The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
FUN-SIZE FAMILY FIXES
HAVE FUN FOR LESS
Leicestershire
Keep everyone entertained on a budget with StayPlayExplore. Its Plus packages include three nights at a family-friendly hotel, plus tickets for your choice of four attractions. There are options across the Midlands; try a stay at the Leicester Hilton with visits to Bosworth Battlefield, Twycross Zoo, the Conkers Hi/Lo Ropes Adventure and Stonehurst Family Farm.
A three-night StayPlayExplore Plus break costs from £319 for a family of four including B&B accommodation and four attractions (stayplayexplore. co.uk).
VISIT NATURE’S PLAYGROUND
Pembrokeshire
Want to splash, swim and paddle in the safety of your bubble? Head to the Pembrokeshire coast. Stay at an Ecolodge – where there’s board games, a pool table and a bonfire for toasting marshmallows – and pack in multiple adventures. Go coasteering, learn to surf, sea kayak beneath the cliffs and attempt the Abermawr Challenge, an orienteering-style quest around the woods and beach.
A three-night Family Adventure costs from £385/325 adult/child including full-board accommodation (01348 837709; preseliventure.co.uk).
HAVE A SORT-OF SAFARI
Isle of Wight
You can’t visit an African reserve right now. But you can stay safari-style in a Unesco Biosphere Reserve. New for summer 2021, family-friendly Southland Campsite on the Isle of Wight has four canvas safari tents, each with two bedrooms, a kitchen and veranda, perfect for gazing over the Arreton Valley. Explore by bus and bike – there are lovely beaches within easy reach.
A three-night stay (sleeps up to six) costs from £117 (01342 777533; experience freedom.co.uk).
HIKE ON THE HOUSE
Peak District
For a multi-generational walking weekend, you can’t beat the UK’s oldest national park. Up to three children can accompany each paying adult on HF’s family adventure at Peveril of the Peak House. There’s a choice of four walks each day, graded “Family” to “Hard”.
A three-night Peak District Family Adventure costs from £445pp including full-board accommodation, under-18s free; July 23 2021 (020 3974 8868; hfholidays.co.uk).
TAKE THE CLAN
Cairngorms
The Macdonald Aviemore Hotel is designed for families: rooms are big (and some have bunk bed privacy partitions) while facilities include a huge pool, an enormous soft-play area, dress-up space, treehouse and more. Plus there’s a national park on the doorstep, where you can hike, bike, visit the Highland Wildlife Park or take a Hairy Coo Safari.
A three-night stay for a family of four costs from £600 full-board (01479 815100; macdonaldhotels.co.uk).
WIZARD THEM AWAY
Hertfordshire
A little bit of Hogwarts is hiding at the end of the Tube… North Hill Farm has several magic-sprinkled glamping retreats; new for this year is Hagridd’s Hideaway, a rustic wooden roundhouse with a bath fit for a half-giant and lots of Potter knickknacks. The farm is accessible by the Metropolitan line, and close to Warner Bros Studios, home of the Harry Potter tour.
A three-night stay at Hagridd’s Hideaway (sleeps five) costs from £600 (01923 287040; northhillfarm.co.uk).
EMBRACE THE WILD
New Forest
Let the kids roam free on an almostwild New Forest camping weekend. Harry’s Field has three sites across the national park, all good for wildswimming, tree-climbing and spotting deer and ponies. Choose between small-but-serene Harry’s Field, Harry’s Meadow (where there are luxe bell tents, too) and the Old Airfield, with its eco-facilities and food trucks. Pitches from £16 plus £8/£4 adult/ child; bell tents (sleep four-six) from £395 for three nights (07968 136891; newforestcampsite.com).
Travel within the UK is currently subject to restrictions. See Page 3.