Category: Outdoor Adventure

Where to take the kids this winter

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Battersea Park Children’s Zoo.

There’s a world of enjoyment at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo. From feeding the farm animals, saying hello to our parrots or spying on the meerkats in the secret lookout, children will have hours of fun. With monkeys, snakes, pigs, donkeys, ring tailed lemurs, rabbits, emu, chipmunks, coati, wallabies and chickens, plus a fun-packed adventure playground with a real tractor and fire engine, it’s a great family day out.

NEW FOR 2016! The Zoo is offering new Keeper, Mini and Junior Keeper Experiences for children and adults. The kids will love being able to find out more about their favourite animals and what it’s like to feed and care for them. Sessions last from 1.5 to 2.5 hours, there are a variety of Keeper Experience’s available, and children must be accompanied by an adult, who goes free of charge.

Terms and conditions apply, with full details available on the website.

BeWILDerwood

For an amazing kids day out in Norfolk, not far from Norwich, visit the enchanted, award-winning Curious Treehouse Adventure Park, BeWILDerwood. Take lazy boat rides across The Scary Lake, cross jungle bridges, visit tree-houses, whizz down The Wobbly Wires, get befuddled in the marvellous Muddle Maze, build dens with bracken and sticks and dress up and join in with the enchanting daily storytelling.

This is a world with more than a little sprinkling of fairy dust; enough for the whole family! It’s also a great place for children to have the best birthday party ever in the woods.

Bodmin and Wenford railway

Discover the excitement and nostalgia of steam travel with a journey back in time on the Bodmin and Wenford railway, Cornwall’s only full size railway still operated by steam locomotives. Relax in style and enjoy a leisurely 13-mile round trip, through beautiful countryside, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone age, as the era of a Cornish branch line in the 1950s reveals itself during the course of your journey.

Clamping with the kids

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So what is glamping?  It is a term that means glamorous camping and has become synonymous with luxury camping – no more leaky tents or sites where you wake up with no tent because the wind is so high!  Glamping is all about having a unique experience that allows people to see things they would otherwise miss but no sacrificing comfort and amenities to do this. 

Glamping is also an eco-friendly option because many of the venues offering this type of break are made with environmentally friendly concerns foremost to the mind.  It takes a lot of resources to build and run even a small hotel but nowhere near as much to build a luxury treehouse or to convert and upgrade a caravan.

Glamping is a worldwide trend that allows people to stay somewhere unique.  Here in the UK we already have a wide range of exciting glamping spots.  One such example is the yurt at Springhill Farm campsite in East Sussex.  Complete with a double bed and inflatable furniture, the yurt is built in the style once used by Genghis Khan with a few modern touches and cooking is done in a fire pit outside.  The site is near Ashdown Forest, so perfect for a walk the next morning.

If you loved treehouses as a kid, then staying in one will be a perfect escape as an adult.  There are a number of treehouse glamping providers spread around the country and these are treehouses in the lap of luxury.  Enjoy a session in the hot tub before turning in for the night or take the whole family along in a treehouse that can house up to eight people.

Champing

Champing is perhaps the newest addition to the camping idea and involved staying in a historic church and using it as a base for a range of activities for children and sightseeing in the area.  The Churches Conservation Trust say there are currently 347 churches spread around the UK that are no longer places of worship and so are being made available for people to spend the night. 

Why is it good?

Camping, glamping and champing all offer different facilities and styles for holidaymakers but there is a hidden benefit to it all.  In a study conducted by the Institute of Education at Plymouth University, in collaboration with the Camping and Caravanning Club, it was shown that kids who spend at least one holiday each year camping outdoors do better in school than those that don’t.

The study involved asking parents across the country a series of question studying the educational, social and psychological benefits of camping to children of all ages.  The study discovered that four out of five parents thought that camping had a positive effect on school education of their children.

It also showed that 98% of parents believed their kids were more connected with nature due to their camping experience and appreciated the outdoors more while 95% thought the kids were happier.  93% thought that children learned skills that would be beneficial later in life because of their camping holidays.

Conclusion

So the evidence is clear from the study – camping is good for you and your children.  But with the range of options such as glamping in a treehouse or champing in a historic church, camping no longer needs to be something only done in the very best weather.  For people who aren’t so keen on putting up the tent in the middle of a field, there are now plenty of other options that allow all the benefits of camping with a little luxury included as well.  And after the holiday is over, the children will go back to school invigorated and filled with exciting stories to tell their teachers and friends that will continue to benefit them for some time afterwards.

October half term

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The school summer holidays have nearly come to an and end and the October half term is nearly upon us.

The October half term is often the last chance that the family get to take a break together in the year before the preparations for Christmas begin and the weather takes a serious decline.  Autumn can be a beautiful time to have a short holiday in the UK and there are plenty of places offering deals for the October half term break as well as special events taking place.

Visiting the countryside

One of the best places to head in autumn is to the forest – with the wealth of colours on show, the forest is a spectacular scene.  Add to that the wildlife can be a little easier to spot after their breeding season is finished while seasonal plants such as mushrooms and berries appear, there is plenty to see.

One of the top places to get close to wildlife is to stay at one of the Centre Parcs resorts around the country.  There are five notable forest locations on offer from the chain – Whinfell Forest, Sherwood Forest, Elvenden Forest, Woburn Forest and Longleat Forest.

Whinfell Forest is within the Lake District area and sits on the side of the lake so can offer a range of water sports as well as wildlife spotting opportunities.  The centre is at the heart of a 400-acre woodland site while indoor features include a subtropical swimming pool with a daredevil ride called the Canyon Ride for the bravest.

Sherwood Forest is one of the most well-known forests in the country with its connections to the story of Robin Hood.  The Centre Parcs venue in the forest offers the chance to explore the famous woodland as well as enjoy a number of activities that are best in the woods such as quad biking or owl encounters.

Elvenden Forest is a 400-acre site in Suffolk, offering a great range of outdoor activities as well as the calming effect of the forest itself for walks.  There is even a unique experience called cable water skiing to try as well as kayaking, canoeing and even raft building.

Woburn Forest is just over an hour from London and is one of the newest sites, covering some 365 acres of woodland as well as lakes and beautiful views across the countryside.  There are aerial trekking routes, abseiling and climbing opportunities as well as the indoor facilities such as the subtropical swimming pool.

Longleat Forest is close to the famous Longleat Estate and its Safari Park so is a great place to use as a base to visit both.  The Wiltshire park allows the chance to see the century old Giant Redwoods as well as tour the forest with the land train or join in water activities on the lake.

Haven are another big name in the holiday business that offer a range of special deals for the October half term.  These include special deals for the whole family as well as touring and camping offers that are ideal for those who prefer something a little less formal for their breaks.

Bluestone are also offering a range of competitive deals for the October break that combine the chance to get up close to nature with the indoor facilities of the centre such as the climbing wall and the swimming pool.  Close by is an impressive outdoor activity centre with a challenging zip wire course some 60 feet in the air as well as tree top walks and the chance to watch the sun go down from a campfire among the trees.

Outdoor fun – nature’s way!

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Have a go at Kew’s Treetop Walkway

Got a child with their head in the clouds? This 60ft high walkway nestled in South West London’s Kew Gardens will burn off lots of energy. The 118 steps are worth the wait as you take in the tree tops at eye level. Endless opportunities for spotting birds, wildlife and weird and wonderful creatures await, and the kids’ mission task asks budding tree surgeons to gen up on all things wood as you go around. Adult tickets into Kew: £9 Free entry to under 16s 

Take a stroll in Ashdown Forest

A. A. Milne set his Winnie-the-Pooh stories in 100 Acre Wood – a forest inspired by Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. Head there for a day out to visit all the locations enjoyed by Pooh, Piglet and Tigger too, including the gorgeous Pooh Sticks Bridge for, of course, a family game of Pooh Sticks. Pooh Corner on the High Street in Hartfield village, sells Winnie-the-Pooh goodies for all ages

See the Northern Lights

Pull on your thermals and go in search of the Aurora Borealis, aka, the Northern Lights. The greatest light show on earth can be best seen above the Arctic Circle, which means a trip to Scandinavia, probably in minus one conditions. The lights are incredibly elusive, so if you’re planning a trip, never, ever promise your kids they will see the action! 

See the Pyramids

The breath-taking Pyramids of Giza are special. Head to Egypt when your kids are a little older, so they can cope with the heat better and marvel at the Pharaohs’ ingenuity

Make new friends at Oceanopolis

Overlooking the harbour in Brittany, Oceanopolis is bursting with aquatic life. Turtles turn tricks, penguins potter in front of your very eyes and even a shark shakes its stuff in a dedicated tank. With three different sections to visit, tropical, polar and temperate waters, this enormous aquarium is a day your kids won’t forget. Adult tickets: €19.80 Children’s tickets (3-17 years): €12.80 

Marvel at the Grand Canyon

An epic gorge which in some places is a whopping 6,000 feet deep, this is a wonder that takes some beating. Best taken in when your kids are a little older, and can manage to troop around on their own. Take a stroll, bike around and don’t miss the Skywalk – a glass-bottomed path providing breath-taking views. 

Visit Cheddar Gorge

Head underground and explore the caves at Cheddar Gorge for an unforgettable adventure. Audio guides bring Gough’s Cave to life, while the colourful, underground world of Cox’s Cave has fountains and mirror pools like you’ve never seen before. Take time to have a go at the Crystal Quest as a family to discover new corners and secrets of the underground world. Adult tickets: £18.95 Children’s tickets (5-14 years): £12.95

6 great places to take the kids

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Have a magical time at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

A must for Harry, Ron and Hermione fans, the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Hertfordshire lets wannabe wizards whizz around Diagon Alley, get their heads down in class and sit down in the iconic Great Hall of Hogwarts. The tour is full of props from the movies and behind the scene exclusives. A truly magical (sorry) day out with photo ops’ aplenty to treasure afterwards. Adult tickets: £33 Children’s tickets: £25

Meet the Crystal Palace dinosaurs

Looming out of the south London park are several cast iron dinosaurs from 1852, just hanging out and waiting to greet inquisitive guests on Dinosaur Lake. The short circular walk around the beasts shows our prehistoric friends from all angles, while info boards give just the right amount of information for dino-obsessive children. The park has a popular playground and very welcoming café for a pit-stop afterwards. 

Take a steam railway trip

Find a steam railway journey near you and head out together. You won’t be disappointed with a day chugging around the countryside. One of the best we’ve been on is the Llangollen Railway in North Wales. Worth the trek for the stunning surroundings alone, and if you’re lucky, Thomas the Tank Engine will even be around. Look out for the moment the train’s engine runs around the track to pull the carriages back in the other direction. Truly special stuff.

Visit Disneyland Paris

Make memories that will last a lifetime with a family trip to Disneyland. Meet Mickey and Minnie, swoon over the gorgeous Disney Princesses and enjoy thrills on the rides designed for all different ages and theme park thresholds. The lights, the glitter, the characters and the atmosphere will stay with your children forever. Big kids (who don’t want to admit they still really want to hang with Minnie) will love the rollercoaster rides. 

Cycle the Camel Trail

Stretching right from the village of St Breward on the edge of Bodmin Moor, to Padstow the Camel Trail is a recreational trail which follows the line of the old railway, summed up in John Betjeman’s Cornwall as ‘the most beautiful train journey I know’. The 17-mile trail is perfect for families on two wheels, so hire bikes and enjoy the flat trail. If 17 miles is a bit daunting, head for the last leg which takes in the coastline into Padstow from Wadebridge. Lock your bikes up at the end and have fish and chips on the harbour, try your hand at crabbing and then scramble over the rocks for a stroll on the beautiful beach at Hawkers Cove.

Learn at Our Dynamic Earth

Perched on the edge of Edinburgh’s epic Holyrood Park is Our Dynamic Earth, which takes visitors through our amazing planet’s past, present and future. With a focus on a sustainable future, and how we can help the planet deal with climate change and a growing population, make the trip when you have young children, and get tips for carrying on the good work at home and beyond. Adult tickets: £12.50 Children’s tickets (3-15years): £7.95.

Stop, Look and Listen

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We are in the era of pedestrian crossings and crossing guards, or the lollipop man or lady as we always knew them. We often teach kids to find these safe spots to cross the road but sometimes can neglect to teach them how to cross the road without these safety features.  Another aspect of road safety for kids that can be literally life-saving involves when they are on their bikes or scooters. Road Safety Week is an annual event held on 23-29th November with the aim of refreshing these crucial matters in all parent’s and kid’s minds.

A major road safety campaign that has been in operation for many years is Think! Through their website, the campaign has a wealth of resources for teachers, kids and parents to help with road safety. These include information depending on the age group of the kids involved for teachers to introduce the topics in the classroom – these are split into under-fives, five to seven and over sevens.

The pupil’s area is separated into the same age groups and has a fun aspect to it. There are five different activities for kids to get involved with categorised as see, hear, read, do and play.  Each has a number of activities within it that can be downloaded to the computer by their parents.  There are stories that parents can read to the younger kids learning them road safety in a run and easy to understand way.  The older kids have worksheets to do on road safety as well as when they are on their bikes.  There is even resources to help them understand why distracting someone driving a car can be so dangerous.

The final section is for parents and groups into 3-5s, 5-7s and the 7 to 11 age group.  Parents can also order from the catalogue with a variety of information to use at home with kids to complement what the schools are teaching on the subject and reinforce it.

Importance of Road Safety

One of the oldest campaigns around road safety aimed at kids is the Green Cross Code.  The code aims to reduce the numbers of kids hurt or killed on the roads, which currently stands at 19 a week across the country.  These are kids under the age of eleven who are seriously hurt or killed and some of these deaths could be stopped by use of the code.

Therefore, parents can do their bit by teaching the green cross code to their kids from the earliest age.  Make it part of the road crossing every time to instil into kids these vital safety measures.  The code highlights aspects such as:

Finding a safe place to cross, using subways, footbridges, islands and different types of crossings if there isn’t a crossing patrol or traffic warden in sight. Otherwise, using a place where they can see in all directions and, just as importantly, can be seen by drivers.  This means no crossing between parked cars or on sharp bends

Stopping at the kerb but not too near the edge to leave a little space to look around and be away from the traffic.

The Stop-Look-Listen message about crossing safety including not to run and to keep watching for all kinds of traffic including bikes and motorcycles

It is also important that adults follow the same code and make sure they set an example for the kids.  No nipping between the cars and dashing out into the road when you are with them as young kids copy what adults do and older kids use it as an excuse to do the same!

Staggered summer holidays

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The long summer holiday was invented back in Victorian times. Back then, the children were needed during the summer to help with the parent’s work – most of them worked on the land in farming and keeping animals. During the summer, at the height of the work period, the children would be on holiday from their schooling and around to work on the farm, providing much needed free additional labour.

In modern times, this is rarely the case as only a tiny percentage of the country work in farming and an even smaller amount rely on their kids as farm labourers. Yet we still have a holiday length that came to us from the 19th century way of life.

Gone also are the days where parents went to work and left their kids to get on with it.  Understanding of the things that can go wrong and the dangers in the world mean we simply can’t image leaving a ten-year-old to their own devices all day.

So the question is simple – why do we still have the six weeks’ holidays and why can’t we stagger those weeks across the year?

Do kids benefit from the long break?

One idea touted about to convince us that the summer holiday is a good thing is that kids benefit from the long break. Their young minds can rest and recuperate before facing the challenges of the new school year, fresh and rested.

But this only works if the kids are physically and mentally exhausted from their school year in the first place, which is rare. Added to that is the boredom factor. Sure the kids might enjoy a rest for a few days, maybe a week for teenagers, then the boredom sets in. They are constantly hunting for something to do, something to entertain themselves or are requiring parents to provide this.

In fact, when you consider that England has the lowest rate of literacy and second lowest for numeracy in the developed world, perhaps our kids need more schooling not less. Perhaps that long rest is harming their abilities rather than enhancing them – after all, a skill unused often fades from the mind.

Parents view

Many parents view the six weeks’ holiday with a mixture of anticipation and dread. They love to spend time with their kids, go on holiday or take family day trips. But after a while, they have to return to work unless they are really lucky. Or they have to stagger their holidays between parents so they see little of their other half in order to have someone around at all times for the kids.

One poll, conducted by ITV, showed that over 73% of parents would prefer that schools staggered their holidays as this would make them more affordable. Not only would there be less time to find things for the kids to do, it would also help alleviate another major irritation for parents – the cost of vacations during the school holidays.

If you have ever tried to book a holiday in the last week of June rather than the last week of July, you will know the difference in cost we are talking about. It can range from hundreds to even thousands of pounds, all because everyone knows more people want to go on holiday when the kids are off school. This can often mean holidays are out of price range for families and puts an end to the annual vacation.

Changing ideas

There are already ideas and actions being taken around the country in an attempt to stagger holidays and to break up the six (or seven as it is this year in some parts) weeks holiday.  One example is a motion passed by Cardiff Council that allows schools to consider staggering the summer holiday.  It is going to be investigated by the Children and Young People committee with results to follow.

Schools in the Brighton and Hove City Council area will be having one less week at summer and one more week during the autumn break for the next school year, the council have announced.  In a move aimed at combatting the cost of summer holiday vacations, the schools will have more time off in autumn to allow parents to grab off-peak holidays without needing to remove kids from class.

Barnsley Council have been the first to announce a smaller summer holiday for the next year, reducing it to five weeks.  They too have announced that the extra week will be added to the autumn holiday.  There has been some resistance from teachers who say the longer break is needed for them to ‘recharge their batteries’ and it may affect the quality of teachers willing to work in the council area.

Staggering problems

The biggest concern for parents about staggering school holidays is when they face kids at different schools being on holiday at different times.  An example comes from the West Sussex and Surrey areas where kids can be in junior school in one area and in senior school in another.  As councils look to stagger and change duration of holidays, parents face their kids being off school at different times.  This makes scheduling holidays more difficult, especially when both parents work and need to organise their vacation time.

Generally, parents are in favour of the reduction of the summer holidays by a week or even two. While there are clearly issues for those who have kids in different school districts, the plan to reduce the summer holidays is one that many local councils are considering and even putting into place for the next year.

How about camping?

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Cornwall is a hugely popular spot for fans of both camping and glamping during the summer holidays and the good news is that there are a large number of sites spread around the county.  The bad news is that by this time of the year, not all of them will have availability left for the school holiday period.  So here we look at 5 Camping and Glamping sites in Cornwall that still have availability for the coming period to help inspire your camping holiday and keep the children entertained.

Cottage Holidays Cornwall

Cottage Holidays Cornwall has a number of different accommodation options within one site.  For those who like a nice firm foundation under foot, they offer Albion Cottage, a grade II listed Tudor house on the edge of the village of Mylor.  The cottage has its own courtyard, barbecue, gardens, swings, trampolines and even a tennis court!

For an environmentally friendly alternative, why not try a spot of glamping in their yurt?  Just outside the village, the Yurt offers a back to nature experience with fully opening walls, a roof light and a wood burning stove just outside.  It is 16 feet in diameter and 10 feet tall, so is no tiny little tepee style tent and there are carpets and rugs on the floor while the bed stands on a low wooden platform and even has an orthopaedic mattress.

Both of these options make for a great base to explore the village of Mylor with its historic harbour as well as travelling slightly further afield to the beautiful resort of St Ives or the amazing attraction that is the Eden Project.

Classic Glamping

Classic Glamping have a number of sites spread across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset offering a range of different glamping options.  Jinka’s Wagon is a unique experience – a gypsy caravan located just five miles from Looe that offers the charm of a bygone era.  As well as the caravan, there is a barbecue and patio furniture to enjoy a meal under the stars and a multi-burner as well.

If you ever fancied sleeping in a safari tent but didn’t want to travel to Africa, then simply head to a spot just two miles from Launceston for a safari tent location.  One tent is called Honeysuckle, another Celandine and the third Campion.  Each are located in a secluded spot near a river great for wildlife spotting and relaxing in peace and quiet as well as being a short distance from a pub.  They are also a small distance apart so no overlooking neighbours.

Other options offered by the company include a shepherd’s hut near Praa Sands, a meadow cabin near Fowey and even airstream trailers straight from the US based just outside St Agnes.

St Tinney Farm

St Tinney Farm is a small, family run business with 34 acres of land and a range of different accommodation options including cabins, caravans and tent.  The site is just a mile from the main A39 Atlantic Highway near the hamlet of Otterham.  The farm has its own heated outdoor swimming pool to enjoy and there is a licensed club bar on the site called the St Tinney Arms, serving drinks and simple pub food, so there is no need to leave the site if you don’t want to.

There are two cottages at St Tinney Farm each accommodating up to four people and a cot if needed.  These are fully equipped with all the modern conveniences including free Wi-Fi.  There are also three 3 bed lodges overlooking the lakes and three 2 bedroom lodges in the Orchard area behind the farmhouse.  Caravans number six, are connected to the mains for electricity, and gas as well as toilets inside each.  Finally, there are grass camping pitches so camping fans can bring along their own tents. 

Cottage Farm Touring Park

Cottage Farm Touring Park is located near the small village of Treworgans, not too far from Newquay.  The site can offer different accommodation options and is also in close proximity to a number of leisure and sports facilities.  There are three self-catering holiday homes on the site as well as static caravan accommodation. There are 45 pitches for camping and caravans, almost all of which have electricity hook-ups, spread over a 2-acre site close to a number of countryside walks.  There is a small shop near the site and the local village shop is just one mile away. There is also a facility block that includes free showers and hot water basins, hairdryer and shaving points and a family-baby room. There are washing up facilities and a laundry room to use as well as a manned reception to help with local information.

The site is great to use as a base for exploring the Newquay area, which is just five miles away.  In fact, if you like a walk, it is only 20 minutes’ walk to the beach. Other close activities including surfing, fishing, diving, horse riding, golf and mountain biking as well as plenty of places to go for a walk.

Silver Sands Holiday Park

Silver Sands Holiday Park has static caravan holiday homes, a lodge as well as both touring and camping pitches available for holidaymakers. It is set amid the dramatic scenery of Lizard Peninsula, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and one of the most popular spots to visit in Cornwall.  Both Kynance Cover, the most southerly point in Cornwall, and the Helford River are just a short distance away.

The caravan homes come in two grades with standard having two bedrooms and the superior option having either two or three bedrooms. The superior plus caravan can sleep up to six people so ideal for slightly larger families. The camping area is beside the main field and all emplacements are around a triangular perimeter. The field has its own water supply and there is a play area for under fourteens as well as a toilet and shower block in the nearby field.  Watch out at night as possible visitors include bats and badgers, both who live nearby!

Outdoor party ideas for children

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1. Kids Olympics Party

Cabin fever may be setting in after all the April showers and being stuck in school, so get the kids outside and burn off some energy! Tap into their competitive side and set up a Kids Olympics party! “Active” is the name of the game with this theme. Discus throws (using Frisbees), obstacle courses, balance beams, or hula hoop contests are great choices for a children’s Olympics Party. You can also encourage teamwork with relay races or a team sport like whiffle ball or kickball. At the end of the party, give away small prizes or even have a medal ceremony to bring the festivities to a close!

2. Sensory Party

Younger children are always curious about the world around them. Why not embrace it and host a Sensory Party? Tell your guests to wear some “play clothes” or provide souvenir T-shirts. Then, prepare to get messy! Set up stations that help kids explore all five senses. For example, a sand creation table will let kids make art out of brightly-coloured sand. It also helps them use their visual creativity to make something unique! Auditory stations can include simple instruments like drums or recorders. Since it’s outside, the sound won’t drive you as crazy! Or, make some Rainbow Foam for a tactile station. It’s easy to make and allows children to get messy while exploring a fun texture.  Just remember, the messier the better for your outdoor kid’s party ideas!

 3. Just Add Water Party

Looking for a way to cool off in the summer heat? Just add water! Have your guests bring their swimsuits, towels, and sunscreen for a day of fun in the sun. Activities like Slip n’ Slides or sprinklers are easy ways to add a little H2O to your outdoor party. 

4. Animal Party

While we’re all fans of furry creatures, sometimes the thought of having them inside is a little daunting. That’s why animals are the perfect addition to an outdoor party! Does your child dream of riding a pony or holding a hedgehog? An animal party can deliver! Most petting zoos or pony parties only need a small amount of space outside, like your garden. Reptile shows are great for Jurassic Park or jungle-themed parties. The animals are usually enough to hold the kids’ attention, but animal games can be a just as fun! 

Musical Chairs. Each time the music stops and a child is out, designate them as “it” and let them choose their favourite animal. If they say “horse,” the remaining kids can gallop around the circle of chairs until the music stops. Kids love animals, so this party should be a hit!

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5. Outdoor Movie Night Party 

Bring the movies to your garden! Your kids and their friends of all ages will love being able to pile onto blankets in the grass and watch a family-friendly film. Rent your own outdoor movie screen or make your own by stringing up a white painter’s canvas. Most rented screens come with a projector, or you can buy a decent one for around £100. Not a bad investment if you plan to use it a few times throughout the summer! Set up a movie snack bar with popcorn and classic sweet choices. Set up tin buckets filled with ice and bottled pop to bring out the nostalgic vibe. Outdoor kids party ideas don’t have to be complicated; sometimes it’s just about spending time together

A guide to family surfing

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When someone starts talking about surfing, the mind turns to California or Hawaii with huge waves and plenty of sunshine.  But the truth is, here in the UK we have some excellent spots for a surfing family fun day out and the weather does cooperate sometimes – but even when it doesn’t this can be a good thing!

The Equipment – Boards and Wetsuits

The first and most crucial part of your surfing equipment is the surfboard.  There are three main types of board but only two of these are suitable for beginners.  Foam boards tend to be the most forgiving and are ideal to learn the basics such as standing up.  Most surfing experts will recommend a pop out board for beginners.  These are made from plastic and come in many shapes and sizes – when it comes to selecting your first one, make sure you go big.  The bigger the board, the more volume it has to help surfers stabilise so boards that are 8-9 feet for an adult beginner are ideal.  Smaller boards may look cool under the arm but are harder to paddle and there’s less chance you will catch a wave with one.

The wetsuit is the next crucial piece of equipment when surfing in UK waters if you want to retain feeling to your extremities.  Getting the correct fit of wetsuit is very important and seeking out a local supplier is the best bet – get expert advice to make sure you get the right wetsuit for everyone is the best idea and saves money as it ensures you get the right suit from the start.

Other important start up equipment includes a leash or leg rope is also useful to have as this attaches from the board to your ankle and means you don’t lose your board when you fall off.   Wax is also useful to have if you are aiming to spend any time on the board and ignore all those ideas that it goes on the bottom of the board to make it go faster.  The idea of wax is to go on the top of the board for traction.  Select a wax designed for cool or cold waters so that it responds correctly to the British seas.

Preparing to Surf – the Weather and the Tides

Once you have your equipment, then you are ready to surf, right?  Wrong because the next step is to understand a little about waves, wind and tides as well as selecting where is the right place to go and start.

All beaches have waves but some will be delicate and dainty and others will be huge and monstrous.  The weather has a big impact on the type of waves that hit the beach and a windy day might sound great but is better for kite flying than surfing.  Understanding the tide at the beach you have chosen will also help, particularly if there are areas of rocks that need to be avoided.  Most beaches will have signs on them with relevant information on it as well as on websites and the Met Office are always good for an idea on weather conditions.

When choosing a beach also factor in the safety aspect.  Look for beaches that have lifeguard cover in case anything goes wrong and even better, if there is a surf school based there you can either join in or at least know it is good spot to try out.  The RNLI also work hard keeping an eye on everyone in the water and their website lists all beaches that have their lifeguards on them.

Where can you learn to surf?

If you really aren’t certain that you or the kids will take to surfing, then getting a few surfing lessons can be a great option.  There are hundreds of surf schools around the country and most will include the basic equipment needed to start out so people don’t need to spend money on equipment until they have tried the sport.  Basic surfing skills can be learnt in as little as a day but a series of lessons will allow a fuller sense of the sport and let kids see if it is ‘the one’ for them.

If jumping into the sea to try out surfing is a little intimidating for anyone, then there are also a few indoor surf centres around located across the UK.  If you live in Wales or planning to visit Wales during the Summer Holidays you could consider the Cardiff International White Water centre, which has a special surf machine for complete beginners to try as well as experienced surfers to practise when the weather is bad. Indoor Surfing can also be carried out at the LC at Swansea.

Lake surfing is a modern creation and a great example is Surf Snowdonia, a fresh water lagoon the length of six football pitches with a two-metre-high barrelling wave running from the centre to the ends. A great place to learn to Surf if you are a little intimidated by the Sea!

Popular Surf Beaches

Whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales there are plenty of beaches where you can go Surfing. The most popular Surf Beaches are;

Longsands Bay, Tynemouth

Ideal for beginner to expert level, the best swell direction is coming from the northeast.  There are lifeguards on duty in summer and both lessons and board hire can be arranged at the beach.

Saltburn-on-Sea, North Yorkshire

Good for intermediates but also fine for beginners, the surf is generally fairly mellow either side of the pier and there are excellent reefs as well.

Newgale, Pembrokeshire

Fine for beginners but intermediate onwards only in big swells.  There is a surf shop on the beach offering equipment hire and lessons as well as daily surf reports and there are rarely crowd problems here.

Watergate Bay, Cornwall

Suitable for beginners through to experts, the beach has been created as a ‘ski resort on the beach’ with surfing just one of the lessons on offer.  It has been the premier water sports spot in Cornwall since the 1960s so can get a little crowded.

Pease Bay, Borders

Great for beginners and one of the new hotspots of surfing in Scotland.  There are good breaks and a lovely beach as well as challenges for more experienced surfing.  There is also a surf shop offering hire and lessons nearby.

Tips

There is a certain etiquette when surfing and it is important to learn this before starting on the waves to avoid offending anyone.  Many beaches will even post a list of what is expected from those using the beach and while they are mostly common sense, knowing who has right of way is a good one to get to know!