Come on an autumn adventure at National Trust places in and around Hampshire. It’s a treat for the senses, introducing children to the tangy smells of rich earth, fallen leaves and apples ready to harvest. Sounds change in autumn too, with the rustle and swish of crunchy foliage, and the plop of falling conkers in our woodlands. From an eco time travelling sound adventure at Mottisfont, to harvest fun and
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.
Exploring
Top five places to eat in Guernsey
You might think for such a small island it wouldnt be very easy to write a top five places to eat in Guernsey post but you couldn’t be more wrong. You might also be surprised to hear that there is a distinct lack of fast food places too. No McDonalds, Pizza Express or Dominos. Not a whiff of KFC or Burger King. They don’t want the rubbish that fast food
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Exploring
The Little Chapel, Guernsey
Blink and you will miss the turning into the lane that leads you to The Little Chapel, Guernsey. And you can’t see it from the road so you need to trust the signpost. Follow the lane down to the gift shop and you will find ample parking, and a good opportunity to buy some local souvenirs and grab a cup of tea. There is no entry fee for The Little
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Exploring
Fishers Farm Park — A review
I will be honest, we only found Fishers Farm Park because I googled “days out near Midhurst”, where my parents live. We were looking for something to do with my parents, and with Lily and this sounded perfect but we knew nothing about it, and they hadn’t heard of it either. Part of me actually wants to keep it a secret because it really is the perfect family day out,
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Exploring
[AD] Top spots for a summer break
Trying to work out where to go for a summer break this year is trickier than booking your usual summer holiday. You dont have to just worry about flight times or whether to do self catering or all inclusive, you have to take into account travel restrictions in this country, and your destination country. For foreign travel advice keep an eye on the government website but that done, where to?!
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Exploring
Narrow boat holidays for beginners
It is easy to think “how hard can it be?” or “it’s fine, the owners will tell us what to do” when booking narrow boat holidays but for beginners there are some things you should seriously consider before heading out on the water for the first time. We did our first trip last weekend, alongside my parents who have been doing it for years, and it really brought it home
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Exploring
The Moonraker Hotel
You might think with a name like the Moonraker this hotel would be some dodgy James Bond, space themed hotel designed to attract American tourists, nothing could be further from the truth. Moonraker is actually a colloquial term for people from Wiltshire (or a slang term hurled at supporters of Swindon Town Football Club) stemming from the 1700s. Legend has it that French Brandy and Dutch Gin were smuggled up
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Exploring
A night at Den of Bracca, Bracknell — [AD]
I have always loved looking at restaurant menus. I am straight on a restaurant’s website looking at a menu as soon as the booking is made, even if it is weeks in advance. Daily specials when we arrive pass me by because I made my decision a fortnight before, and I make no apology for that. I love planning what I am going to be eating and I didn’t realise
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Exploring
Lap Land Silverstone
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
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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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Exploring
A day out at 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 knows