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take kids the Whereto
Before writing any article, professional writers like us start researching the subject. So, as we start composing this feature, we are ignoring one reaction to our question, “Where do you take the kids in the campervan?” Somehow, the response “to the council tip” didn’t quite fit the narrative or coincide with the rest of the helpful advice we received.
For some, the kids in the title are their own children. For others
by Frances & Michael Howorth
Summer
they are grandchildren and we must not forget those who care for children who have no parents or grandparents. It is important that we make campervan adventures unforgettable for kids. We must remember that every child we see riding in a motor caravan is the future of our industry. If the young of today do not enjoy camping, chances are they will shun it in the future.
So, let’s make it fun for the kids to go motor caravanning. Having been there, done that, here is our own list of personal recommendations, in no particular order.
Petting Farms
Pennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon. Micro-pigs have been bred here as pets since 1992. Pennywell minipigs have gained a reputation for being the UK's most trusted breed. Take the kids to the farm and spend time cuddling the sweet snub-nosed piglets. The whole family will enjoy a good half a day of entertainment, appreciating the many fun filled activities this attraction has to offer.
Monk Park Farm, Thirsk, Yorkshire
A petting zoo with a wide variety of child friendly activities and animals. Frequently featured in The Yorkshire Vet, this visitor attraction, set in 84 acres of the North Yorkshire countryside is home to hundreds of friendly, cute, and touchable animals, from guinea pigs and rabbits, to lambs and goats. You can also get up close to wallabies, deer, and llamas by taking a tractor ride through their fields!
Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Rare breed pigs along with donkeys, golden Guernsey goats and a Clydesdale horse are just some of the attractions at this petting zoo. Buy a combined ticket to view the mansion, and 50-acre Japanese gardens, and entry to the working rare breed farm is then free.
Birds of Prey
Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre, Thirsk, Yorkshire. An inspiring and uplifting place to visit, the Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre is yet another location frequently used for filming The Yorkshire Vet. The centre has been established for more than 30 years and is home to one of the largest collections of flying birds of prey in the North of England. Housing over 100 birds, from 50 different species, it organises daily flying demonstrations that are nothing short of spectacular. Owls, vultures, eagles, and kites all fly in every display and range from the impressive Stellers Sea Eagle, weighing in at 7.5 kilos, to the tiny half kilo African Pygmy Falcon, along with a few more unusual birds as well. Keep an eye out for the cheeky kookaburra, naughty caracaras and the graceful white storks as they swoop over your head, whilst a passionate and knowledgeable display team provide lighthearted and informative commentaries.
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland. The seat of the 12th Duke of Northumberland, built following the
Norman conquest and renovated and remodelled a number of times, the fairytale Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in the UK. Children love its falconry and the fact that the castle was regularly used as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter
Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent. Burrowing owls and Russian Steppe Eagles are just two of the inhabitants of the castle’s Birds of Prey Centre in Kent. It is enthralling to say the least. When you are done with that, try finding your way around the hedge maze. It is so challenging that there is an escape route through the grotto and an attendant to offer directions if you need some help. Kids love the new man-made beach on the edge of the Great Water Lake. Remember to take your bucket and spade. >>
Picton Castle Gardens, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. There are 25 species of owls in the grounds of this 13th century castle. To keep little ones busy, there are adventures to be had around every corner. The bamboozalem maze and playground are just two. Then they can hunt for fairy doors in Peach House Wood, or climb the branches of a huge, western red cedar. That is, after you’ve solved the Mansion of Mystery escape rooms, located in the castle’s dungeons!
Elsewhere, the British Bird of Prey Centre, based in Carmarthenshire, is really cool while the International Centre for Birds of Prey in Gloucester, is nothing short of awesome!
Worth A Stay
Blakemere Holiday Park , Cheshire www.stayatblakemere.co.uk
Set in the heart of the Cheshire countryside and with many Blakemere tourist attractions nearby, this site makes the perfect family get-away. Offering a warm, friendly welcome alongside amazing facilities, simply sit back, spend time together and make lasting memories, in beautiful surroundings. Open 7 days a week, all year round. Awarded the Best Site for Families in the Practical Caravan Top 100 Sites 2023.
Stately Homes
Sudbury Hall, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. The National Trust Museum of Childhood is housed in the 19thcentury servants' wing of Sudbury Hall, billed as a property for young historians. Explore, picnic and play while connecting with nature. Meet a Dalek, take a lesson in a Victorian classroom, hunt for giant grasshoppers, or build a den in the gardens. Children can get involved in so many activities, including a Second World War escape room experience and giant 3D jigsaw. Osborne, East Cowes, Isle of Wight was Queen Victoria’s holiday house, which has an enticing private sandy beach on secluded Osborne Bay, just across the water from Portsmouth. Inside the house, children can experience how their regal counterparts of yesteryear lived. Hidden in the woods, well away from the main house, is a little Alpine-style chalet with its own gardens and fossil museum. This was where the royal children played at being adults, learning the skills that Prince Albert believed would make them better rulers. Take a stroll through the garden terraces, taking in the stunning views across the Solent and see why they reminded Prince Albert of the Bay of Naples.
Other family-friendly historic houses include: Hampton Court Palace, Knebworth House and Gardens, Harewood House, Holkham Walled Garden, and the Wimpole Estate.
Zoos & Safari Parks
Walton Hall and Gardens, Warrington, Cheshire. A children’s zoo, with red squirrels having their own fun run, along with rabbits, potbellied pigs, Herdwick sheep, African pygmy goats, guinea pigs and a colourful, eclectic mix of birds. This includes a large, and sometimes noisy, ostentation of peacocks. The best bit is it's free to enter.
Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire. Take a drive-through safari and imagine you are in Africa. Hop on the boat to meet the resident hippo and view the gorilla colony. Back on shore there is a mini railway, a castle with a three-storey slide and a hedge maze, said to be the largest in Britain.
Other zoos can be found at Whipsnade, Marwell, Edinburgh, Colchester and of course Regents Park in London.
Adventure Playgrounds and Theme Parks
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Always entertaining, the new zip line, ropes and climbing frames are becoming firm favourites with families who come to the Palace for the day. Stunning walks, a yew-hedge maze and the butterfly house are all wonderful but don’t forget to tour the palace and its everchanging exhibits.
Ice-cream Farm, Tattenhall, Cheshire. Who knew that Britain has the largest ice-cream parlour in the world? Besides getting to choose and eat ice cream made on the farm, you can take the children to enjoy the free to enter fun park. Not your thing? Never mind, the farm has one of the few drive-thru ice-cream shops we know of. What’s more, it is campervan friendly without any height restrictions. Our choice of flavours would include honeycomb and clotted cream ice cream.
Woldies, Malton, Yorkshire. Woldies is the new name for the Wolds Way Lavender Farm. Recently relaunched as a family day out location by the Hall family. They have turned a disused piggery into a delightful and highly productive lavender farm. There is enough here to keep a family entertained for a whole day. Stroll around the lavender beds, get involved in the nature trails,
ma ke me Esca pe, unwind, Winning Park
lose yourself in the maze and learn how their onsite lavender distillery produces oil from their own grown lavender.
Quince Honey Farm, South Moulton, Devon. At first glance the attraction gives the impression it is a play centre or theme park. It is neither, yet in a perverse way, it is both! Quince Honey Farm is a family owned
make me a pe, unwind, Award Winning Park
SET IN THE BEAUTIFUL ULLSWATER VALLEY just above the pretty lakeside village of Pooley Bridge, Hillcroft Park offers year-round and seasonal holiday accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets. Family owned and operated with excellent facilities, Hillcroft is a place to escape, make memories and enjoy precious family time.
t s . Fa mily owned a nd op er ated w it h e xcel lent f acil i t ies , Hil lcrof t is a pl ace to e sc a p e, ma ke memor ie s a nd enjoy pre cious f a mily t ime.
Fa mily bathroom a nd ba by cha nge
Bathrooms to hire
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Fully equipped l a undr y a nd dr ying room and operated honey farm that is part honey factory, part education centre and part entertainment venue. We marvelled at the opportunity to witness inside working beehives, we learned so much from the bee education team and were able to unleash our inner creativity when it came to making candles from beeswax. All in all, a great day out for the whole family.
Other top days out with the kids include a visit to Thomas the Tank Engine at Drayton Manor or Peppa Pig World near Southampton. Britain’s biggest theme park is at Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, between Chertsey and Staines, claims to be the most thrilling. Harry Potter World is in Watford, while Legoland is not far from Windsor. Always value, when it comes to family days out, are the historic dockyards at Chatham in Kent, Portsmouth in Hampshire and Devonport near Plymouth. For
Worth A Stay
Hillcroft Park, Lake District Award-winning Hillcroft Park, set in the beautiful Ullswater Valley, offers more than just good service, great amenities and a wonderful setting, They have created a peaceful and relaxed environment where you can focus on making memories, sharing stories and enjoying precious family time. Here, life takes on a slower pace – a throw back to those carefree, childhood holidays. www.hillcroftpark.co.uk consider hopping on a ferry from Dover and heading to Disneyland Paris.
Water Attractions
Kayaking and stand up paddleboarding are trends catching on among motorcaravanners. Park overnight at Bewl Water near Tunbridge Wells and sign the kids up at the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Centre for both sailing and windsurfing. Salterns Sailing is a club for children, run by children, in Lymington, Hampshire close to some terrific campsites in the New Forest. Rockley Point, founded in 1976, is based in Poole harbour on the Dorset coast. Thousands of children have learned to sail here in some of the UK's safest and most idyllic sailing waters. On the River Thames, Bisham Abby in Buckinghamshire offers good child-friendly facilities, as does the River Wye in Herefordshire. In the North West of England, the Mersey Canoe Trail was the first ever National Canoe Trail in the UK. Running 27km from Stockport to Carrington, there is an easy child friendly 5.5km section running from Heaton Mersey to Northenden in Manchester. In the Lake District, Derwentwater is a popular and safe spot to learn water sports skills. In Wales, there is the Beacons Water Trail and on Alderney, in the Channel Islands, Longis Bay is the place to be. What child does not like beaches? We know of very few, but equally we know of far too many gorgeous stretches of golden sand to list them all here. Go find your own!
Caves and Gorges
Stump Cross Caverns, Nidderdale, North Yorkshire. Deep underground, below the hills and valleys, the Yorkshire Dales conceal an incredible secret. Below the surface lies a vast network of caves, hidden from human eyes for hundreds of thousands of years. Stump Cross Caverns offers the chance to step back in time and unlock a trove of prehistoric marvels, twisting caverns, unspoilt rock formations, and mysterious nooks and crannies. All frozen in time and all with stories to tell.
Kents Caverns, Torquay, Devon. An extensive labyrinth of caves with spectacular natural formations, widely used by prehistoric people. Human prehistoric remains discovered in the caves are the most
The ancient found in Britain. The most significant artefact is a 41,000-yearold human jawbone, Europe’s oldest human fossil. Tours of the cavern are best booked online and are led by entertaining guides who offer an invaluable opportunity to understand an ancient and fascinating part of our human history.
Other caves include the Hellfire Caves in the Chiltern hills, Fingal’s Cave on the Isle of Staffa, Llechwedd Slate Caverns in Snowdonia, Avon Gorge in Bristol, Peak Cavern in the Peak District. Do not forget Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole in Somerset, both featured in Out and About elsewhere in this issue.
Practicalities
If children are not regular passengers in your motorcaravan, then preparations for a kid’s trip are going to be the first of many considerations. Ask yourself, has the van got enough bedding and towels? We have a grandson who seems to have an unstoppable affiliation with water. If he can fall in, he does! So, we know how important it is to have lots of extra towels and spare clothes. Make sure you carry lots of each! Children often have different choices of foodstuffs and toiletries than grown-ups do, so be sure to find a little extra space to load up their favourites. Don’t forget to pack games, bikes and paddleboards and always allow space for board and card games in case it rains. If your motorcaravan does not have www.littlebodieve.co.uk
Tel: 01208 815547
Bodieve Road, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 6EG
Static Caravans • Motorhomes
Tents • Tourers enough beds, you will need to allow space for tents, ground sheets and mattresses. An easier and more space saving alternative is Cabbunk, a fold away bed or two-tier bunk system, that converts the van’s cab into a children’s bedroom.
A family site within a short walking distance of Wadebridge town.
Come and explore beautiful Poldark country, only 10 mins drive from the fishing village Port Isaac, of Doc Martin fame, Rock and Padstow with many restaurants, including the famous Rick Stein. We are only a few minutes cycle ride down into town where you can join the Camel trail either along the estuary to Padstow or inland towards Bodmin moor – both are very scenic.
Finally, if you are not the children’s parent or legal guardian, make sure you carry written permissions for them to travel with you. Occasionally, campsites and visitor attractions insist on seeing such a document, but ferry companies and border control officers always want to see them. For more information visit www.gov.uk before travelling.
Mostly, carrying kids in campervans is a joyous experience but on a very few occasions, it can seem that time is standing still. Remind yourself it’s not forever and if that fails, revert to the opening paragraph of this feature!
