15 interesting ways to treat your mum
Our mums are all unique and special in their own way. And if you don’t want to go down the traditional route of flowers, chocolates or a meal out, here are some ideas for mums who have all sorts of interests
1. For the mum who loves foodie treats
What: Mother’s Day High Tea. Where: The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny. With the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons on the doorstep, the Angel Hotel is famous across the UK for its afternoon tea. It’s a member of the prestigious UK Tea Guild, one of only nine hotels outside of London, and its decadent tea has held an Award of Excellence since 2008.
High Tea at The Angel is an elegant affair, with silver tiered cake stands, bone china, crisp white linen and sandwiches, freshly baked cakes and pastries.
The Angel offers a wide range of teas and infusions, from historic teas like Darjeeling First Flush to seasonal tea choices and a full classic tea library. If you are heading out to explore the Brecon Beacons stop off at The Angel’s sister bakery to pick up some freshly baked treats.
For those wanting to treat their Mum to a night of luxury, choose the Mothering Sunday package that includes an overnight stay, bouquet of flowers and dinner in The Oak Room – perfect for a weekend of indulgence, surrounded by stunning scenery. Details: The package is riced from £200 and available on Sunday, March 26. Afternoon tea £27.80pp for high tea and an additional £9pp for champagne. To book call 01873 857121.
2. For the mum who loves adventure
What: Adrenalin Cocktail Weekend. Where: Preseli Venture, Pembrokeshire. Located on the award-winning Pembrokeshire coast, home to some of the UK’s best beaches, Preseli Venture offers a range of activities along with five star eco lodge accommodation.
Mix and match your weekend itinerary to create a tailored trip from horse riding to surfing, then spend the evening relaxing in the comfortable eco lodge with home cooked meals in a tranquil setting.
Embark on an active Mother’s Day trip to spend some quality time together, surrounded by unspoilt scenery. Details: The Adrenalin Cocktail weekend package includes two nights stay at the eco lodge, home cooked meals, two half days of activities and qualified guides. Prices start from £229. Visit www. preseliventure.co.uk
3. For the mum who loves being pampered
What: Pamper Weekend. Where: Trefloyne Manor, Tenby. Treat your mum to a weekend of pampering with a boutique stay at Trefloyne Manor. Located in West Wales’ picturesque countryside, with the pretty harbour town of Tenby nearby, Trefloyne Manor offers personalised packages for a memorable stay.
Choose from the individually designed rooms and enjoy a relaxing trip with in-room spa treatments available, including a Natural Radiance Facial and Aromatherapy massages.
After a morning of pampering take a stroll along the stunning Pembrokeshire coastline and return to the Manor to enjoy some seasonal cuisine.
For an extra special Sunday book Trefloyne’s Mother’s Day lunch featuring the best local produce such as Preseli Bluestone lamb and Celtic Pride beef – the perfect end to a weekend of indulgence. Details: Prices start from £180 per room, per night, including breakfast (three for two nights when booked directly). Early booking recommended for the Mother’s Day Lunch, two courses for £15.95. Call 01834 842165.
4. For the mum who loves a big family get together
What: A family weekend. Where: Filly Farmhouse, Hay-onWye. Treat mum to a break with the family at Filly Farmhouse, the perfect setting for a Mother’s Day family get-together. This gorgeous stone farmhouse is surrounded by a large garden, overlooks its own lake with a boat and is only a 10-minute drive into the historic book lover’s town of Hay on Wye.
The kitchen is the perfect place to prepare that hearty Sunday lunch and the farmhouse also boasts an open fireplace and a games room equipped with jukebox and piano. Details: Sleeps 10 and short breaks cost from £1,160.
5. For the mum who loves surfing
What: Surfing with Porthcawl Surf School. Where: Porthcawl. Far less well known than the Welsh surf hotspots of Gower and Pembrokeshire, Bridgend county borough nevertheless has some of the hottest surf breaks in the UK, with the renowned Wales Coastal Path creating a varied coastline.
Porthcawl offers some of the best waves for beginners and experienced surfers. Those in need of lessons can book a session with the Porthcawl Surf School, named the UK’s Best Surf School at the UK Surf Awards. So grab a board and enjoy the best of British surfing – perfect for an active Mother’s Day. Details: Beginner surf lesson is £30pp including wetsuit and surfboard. Visit www.porthcawlsurf.co.uk
6. For the mum who loves animals
What: The Wildlife Trust adoption scheme. If your mum loves animals, why not organise a wildlife adoption for her? The Wildlife Trust has several wildlife species that are available for adoption including a badger, a puffin, a seal, a red squirrel and a hedgehog.
Adopting one of these will help with various conservation tasks such as work on Skomer and Skokholm islands ensuring that the seal pup population is healthy, monitoring the red squirrels in mid Wales, promoting a tuberculosis vaccine as a viable alternative to culling and campaigning for better legislation to protect and improve wildlife habitats throughout south and west Wales.
Your mum (if this is her first adoption) will receive an introductory letter, a personalised adoption certificate, a fact sheet and soft toy of her/your chosen wildlife species. Each year that she continues to adopt wildlife your mum will receive a report on how the species is doing in Wales. Details: Adoptions are £25. Call 01656 724100 or email info@welshwildlifeorg
7. For the mum who loves chocolate
What: Hands-on experience in chocolate making break. Where: The Vale Resort, Hensol Park, Hensol, CF72 8JY. Choose from two options – chocolate lovers break (£110) and chocolate indulgence break (£175).
It’s an absolute must for chocolate lovers everywhere. Details: It’s available for June 24 and you can buy it as a gift experience for mum. Call 01443 667800.
8. For the mum who loves gardening
What: RHS Flower Show. Where: Bute Park, Cardiff. Featured show gardens will include Bridgend College’s Y Meudwyaeth, inspired by the Blackfriars monastic site and heritage, as well as Chris Myers’ homage to Blodeuwedd, a mythical woman made from flowers who, legend has it, was turned into an owl as punishment for trying to murder her husband. Details: It takes place from April 7 to April 9. Tickets are available from www.rhs.org.uk/cardiff
9. For the mum who loves Strictly Come Dancing
What: Pascah Kovalev’s new show Let’s Dance the Night Away. Where: Various venues. The winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2014, Pasha will be joined again by his spectacular dancers including special guest Anja Garnis in an evening of singing, dance, chatting and fun.
This new production features breathtaking choreography, sensational music and stunning costumes leaving the audience supercharged with positive energy and emotion. Details: Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl, March 29 (01745 330000); Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, April 20 (01656 815995); and Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, April 21 (01874 611622).
10. For the mum who loves reading
What: The tranquillity of a library – for a whole night. Where: Gladstone’s Library in Flintshire. Details: Visit gladstoneslibrary.org for more information.
11. For the mum who loves cooking
What: The Art of Charcoal Grilling. Where: Llanerch Vineyard, near Cardiff If you mum is a mean baker and has got her desserts and casseroles down to a T, maybe it’s time dad let her take over barbecue duties?
Welsh chef Angela Grey has teamed up with the Weber Grill Academy to provide courses on how to get the most our of your barbecue, preparing a variety of dishes which could range from roasts to risottos, or pork loin to puddings.
The Art of Charcoal Grilling is an extensive four-hour course, focusing on the iconic charcoal range. You’ll learn all the essential skills for barbecue success, including how to correctly light the barbecue, the different cooking methods and how to control the temperature effectively.
You’ll grill, roast, bake and smoke delicious dishes, from bruschetta to pulled pork, surf ‘n’ turf to bread and cake. Details: April 9 from 10am to 2pm. £99 per person. Visit www.angelagray.co.uk
12. For the mum who loves laughing
What: Good Mourning Mrs Brown. Where: Cardiff Motorpoint Arena. It’s one of the biggest TV comedy shows and now Mrs Brown’s taking her boys into the live arena with Good Mourning Mrs Brown. Expect plenty of belly laughs. Details: The show runs from June 14 to 18. For tickets ring 029 2022 4488. There are also warm-up shows at Rhyl Pavilion from March 23 to 25.
13. For the mum who loves sewing
What: The Stitchery sewing workshops. Where: Roath, Cardiff. All mums have to so a button on or shorten some trousers every now and again, but if yours is really keen to learn more about the art of sewing, you could book her a place on a sewing workshop.
The aim of The Stitchery is to create opportunities for people to regain the love and skills of sewing and there are loads of different courses mum could try.
There’s a beginners one, an introduction to garment making or a Saturday sewing club. Details: Go to www.thestitchery.org for all the information.
14. For the mum who loves wine
What: A wine subscription. The likes of Vinoa let you treat your loved one to a monthly gift of artisan wines for three, six or 12 months.
The box is the complete wine tasting experience, with tasting wines chosen by its in-house wine expert and some tasting notes. Details: Prices starts from £32.70. Visit www.vinoa.co.uk
15. For mums who love music
What: Take That. Where: Liberty Stadium, Swansea. There are so any concerts coming to Wales this summer, including Coldpaly, Justin Beiber, Robbie Williams and Olly Murs.
And though they have gone from a five-piece to a three-piece, we bet mum still loves Take That.
They’ve sold out the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on numerous occasions and this summer it’s the turn of Swansea to enjoy the Take That experience. Details: They play on June 14. Get tickets at www.seetickets.com