Win a family holiday with Away with the Kids

For details of this fantastic holiday giveaway please find details here

Win Family Tickets for the fabulous London Duck Tour

To celebrate the launch of Away with the Kids new look website we are very lucky to have a Family ticket up for grabs for a memorable trip around London curtesy of London Duck Tours. Travel around London spotting the most famous landmarks by road and end the tour with a splash down and a trip along River Thames. All you need to do to to win these tickets worth £58 is to e-mail your details to info@awaywiththekids.co.uk  including name / address/ e-mail / telephone number with the answer to this question - What were these amphibious vehicles originally used for? Entries to be received 25th July 2010. Winner to be annouced on Away with the Kids website.


For further details on London Duck Tours please click here.

1 family voucher "Away with the Kids Winner" - this is valid to use before 23/03/11 no restrictions (apart from 2 adults and 2 children under 12 years)

Lightwater Valley near Ripon - great fun day out

It started off ever so dignified with a ride on the carousel. And ended up with ear piercing shrieks on the dreaded Claw. Luckily the end was not captured on film!

The Elliott’s and the Barker’s with kids in tow Emily B – 9, Evie E – 8, Hannah B – 7, Lottie E – 6, Alfie B- 3 and Aggie E - 2 all were suitably entertained for the whole day and that is no mean feat with the diversity of tastes.

Only one hiccup happened when Daddy B lost his sunglasses coming down the water shoot – thankfully they were retrieved and in one piece. Mummy B was more annoyed at him for having two consecutive goes on the shoot without asking if she would like a go!

Anyway everyone who wanted a go on the Claw managed to get a turn and when the floor disappears from under you then adrenaline really starts to kick in. This ride is not for the faint hearted and once tried there was only one who went back for me - the andrenaline junkie Emily B!

Our Favourite Beach in Cornwall – Crantock Beach

We were recommended this beauty spot when we stayed at Ruthern Valley and I have to say we loved Crantock Beach with its large expanse of golden sands found near Newquay, Cornwall. The main stretch of the beach is over a mile long and is backed by a mass of dunes – great fun for little ones to run up and down or you can try body boarding down them.

The beach is named after the nearby village of Crantock - 2 miles walk along the coastal path from Newquay's town centre. It never seems to get too busy or crowded. If you are a member of National Trust don't forget to take your membership cards as you can park for free saving yourself £3.50. There are toilet facilities there which always brings a smile to my girls faces – honestly I don't understand why they get so worked up!

Whilst we were there they were designated areas to surf and swim with patrolled lifeguards.
There were strong currents in the River Gannel estuary but there were plenty of warning signs to not swim there and to stay in the safe areas.

A small beach shop/cafe serves refreshments during the peak season and keep your eye out for the ice-cream man who turns up on the beach in a unmarked vehicle.

Blackpool Sands South Devon and Venus Beach Cafe

Couldn't wait to spend our first day of the holidays on a beach and since we were visiting Compton Pool Farm, South Devon we decided we would check out the nearby award winning blue flag beach, Blackpool Sands.
 

Parking in May cost  £3 for the day but you were right on top of the beach. Blackpool Sands is a sheltered shingle beach, so good to go with appropriate footwear and is incredible picturesque. The crescent of course golden sand stretches 2/3 miles long and is flanked by steep, wooded cliffs and evergreens. Very popular amongst families, the beach is a dog restricted area along with first aid and lifeguard facilities in peak season. As the sand was not ideal for building sandcastles there are sand pits dotted around for little ones to dig and play.

 

The water is clear and great from swimming in apparently but even the bravest of us couldn't go any further in than paddling, as it was so cold.A toilet block is there with showers to eliminate uncomfortable journeys home with grains of shingle stuck between your toes.

 And of course we sampled the delights of Venus Beach Cafe with its range of delicious hot and cold food. The award winning Venus Cafe offers a menu stuffed with local and organic dishes and an all weather seating area where you can soak up the fantastic views, sounds and feel of Blackpool Sands. The children's meal at lunch time was £3.99 and as well as being good wholesome food was excellent value and included a drink of fresh juice, an organic yoghurt and a kids activity book which provided them with a distraction while we finished eating as well as teaching them about how to look after the beach and marine environment around them.

 Blackpool Sands is a gem on the South Coast and on a sunny day you feel like you are in the Mediterranean. With sand pits, a bathing raft, kayaks for hire, a range of delicious hot and cold food and a beach shop, it has something for all the family.

Ruthern Valley – an idyllic family holiday setting

Just come back from a long weekend family break at Ruthern Valley Holidays. We were especially lucky with the weather for May and had four amazing days of glorious sunshine.

Centrally located near Bodmin in Cornwall, Ruthern Valley is just the most perfect base to see the best of Cornwall. Whilst we were there we visited some stunning blue flag beaches on both the north and south coast and train mad Alfie's favourite, Lappa Valley.

Ruthern Valley itself is a haven of tranquillity, where the kids can enjoy the space and freedom of the beautiful surroundings. The place was just blooming with bluebells and other numerous wildflowers created the most amazing carpet in the woods. The wooden camping pods were set amongst this backdrop and it was not hard to see why Ruthern Valley has such a dedicated following of campers looking to escape from the rat race. The pods, a few had their own private glade, are basically tent free camping. Secure, dry and with heaters there is no danger of having to securing flapping canvas in the middle of the night and also removes the hassle of packing up damp tents. And there is an electricity supply.

The next step-up from the pods were the wooden wigwams which also provides a family of up to 5 with foam mattresses on bunks, lighting, heating, microwave, fridge and kettle - a few mod cons for your glamping adventure.

However for some families you just can't beat a night under canvas and if we lived within a few hours from Ruthern Valley our tent would certainly become a permanent fixture on the camping field.

We were lucky enough to stay in a two bedroom wooden lodge. All the kids were amazingly good sharing a bedroom with bunk beds and a single. The kitchen was well equipped and thoughtful touches were the child friendly plastic crockery. Decor was simple and comfortable - everything had been well thought out. Andrew kindly showed us how everything worked so that we were never short of hot water or heating. In the lounge the sofa could convert into a bed to accommodate a further two guests. The large sliding patio doors of the lounge led to the outside decked area and were complete with table and chairs. Alfresco dining was a real treat with such an idyllic setting.

Nicola and Andrew who are the masterminds behind Ruthern Valley have two young boys themselves so are well versed in what a young family needs for a memorable holiday.

Nicole says "we just simply wanted to get back to basics and let the location sell itself". And indeed it does. There are no flashing disco nights, no cheesy bingo callers and no pubs but what you do get is a real feeling of getting close to nature. Within two minutes of arriving we had spotted a robin, a chaffinch and a squirrel. For the children Emily, Hannah and Alfie the twice daily visits to feed the resident pigs and chickens certainly kept them entertained with Emily personally naming each pig and each feathered friend.

The playground was set away from the holiday accommodation so there was no fear of annoying your fellow neighbours with children's excited banter. Nicola and Andrews's oldest son James(7)took the girls on a treasure hunt to find a hidden trail of letters dotted around site and once they cracked the code were rewarded with a victory sweet from the on-site shop. The shop stocked your basics so was very handy when on arrival for that much needed first cuppa. The eggs of course were freshly laid from the chickens and locally produced bacon and sausages went down a treat.

All in all we are already yearning to go back. Next time we will definitely hire bikes as the Camel trail is nearby and would be perfect for child friendly cycling and the bikes can be delivered direct to Ruthern Valley. I would also like to thank Nicola, Andrew and their two boys for being the perfect hosts – charming, friendly and helpful. I think we should book that tent pitch.....

Compton Pool Farm - Child and Parent Friendly Cottages

Just had a very short break in South Devon and stayed at a gorgeous cottage complex just 10 minutes drive from the beaches of Torbay. Compton Pool Farm is a delight to visit no matter what the season and the owners John and Ann have worked incredibly hard making this place what it is today.

The kids just loved the large gardens and play equipment to let off steam including the trampoline with safety netting. Alfie was very curious about the pigs and there were go-karts for older ones to enjoy racing across the grass. Furthermore a covered sand pit, swings and a games room meant children were well catered for.

The beautiful cottages were all tastefully decorated in muted tones and even little details like the kid friendly cups and plates were appreciated. We stayed in Crazy Well which was aptly named for our family. A two storey cottage with three bedrooms - one single bedroom downstairs with its own en-suite with two further double bedrooms upstairs and a family bathroom.

I had a sneaky peak around the Farmhouse and it is just ideal for family holiday get-togethers. A large Farmhouse it has 5 bedrooms sleeping 10 and used to be the owners family home so the fixtures and fittings are above and beyond what you would expect a holiday home to have. The large dining/living spaces and conservatory makes The Farmhouse all the more luxurious and I have got to find an excuse to return to Compton Pool Farm and hire it for a special occasion.

The indoor swimming pool was a fantastic addition to a wonderful stay and the kids could have splashed around in it all morning had it not been for Blackpool Sands and a glorious sunny day to enjoy.