ranch. 

Posted on by firsttimevalleymam

We’ve heard a lot of people say about this place so these week we went for a look.

£6 entry is quite reasonable as it’s huge, lots to see and lots to do. Z having his blue badge meant we both paid £3 each. 

Z loved the park, its full of sand! Of course sensory heaven for him. There’s a little obstacle course that he tried really hard to get across, he’s never held on to anything before and as much as I say he’s quite good with his balance high up I think he would struggle, but the things you have to do to get to the wobbly bridge! 


We went to explore the park, passing the goats and the troll guarding the bridge. We made our way to an Indian village with toupees, he enjoyed running in and out of those, the girls went off to look for fairies but this was lost on the boys. B from Z’s class joined us, was nice to see them both playing in the sand! 



The fairy part had lots of little fairy doors on the trees, and fairies dotted about the place, a tree house with a swing. Really this was wasted on us, I’m sure if the boys could talk they would be saying something along the lines of how’s that fairy going to fit through those doors! 

We left the girls hunting the fairies and headed down roly poly hill, thank goodness I didn’t have to push Z back up! 

Again lots more sand, a tree house, a climbing tree, I loved this. An old tree has fallen over the roots were boarded up and the kids could climb it, and know what it was packed. Something so simple just nature and the kids were loving it. 

We explored the three huts, climbed on a dragon fly, played in small houses and span some toadstools. Oh and we played in more sand! 

We left the girls at this part they went on in search of the gruffalo, with both boys not really that interested we headed to get some food before another play in the park. We found the mouse though! Ok it’s the start of the gruffalo trail! 

After Burger and chips was more time to play at the park, after some duck spotting!


We didn’t explore all of the park, there’s fires with marshmallows, more things to climb and explore and hills to roll down. It’s less than twenty minutes away so we’d go back again. I think next time my niece is down it’s a place she would enjoy going fairy hunting and looking at the animals. They have goats, guinea Pigs, rabbits, ducks and horses, there maybe more we didn’t see. 

Posted in Adventures, Days out.

Puxton Park 

Posted on by firsttimevalleymam

We headed here with J,D and E. Was a great family day out. Not too far over the bridge, and was quite easy to find. We could have popped to Weston afterwards but we choose to go for tea instead, then hoped that they would fall asleep in the car, nope not one of them did! 

As Z has a blue badge, we only paid G’s entry price and £3 for Z.  So in terms for us it was a cheap day. The prices wernt unreasonable think adults and children are around £10.

Both Z and E loved the bouncing pillow, what I loved was it was manned, so they had a certain amount of time, all children were called off and the next lot in. This was the same for all the attractions. Other than the trampolines that were dotted around the park.


The parks were great fun, lots of sand to ground Z’s sensory needs! He would have happily stayed there all day, we did manage to get him to walk around to see the park. It was flat so he sat in his buggy, meaning it’s all wheelchair and buggy friendly. 


There were falcon shows going on, those birds are fast! We didn’t go on the train, but there was also a little train there. We liked the falcon area, seeing the owls, as E loves owls! 

There was the barn of animals, these guys were kinda my fave they just look so cuddly! Alpacas.


Of course Z liked the goats and chickens! Some big chickens that he called duck, I won’t put him straight as I’m sure duck is easier to say than chicken and we’ll take the word duck! 

We even managed to take them on the little paddle boats. I was a little nervous with Z’s love of water, but he was calm! I should have steered the boat being heavier than G, did think we were going to topple it, or I was going to topple it, but nope we were ok, phew! Diet time for next time! We didn’t manage to get on the other boats as they were quite busy, next time we’ll do those first! 

There was a big soft play area inside, but it was a little too loud for Z, so we couldn’t actually manage to stay there any length of time, I’m sure if it was quieter he would have loved it! So when E played there we had a look around the farm shop! 

We really enjoyed our day out here and would happily go back, think it’ll be on our list of things to do during the six weeks holidays! 

Posted in Adventures, Days out.

Barry Sidings 

Posted on by firsttimevalleymam

We were looking for somewhere different and quiet. Ponty park is alway very busy and Z runs! So when I seen this place we decided to try it. Pooch could come too and was buggy friendly. No car park charges which was great so was a great start! 


We walked the path down to the houses and back, over looking the river. Many little  mini water falls coming from the mountains into the river that Z wanted to play in and the pooch was to scared to get his paws wet!


We stopped at the park, the pooch wasn’t allowed that far so he stayed with hubby whilst I went to the park. I was slightly nervous as there’s a duck pond, it does have a little bit of a fence around it! Z was ok. He stopped to have alook, did attempt the water but was easily led to the buggy! 


Z enjoyed the park, slides, swings, climbing frames, and space to run around


He had to have a little look in the cafe, and what was great was the fact that it was a dog friendly cafe! 

There was a little bike track as we came in for children, and there’s a bike part up in the woods. We didn’t walk that far this time, maybe next time! 

Posted in Adventures

Margarm park and Aberavon Beach.

Posted on by firsttimevalleymam

On Tuesday we headed to Margam park. Went with J and E, S and S and S’s mate. 

Z fell asleep going there, well he had just had his hair cut and a shower, so he was  traumatised he wound himself up so much that’s why he slept.

It took him a little while to come around, I used his buggy, Margarm park is quite big to be chasing him or continually trying to pick him up from the drop and flop position!!

He loved the castle in the play area. He ran around he was up and down the steps, and it was nice to be able to stand at the entrance and not chase him about! 

This time he was big enough to go and play on the wooden play equipment, and he really enjoyed himself. He ran around and actually eventually walked over the rope bridge. The first time he went on his knees, then half and half, then he could walk across it! So proud of him! 

We stopped and had our photo at the #EPIC sign, whilst we were waiting our turn Z kept saying E P I C, he loved it, he ran around it and climbed the letters luckily the queue had gone by this point and the staff we fab, they even got the pictures! 

We walked around the animals were he kept saying baaa for the sheep, and laughing! Quack for the ducks and I started eeeor, for the donkey, which apparently is very funny! 

Wanted to change his bum at this point, and the disabled toilet was out of order, know why, ‘coz some idiots tried putting nappies down the toilet, why would someone even do that? So it was a change in the buggy. The older he’s getting im not going to be able to do it for much longer, as it was it was very quiet so only I was about, how we’ll be managing before long I don’t know. I’ll be carrying a big blanket with me to hide him! 


We made music leaving! He jumped on some logs, and was quite happy to go back in the buggy to go to the car! 

That’s when J decided to go on to Aberavon beach. So we followed over, they played in the park for a little while until Z wanted to go play on the beach! 


Before heading to the sea we buried him, he loved it! 


Not as much as he loves the sea though! Couldn’t get him out of there, I was soaking, even wellies done nothing for me and I was tipping the sea water out before getting in the car! Was so chuffed with him he actually took seaweed off me, walked around with it before dropping it in favour of the sea! 

We had a good day, was nice to get out with J and E again too. As our adventures have been few and far between lately! 

Posted in Adventures, Bank holiday, Days out.

Easter holidays week one.

Posted on by firsttimevalleymam

I’ve not posted anything new in what feels like ages! 

This week has been the start of the Easter holidays, we’ve gotten through week one, just about! 

I can’t say this week we’ve actually achieved much or been anywhere, we’ve gone on Brecon mountain railway and think that’s been it! 


On Tuesday I went to see Beauty and the beast at the cinema with my nan, I really enjoyed it! Then met with some school mates on Wednesday evening, which was much overdue! That was after a successful photo shoot with Z. 

Thursday and Friday have just gone about in a blur! I seem to be full of a cold today think that’s just the effects of waking so much this week. Z is missing school, he keeps spelling school along with teacher and bus, then leading me to the door saying car. He’s not been going to sleep till 10 or so crying at 11.30 or 12.30, again at 2.30 and up around 6.30-7. Today I even went to bed for an hours nap and I’m counting down the time for Z to fall asleep! 

Last Saturday we got him a trampoline which he loves, he’s spending all his free time bouncing. He opens the door, heads to the garden ipad in hand and bounce, bounce, bounce! Actually impressed with the height he’s getting too! Not bad considering a few months ago he couldn’t even jump!!


This weekend being Easter my sister and her partner have brought my neice down. Z was good with her today he tried hugging her, but she’s still tiny! Maybe it’s because Z looks so big next to her! 

Think tomorrow we’re going to head out for a little adventure, then diner at mams Sunday! 

Next week I think I could well have two adventures planned, if everything goes to plan! Husband is off work and the weather looks good! 

Posted in Adventures, Days out.

Sand dunes 

Posted on by firsttimevalleymam

Cuddles the bear is back from school this weekend. 

Meaning we have to go off on some adventures!

On Friday he stayed home with me to watch the rugby while Z had a sleepover and nan and grampas! 

Saturday we visited the sand dunes in Merthyr Mawr with J and E, And what an adventure it was! We had attempted this place before and J nervously told me not to drive down the narrow road that actually leads to the car park. 

This weekend we got there.

Z’s face was brilliant he loved it, to see all that sand he was in sensory heaven and I think he could have happily stayed there all day. But we went off on search of the sea. We walked and walked and walked some more, but we made a rookie mistake and left the drinks and snacks in the car. We had walked to far to go back for them so continued on our walk! 

Yes, we walked to the end of this picture!

We got to the actual dunes and at this point Z refused to walk, I could not get him any further, he was happy to play in the sand. We could see Ogmore to our left, so we knew the sea couldn’t be much further. 


They were happy sitting here, they didn’t want to move. I kept getting ‘tired’ of Z, kept trying to climb on to my back and was sounding like ‘carry’. But they both walked back, Z saying ‘car’ so he knew that’s where we were off! 


I think Cuddles enjoyed his day at the sand dunes! Shame it was such a far walk to the sea, next time we’ll be much more prepared and we’ll get there! 

On the way home we stopped at Aberavon, this was mainly for a Burger King as we were starving by this point, and for Z to splash in the sea and E to play in a park. That’s what she asked for after telling us ‘ I never ever want to come back here again’! 


Luckily for me the tide was coming in so we really didn’t have far to walk!