Melissa Corkhill

By Melissa Corkhill

23rd March 2015

Looking for the perfect spot for your family summer holidays? Check out some of these beautiful places to stay around the UK. You’ll find something to suit every taste and budget here from yurts in the woods to beautifully restored gypsy caravans, campsites in the heart of the countryside to luxurious converted barns. And to make planning even easier, you can see at a glance what facilities each provides for babies and children from nature trails to baby gear.

Melissa Corkhill

By Melissa Corkhill

23rd March 2015

Melissa Corkhill

By Melissa Corkhill

23rd March 2015

CORNWALL
Treworgey Cottages
Beautifully restored, period country cottages in an idyllic setting overlooking the Looe River Valley with equestrian facilities and lessons for all levels
Superb facilities include a heated outdoor pool with a view, tennis courts, and play areas, both indoor and outdoor. This is the perfect spot for horse riding holidays; for children taking their first rides, right up to dressage and showjumping training for experienced riders. Every cottage has a private, secluded garden, log fire, pressed linen, brass or four-poster beds with luxurious mattresses, all mod-cons, a welcome tray and spectacular views. Just 3 miles from the beautiful South West Coast Path, the fishing town of Looe and stunning beaches. Lovely National Trust houses, public gardens, the Eden Project, Bodmin Moor and picturesque local Cornish towns.
FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES
Playroom, Playground, Indoor beach, Tennis Court, On-site riding school with hacking and lessons for all levels
GREEN CREDENTIALS Awarded GTBS Gold, Biomass heating and hot water for whole site, Heat pump, 16 kW solar, Wind turbine, Local produce stall on-site
ADDRESS Duloe, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 4PP
WEB cornishdreamcottages.co.uk TEL 01503 262730
EMAIL [email protected]
PRICES FROM Weekly £379 Short Stay £278

Organic Farm Holidays
Nestled above the charming waterside village of Golant these cottages stand at the heart of a working organic farm
Just three miles upstream from Fowey, the cottages have been beautifully converted from the original stone buildings. This is the perfect base from which to explore the delights of Cornwall. Each cottage is thoughtfully furnished and equipped with everything needed for a restful break throughout the year. The cottages are located 200m from the village road, along a private lane – a safe location for children to play, with ample parking close to the door. Direct access to the Saint’s Way footpath and easy reach of the coast path, there’s no reason to leave your dog at home. They welcome the whole family and pets go free.
FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES
Heated indoor pool, games room with pool table and library; outdoor playground, family games.
GREEN CREDENTIALS Restormel Design Award, 2001, wind turbines provide power to the cottages
ADDRESS Golant, Fowey, Cornwall PL23 1LA
WEB southtorfreyfarm.com TEL 01726 833126
EMAIL [email protected]
PRICES FROM Weekly £580 Short Stay £300
SLEEPS 3 to 6

DEVON
Loveland Farm
Sustainable holidays available all year round on the Hartland Peninsula close to hot surfing spots and some of the county’s finest sandy beaches
Loveland Farm is the result of an ever-evolving dream that continues to unfold. It’s a campsite but with a difference, a place where sustainability comes first, the beautiful basics are encouraged and life is just that little bit simpler. Working with the local community to create a social atmosphere bringing together outdoor sports, lectures and live music, Loveland Farm is a space that’s inspiring and completely unique, a solution to the busy modern world. It’s the ultimate sustainable, family friendly, luxury eco experience! Located one mile from Devon’s beautiful coastline famed for surf and beautiful sandy beaches Loveland Farm campsite is a fabulous place to get back to nature in a stylish setting. The site boasts 2 Asian water buffalos, award winning compost loos and the entire complex is run on renewable energy. The largest dome can sleep 6 in total and is perfect for anything from a romantic couple get away to a relaxing family holiday. Including a kingsize bed, two sofa beds, wood burning fire, bespoke dining table, cooking facilities, a projector with 3 meter screen and Wi-Fi.
FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES
Swimming pool, farm animals including water buffalos, sandy beaches nearby SLEEPS 2 to 6
GREEN CREDENTIALS Gold Award (Green Tourism), Biomass Heating, Compost Toilets, Local Produce – Loveland Eggs Bacon & Sausages
ADDRESS Hartland, Devon EX39 6AT
WEB lovelandfarmcamping.co.uk TEL 01237 441894
EMAIL [email protected]
PRICES FROM Weekly £926 Short Stay £111

SUSSEX
ECO CAMP UK
Stylish ecological woodland camping, with open fires, in designated Areas of
Outstanding Natural Beauty in Sussex.
Stay in a bell tent or pitch your own tent.
Eco Camp UK has two off-grid Sussex campsites. Beech Estate Woodland Campsite located near the historic town of Battle in East Sussex, offers tent pitches and fully equipped bell tents within a private 2000-acre estate. The campsite is nestled on the edge of its own 600-acre woodland. Perfect to explore by foot and for children to roam free. Wild Boar Wood Campsite, in The High Weald, has nine fully equipped bell tents, set inside a semi-ancient five-acre woodland. The wood and surrounding 40-acre field teem with wildlife. The historic Bluebell Railway and it’s steam engines run past the very edge of the campsite!
FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES Both sites: Woodland for children to play in, build dens and explore.
GREEN CREDENTIALS Campsites are totally off-grid, open fire cooking, bucket showers and wood-fired water heaters, rocket stoves with bell tents.
ADDRESS Haywards Heath RH17 7EA / Battle TN33 OLL
WEB ecocampuk.co.uk TEL 0800 612 7390
EMAIL [email protected] SLEEPS 1 to 6
PRICES FROM Camping £17 per adult and £7.50 per child. Fully Equipped Bell Tent £75 per night

SUFFOLK
Lantern & Larks
Get outside and back to nature with a luxury glamping retreat in the heart of peaceful Suffolk countryside
What could be better than the simplicity of an outdoor get-away, with the stunning scenery of the great British countryside on your doorstep, local wildlife to discover and open fires under the stars? All similarities with camping, however, start and end there. The Colonial-style ‘tents’ at Sweffling provide home-from-home comfort with fully furnished, spacious interiors, solid pine beds, real floors and running water. So no midnight loo dashes! Each tent features three separate bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and open-plan living area, plus a front deck great for family gatherings. Children get to make friends with the chickens and goats, or romp around the beautiful surroundings. Guests can travel back in time during a horse and carriage ride through rural Suffolk or, being just over ten miles from the fabulous Suffolk coast at Aldeburgh and the Minsmere RSPB Reserve, take little ones crabbing or birdwatching? This glamping site provides fantastic family holidays; relaxing, fun, hassle free and true comfort under canvas.
FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES
Games are available for use from the honesty shop
GREEN CREDENTIALS Commitment to local suppliers, no pesticides on the land, energy management, solar system, timber from sustainable forest
ADDRESS Sweffling Hall, Saxmundham, Suffolk
TEL 01638 563478 WEB lanternandlarks.co.uk
EMAIL [email protected] SLEEPS 1 to 6
PRICES FROM Weekly £715 Short Stay £320

DERBYSHIRE
Churchdale Farm
Tucked away down a quiet country lane these three spacious farm holiday cottages provide a high standard of accommodation in the Peak District
Churchdale Farm is a wonderful rural central Peak District holiday base. The cottages – the only 5 star gold award ones in the Bakewell area – have immense character, with exposed beams and log burning stoves. The kitchens are fully equipped with washing machines, dishwashers and microwaves. Free Wi Fi connection is provided. A recent visitor said; ‘Just returned from our first family holiday with 8 month old twins. Churchdale is perfectly located for the Monsal Trail which was ideal for our double buggy. Bakewell and Chatsworth are very close by and we found some very good family friendly pubs and cafes’.
FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES
Walking from the door to the Monsal Trail.
GREEN CREDENTIALS Green Business Tourism Scheme Gold Award, Cycle Storage Available, Commitment to local suppliers
ADDRESS Ashford-in-the-Water, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1NX TEL 01629 640269
WEB churchdaleholidays.co.uk SLEEPS 2 to 4 (+ cot)
EMAIL [email protected]
PRICES FROM Weekly £545 Short Stay £385

POWYS/WALES
Aber Cottages
Two comfortable cottages set on a working organic farm with animals all around
Perfect for unwinding and getting back to nature, these two comfortable self-catering cottages are located on an organic farm. Collect your own eggs for tea, melt marshmallows over the campfire or simply lay and watch the stars twinkle in the clear sky. Each cottage has two cots (with bedding), high chairs, fire guards and stair gates plus lots of books, DVDs, toys and games for all ages. There is an indoor playroom with lawn and play area outside. No need to bring bottled water, there is safe, fresh spring water flowing from the taps. There are log fires and central heating run by the biomass log boiler for cooler days and patios with barbecues for when the sun is shining. The cottages are perfectly located for daytrips – set in the Brecon Beacons National Park there are walks, waterfalls, country and forest parks, caves with dinosaurs and much more all on your doorstep.
FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES
220 acres to explore, egg collection, den building, sheep trekking, campfire, stargazing, play room and play area.
GREEN CREDENTIALS Green Tourism Business Scheme GOLD, Organic farm, biomass heating, solar thermal hot water and micro-hydro electricity
ADDRESS Aberhyddnant, Crai, Brecon, Powys, LD3 8YS
TEL 01874 636797
WEB abercottages.com
EMAIL [email protected] SLEEPS 2 to 10 plus infants
PRICES FROM Weekly £328 Short Stay £164

EAST LOTHIAN
Harvest Moon Holidays
Treehouses and safari tents uniquely situated by the magnificent beach on Lochhouses farm, just east of Edinburgh
Stay in a treehouse or safari tent by the gorgeous beach, which adjoins the John Muir Country Park. This is a coastal paradise between North Berwick and Dunbar and it boasts less rain and more sunshine than any other part of the UK according to the Scottish Holidays travel guide. The seven fabulous treehouses command a panoramic view of the beach and dunes from a high tree-lined ridge, whilst the seven safari tents snuggle under the trees by the beach. Both the treehouses and tents are perfect for the luxury camper who prefers “glamping” to camping! All treehouses and tents have wood-burning stoves, en suite WCs and hot showers. On site there is also a farm shop for all your essentials and other goodies, BBQ and campfire facilities as well as a Kids Corner with chickens, ducks, rabbits, and lambs.
FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES
Nature trails, beach, honesty shop, kids toys supplied
GREEN CREDENTIALS No electricity on site, wood burning stoves
ADDRESS Lochhouses, Dunbar, East Lothian EH42 1XP
WEB harvestmoonholidays.com TEL 07817 968985
EMAIL [email protected] SLEEPS 2 to 8

ISLE OF MAN
Knockaloe Beg Farm
Choose the perfect family holiday from either self catering, B&B, bunkhouse or luxury wood cabins in this idyllic spot on a mixed farm on the Isle of Man
This magical Manx farm is nestled below Peel Hill, up a private lane, set amongst stunning countryside with uninterrupted views, close to many footpaths. There are 4 types of accommodation available; B&B, self-catering, bunkhouse and luxury wooden cabins – all are environmentally friendly, low impact accommodation. Delicious homemade, local, seasonal food including milk, eggs, sausages, fruit and preserves, is available. Inside wood-burning stoves keep you toasty and outside BBQs allow you to cook up a storm. Guests can help bottle feed calves or lambs and feed the donkey, goats, pigs and chickens!
FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES
Animals to feed, egg collecting, plenty of space to play and roam, games room.
GREEN CREDENTIALS Gold GTA, ground source heat, home made/grown, local, seasonal, organic, Fairtrade produce where at all possible.
ADDRESS Patrick, Isle of Man, IM5 3AQ
WEB knockaloebegfarm.com TEL 01624 844279
EMAIL [email protected] SLEEPS 2 to 40
PRICES FROM Weekly £400 Short Stay £30

IRELAND
The Three Towers
A warm and welcoming 9 bedroom guest house, organic restaurant and wine bar, inspired by Morocco overlooking the peaceful countryside of East Galway
At the 4 star Three Towers guest house each en suite bedroom is unique and spacious. Seven rooms open onto a shared balcony overlooking countryside and forest. The guest house has 6 large double or twin rooms, a bridal suite, a family room that comfortably sleeps 5-6 and a triple room with 3 single beds. Beside the guest house are 2 cosy eco-lodges, the honeymoon lodge and the family lodge. Each has a kitchen, bathroom, sitting room and stove. The honeymoon lodge has one large bedroom and a deck while the family eco-lodge has a main bedroom and one with 2 sets of bunk beds. Set on 17 acres, surrounded by more than 2,000 acres of forest.
FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES
Nature trails, art and craft room, playground, pets, ponies, The Enchanted Forest
*GREEN CREDENTIAL*S Organic certified restaurant, eco tourism Ireland Gold certification
ADDRESS Kylebrack, Loughrea, Co Galway, Ireland
WEB slieveaughtycentre.com
TEL 00 353 (0)909745246
EMAIL [email protected] SLEEPS 1 to 35 PRICES FROM Weekly ¤350 Short Stay E200

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