If your family is anything like mine, we love a good country walk and pub lunch, particularly when we can just jump on the train and avoid the congested roads. From our little enclave of South London, we’re fortunate to have a wealth of options in nearby Kent and Surrey.

Last Easter we decided on the Shoreham (Kent) circular walk at roughly 3.5 miles which we deemed doable for our 11, 8 and 6 year old. The promise of a bluebell forest sparked my attention. Please note that if you’re going in the spring, you’ll need to follow the modified walk here to see the bluebell forest. It’s not to be missed and there are plenty of paths so you’re not in danger of damaging any of the cherished plants.

Before embarking on our journey, we did a bit of research on the lunch options and decided it would be fun to try The Mount Vineyard. On the menu - pizza and wine. Something to please everyone! If you’re thinking of doing this yourself, be sure to make a reservation. On a sunny, long weekend, it was very busy.

As it was only a 40 minute train journey we set out at a reasonable hour and had plenty of time to do the walk, take in a few of the village pubs and enjoy a lovely late lunch and wine tasting at the Vineyard followed by some more time in the sun relaxing around the Vineyard’s pond.

The walk itself was manageable for our three with the help of a bag or two of sweets and snacks along the way. There is quite a steep hill to climb before reaching the bluebell forest but the view even made the kids take notice. They also enjoyed the opportunity to get up close to some grazing sheep, cows and ponies which always excites our city kids.

What do you think about combining a country walk with a family photoshoot this spring? It’s a great way to capture some natural and fun family moments in a beautiful setting. And at the end, you can reward yourself with a pint or two in a country pub. Dates for excursion shoots are very limited so please email tricia@portrayedphotography.co.uk to talk about a day out with your family.

See more family photography here.