Reasons To Choose A Family Staycation This Summer

If you haven’t yet booked your summer holidays as you can’t decide whether to hop on a flight or get in the car, these key reasons why you should stay in the UK with the family just might sway you.

Get more for your money

One of the most topical reasons to stay in the UK is the cost benefit. There’s been much debate about whether UK holidays are in fact cheaper than going abroad but if you factor in the current exchange rates and the fact you don’t need to pay for flights, then more expensive accommodation is generally outweighed.

There’s even more opportunity to save money by going self-catering in the UK. You also don’t need to renew your passports or get one for the kids. An adult passport costs £72.50 and child passports cost £46, or more if you need it in a hurry, which all adds up.

The beauty of the UK

It’s easy to forget just how beautiful and historically-rich the UK is, when all we see is where we live and the main roads to nearby cities. From ancient castles and country houses to stunning steam railway journeys, breathtaking walks and some of the best beaches in the world, our fine country has a lot going for it.

Walking around any of our national parks is a treat, but some of my favourites are The Lake District and my former home grounds of Dartmoor and Exmoor. And as for our beaches, there are so many that rival those abroad, even if we don’t have the guaranteed sunshine. Try the North Norfolk coast for seal spotting, Cornwall for coves and surfing opportunities, the caves, stacks and rock-pools of Yorkshire, the vast stretches of sand in Devon and the craggy beauty of the Gower peninsula.

Do lots or do nothing

One of the best things about holidaying in the UK is there’s less pressure to make the most of every second, as you can always come back for a long weekend some other time. This means that you can head out to some of the local family attractions or just walk around the countryside. A day in your pyjamas doing puzzles and playing board games isn’t out of the question, either!

If you get a rainy day and you don’t fancy spending it in the holiday home, somewhere like the Warner Bros Studio Tour is a fab option that Harry Potter fans of all ages will love. There’s plenty of indoor Hogwarts action, like visiting The Great Hall, Diagon Alley and Platform 9 ¾ sets, plus learning how the films were made and getting pictures of you flying a broomstick in the green screen.

Convenience
Lastly and by no means least in terms of having a stress-free break, UK holidays mean far less travelling, no time differences or language barriers and fewer uncertainties. As for travelling, you don’t even have to staycation for a week to make the most of it as you won’t be travelling for a day each way.

Other convenience factors are that you know the culture, you’re probably familiar with the area you’re going to and you’re certainly familiar with the food. While part of the charm of going abroad is trying all the different flavours, you really can’t argue with fish and chips and clotted cream ice cream by the harbour (teaching the kids how to fend off seagulls is a rite of passage). Plus afternoon teas, pub lunches and all the take-aways we like.

Are you going abroad or staying in the UK this year? And have I missed any of your deciding factors off the list of why to staycation? Let me know below.

Read more

Review: Our Holiday Home Rental From Toad Hall Cottages, Kingsbridge, Devon

We have just returned from a week's holiday in Devon where we rented a lovely house in the small town of Kingsbridge from Toad Hall Cottages.

This is our third time using Toad Hall Cottages and we remain quietly impressed.  The company specialises in holiday property hire in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall and many of its properties are situated in lovely, picturesque locations.

Bralo, Kingsbridge courtesy of Toad Hall Cottages

Our first two hires were of a property called Blue Skies in one of my favourite locations, Noss Mayo, which is about 10 miles from Plymouth.

Devon has a special place in my heart as my parents were both born there and our childhood holidays always involved a stay with our grandparents who lived in Cattedown and Peverell.   The Husband has become resigned to the fact that the area is always my first choice of holiday location.  

Booking is easy, as you would expect.  You simply select the property which interests you and check online availability and pricing.  You do have to be quick because the properties are booked well in advance of school holidays and a deposit of one third is payable on booking, plus a security deposit which is refunded 3-4 days on return, provided you have not damaged the property or left it in a mess.  The security deposit for Bralo was £175.  The balance of your holiday is payable 6 weeks before the start of your booking.

A UK staycation has the reputation of costing more than a comparable holiday abroad but, to us, the benefits of a home-spun holiday far outweigh anything the Costas have to offer - although I am sure we will venture abroad at some point in the near future.

Once you ignore the galling fact that the price of all the holiday rental properties rockets in August (we paid around £1400 for a week) and then sink like a stone again in September (a comparable week would cost £570), the price is actually bearable if you are in a location where much of the entertainment is free and you are not being stung in excess of £50 entrance fees every time you enter a theme park or other similar attraction.

In terms of budget, it is possible to have a cost-effective holiday if you are happy with the simple pleasures of a bucket and spade and an ice cream, provided that the weather holds.  

The other thing to remember is that the M5 can resemble a car park at peak periods so if you are travelling to Devon in August you may want to be flexible with the times you travel.  It took us over 6 hours to return to Cardiff and on our next trip we may well travel home on the last night (the journey usually takes half that) to avoid numb bottoms and the suspicion that getting out of your car and walking might actually be quicker.

We stayed in "Bralo", a 4 bedroomed detached property in Kingsbridge which is just a few miles from many great beaches - Thurlestone, Hope Cove, Salcombe, Slapton, Blackpool Sands, Torcross and Bigbury - and that's without taking into account all the sights of Plymouth and the beauty of Dartmoor which are also practically on your doorstep.

You can access your holiday property from 3 pm in the afternoon and are asked to leave by 10 am on the morning of your departure date.

Bralo has a garage large enough for one standard saloon which you can use but parking is a little difficult as the house is directly opposite a primary school.  It being school holidays, this was not a problem although the school was in constant use and I imagine that there would be lots more congestion during school run times.

The property was in immaculate condition and spotlessly clean.  The quality of the fixtures and fittings was high (can't go wrong with John Lewis, can you?!) and everything had been thought of, with the exception of pegs for the washing line and some bathroom cleaner.

Today though, everyone is so health and safety conscious I suspect that these items are deliberately not included.

There was plenty of space for up to 8 people to relax and spread out.  The wood burning fire must be lovely in winter.

There's a generously sized table to accommodate some great family meals when all you want to do is chill in your own space.  There are only so many restaurant and pub meals we can take in a week.

One of the things we love most about self-catering is that you have the freedom to choose when and where you eat.  Kingsbridge has a range of good local shops plus the ubiquitous Tesco and Morrisons so it's easy to stock up for at least a couple of meals.

The kitchen was well equipped with a large fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and double oven.

There were lovely little personal touches everywhere.

There were two twin rooms downstairs both with TVs.  My only gripe was that the blinds in the second twin room were too light to prevent the moonlight flooding through.  Caitlin and Ieuan managed to share one of the two rooms without killing each other.

There was also a separate toilet with vanity unit and walk-in shower downstairs. The light / air con unit for this was great but if switched on in the middle of the night was rather loud if you were a light sleeper.

Upstairs there were two beautiful bedrooms, one with an ensuite and the other next to a bathroom with a stand-alone bath.

This particular property would work really well for two families or for a family with members of a variety of ages.  There is, however, no disabled access and dogs are not welcome at Bralo, although many of Toad Hall Cottages' other properties do welcome them - you just have to check before you book.

One of Bralo's main strengths is its lovely garden which has clearly been landscaped and has a dining table to seat 8 in the back garden and a barbecue area in the front.

We loved Bralo and would highly recommend it as a holiday rental for a larger family.

Ieuan loved it so much he made his own mini guide with some charming selfies at the end of it.  Alastair Sawday watch out.

You can find more information about Toad Hall Cottages on their website www.toadhallcottages.co.uk and they will also send you a brochure if you prefer.  Just call 01503 272303.  You can also find Toad Hall Cottages on Twitter and Facebook.

They will certainly be our first choice for our next holiday booking.

Read more

City To Countryside In 2 Hours: 3 On Trend Weekend Getaways

At the end of the week, why not buckle up your seatbelts and head straight to the countryside for a weekend retreat? Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire, as well as sharing their Shire titles, also boast a conveniently close proximity to London. This, combined with their stunning scenery, makes these spots the ideal counties to escape to.

Below is a roundup of the most idyllic hotels to stay in for a weekend away from the city.

The Mews at Sopwell House, Hertfordshire: 1 hour drive from London

Sopwell House

 Originally an old stable block, the newly renovated Hertfordshire oasis comprises 16 Mews set within the 12-acre grounds of the stunning Georgian manor house, Sopwell House.

With the choice of studio, one bedroom and duplex mews houses, each of the properties is styled in a quintessentially British manner. The glamorous retreats benefit from full use of the Sopwell House Hotel’s elegant restaurants and award-winning spa.

The Mews surround a stunning communal botanical garden with a hydrotherapy pool, designed by Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist Ann-Marie Powell. Many have their own private terraces with sunken hot tubs.

Sopwell House

The Mews at Sopwell House is at Cottonmill Lane, St Albans, AL1 2HQ.  For reservations, please call: 01727 864477.

Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire: 2 hour drive from London

This escape needs no introduction. Belonging to one of the most exclusive group of members clubs in the world, there’s no wonder why Soho Farmhouse has been frequented by the likes of Henry Holland, Princess Eugenie and Alexa Chung. The charming seven-bedroom farmhouse is set in 100 acres of Oxfordshire countryside and the retreat boasts a four-bedroom cottage as well as 40 additional cabins. Activities on offer include pony hacks across the fields, tennis on the all-weather courts, boating from the boathouse pontoon and football on the five-a-side grass pitch.

Soho Farmhouse is at Great Tew, Chipping Norton, OX7 4JS.  For reservations, please call: 01608 691000.

Coworth Park, Berkshire: 1 hour drive from London.

Located in acres of picturesque parkland– this luxurious country house hotel on the borders of Windsor Great Park boasts high-end style coupled with a countryside ambience. As part of the prestigious Dorchester collection of hotels, the retreat comprises a Georgian style Mansion House and self-contained converted Stables and Cottages. An understated palette of subtle colours lends an air of calm to the spacious rooms and suites. The hotel also offers a spa as well as equestrian and polo facilities.

Coworth Park is at Blacknest Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7SE.  For reservations, please call 01344 876600.

Read more

Holidays in the UK - I Like A Kagool, As a Rule

When I was a child, our holidays were usually either in the homes of our grandparents, in Plymouth, Devon or we'd rent a cottage in one of the beautiful landscapes of the British Isles - the Lakes, Yorkshire or, closer to home, Dolgellau or Aberporth.  

Source:  www.outdoor-revolution.com

In those days, a theme park was an unheard of proposition. Going out to play meant zooming up and down the cul-de-sac on a Mini Moulton or a Chopper bicycle. The most hedonistic experience you could have at the fair ground was going down the log flume whilst consuming a boiling hot doughnut or, possibly, trying to eat candyfloss in a force 10 gale whilst sporting very long hair. The end result was not dissimilar to one of those troll dolls you could buy - or was it a gonk? I never did manage to work out the difference.  

But one thing was a reassuring constant. It always rained. Always. Apart from the 'long, hot summer of 1976' which most of us, ahem, mature individuals can recall. So, the entire family would sport the lovely, crinkly and sweat inducing garment that is the kagool. Helpfully high visibility, even on the bleakest afternoon up Cader Idris or in the depths of the slate mine at Blaenau Ffestiniog, you could probably spot the Brooks family from space. 

We moved like a day-glo orange unit, armed with dad's rucksack, some cracked plastic camping mugs (which, mother is STILL using) and emergency Kendal Mint Cake (a minty, sugar based confection which tasted fabulous, resembled a brick and could probably knock you out if it were thrown at you). Sandwiches were cheese and tomato (irrespective of the fact that nobody really liked tomato). Crisps were those Salt 'n' Shake ones which were murder if you suffered from mouth ulcers and, since the tortured minds at Robinsons had not yet conceived the "Fruit Shoot", we had squashy, plastic cartons of Kia Ora which was as orange as our kagools.

I tend to spend most school holidays in a complete lather about "how to entertain the kids". I morph into an irritable, over-anxious Butlins Red Coat of a mother, bemoaning the fact that every venue seems to require a lengthy drive, satnav, and, of course, at least 50 photographs uploaded to Facebook within 30 minutes of returning home. (Here we are on the beach.  Here we are eating an ice cream on the beach. Here we are digging a hole - on the beach). Guilty as charged, m'lud but I wish it wasn't such a compulsion.

If their holiday Facebook statuses are to be believed, other mums seem to spend their time ferrying their offspring the length and breadth of this country's entertainment venues within the first two weeks of the holidays. They must surely be inhaling Berroca (although it is more likely to be Pinot Grigio). They go abseiling, rock climbing, horse riding, baking, crafting, bbq-ing and face painting. 

Well, in the first week of last year's summer holidays we went to Tesco's and let me tell you it was a disaster. Despite Ieuan managing to hold on to Kevin (his evil minion), Caitlin managed to lose one of her soft toy puppy collection which resulted in two trips to Cogan on one of the hottest day of the year and much wailing and tears (and that was just me).  Then we went to Penarth Headland to some swings with a sea view. Caitlin fell off the swing so the rest of the afternoon was spent in the Heath Hospital A&E. (Cue the usual muttering from the Husband about us consuming far more than our fair share of NHS resources).

I'm beginning to wonder if I would have been better off busing them to Alton Towers and strapping them onto The Smiler for the afternoon. We didn't have play centres like Parc or the Zone when I was young. If you got your face painted it was because you'd swiped your mother's Avon lippie while her back was turned. Everything was much simpler, cheaper and probably safer.

So I think I'm going to buy us all kagools in case of inclement weather and take the kids to visit some of the finest pay and display car parks this country has to offer. It'll be a thermos, cheese and tomato sarnies and ready salted crisps.

And you know what? I think they'd be just as happy. All kids really want is loving attention from their parents.  And all I want is an extremely large glass of rioja!  You can post that on Facebook.

Read more