By The Green Parent
17th January 2019
Museums
Got a dog with a hankering to learn about Victorian life? Ironbridge’s Blists Hill Victorian Town (ironbridge.org.uk) is the museum for you. Pooches are welcome at this huge outdoor recreation of a Victorian town. Change your modern money for shillings and pence and explore shops and pubs, candlemakers, blacksmiths and fairgrounds. Try out the morse code machine, take a ride in the horse and carriage, or have a shot on the coconut stall. Check in advance for workshops; try candle dipping, making collagraphs, or listen to stories told by the townsfolk. There’s even an old-fashioned chip shop and authentic pub – pop in for a sing-a-long!
Adventures
What more appropriate place to try archery than Nottingham? The Adrenalin Jungle (adrenalinjungle.com) is situated in the home of Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest, and their archery courses take place in a woodland glade. You’ll learn to load the bow and shoot targets – perhaps you’ll even split an arrow in three like Robin himself. Group sessions for 6 or more people are fun – why not each pick one of the Merry Men to be during the event? The centre has other activities perfect for families; a junior assault course, jungle challenge, forest crafts, a giant table football inflatable, and medieval mayhem team challenges sessions.
Secret Beaches
Norfolk’s beaches are idyllic; long, sweeping curves of sand that seem to stretch into infinity. But many of the more bucket-and-spade places are very popular. However, Titchwell (rspb.org.uk) is quieter, and has the bonus of amazing bird spotting. The huge, marshy lagoon is best known for its RSPB nature reserve, through which you walk to get to the golden sands, spotting avocets and waders as you go. It’s a wild-feeling place, but pushchair-friendly paths make it an easy wander to the shore. Scramble over the low sand dunes to the huge expanse of sand, begging for games of beach cricket and kite flying. Will you find the WWII pillboxes, rammed with starfish and anenomes? See the remains of two tanks? Or perhaps choose to relax and watch the harriers hover overhead.
