Our Oreo Cookie Quest At Dyffryn Gardens
There’s nothing like a family day out for making long-lasting memories and enjoying some special time together. These days, it’s often a challenge for busy working parents to find the time to dedicate to family fun and fresh air. Mat has been working abroad quite a bit since January, so extra time with dad is really important to Caitlin and Ieuan. This half term, we did something a little different and went on an Oreo Cookie Quest at one of our favourite places, Dyffryn Gardens.
The Great Oreo Cookie Quest!
Our adventure celebrated the launch of The Great Oreo Cookie Quest, an on-pack competition and interactive cookie quest activity with loads of wonder-filled prizes including a family trip to San Francisco. The competition is now closed but you can still play along.
So we challenged our readers…
Below you’ll find 10 photographs of our time at Dyffryn Gardens in which an Oreo has been hidden. Not all of the pictures contain an Oreo treasure though, just to throw you off the scent!
All the photographs are numbered so to play along, you’ll need to make a note of the numbers of the photographs you found the Oreo in. Remember, there should be 10 in all.
It’s time for your own Oreo Cookie Quest!
Photograph 1
At the heart of Dyffryn Gardens stands Dyffryn House. It was home to the Cory Family, industrialists who made their wealth through coal. The present house was built in 1892-3 and is an unusual mix of many different styles of decor.
Photograph 2
You’ll find a lovely little children’s play area outside the main entrance which is free to use. Entry to the House and Gardens is free for National Trust members, otherwise, there is an entrance fee in line with other National Trust properties.
Photograph 3
It was quite a busy Friday but no matter when we go it is never too crowded. There is plenty of space for everyone to explore. The gardens at Dyffryn cover more than 55 acres and you’ll find intimate garden rooms, formal lawns and an extensive arboretum. You could easily spend a day here.
Photograph 4
Photograph 5
Photograph 6
Caitlin and Ieuan have been coming to Dyffryn ever since they were little. Ieuan was usually dressed as Spiderman though – a fact he hates to be reminded of these days!
Photograph 7
Because the day was so cold and grey, we found that most of our favourite statues had all be carefully covered with tarpaulins to protect them from frost damage.
Photograph 8
Photograph 9
There are so many interesting nooks and crannies to explore. Dyffryn Gardens is a fabulous place for picnics and games of hide ‘n’ seek.
Photograph 10
Photograph 11
Our explorations took us to the glasshouse where you’ll find tropical rain forest, dry desert and grape-filled vinery. There are lots of unusual and interesting species of cacti, orchid and vine, making it a real treasure trove for the garden enthusiast.
Photograph 12
Photograph 13
Photograph 14
Leaving the warmth of the glasshouse behind we continued on to find the new wooded children’s playground.
Photograph 15
Photograph 16
Photograph 17
Dyffryn is a really different experience in summer when the fruit trees are budding and the roses start to bloom. But I like the grey bleakness which I find makes me very philosophical.
Photograph 18
The new play area features logs and cute animals carved into the wood. There are wooden picnic benches and an obstacle course of logs and wooden stepping stones for kids to play on. The logs are quite high so this play area is suitable for older children. Otherwise, full supervision is needed. Fun though!
Photograph 19
As you can see, the logs are quite high.
Photograph 20
The carvings are amazing. A lot of time and care obviously went into the making of the wooden benches.
Photograph 21
As the sky became more overcast we decided to head from home but we did notice that the bluebells, snowdrops and some daffodils are out. Spring is trying to make an appearance!
Photograph 22
Luckily we are a short 15 minute drive away in Dinas Powys. This means we get full value from our National Trust membership without even to visit other properties, although we certainly take full advantage of the opportunity where we can. There are so many amazing places to explore in the UK.
There are regular events and activities hosted at Dyffryn Gardens from botanical art courses to snowdrop planting and medieval music concerts. Something for every age and interest.
We are looking forward to the return of the sun when the Gardens are open a little later in the evenings, perfect for lazy after-school picnics and watching the sun go down.
Still, at least we had plenty of Oreos to help us on our quest this time.
Photograph 23
Photograph 24
So, did you find the hidden Oreos? Let me know in the comments below! Dyffryn Gardens is a fabulous place for an Oreo Cookie Quest!
Great pictures I live in Wales looks like it’s worth a visit for the day
Seems like you had such a great time. It indeed looks like a great place for picnics and hide and seek! 🙂
2,3,7,9,12,14,16,18,20,23
The house looks absolutely beautiful and it’s great you has such a fun day 🙂 will be something your family will remember for a long time I’m sure
looks like an ace day out, like photo 9 with kids either side
great photos, looks like you had a great day out. I found 9 quickly, number 10 was a tricky little biccy x
Dyffryn Gardens looks like an amazing place and your kids look like they had so much fun!!
You’ve posted some really nice photos and I can see how much fun the kids seem to be having. Oreo cookies are my favourite and I’d love to enter this giveaway.
What a beautiful place to visit! Such a fun Oreo campaign too – great prize!
This place is very close to me. Never actually been there
What an amazing setting for your Oreo Cookie Quest. I remember someone else raving about Dyffryn Gardens before, sounds superb 🙂
There’s some sneaky hidden Oreos in these pictures! Some of them are quite hard to spot!
Such a fun day out! I found all the oreos!
What beautiful photos. I love the wood log carvings. A great quest – it’s fun looking for Oreos.
What a fun day out! I love the Oreo hiding in pic 14. x
What a lovely place for a family adventure day! I keep meaning to get us a Nat Trust membership – they’re great places.
I love the cactus patch! Looks like there’s lots of different things to do and I’d love to play hide and seek there too!
What a great day out. Love all the wood carvings. You all look like you had lots of fun 🙂 I enjoyed spotting your Oreo’s 🙂 #OreoCookieQuest
I think photograph 15 is my favourite! I wish Oreo’s really were that big! Your day out looked amazing, I love attractions with so much space like that x
This place looks like the perfect day out when this snow disappears! I love places with lots of things to see xx
It sounds like you had such a fun day out- definitely a memorable time!
What a fab day out! My nephew would love to go hunting for Oreos x
This looks like such a lovely place for a day out and just look at those wood carvings.
A great way to get us all involved. Fantastic giveaway
You’ve just reminded me I have 2 packs of mint Oreo’s in my cupboard
Dyffryn Gardens look amazing. I love the wooden animals make from the trees.
What an incredible adventure for the family and absolutely love the idea of a family trip to San Francisco
I think I found all 10 oreos so fingers crossed that I win, it would be wonderful to win something for once haha! Glad you had a lovely time at your Cookie Quest!
Ah that was fun! Dyffryn Gardens looks beautiful! I love all the cacti and succulents, and that carved wooden frog is awesome!
This is so much fun! Love yourphotos, Dyffryn Gardens looks gorgeous! Kaz
How fun, this looks like such a fun day out. And even better when there are Oreos to find!
Looks like you all had a fun day and what a fab prize!
Ooo that sounds so fun, also that place looks so bleak but beautiful, I can imagine how amazing the so7nds of nature are there, not to mention a fun day out for you guys and the Oreos lol
This looks like a wonderful place to go for a day out, full of adventure and lovely things to see and do. Having an Oreo treasure hunt is lots of fun too.
I love Oreos they are just the most yummy biscuits! H 🙂
I love Dyffryn Gardens! Such a beautiful property. Looks like you all had a super fun day out!
This is a fab contest with an even better prize. You always look like you all have a whale of a time, but even better when oreos are involved! x
This place looks amazing and you all had such a great time! #OreoCookieQuest
What a fun challenge and this looks like such a lovely place to visit too with the family.
I really want to have a chance of a family holiday but don’t like the cookies ahh the dilemma it looked like a really fun time taking the cookie shots though
This is such a fun day out! I had fun looking for the oreos…
Ooh – I love the look of this place and particularly the wood log carvings – they were incredible! A great idea for a family day out!