Category Archives: England

Badgells Wood back to nature camping in Kent

 

With just one week of the summer holidays remaining and with the nights drawing in the kids were desperate to go camping. Not wanting to camp too far from home we discovered a quiet, off-grid woodland camp site located on top of the Kent North Downs in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to Meopham. In an ancient woodland we set up camp on a spacious pitch.

Longest rope swings ever
Longest rope swings ever

The whole 250 acres of Whitehorse Wood can be explored however we didn’t need to venture far for the children to immerse themselves in an imaginary world of guns and soldiers. The site is on an old WWII training ground complete with trench and sandbags. The kids collected sticks, built shelters and swung forever on rope swings before returning to the base to build the evening’s camp fire.

boys being boys
boys being boys

What you need to know: Badgells Wood is in a woodland so you need to be happy camping under trees – no grass fields here. There is a small shop on site selling their own free range eggs as well as marshmallows, glow sticks, basic groceries, kindling and logs. The showers were awesome – spotlessly clean, warm and with loads of space for changing and the mirrored sinks I simply loved.

boutique washrooms!

Badgells Wood is open until the beginning of November  – perfect for a spooky Halloween wooded adventure. £20 a night for a family of four.

via Off-Grid Woodland Camping – Badgells Wood.

Affordable October half term breaks in coastal settings with Haven

Kids will be ready for some autumn fun after their first term back at school so why not book a Halloween half term break with Haven. Haven boasts 35 holiday parks in coastal settings from the Scottish shores to the Cornwall coast – what better place to enjoy the change of seasons, put on a few layers and go outside before the winter sets in.

October half term breaks are available between 24 October and 2 November 2014. Three, four and seven night half term family breaks from only £169.00.

October Half Term Holidays & Breaks | 2014 Offers & Deals |Haven.

Family friendly boutique vintage cottage in Deal, Kent | Admirals Rest

Dininglight

Admirals Rest is a child friendly cottage nestled in the pretty  conservation area of Deal. This East Kent coastal town with its Georgian seafront and 1950s pier is a perfect destination for families. Children can explore its two castles and pebble beach whilst mums & dads can enjoy the eclectic mix of independent shops, restaurants and coffee shops on the award winning High Street. The cottage is available for short breaks and weekly rentals.

The cottage sleeps a family of four in two bedrooms and there are heaps of baby/child friendly features including a travel cot, bed guard, high chair, upcycled cable drum as a colouring table, socket protectors, 3D DVDs, books, games, toys, microscooters, plastic cutlery & plates, fishing nets…

A 2 day mid week break in September is just £170, a weekend break £200 (2 nights) and with one week breaks at £430.

For the family | Admirals Rest.

Get 15% off grass pitches this September at Camping in the Forest campsites

 

Book a grass pitch stay with Camping in the Forest between now and the end of September and get 15% off – beautiful forest locations in the heart of Forestry Commission land. Offer applies at all of their 16 sites including 10 in the New Forest. Children under five camp for free.

There is plenty of family fun to be had in the woods as each site also offers miles of woodland trails that are directly accessible from your tent. Many of the sites have adult and child bikes to hire including child seats and tag-alongs.

Special offers on Camping in the Forest campsites – Camping in the forest.

Great value self catering Northumberland; £175 for 3 nights this Oct

 

If you are looking to get away at the end of the summer and travelling with an infant then this could be the short break for you. Thornton Farm is the perfect base for exploring the Scottish Borders and Northumberland and perfect for guests wishing lots of fresh air, a good night’s sleep, with donkeys for neighbours and the sound of bird song for company. Thornton Farm offers pet friendly self-catering farm cottages with wonderful views to open organic farm land.

Linnet Cottage has some availability in October for 3 nights (£175) or 4 nights (£195) or longer stays.  Sleeps 2 guests plus one infant up to the age of three.  A travel cot, high chair, bathroom stool, potty, baby monitors, baby bath, changing mat, children’s tableware and cutlery, toys and books can be provided on request.

via Thornton Farm – Self Catering Accommodation in Berwick upon Tweed.

PGL Family Adventures special offers; parents go FREE; kids go FREE and 20% off

Here are some great summer offers from PGL on summer family adventures including ‘parents go free in the UK and France’, ‘kids go free’ and ‘20% off for children and teenagers’.

I love the sound of their ‘Wild on the Isle of Arran’ adventure holiday where you stay at a families only centre. With sea cliffs to abseil, boulders to climb and forest tracks to explore on mountain bike this is great for lovers of the great outdoors.  There is also wonderful wildlife to spot including red deer, peregrine falcons and golden eagles. On this holiday 1 child goes free with every paying adult (£519) for 7 nights saving £449 per child. Offer applies on 2  and 16 August arrivals.

PGL Family Adventures – Special offers on holidays.

Kids Go FREE and 2nd day FREE at Legoland; family of four from £124 with 1 night stay

For a limited time only Kids go FREE on selected dates in 2014 at Legoland Windsor Resort. Prices start from just £124 for a family of four and include your LEGOLAND tickets with your 2nd Day FREE and an overnight stay at a local hotel with breakfast.

With over 55 Lego theme-rides and attractions this is a great attraction and this year kids can enjoy the new play area Castaway Camp and a brand new quest on Pirate Falls. Check here for valid dates for this Legoland offer – July, September and October: Kids Go FREE | Legoland Holidays.

FREE kids wildlife activities in Cornwall; holidays from £585 | Trevella Holiday Park

 

Trevella Holiday Park in Cornwall has a fantastic range of FREE kids adventure activities this summer. The Park’s Ranger goes adventuring twice most days during school holidays, with fishing, crabbing, pond dipping, nature walks and bug hunts among the activities available for children aged 4 and up.

Adventures take place in and around Trevella Park at their fishing lakes, among the woodlands, along the Gannel Estuary and on the sandy expanse of nearby Crantock Beach.

A seven night holiday at Trevalla Park from 2 August starts from £585 for up to six people in a two-bedroom holiday home. Simply register at Reception. The Park also has an outdoor pool, crazy golf course, adventure playground, swings and slides.

Ranger sessions and wildlife activities in Cornwall | Trevella Holiday Park.

Save up to 50% on magical lodge hideaways in Sherwood Forest this summer | Sherwood Hideaway

Le Tour has been a huge success this last week and maybe it’s inspired you and your family to cycle this summer.

Sherwood Hideaway is a collection of high-spec self catering lodges on the Thoresby Estate in Sherwood Forest with some great summer offers. There are miles of waymarked woodland trails along roads and trails that will suit all ages through Thoresby Park, Sherwood Forest and Clumber Park. Detailed map of trails are given to guests on arrival and you can set off direct from Sherwood Hideaway on private estate trails.  Many of the lodges come complete with outdoor hot tubs for some night time stargazing.

You can save 50% on selected summer short breaks in July, 30% on weekend breaks in July & August & 25% on 4 night midweek breaks in July and August. Save £424.50 on a 3 night stay starting Friday 25 July – now £424.50.

Summer Savers – save up to 50% on selected summer dates | Sherwood Hideaway.

Wild Woodland family friendly campsite & luxury camping, Sussex Weald | Dernwood Farm

 

For those who enjoy wild camping with open fires then Dernwood Farm in the heart of the Sussex Weald boasts 70 acres of ancient coppiced woodland. For those who like to glamp there are Bell Tents in private clearings with woodburning stoves and a Safari Tent with 3 bedrooms set in exclusive 8 acres of woodland. New for 2014 is a private area of coppiced woodland with 3 pitches available around a natural pond and own Tree Bog loo.

Free falconry displays throughout the season and you can also book a private session from £5 for half an hour following on from these. The farm produces its own beef and pork which can be purchased on-site along with free range eggs.

Family friendly camping costs £10 for adults and £5 for children aged 5 and over. Check with Dernwood Farm for glamping prices. One of the top 10 campsites in England as voted by Cool Camping. 40 minutes from Brighton and 25 from Tunbridge Wells.

Wild Woodland Campsite & Luxury Camping With Delicious Farm Produce.