Best locations for young families

Gregmc83
Gregmc83 Forum Participant Posts: 4
edited February 2020 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Hi guys, I have recently bought my first caravan and I am wondering could any fellow membera give me any advice on some good sites or locations that I should visit with my young family. I have 2 boys aged 3 & 6 so would like locations that can keep them entertained. 

 

Thanks Greg 

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Comments

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #2

    Hello

    About the same ages as ours when we first started. Can you give some idea of what area you would be thinking about as that might help us to help you? And what sort of activities and holidays you like?

    But in general club sites are used more as bases than to stay on site. Having said that some sites are much more geared to families than others with bigger play facilities and rooms. The site at new England bay springs to mind and it's next to the beach.

    If you let me know what areas I'll be able to help more.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited February 2020 #3

    If you could put New England bay on the Suffolk coast it’d be my particular Nirvana(outside Yorkshire)

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #4

    Hi Greg  When our children were 3 and  6 we lived in Tavistock and our children got the beach at Bude - from a farm site near there - and other beaches from what was then an abandoned airfield at St Merryn - but times have changed and these days some parents have more ambitious aims for their children. Either way I'm sure they will be happy. 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,056 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #5

    Not sure where you are based, but try Yellowcraig Club Site. It’s a 200 metre walk to a gorgeous beach, not lifeguarded, but lovely sand, not too exposed as it’s on the Firth of Forth, a few miles from Edinburgh. The village of Dirleton has a beautiful well preserved castle, North Berwick has lots of nice shops, Seabird Centre, plenty of things for younger children, and it’s well connected by both road and rail to Edinburgh, with everything on offer there. The National Museum of Flight, excellent day out, is just a couple of miles away. Lots of other castles close by, some nice cycle routes off roads. It’s a really interesting destination.😁

  • Unknown
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    edited February 2020 #6
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  • Gregmc83
    Gregmc83 Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited February 2020 #7

    I live on Wirral so The North West, Wales area. The thought of nice walks and play areas for the kids is what I was thinking. We recently stay in the lake district which for me and the Mrs is great but not as much for the kids. 

     

    Thanks Greg 

  • Gregmc83
    Gregmc83 Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited February 2020 #8

     I live on the Wirral, so North West/Wales area. 

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #9

    Perhaps an internet search for Best Beaches on Anglesey - choose your weather and the children can play in sand dunes, paddle in shallow water, search for life in rock pools where hermit crabs are always a big draw, race about on flat sands, fly kites, play football with dad, learn beach cricket and have picnics. 

     

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #10

    Well ours were on the Troutbeck Head site at that age upwards and there are plenty of low level walks in the lakes as well as larger boats/steamers on the lakes which they loved. The site itself has a good playroom and play area which the wardens have put in things for children and there is Rookin house next door that has activities for children 

    Also the visitor centres at places like (and especially) Whinlatter has lots for younger children, great play equipment and trails. Also the railways at Eskdale and Haverwaite are good fun for them. The aquarium of the Lakes is also good and easily combined with a boat/railway trip. Wray Castle (NT) is now a popular children's visitor attraction with many of the room with children's activities like drawing and dressing up.

    Muster castle is a good too, there'a good swimming pool at Keswick and of course who would forget the Pencil museum in Keswick!  

    Actually just being with them in the caravan at night is pretty good fun too with games and drawing, and ours remember that more than the trips.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #11

    It really depends on what you family wants. I know our children would not have thanked us for staying at some sites deemed in the advertising as good for families. For us it was what the location offered and not the site itself. The site was just a place to rest our heads after busy days in the great outdoors. I understand that for some a site where the children can just run 'wild' and parents can just 'kick back' is good for them mind!

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #12

    I was going to suggest looking for a farm site for the children where there are eggs to collect and goats to milk - and even camp fires with toasted marshmallows - but my daughter who has a seven year old phoned and I put the plan to her. She laughed and said tell the gentleman to take tne family to Center Parc like we do.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited February 2020 #14

    agreed, id not take my kids to a CC site, certainly not as a destination site....

    if the 6yr old is twice as inquisitive as our 3yr old GD then it would hold little attraction...

    find a french destination site, perhaps not too far for first one, plenty of sun, bike riding, pools, beaches, bar/restaurant and put your feet up while the kids enjoy...

    as a first try, look at Haliotis site at Pontorson near Mont St Michel, terrific site, wonderful facilities, incl petting zoo for kids, easy cycling to the Mont and the surrounding area, far better weather than the equivalent south coast resort, Pontorson is a lovely town with great food if thats your thing...

    just 2hrs from Chebourg, dual carriageway almost to the site entrance..

    St Malo, Avranches etc easy to visit...

    good luck

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited February 2020 #15

    +1👍🏻, yup, my Garandkids spend a lot of time in the forest climbing trees & hiking. They also spend an almost equal amount of time at the coast kayaking & paddle boarding. I like to do those things. . .They do now too👍🏻. It was what’s best for me, it’s now what’s best for us. Jobs-a-gud un👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻😊

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #16

    We too tried not to wrap our children up in cotton wool and let them experience several outdoor pursuits and activities. There were a couple we almost had to drag them too kicking but once experienced they loved them. So much so that both our son and daughter are now introducing the grandchildren to these having dragged them away from their iPods. They too are loving the outdoor life now more and more. It pays to be outside the comfort/lazy zone. 

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #17

    I thought that this was the UK Touring Site section so how come your talking about sites "over there". The OP was asking about UK sites as they posted in this section. You just can't help yourself going off beam, can you, BB?

  • davetommo
    davetommo Forum Participant Posts: 1,430
    edited February 2020 #18

    Is there any need for that 

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #19

    Yes!  I'm never sure why, when someone makes a concious decision to post asking advice in the UK section, one or two folk have to come along and, Harry Enfield style,  answer "-ooh, you don't wanna do that, what you wanna do is .....".

    Surely folk have enough gumption to post in the overseas section if that's where they're planning to go? undecided 

  • Unknown
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    edited February 2020 #20
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  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #21

    Good suggestion, and I think Tywyn with its little train is not too far from there if my geography is correct. Another lovely "old fashioned " seaside town. And Portmerion is not too far away is it? smile

  • davetommo
    davetommo Forum Participant Posts: 1,430
    edited February 2020 #22

    You just can't help yourself going off beam, can you, BB?

    That is the bit I think there is no need for Moulsey

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2020 #23

    Possibly, but maybe BB (and others) just needs a gentle reminder from time to time! wink

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited February 2020 #24

    +1, it’s just not helpful at all😕

  • Unknown
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    edited February 2020 #25
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    edited February 2020 #26
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  • Freddy55
    Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,810
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    edited February 2020 #27

    Shawsmead CC site (Wales) is well situated, imo. New Quay, Aberaeron nearby, and Aberystwyth not too far away, where you can get the narrow gauge railway up to Devils Bridge. Worth checking out.

  • Unknown
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    edited February 2020 #28
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  • Freddy55
    Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,810
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    edited February 2020 #29

    Quite possibly, it was a long time ago we went, so the memory is vague.

  • Unknown
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    edited February 2020 #30
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  • Freddy55
    Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,810
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    edited February 2020 #31

    I must confess, I don’t recall seeing the falls, I just recall it was a nice (scenic) ride up there, and that we walked around a wooded area with nice picnic spots. As I recall, we walked past the pub on our right, and the entrance was on the left?