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Micralite SmartFold Buggy – Review

The award-winning Micralite SmartFold is a fantastic all-terrain buggy, perfect for families on the go!

Micralite SmartFold Buggy

I was lucky enough to test the award-winning Micralite SmartFold from Bournemouth Baby Centre and I was not disappointed. I had heard that the pushchair is meant to fare well on all terrains and so I took it down to Bournemouth Beach to see if the hype was true!

I was so impressed with the Micralite SmartFold on Bournemouth beach. The air-filled back tyres meant I could easily pull it on to the sand without any effort and the mud guards prevent wheel clogging, which can really slow you down on some buggies I have used on the beach.

I was so impressed with the pushchair on the sand, perfect for our family trips to Bournemouth beach!

I am not the most muscly of mums and so when looking for a pushchair weight is a huge factor. What’s great about the Micralite SmartFold is that it’s light and easy to push and manoeuvre with one hand – ideal if like me you have a dog to walk and buggy to push! It features a unique shaped handle bar too, which is fully adjustable.

I tested the buggy with my 8 month old baby boy, but it’s suitable from newborn right up to 22kg (around 4 years old), so you certainly would get a lot of use out of it. Jack seemed to enjoy the ride and slept for an hour as we walked along Bournemouth promenade and up across the clifftop. It was a sunny day and the hood provided good coverage.

The Micralite SmartFold looks the part too. It’s very stylish and features weatherproof fabrics along with UPF50 protection, so it is perfect for holidays home or abroad, come rain or shine! It even comes with a storm cover for really bad weather, which there is always a high chance of in England!

Micralite Smartfold Buggy Review
If like us you enjoy walking and exploring then this buggy is a great choice!

The buggy is compact once folded, but it does take a few attempts to get the hang of it, so I would suggest watching a YouTube video so you know what you’re doing!

One of the only downsides is the basket. It’s an OK size but difficult to get to, so it isn’t the most practical if you are looking to carry a lot, which is a real shame.

If like us you enjoy walking and exploring then the Micralite SmartFold is a great choice as it really is a fantastic multi-terrain buggy.

At £495 (including a free Foot Muff) it isn’t the cheapest of buggies, but it’s high spec, sturdy and stylish, so if you have the money to spend, I would definitely recommend. However, if you like to pack a lot into the basket, this isn’t the buggy for you!

Find out more on Bournemouth Baby Centre’s website.

  • Jack enjoyed a good snooze in the Micralite!
  • And he was happy when he woke up too!
August 6, 2019 by
Food, Reviews

Afternoon Tea at Limewood Hotel & Spa – Review

Set in the heart of the stunning New Forest National Park, Lime Wood Hotel & Spa offers a truly scrumptious afternoon tea in beautiful surroundings.

Full Afternoon Tea, Limewood Hotel & Spa in the New Forest
Afternoon Tea at Limewood

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Lime Wood Hotel & Spa twice for afternoon tea. Once when I was pregnant with Jack and then again after he was born, and both visits were simply wonderful.

Lime Wood is located in the heart of the stunning New Forest National Park in Lyndhurst and so the hotel’s surroundings are just beautiful. On the drive to the hotel you will encounter lots of New Forest ponies and open moors. I highly recommend stopping to take some pictures!

What I love about Afternoon Tea at Limewood is that the whole experience is so special from the moment you enter the hotel and the staff make you feel special too.

On both occasions when I visited the hotel I enjoyed their Full Afternoon Tea and I wasn’t disappointed. We dined in the conservatory, which was just beautiful. With its glass roof the sunshine streams through and the bright and colourful setting makes for a lovely atmosphere.

My sister-in-law and I enjoying our special Afternoon Tea at Limewood.
Celebrating my sister-in-law’s 40th birthday at Limewood. It was a very sunny day, hence the sunglasses!

Limewood have an extensive tea list to choose from and their coffees are delicious. On the first visit, being pregnant, I ordered decaf coffee, which was the perfect accompaniment to the selection of finger sandwiches, sticky eclairs, delicious cakes and warm, homemade scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. I have always had a sweet tooth, even more so during pregnancy and the cakes were just delicious! My favourite was the chocolate and fennel flower pot! What I also liked is that they replenish the sandwiches if you would like more of a certain type. When I was pregnant with Jack I loved egg and cress sandwiches and so when they offered to bring more, of course I couldn’t deny my cravings – it would have been rude not to! The staff were also very attentive and brought more clotted cream and jam without any trouble when I asked for a little bit more…I do love clotted cream!

When I visited Limewood with my husband it was our anniversary and we were presented with two lovely cupcakes with ‘Happy Anniversary’ written on the plate in chocolate, which was a lovely touch, and they did the same again when I visited with my sister-in-law for her birthday. It’s these little extra touches that make Limewood stand out for me.

On our first visit to Limewood we were presented with these yummy cupcakes to celebrate my husband and I’s first anniversary.
  • Jack and my Sister-in-Law
  • Full Afternoon Tea is £32pp

If you can’t manage all of your afternoon tea (I’m not going to lie, I demolished it all on both occasions), they will happily box it up for you and what’s more, they also offer you extra cake to take home from their daily specials. I was lucky enough to take with me a homemade lemon drizzle and carrot cake, which were super moist and delicious when I ate them the following day. I even let my husband have a taste!

If you are looking for a real treat for a special occasion, I would definitely recommend Limewood Hotel & Spa. Afternoon Tea is served every day from 3pm-5pm and at £32 per person, it isn’t the cheapest, but you get what you pay for and Limewood really does boast a lovely afternoon tea in a beautiful setting. An easy 5 out of 5 from me and I hope to return again soon! If you haven’t visited Limewood Hotel & Spa, add it to your list – you certainly won’t be disappointed.

For more information here is Limewood’s Afternoon Tea menu.

Me and my baby bump on our first visit to Limewood in September 2018
July 10, 2019 by