Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Breath of fresh air
Emma Deadman and family swap the seaside for an inland outdoor activity holiday
Be warned – you could get wet.” The words of caution from our canoe guide Holly turned out to be a moot point as the skies were already darkening. Thirty seconds later, the heavens opened – but by then, the splashing from rival oars had already soaked us.
Before long, other foolhardy holidaymakers had joined in the fun and games on the four-acre lake. It was the highlight of our mini-break at Brokerswood Holiday Park, according to my adventurous duo – nine-year-old Milo and his sister Romy, six.
Our Canadian canoe escapade was one of three activities organised by the Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team (WOLT), who organise activities for guests staying on site as well as members of the public.
The day of fun started with a Tarzan tree trail – a challenging high ropes course followed by a 328ft zipwire finish – and ended with archery.
I am in no way athletic, and have spent most of my life trying to find ‘my sport’, but I have a sneaking suspicion it could be archery, thanks to a few super 10s (and a few blatant misses, I won’t lie).
Switching between participants so that everyone got a short burst of target practice on an efficient rotation, the archery was my highlight of the day.
After a minor discrepancy with my other half over the scoring (I had a better actual score, but once the improvement points were added, he ended up winning...), it was time to call it a day.
A huge benefit to the WOLT activities is that they’re all on site, so it was just a five-minute walk back to our lodge. Brokerswood lies in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside, among 80 acres of woodland. With forest trails and picnic spots dotted around the lake, it’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle.
Our lodge came with its own hot tub, which you don’t fully appreciate until you get in. That, and a large decked area with table and chairs, meant we spent our free time outside enjoying the fresh air.
A fully equipped open-plan kitchen diner, utility room, en suite and TV in both bedrooms highlighted the quality of our luxury accommodation.
After a full day of activities, our appetites were as huge as our archery scores. Well, mine anyway.
The Full Moon Inn, in Lower Rudge, is just a five-minute drive away, though easily walkable along the country lane. New owners took over just months before Covid hit – giving them time to renovate the 400-year-old pub back to its full glory.
It offers delicious wood-fired pizza on Fridays, an everchanging themed menu on a Saturday. We dropped in on Greek night, and enjoyed a hearty feast of everything from meat skewers and homemade hummus to a
‘‘ At last I have a sneaking suspicion I’ve found ‘my sport’... and it’s archery
minty couscous salad and baklava. Then there’s a traditional roast on a Sunday.
We usually always holiday on the coast, so we wondered whether staying inland at Brokerswood would offer us an equally great experience. It really did. There is so much to do nearby that we didn’t get the chance to squeeze everything in.
Ideally located near Bath, just 20 minutes away, we also visited Bradford-on-Avon, a charming town on the edge of the Cotswolds with the picturesque river running through it, and the quaint village of Beckington.
Just off the island outside the village is the White Row Farm shop, which along with a cafe and gift shop has a large, free children’s play area. Well worth buying one of its homemade cakes and sitting on a picnic table while the kids let off some steam.
Longleat Safari Park is just 10 minutes away too.
You’ve probably seen photos of a white horse carved into a hill somewhere in the UK, but never really given much thought as to where it is. But it’s hard to miss the impressive 180ft tall engraving near the local town of Westbury.
It first came into sight rounding the corner to Brokerswood, but by far the most impressive viewing platform is from above it.
It’s located on the edge of Braton Downs (so there’s plenty of walking to be had nearby) and lies just below an Iron Age hill fort.
You can see for miles up on the plain, and the warm winds provide perfect conditions for paragliders, many of whom were there while we were.
For a minute, watching the effortless way they glided through the air left me contemplating trying it out as a new hobby sport. But maybe I should just stick to the archery for now.
‘‘ It’s well worth buying a farm shop homemade cake for a picnic