Serendipity at Westonbirt 🔆🔆🎄⭐️

[Irishprincess]

Yesterday I headed out to the arboretum for a gentle run. As soon as I parked up I saw some sparkly lights twinkling in the distance. “Ooh’er. What’s going on here then?”

I walked through the entrance and was surprised and delighted to see even more lights. I realised they were probably having a dummy run in preparation for the Christmas illuminated trail. What great timing! Lucky me!

Around each corner was a surprise. Coloured lights, hand-woven statues, trees wound with thousands of tiny stars and mystical forest scenes. Christmas music was playing in some areas and I felt I had arrived in Santa’s Grotto and that around the next corner I would meet a few elves 🤗

It all made me smile and filled me with joy. A magical forest just for me 🥰

PS. I did some running too 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Oh my! .Simply beautiful...and clearly, just for someone as special as you!What a delightful surprise..

P S.

Glad you got a run in too xxx

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

It was just gorgeous Floss 🥰 xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Irishprincess]

You are not kidding.. what a treat!

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Oh how wonderful Irishprincess ! I do love the way gardens do this for winter walks, and I just love those willow robins. It must have been quite magical, especially as it was a complete surprise on your run.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

There were lots of willow characters Dexy, very clever!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Oh how beautiful, twice as nice when it's unexpected and a gazillion times as nice when you have it virtually to yourself.

I once ran round Windsor Great Park and got to see some of the light trail there (of course it wasn't fully operational, nor dark enough for the full effect but it was a great bonus all the same).

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

It was such an unexpected present Linda 🥰 It will be stunning in the dark.

Such a shame we didn't know each other when I lived close to Windsor. We could meet up regularly for running and lunches 🥰

[misswobble Marathon]

Lucky you😀🏃‍♀️🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄⭐️⭐️

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Such a lovely surprise 🥰

[Cookscat]

Awe wonderful , lovely surprise 😁

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Cookscat]

It was so unexpected and I was almost on my own the whole way around 🤗

[Cookscat in reply to Irishprincess]

even better lol 😂

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

it’s a big place isn’t it 🙂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Over 600 acres! And they keep creating new areas. I spied a new path last week and so I headed off and it was a gorgeous route into the depths 🏃‍♀️🤗🌲

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Beautiful IP 🥰 What a lovely surprise and I bet it was a treat running through them. ❤️

We normally take the grandsons to the Enchanted Christmas trail, but not this year. Feels like we’re missing, as it looks so lovely (although we’re off on a Santa Train near here on Sunday!) 🧑‍🎄

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

It was just gorgeous Munks. They have one of those arches with thousand of lights (first and last photos) which will be stunning in the dark 🥰

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

An early Christmas present for you IP! Serendipity is exactly the right word. A surprise taster of the magic that Christmas can bring and it isn’t even December yet. The excitement begins.

I like the run bit best though 🙂; maybe I should change my forum name to Ebeneezer 🙂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Serendipity is one of my favourite words BC and I could think of no other as I was running through the lights 🤩

[Mudita11 Half Marathon]

Wow that looks fabulous IP. What a bonus 😃

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Mudita11]

It really was Mudita 🤗

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Oh, how wonderful IP! Looks lovely - I know my sister is going to visit this too!🙂🎄☃️

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

I’m sure she’ll love it Sandra 🙂

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

How wonderful, what a lovely run amongst the lights

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

It was very special Sue 🥰

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

That's looks gorgeous! 👌 lucky timing by you! 😊🥰xxx

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

I know! I kept thinking they’d turn the lights off and I’d miss them but maybe they had them on all day. It was truly magic Ali 🤩 xxx

[Week7 Half Marathon]

What a treat! We used to go to the "Enchanted woodland" lights trail at the Arboretum when my children were little.Earlier this year I went to the Arboretum and ran a solo half marathon to make completion of a garmin training plan.

You combined run and lights!!!! So envious of you. Can't help sitting here grinning thinking of those happy memories.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Week7]

It was very special. And more so because it was unexpected 🥰

I might see you there one day! Perhaps we’ve seen each other in passing 😍

[skysue16 Half Marathon]

How delightful, what a lovely surprise 😀👍

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to skysue16]

It was Sue 🤗