AD — Gifted tickets Just off the M40 might not be your first thought for where to find Lap Land this year, but if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. And so off we went in early December, to a perfectly socially-distanced-doesnt-matter-if-its-raining event that the whole family can enjoy. In the comfort and safety of their own cars, visitors will drive on the iconic
We love exploring, either close to home on an afternoon out, slightly further afield on a weekend away, or to a far flung destination picked because it happened to be on page 83 of the travel guide and we were asked to pick a number between 1 and 230.
Henrhyd Waterfall
We visited the Henrhyd Waterfall when we were staying at the Glanusk Estate in the Brecon Becons recently because we had heard that the scenery was stunning and that it was a must see when you’re in the area. The waterfall is the tallest in Wales and situated just outside the tiny village of Coelbren. To be honest you might not have heard of it but if you
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Exploring
The Oak Retreat, Glanusk Estate
It’s up a lane, behind the church and you would never know the Oak Retreat on the Glanusk Estate was there unless you knew where to look. Thankfully Harry, whose family own the estate, was on hand when we arrived at teatime one Saturday to show us where to go, and. to hand us our keys to this little woodland haven. The Oak Retreat is a wooden hideaway that sleeps
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Exbury Gardens
Exbury Gardens was the destination for a much needed socially distanced mooch with my pal, Annie recently. We hadn’t met up in months and I think both of us were feeling the social distance living at opposite ends of the M3 so with the weather looking good for a morning’s mooch we headed off last week. I hadn’t been before but Annie lives locally so has annual pass and
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October half-term adventures with the National Trust in Surrey and West Sussex
Autumn’s beautiful backdrop, its crunchy carpets of leaves and glossy conkers create a natural playground for children. For families who love exploring the great outdoors, there’s no shortage of seasonal delights to discover this October half-term. At Polesden Lacey, Standen and Petworth House and Park family trails will bring kids closer to nature as they explore acres of gardens parkland and woods. Make sure you pick up a ‘50
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October half-term adventures with the National Trust in Hampshire
Autumn’s beautiful backdrop, its crunchy carpets of leaves and glossy conkers create a natural playground for children. For families who love exploring the great outdoors, there’s no shortage of seasonal delights to discover this October half-term. At Mottisfont, Hinton Ampner, The Vyne and Uppark, family trails will bring kids closer to nature as they explore acres of parkland, fields and woods. Mottisfont is offering different nature-inspired mini-trails and self-led
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Exploring
Travelodge rooms for £25 or less
Travelodge has released 500,000 rooms for £25 or less across its UK hotels between now and the end of the year And to help parents make the most of 2020, Travelodge has released 500,000 rooms for as little as £25 or less between now and the end of the year across its 575 UK hotels, so that families can take the ultimate Minication this October half term and create some priceless
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National Trust summer holiday adventures
Looking for more ways to keep everyone entertained during these last few long summer holiday days? You don’t have to go far from home to enjoy a change of scene, and experience new adventures in nature at your local National Trust place, in and around Hampshire. Explore wild woods perfect for hide and seek or building dens at Hinton Ampner, discover bridges over rivers where you can try your hand
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Drive-in cinemas need to stay please!
Drive-in cinemas need to stay please! Drive-in cinemas in the US have been a thing since the 1930s and within thirty years there over 4000, but still there are very few here in the UK. That was until lockdown, or rather the easing of lockdown. With cinemas and theatres still closed, or with regular customers nervous about sitting near strangers for a few hours, drive-in cinemas have popped
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5 top tips for a day out with elderly relatives — AD
How to plan a day out with elderly relatives Now that the weather is warming up and some of the recent restrictions have been lifted you might be thinking about planning a day out as a family, so here are my 5 top tips for a day out with elderly relatives. Consider the terrain What might feel like an easy place for us to walk around can be much harder
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Outdoor Adventures to have this summer — AD
Outdoor Adventures you need to plan now! it is safe to say that 2020 has been a very strange year. Many of us have had cancelled foreign holidays cancelled or moved to next year and so might be looking to have a break in the UK. I am not a fan of the word staycation, but it does seem quite apt doesn’t it? We should have been heading off to
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Exploring
Window Wednesday — Basildon Park
I know we can’t visit National Trust properties at the moment but we went to Basildon Park a few months ago so I have finally got around to sharing the photos for Window Wednesday in the hope you can add it to your list of places to go when we are able to travel again Basildon Park is one of the most modern properties we have visited because although it