Ever wonder how our unique Beach Hut accommodation came to be? See the evolution for yourself here!

Beach Cove Coastal Retreat is an award winning location on the breath taking coast of Hele Bay, Devon. Our quirky Beach Hut accommodation always draws oo’s and awe’s of anyone who holidays with us, but have you ever looked at these unique huts and wondered how they came to be? Well I have some exclusive photos for you to feast your eyes on!

Take a look at the humble beginnings of this 2015 Best in Britain Hoseasons Winning location…

and this is how they look now…fully fledged, quirky beach huts!

And that ladies and gents is how our stunning little Beach Huts came to life on the factory floor! Why not book a holiday at the award winning location for your 2017 beach getaway?

Happy Holidaying!

Enjoy a great day out for the entire family at Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary

The Award Winning Paradise Park is a great location for a fun family day out for anyone who is staying at our 5 star Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat in Cornwall.

This fantastic attraction features something for people of all ages, with a wide range of animals on show, bird shows and also an indoor play centre for the smaller children. Read on to find out everything that is on offer at this wonderful visitor attraction near Hayle in Cornwall.

fun filled daily events programme

There are over 140 different species inhabiting the Paradise Park which includes a grand total of 650 birds. Many of these animals are part of the conservation breeding schemes including the Red Pandas and otters which are a wonderful sight to behold.

The Park is involved in a number of schemes aimed at helping to protect these remarkable animals including the Cornwall Red Squirrel Project, with the aim being to establish more breeding groups in the park before eventually releasing them back into the wild in the future. It is always good to know that the money you pay to get into an attraction gets used for a good cause.

You will get to see these animals in a safe and loving environment on the park, with special shows put on throughout the day. This includes Penguin feeding sessions in the walled garden area where guests are occasionally asked to help the keepers feed these much loved creatures. You can also view the otter feeding sessions from the comfort of the Otter Pool café at certain points in the day.

During the summer months, visitors are also given the chance to buy pots of nectar to feed the resident lorikeets as part of the ‘Flight of the Rainbows’ event. Be sure to check the daily events timetable upon arrival or on the website before you visit to find out what time these feeding sessions are taking place.

Talking of feeding, the human feeding areas are pretty good too. In addition to the Otter Pool Café which serves both light bites and larger meals, there is also the Bird in Hand Pub and Brewery. Hot meals are served here in addition to the fine ales and other beverages.

gardens of paradise

First opened in 1973, these gardens were designed to compliment the wildlife on display in the park, and recently won the South West in Bloom Gold Award for 2016.

As well as being good on the eye, they are also good for many of the creatures on site providing nectar for the bees and being an excellent habitat for the beautiful butterflies which are on show.

junglebarn indoor play centre

The smaller children in your family simply won’t want to leave the JungleBarn Indoor Play Centre where they are guaranteed hours of fun. Inside the centre there is a multi-storey soft play area, a toddlers ball fountain and giant slides which vary in size depend on how much of an adrenaline junkie your kids happen to be.

While the kids are playing, the adults and older children can head to the snack bar where you can sit back and take advantage of the complimentary Wi-Fi which is provided.

We highly recommend the Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary to all families staying at Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat. The park is open daily from 10am and entry prices vary throughout the year, so suggest you check the Parks website for the latest information and look out for discount vouchers too!

Explore this wonderful park with a holiday at Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat

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During 2016 our wonderful Thanet Well Lodge Retreat underwent a development, with beautiful new lodges added to our location…

We here at Darwin Escapes are constantly improving our parks and accommodations, helping to create memories that last a life time during your holidays is so important to us. With so many new locations opening over the last couple of years, with some still to open, we try not to forget about our long standing and popular locations too. Thanet Well Lodge Retreat is one of the most popular destinations in the Lake District, and has recently undergone a small development, with new lodge accommodations.

Here are some images taken during the development, which is now finished…

How breath-taking are the views surrounding the park? A true escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If you’re staying at Thanet Well Lodge Retreat soon please check-in on Instagram and show us all at Darwin Escapes HQ how the park is looking!

View Piran Meadows Resort & Spa from the sky with our new drone footage. Ever wonder what a birds eye view of our parks would look like? Well now you can see Piran Meadows Resort in Newquay from above!

Piran Meadows Resort & Spa is surrounded by the understated Cornish Countryside, this secluded location has breath taking views of the surrounding fields, with 5 Star facilities onsite including a 2 lane bowling alley, golf simulator, onsite restaurant and the relaxing Serenity Spa to treat yourself to an Aromatherapy Associates therapy all under one roof!

See the beautiful and award winning resort from above in our drone video below

Visit Piran Meadows Resort & Spa to book your holiday now

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Welcome to a Love Local post ladies and gents, I’m going to be talking family fun in the Lake District…

Walby Farm Park is a family fun day out no matter the weather, rain or shine there will always be something fun to do at the farm park. Located around 45 minutes from both our Thanet Well Lodge Retreat, and the under development Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat which is due to open in December, making it the perfect place to visit during your holiday break.

endless play

 

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A post shared by Walby Farm Park (@walby_farm_park) on Aug 13, 2019 at 8:43am PDT

Walby Farm Park has endless fun inside and out, offering home made and locally sourced food, as well as helping to create a magical connection with the wonderful farm animals. The Play Barn, indoor play area, offers a huge ball pool, 24 foot Demon Drop Slide for the bigger children and adults, also a cute dedicated toddlers play area too. Outside, when the weather is being kind, you can have a go on the JCB Diggers, try the Tractor Tower, jump on the trampolines or speed around (safely) in the Go Karts. Loads of fun before you even see the animals!

meet the animals

 

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Wonder how many more goats can jump up here? #farm #goats https://www.walbyfarmpark.co.uk/summershenanigans

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Walby Farm Park have the firm farm yard favourites, along with beautiful rare breeds for you to marvel at and learnt their names for a cuddle. They do offer fun interactive sessions where you can meet the rabbits and guinea pigs, have a go at pony grooming, cheer along in the sheep or ferret racing, or see the hand feeding and milking demonstrations up close too! With 30 acres of land to explore make sure to venture out to spot as many animals as you can, including pigs, cows and even llama’s! And don’t forget to keep an eye out for Custard the Cow, a friendly mascot who is always ready to give a warm Walby Welcome!

eat and shop

Grab a bite of home made goodness from the Curly Tales Café, hot and cold meals freshly made with ingredients locally sourced served all day, there will be something to suit all appetites. If you fancy some elevenses, or classic afternoon tea, the options are there with some delicious locally-roasted coffee, all in a stunning countryside setting. The on site Gift Shop has a huge range of toys, books and gifts, all stocked with farm and country lovers in mind, have a browse around and enjoy some retail therapy after a fun day frolicking with the animals.

A wonderful, fun family day out and make sure to check their website out for fantastic pictures of the animals, and the stupendous Goat Cam where you can catch the goats kidding around or just relaxing and having nap together (I can’t stop watching, they are adorable!)

Happy Adventuring Ladies and Gents!

Always a popular UK holiday destination, Newquay along the Cornwall Coast has spectacular scenery…

Piran Meadows Resort & Spa has blown away everyone who has visited, opening in 2014 and winning the prestigious Hoeseasons Best in Britain Award in 2015, it has a proven record of family fun along the Cornish Coastline. Located a short drive away from Newquay, Piran Meadows and the local area have some breath taking sights…

11 images to make you visit newquay

Did these sway you to stay at Piran Meadows Resort & Spa? Book your next Newquay holiday here.

Happy Holidaying Ladies & Gents!

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Experience one of the finest holiday homes in the Lake District exactly how it was over 100 years ago

Many of us have dreamed about having our very own luxury holiday home in the Lake District, but the Holt family made this dream a reality in the late 19th century when they commissioned the stunning Blackwell House, which offers stunning views overlooking Coniston Fells and also Lake Windermere.

You can experience everything that the Holt family experienced over 100 years ago when you visit this fantastic historic house that has been preserved exactly how it was originally. At Blackwell you can also take in various arts and crafts exhibitions which are held throughout the year. Read more about everything that Blackwell, the Arts & Crafts House has to offer as well as finding out about a special offer which is open to Darwin Escapes customers staying in the Lake District.

the perfect holiday home in windermere

The centre is based in Blackwell House, which was built between 1989 and 1900 by architect M. H. Baillie Scott for the wealthy Holt family, from Manchester, who wanted a luxury holiday home overlooking Lake Windermere with glorious views of Coniston Fells.

This is perhaps the finest example of Scott’s work, which took inspiration from Tudor designs as well as arts and crafts styles reminiscent of the work of Charles Voysey. The arts and crafts movement of the time was a response to the industrial revolution, with the aim being to recognise the skills of British craftsmen of the time.

This Grade 1 listed building remains fully intact, with many of the original decorative features and furnishings still in evidence. You’ll see things exactly the same way that the Holt family would have seen them over 100 years ago when the house was originally completed.

The period rooms are still furnished with the same styling and furnishings that were originally advocated by Scott. This includes various pieces made by leading arts and crafts designers such as Morris & Co and William de Morgan. When you visit the house, you can sit back and enjoy the atmosphere in front of the fireplace or stroll around the beautiful rooms without being restricted by roped off areas. This is a stately home with far more open access for visitors than is the norm.

The house was also designed to take full advantage of the tranquil atmosphere and surrounding natural wonders, with the gardens also following this philosophy. The surrounding gardens were designed by Thomas Mawson to take advantage of the stunning beauty of Coniston Fells.

exhibitions & events

Blackwell is more than just a beautiful building with stunning furnishings and surroundings; it also hosts various exhibitions, displays and events which will be heaven for art lovers.
Currently on display until the 9th October 2016 are the works of renowned potter Chris Keenan, in the ‘Houseplace’ exhibition. Keenan has an international reputation in his industry, and recently undertook a six week residency at the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art in Japan. Examples of his work are showcased far and wide including in the V&A Museum in London. Funded by the Headley Trust, this fantastic exhibition showcases his distinctive porcelain pot designs, which are designed as a response to this “mind-consuming house and the man behind its creation”.

On the 24th September, the house will be opening a new exhibition devoted to the textile designs of Annie Garnett who was a figurehead in the revival of weaving and hand spinning in Cumbria. The exhibition will describe the ethos behind Garnett’s workshops set up in Bowness-On-Windermere, which provided employment for over hundred women at the time. It will also show case examples of her work along with original paper designs.

2 for the price of 1 on tickets

There are plenty of reasons to head to Blackwell this year with its various exhibitions, but if you need another then Darwin Escapes customers staying in the Lake District are entitled to 2 for 1 adult admission until the 31st December 2016. All you need to do to redeem this offer is present your Thanet Well Lodge Retreat z-card to reception upon purchasing your ticket. You will be given this Z-card upon arrival at the resort, but if you don’t think you’ve been given one just ask a member of the Darwin Escapes team.

Tickets cost £8.50 each (£7.70 without Gift Aid donation), with all children and students entitled to completely free admission.

Darwin Escapes are delighted to be the official sponsor of the brand new attraction at Chester Zoo – Dinosaurs! The Next Adventure. Chester Zoo is one of the largest Zoos in the UK with over 5,000 different species of animal, and now you can add dinosaurs to the list as well. Today Chester Zoo is opening its brand new attraction ‘Dinosaurs! The Next Adventure’; a fascinating adventure back in time where you can learn more about these varied and fascinating creatures which roamed our planet millions of years ago.

Darwin Escapes is delighted to be the main sponsor of the attraction which will be running throughout the 2016 summer from the 28th May – 4th September. Head down to this world famous zoo and walk amongst these animals of the past in a glorious setting which is sure to delight both adults and children. You won’t know what’s around the next corner as you learn more about the huge variety of species which made up the dinosaur population ranging from the feathery Utahraptor to the intimidating Gigantosaurus.

We were delighted to be invited down for a sneak peak of the Dinosaurs attraction on the day prior to its official opening to the public and we can guarantee that you will not be disappointed. No stone has been left unturned, with the Chester Zoo team even going as far as to ensure that the plant life throughout this attraction is made up of the actual greenery which was present on our planet throughout the Mesozoic Era.

download the app

If you are planning on heading down to the attraction, we would recommend that you download the ‘Dinosaurs! The Next Adventure’ App which is available from iTunes prior to your visit. With this app, you can scan the various signposts which are scattered throughout the attraction and provide you with information about the various species that inhabited this very different world.

Flambards Theme Park in Helston, Cornwall is a fantastic family fun day out come rain or shine

Only a few minutes drive from our own Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat the fabulous Flambards Theme Park has much to offer, ranging from daredevil outdoor activities to award winning indoor attractions.

First opened in June 1976 as the ‘Cornwall Aircraft Park’ by retired Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, Douglas Kingsford Hale, the park received 76,000 visitors in its first season! Work was carried out to a high standard and the park was added to with amusements and exhibitions. Today Flambards is owned by Livingstone Leisure Ltd, who constantly invest and improve the attraction, which continues to offer something for people of all ages!

in the sunshine…

The rides and attractions at Flambards include the daring sky swinger, fantastic hornet rollercoaster, the classic log flume, as well as the dizzying speeds in darkness of the space race ride! Jump in the go karts, the rocking tug boats or the traditional pirate ship for fun family thrills, meet the past in the Jurassic journey attraction and visit Ferdi the fox too!

Are you brave enough to try Cornwall’s biggest drop slide, the Demon Drop? If you are looking for thrills, without the scare, enjoy the outdoor adventure play area as well as the fun Ferdi’s funland!

and in the rain…

The indoor attractions are a trip back in time, with the popular Britain in the Blitz exhibition you can see the sights and sounds of one of the worst times during the 1940s with London at War. There is also a fascinating war gallery, plenty of shops and scenes to marvel at, as well as being able to read Flambards collection of original evacuee letters, you will feel like you are transported back in time. Also the ever popular Victorian Village attraction has up to 50 Victorian scenes, including the cobbled streets with horse drawn carriages, a wood-block floored school room, a fabulous Victorian Home, fire station and Pheasant Pub!

Explore William White’s apothecary lost chemist time capsule, which was locked away in 1909 after White passed away. The apothecary was left to his son Edward, who had no interest in it, so locked it up so it was forgotten about and left untouched for over 100 years! Flambards reassembled the shop exactly as it was found (apart from the dangerous poisons that were confiscated by the Home Office of course!), everything was numbered and photographed so it has been put exactly as it was. Marvel at the walls, lined with a century old medicines bottles, pill dispensers and apothecary jars, among the many weird and wonderful things!

The next time you visit Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat venture out Flambards Theme Park and spoil your family, travel back in time, be a daredevil on the rides and have fun family day out!

happy adventuring daredevils!

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The Wheal Martyn in Cornwall is the UK’s only China Clay Museum and Country Park, it helps to bring Cornwall’s China Clay industry to life!

Located near our stunning Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat in South Cornwall, The Wheal Martyn offers fun ways to discover how Cornwall’s largest mining industry changed the world. You can see first hand all the amazing uses of China Clay in our everyday lives today, learning about the rich heritage in the interactive visitor centre.

The Wheal Martyn has fantastic indoor interactive displays telling the story of the fascinating men, woman and children who lived, worked and even played in the China Clay tips. Marvel at Cornwall’s largest working water wheel and the fully preserved Victorian China Clay machinery and equipment exhibitions, as well as being able to feast your eyes on a working China Clay Pit, from a platform overlooking the area.

The Wheal Martyn is family fun for everyone, including the dog! With 26 acres of woodland walks and nature trails for your fur-baby to fall in love with, they are sure to enjoy the scenery just as much as you. And your adorable human children will love the children’s woodland play area outside, as well as well the indoor soft play area for the little ones. There are guided tours on appointment, lots of temporary exhibitions to feast your eyes at, as well as plenty of children and family activity days!

On Sunday 24th April the Wheal Martyn is hosting a fantastic family fun day celebrating their 40 year anniversary, as well as the Queens 90th Birthday! The beautiful woodland grounds will be brought to life with traditional fairground games, bouncy castles and pottery painting! With live music to bop along too, including the local Bugle Silver Band, a male voice choir and of course a female voice choir too, all with fantastic food on offer to feed those hungry bellies!

explore the woodland acres and enjoy the entertainment, food, fun and festivities!