If like me you’re a parent to young children, you’ll be familiar with Zog, the Gruffalo and Superworm. All three are lead characters in Julia Donaldson story books and all three have their own dedicated woodland trails commissioned by Forestry England. Last year we had the Superworm trail, but brand new for 2023 is the Zog trail at Guisborough forest.
What is the Zog trail at Guisborough forest?
New for January 2023, the Zog trail is a self led trail which runs for around a mile through Guisborough woodland.
Activity packs for the trail can be bought from the visitors centre which makes the trail that bit more fun. Your little ones can turn into Zog as they pop their DIY wings on and fly through the woodlands.
On the trail you’ll discover a number of brightly illustrated panels featuring your favourite characters as well as fun facts and things to think about. New for this year is the use of AI. Throughout the trail you'll find dragon shaped silhouettes which when pointed at reveals even more activities and games on your phone. To access these all you need to do is download the 'Zog: A forest adventure' app beforehand.
What's included in the Zog trail activity pack?
The activity pack for the Zog trail costs £4.00 and includes the following:
- Kraft bag to colour in
- Dragon wings to wear and decorate
- Zog glasses
- Stickers
- Trail leaflet
- Pencil
- Coloured crayons
What age is the Zog trail suitable for?
My eldest daughter is four and it felt like she was the perfect age for the Zog trail at Guisborough forest. It's aimed at ages 3-9 however can be really well enjoyed by all the family.
My youngest is only a year and a half so she didn't really care too much for the trail. She was just happy stomping around in the mud!
Our review of the Zog trail at Guisborough forest
After visiting the Superworm trail last year we had a pretty good idea of what to expect this time around.
The activities
My eldest really enjoyed running around the trails trying to find the next activity activity plaque. I found the plaques this year to be less interactive compared to the previous. There were lots of facts though and prompts for the children to do things. My daughter had a blast going through all the different zog characters and activities. She loved giving herself a golden star even more so upon completion!
AI
She really enjoyed the AI aspect, as did us parents. This brought a brand new element to the trail that's really in keeping with the times. Within the app she was able to dance with Zog, to roar as loud as him and have her photo taken with him. You can save videos and photos through the app to look back at or share to others.
Accessibility
The trail in Guisborough forest itself is pretty simple to follow. After picking up your activity pack from the visitors centre you follow the track down before turning back on yourself through the woodland area. We had our youngest in the pram and it was manageable, although we do have an off road style pram. If she was light enough to sit in the carrier we'd have preferred to have taken that. But an off road style pram is more than adequate for looping back through the woods. The bottom track is completely flat, however I wouldn't say the woodland area was accessible if you have a standard pram, nor if you're a wheelchair users.
In conclusion
I have to say comparing this trail to last years it didn't feel like there were as many activities. In short, it felt like the AI aspect took up most of the budget. But that's not to say the trail isn't enjoyable. We all had a lovely time and my eldest wanted to do it again as soon as we'd finished.
Find a Zog trail near you
We really enjoyed our day doing the Julia Donaldson trails. I’d really recommend it if you’re looking for a family activity and way to spend a couple of hours outdoors with the kids. To find a Zog trail near you pop your postcode into the Forestry England website. You’ll also find a ton of information for what you can expect on your visit.
Do let me know if you find a Zog trail near you, or if you've visited Guisborough Forest Zog trail.
What a lovely day out for children! It sounds like you had a great time! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I think there was something similar to this at Dalby Forest a few years ago. We didn't do it because it was pre-child but there were definitely gruffalos out and about haha.
Amy x
callmeamy.co.uk
I bet the girls had the best time on the Zog trail, it looks like such good fun!
Rosie
We love the zog trail at our local forestry commision! The app is so good isn't it. xx