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Only two minutes up the road from Longdown, this woodland park is home to rather more exotic creatures such as bison, owls, tropical butterflies, wallabies, lynx and wolves (the latter ran off in terror when the kids started howling at them). There’s also a tree-shaded adventure playground with wooden climbing frames and a zip wire that parents love too. newforestwildlifepark.co.uk (adults £11.50, kids £8.50, family £35) bus, we were touring in When we weren’t on the courtesy of Hertz a Nissan Qashqai hire car, the anti-prang (hertz.co.uk). We appreciated Hertz Connect tech. parking sensors and the wi-fi hotspot that links This is a nifty portable internet, whether you’re multiple devices to fast parks etc. in the car or at cafes/theme allowance and no There’s unlimited data get 30 mins of free roaming charges, and you It’s free on rentals over international calls a day. after signing up (for £250 if you book online Rewards member. It free) as a Hertz Gold Plus if required but also lets you call for assistance didn’t need to test it. I’m delighted to say we CHEERS Ringwood Brewery

thenewforesttour.info (day ticket £16 adults, £9 kids, £36 group of up to five) Join Fred Olsen’s Balmoral in Newcastle on Sept 25 for an 11nt Swedish Waterways & Cities sailing. From £999pp, calling at Malmo, Visby, Stockholm, the Stockholm archipelago and Gothenburg. Visit fredolsencruises.com or call 0800 0355 242.