Stuck in a holiday rut? Banish boredom on one of these family friendly UK activity breaks. We can’t promise they’ll eradicate the annual chorus of “are we nearly there yet?” though...
Farming at Cwmcrwth Farm, Wales
At this toddler-friendly farm in Carmarthenshire in Wales, families can hop on a tractor with Farmer Rob and join him on his daily rounds – bottle-feeding lambs, collecting eggs and hanging out with the piglets (grown-up fun comes in the form of cheese-making courses). Guests can sleep off the hard work in one of the farm’s cottages, or book a night in the pig ark, where the alarm call comes in the form of oinks.
How: Three nights from £189 for four. cwmcrwthfarm.co.uk; discovercarmarthenshire.com
Surfing and riding at Natural Retreats Trewhiddle, Cornwall
You can pack the whole family in at one of these two-, three- and four-bedroom self-catering cottages near the quaint Cornish fishing village of Mevagissey. The Natural Retreats team is on hand to arrange surf lessons at the local beach, while the nearby countryside is prime bike and horse riding territory. With approximately 30 cottages on site, even the surliest teenagers are sure to make some like-minded mates.
How: Three nights in a stone clad two bedroom cottage costs £368, based on four sharing. naturalretreats.com
Sea kayaking with Wilderness Scotland
Along the way there’s a chance of spotting otters and dolphins, while double and single kayaks allow kids as much or as little time as they wish to spend with their parents (or the other way around…)
This specially-designed trip for families has parents and children paddling across the calm and peaceful waters of Scotland’s west coast.
Along the way there’s a chance of spotting otters and dolphins, while double and single kayaks allow kids as much or as little time as they wish to spend with their parents (or, indeed, the other way around). Accommodation is provided at a local inn, with hearty, home-cooked meals.
How: Prices from £695 per person based on a family of four sharing a room for a week. wildernessscotland.com
Glamping with Retro Vacations, Suffolk
For old-school camping without the leaky tent and damp sleeping bag, try a vintage American Airstream from Retro Vacations. Located on a campsite just seven miles from the Suffolk coast, the 1950s caravans come with equally retro names (pick from Dee Dee, Betsy, Gloria, Annie and our favourite, Peggy).
There’s an on-site vintage play truck and giant trampoline, and you can continue the retro holiday vibe with a trip to the seaside town of Southwold – home to a pier, arcades and colourful beach huts.
For old-school camping without the leaky tent and damp sleeping bag, try a vintage American Airstream from Retro Vacations
How: Caravans from £375 per week based on two or more sharing. happydaysrv.co.uk
Raft building and camping in the Lake District
Get back to basics and inject some adventure into your break with a River Deep Mountain High activity holiday. Families are encouraged to work together to build a sturdy, buoyant raft, before paddling it across a stretch of Lake District water. If that sounds like hard work, the company also offers a Swallows and Amazons trip, which ticks off the main lake-side beaches featured in the book in a much more stable way – by canoe. The local area is scattered with proper campsites – a child’s dream, potentially a parent’s nightmare. Good luck.
How: River Deep Mountain High offers a variety of adventure days in the area. riverdeepmountainhigh.co.uk; coolcamping.co.uk
