FIRST FOR FAMILY FUN
A Cotswold park is the last word in UK breaks for all ages, says Kate Lally
As any parent will know, there is no greater sound than the laughter of your own child. And I spent a blissful week hearing the spontaneous chuckles of my little one, Billy, on his first ever staycation.
“Firsts” are a big thing when you’re a new parent. First words, first steps, first pair of shoes… every one of them is talked about, re-lived and documented.
Our stay at Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park in Gloucestershire, proved to be a fabulous “first” holiday on home soil and we made memories that will last a lifetime.
The park itself is set within the heart of Cotswold Water Park, comprising 180 lakes spread over 42 square miles. These amazing wetlands host tens of thousands of birds and provide an amazing array of opportunities for watersports such as windsurfing, paddle boarding and canoeing, as well as walking, cycling, angling, and horse-riding.
It is also a great jumping-off point for pottering about in the honeycoloured villages of the Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty since 1966.
With Hoburne Cotswold, not only do you get a beautiful location with a huge choice of things to do, you get all the luxury of a five-star holiday park with first-class facilities.
The park is sprawled around the lakes so you’re never far from the waterside and plenty of scenic strolls.
You can opt for a budget break in a classic caravan, go for a deluxe lodge, plump for a lakeside location, or go for a dogfriendly abode.
We loved our modern, spacious lodge with a posh kitchen full of gadgets plus a hot tub on the outdoor decking. It was such a lovely treat to wake up to, or to wind down in as the sun was setting.
It can be tough keeping kids entertained but there was always something to do at Hoburne Cotswold. From football to archery, they have it covered. Make the most of the lakeside location with a peaceful afternoon fishing session, hire a swan pedalo or enjoy a spot of adventure golf.
Have fun on four wheels with a family Dino Cart bike or take a dip in the outdoor pool.
If you want to stay indoors, there’s a soft play area, heated swimming pool with flume and children’s splash pool, as well as a steam room, sauna and fitness suite. Hoburne’s Crafternoons are great, with plenty of cutting, sticking, colouring and painting, under the supervision of the park’s own hosts.
There are fun group activities for kids such as Create and Glow, where they are let loose on T-shirts with neon paints. There’s the magic of Hoburne’s wizard school and spy school, and in the evening there are talent shows, Hoburne’s high-energy stage productions, vocalists, bands, magicians, quizzes and discos.
For snacks, coffees and casual dining on site, there is Cafe h, or try a home-cooked meal at Brasserie 1912, which serves pub classics such as steaks, burgers, pasta, pies and roasts on Sundays.
This location is ideal if you love a day trip, and a highlight of our holiday was visiting Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens.
Located two miles south of the village of Burford, its 160 acres of landscaped parkland, gardens and collection of mature trees were worth the journey alone.
There’s a stunning Victorian Manor House too, but for little ones, the only structure they’re interested in is the wooden play area, which has a Skymaze featuring interconnecting treehouses, jungle bridges, zip wire, swings and spacenet.
Once you’ve let a kid loose in this awesome playground, it’s hard to tear them away. However, the promise of meeting a huddle of Humboldt penguins should do the trick.
The park is home to 260 species including giraffes, meerkats and Asiatic lions, and has a petting farm with all the barnyard favourites.
We spent another memorable day at nearby Bourton-on-the-water, which is regularly voted the prettiest village in Britain.
Teeming with charming pubs, cafes and shops, its most prized feature is the tranquil River Windrush that meanders through its centre, straddled by its famous low bridges.
We crammed a lot into our week at Hoburne Cotswold, a top-quality holiday park in a beautiful part of the world.
And the great news is, it’s getting even better with some very exciting upgrades.
The current cafe and soft play area will become a new indoor play zone by Easter. The pool is having a makeover too with new children’s water play equipment, and will be ready for May half-term.
I have a funny feeling that this trip will be the “first” of many.
‘‘ The five-star park has first-class facilities in a beautiful location
‘‘ Entertaining kids is hard but there’s always something to do here