Chirk Castle was a symbol of King Edward I’s power over the Welsh people, showcasing his impressive medieval fortress along the board. Although Chirk Castle is a little over an hours’ drive from our 5 star, owners exclusive Aberconwy Resort & Spa, it is well worth the travel to learn about the castle’s impressive 700 year history.

Never meant as a family home, the castle did eventually become this with centuries of occupants leaving their mark with lavish interiors and striking collections to view. Visit the State Rooms for a grand 18th Century saloon, which is filled with beautiful tapestries, then venture to the East Range for the impressive library and the 1920’s Bow Room. Take a walk outside in the award winning gardens, which is filled with immaculately manicured lawns and over 5 acres of rose, shrub and rock gardens. There are also 480 acres of stunning parkland to explore, which is home to sheep and wild ponies and is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a beautifully preserved section of Offa’s Dyke. The parkland is also a designated Site of Scientific Interest because it is an important habitat for rare bats, invertebrates and beautiful wildflowers.

Chirk Castle’s history

Kind Edward I built the magnificent castle on the border to keep the Welsh population under English rule, with construction completed in 1310. It was originally built as a military fortress and had the most up-to-date defences during Medieval times, with spectacular ‘drum’ style towers that gave the resident archers a wide firing field. These impressive towers are actually wider at ground level and were designed to make it difficult for siege and battering rams to get close, snow casing the defences of the castle at the time.

It is said that Chirk Castle was so important that King Edward I made personal visits to see the castle during the construction. He handpicked the location specifically for its sparse treeless landscape, which meant his lookouts had a strategic advantage to keep a closer eye on the surrounding Welsh hills and valleys. Chirk Castle was designed as a symbol of power and did its job of dominating the surrounding land.

becoming a family home

In 1595 Sir Thomas Myddelton purchased the castle with the intention of turning it into a family home. Myddelton was the son of the Governor of Denbigh Castle who made his own fortune in London by investing in the East India Company, he was also knighted, built a mansion in Essex and became Lord Mayor of London in 1613.

Myddelton spent large sums of funds on Chirk Castle, turning it into a family home but never lived there, however, the family ruled the estate for over 400 years. Visit the State Rooms for centuries of collections, including Civil War artefacts, wonderful 18th Century large decorated mirrors and a beautiful King Charles I Cabinet, which was gifted to Thomas Myddelton II, who was a Royalist during the Civil War with Oliver Cromwell.

Chirk Castle was brought into the 20th Century by the 8th Lord Howard de Walden, Thomas Scott-Ellis, who fell in love with the castle and managed to negotiate a lease with the Myddelton family from 1910 to 1946. Scott-Ellis updated the castle in order to throw lavish house parties for the high society of the time. He also had a love for all things Medieval and often staged jousts during his parties, he also kept large collections of arms and armour, as well as having a suit of armour designed by the famous armourer Joubert.

opening times & prices

Open every day: 10am to 4pm

There is also a shop and café, where you can enjoy delicious hot meals and drinks, or peruse the shop with handmade gifts from local artisan makers. Enjoy a full day out at the wonderful Chirk Castle.

owning at aberconwy resort & spa

Chirk Castle is just over an hour’s drive from Aberconwy Resort & Spa, and is definitely worth the drive for a fabulous day out, and as an owner at Aberconwy you can visit the castle as many times as you choose!

Our beautiful, 5 star resort is perfectly located on the Conwy Morfa Beach and boasts the stunning Snowdonia Mountain Range backdrop, ensuring wonderful views from all angles. Along with these breath-taking views, Aberconwy offers first class facilities, including an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi, the Aberconwy Spa is home to fully trained therapists and able to offer you luxurious Aromatherapy Associates treatments, as well as a range of Jessica Nail treatments too.

The Langley’s Country Club is a fully equipped gym, with everything you could want for a work out, including a separate room for HIIT workouts and a range of fitness classes and PT sessions to take advantage of. Mali’s Hair Salon will help you put a spring back in your step with a wonderful hair treatment and restyle from our talented hair artists. Enjoy a delicious meal from our award-winning Signature’s Restaurant, owned by husband and wife team, Jimmy and Louise, Signature’s has accumulated many awards over the years, and is a firm favourite dinner spot to our owners, and many across the North Wales coastline.

Book your park tour today to visit us and see what Aberconwy Resort & Spa can offer you, our friendly Sales Team will be able to showcase a selection of our stunning holiday homes for sale in North Wales, with beautiful beach views and all the amenities you could need for a holiday home.

For more information about ownership, call us our dedicated team on 01745 858010 or talk to an advisor via our Live Chat service on the website.

Explore the Isle of Wight and all it has to offer while taking full advantage of the luxurious lodges on offer at our beautiful beach-side location…

Woodside Coastal Retreat boasts spectacular views of The Solent and the beautiful shingle beach, perfectly placed on the island in Wootton, you can explore all that’s on offer, including a number of music festivals and the famous Garlic Festival. There is always a full calendar of events available in the Isle of Wight, and guests at Woodside Coastal Retreat can take full advantage of the five star facilities available at Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, including the Woodside Bay Spa and Bistro Restaurant & Bar. Our wide range of accommodation has everything you could need for a self catering holiday, from fully fitted kitchens, beautifully decorated and comfy living areas, as well as sumptuous bedrooms to kick back and relax in. Have a scroll through the images below and have a sneak peek inside our luxurious lodges before you book your holiday at Woodside Coastal Retreat.

Guests at Woodside Coastal Retreat can take full advantage of the first class facilities available at our sister park, Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, which is only a short walk away. These beautiful facilities include The Bistro Restaurant & Bar, which serves mouth-watering meals for all ages to enjoy and hosts a fully stocked bar, also serving a variety of delicious Costa Coffee drinks for those colder nights. Indulge in a luxurious Aromatherapy Associates treatment at the Woodside Bay Spa, where you can book a relaxing full body massage, rejuvenating facial or even a Jessica Nails manicure with our fully trained therapists. Explore the local area and head back for a treatment or relax in the bar at Woodside, while soaking up the views and atmosphere.

With luxurious lodges available to relax in, offering everything you could need for a self catering holiday, plus five star facilities to take advantage of, now is the ideal time to book your holiday at Woodside Coastal Retreat.

Enjoy a fabulous city escape in one of the UK’s most historical cities, while relaxing in sheer luxury in our beautiful lodges at Bath Mill. Bath Mill Lodge Retreat is a picturesque, peaceful oasis just 2 miles outside of Bath city centre, offering an abundance of nature from the babbling Newton Brook, to the whimsical trees and the open fields to explore.

Bath Mill really does serve the best of both worlds, you can spend the day exploring the city, from the Roman Baths to the high society of The Pump Room tea rooms, then returning to your luxurious lodge which offers everything you could need for a self-catering holiday, or you could treat yourself and dine out at our outstanding Brook Bistro & Bar which serves delicious meals and hosts a fully stocked bar. Book your holiday at Bath Mill and enjoy a luxurious city break with us.

Bath Mill has a wide range of holiday accommodation, from our intimate studio Norland Lodges which are ideal for business breaks or short stays in the city, to our larger 6 bed luxurious lodges, meaning we can cater to groups of all sizes, from a romantic weekend getaway to a longer family and friends holiday exploring all that Bath has to offer. Why not take a closer look at our accommodation and book your holiday to Bath Mill Lodge Retreat today and enjoy a different kind of city break?

Nothing feels better than relaxing with your loved ones, and I’m here to tell you why Kent is a place you need to take a holiday. Holidays in Kent are filled with fun things to do for all ages, interesting sights to be seen and fabulous accommodation to relax in during your downtime. A holiday at our 5 star Canterbury Reach Lodge Retreat destination offers the perfect place to base yourself, with beautiful holiday lodges in Kent to enjoy and ideally placed to explore the local area. Read on below for reasons why holidays in Kent should be in your future.

great places to eat

Canterbury is a city that takes food seriously and is home to a number of fantastic places to eat, including Kathton House on the high street, which offers delicious fine dining in a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. For the best chicken in Canterbury, head to Saint Smokey’s BBQ House where this father and son team will blow you away with mouth-watering Caribbean dishes, which have been passed down for 4 generations. Kent has so much to offer all the foodies out there.

attractions for everyone

There will be something for everyone to do in Canterbury and Kent, whether you want to explore the historic Canterbury Cathedral, or maybe you’d like to learn all about Chaucer, his poems and the famous Canterbury Tales, which is a fabulous immersive attraction taking you back to Medieval England. Or discover the award-winning Howlett’s Wild Animal Park, which is home to over 400 animals to meet, including the largest African Elephant herd in the UK! There really is something for everyone.

dog friendly places

Canterbury Reach offers wonderful pet-friendly holidays in Kent and there are lots of dog-friendly attractions all over Canterbury for you and your pupper to visit. Including the Kent & East Sussex Historical Railway, where you can explore endless railway walks and a full programme of events all year round to get involved with, from Halloween, Christmas and Easter fun days. Or head to the spectacular Mount Ephraim Gardens, with 10 acres of Edwardian gardens to stroll through, including the water gardens, the stunning rose garden and the perfectly manicured topiary garden, you and your pooch will love discovering all the dog friendly attractions in Kent!

beautiful holiday accommodation in Canterbury, Kent

Enjoy our wonderful holiday lodges in Kent at Canterbury Reach Lodge Retreat, with a peaceful atmosphere and beautiful surroundings to soak up. Our lodges come fully equipped with everything you could need for a self-catering holiday, including fully fitted kitchens with all the essentials, ovens, microwaves and fridge/freezers, as well as some added extras such as wine cooler fridges. The open plan, large living spaces is bathed in natural light from the floor to ceiling windows and boast flat-screen TV’s, the comfiest of sofas to relax in, charming dining areas and French doors leading on to the private decking, where you can sit and soak up the countryside. Our sumptuous bedrooms range from spacious twins to luxurious king size rooms, with dressing areas and beautiful en-suites, the family bathrooms are large and luxurious. Our wide range of accommodation in Canterbury, Kent caters to all party sizes, from an intimate romantic getaway, to a full family and friend get-together holiday, there will be a perfect holiday lodge for you!

Canterbury Reach Lodge Retreat really is ideally placed to explore the historic city and the wider Kent area. Explore all the tourist attractions, and discover the hidden treasures, including stunning hidden art sculptures throughout the city, and take a truly unique tour with the Canterbury River Tours company, who’s well-informed guides will take you on a peaceful boat trip around the city and show everything you need to see, all from a wonderfully unique angle.

Now do you see why I know a holiday in Kent is in your future? Canterbury has so much to offer, as does the wider local area, why not book your Canterbury Reach Lodge Retreat holiday now and start planning your holiday?

Nestled in the Denbighshire countryside, New Pines Holiday Home Park offers a fantastic place for a North Wales holiday home and a friendly community…

The friendly community of owners at New Pines come together all year round for various events, as well as having a number of different societies including the Bowling and Golf society to join. Our owners have organised and tended the on-park community allotments for a number of years, nurturing and growing a variety of different vegetables, including carrots, tomatoes, sprouts, beans, onions, courgettes and so much more!

Take a look at the pictures below of the allotments and the veggies (and read about a special owner here at New Pines).

about Mickie

Mickie was looking into holiday home ownership about 2 summers ago and visited us at New Pines, she loved the park and was really impressed by the allotments. Mickie absolutely fell in love with the idea of growing her own veg at New Pines and the allotments completely swayed her decision to become an owner with us. Over the years Mickie has helped to nourish and grow an amazing array of veg, enjoying every second, and just take a look below at her recent allotment veg haul from the New Pines community allotments…

The allotments at New Pines bring a sense of community spirit to the park, with owners of all ages digging in (see what I did there?) and enjoying growing their own veg with us!

ownership at New Pines

Joining our friendly community and becoming an owner at New Pines is much easier than you think. Book a park tour and meet our friendly sales team, who will take you around the park, showcasing our 5 star facilities, a range of beautiful and luxurious holiday homes for sale, all while talking you through the process of purchasing. There is no pressure to buy on your first visit, and you can always pop in to say hello whenever you choose to, a friendly face is always available at New Pines, the team are always too happy to answer any questions you may have and talk to you about finding your perfect holiday home in North Wales.

For more information about ownership at New Pines, call our dedicated team on 01745 858010 or talk to an adviser via our Live Chat service today.

New Pines’ 5 star facilities include an indoor, heated swimming pool, as well as a relaxing Jacuzzi pool, sauna and steam room to enjoy. Indulge in a mouth-watering meal from Bistro Restaurant, either in the formal restaurant area, the cabaret lounge for a more relaxed environment or the family room for a light lunch. Relax with a drink from the fully stocked bar, including the varied Costa Coffee menu, in the Over 21’s Lounge. The children will love the family room, with little ones enjoying the small soft play area and the older kids taking advantage of the pool tables and games consoles in the separate teen’s room. The whole family will love the day and night entertainment provided by cheeky Charlie Bear and his team of Rangers, who organise activities including, afternoon tea events, family fun days, movie nights, face painting activities, quizzes, games, karaoke and a range of talented cabaret acts. As well as taking to the stage themselves for various shows throughout the year. There is also a wonderful outdoor park for the children to enjoy, a large sports field, an all-weather sports pitch and an enclosed dog walking field for those furry friends.

Ownership at New Pines Holiday Home Park offers a community of people where you can relax, enjoy the local area, take in the soothing atmosphere on park and take full advantage of the stunning facilities available to you.

New Pines Holiday Home Park has a friendly community of owners who organise social events and clubs for everyone to enjoy, including the long-standing Bowling Club

The New Pines Bowling Club was established in 1994 and has been a popular club ever since, with over 40 current members enjoying the social aspect and competitive edge of the understated game. The Bowling season at New Pines starts in April and finishes in September, with games being played at the beautiful Rhyl Botanical Gardens, which is less than a 5 minute drive from our park.

The Bowling Club has a number of sponsors, including Darwin Escapes and, of course, the wonderful New Pines Sales Team, and they play around 10 sponsored games every year in a round robin style. These games are always fun, with players coming home with trophies, prize money and even New Pines club vouchers to spend on park.

The club itself is open to anyone at New Pines, as long as they are a current owner or a named person on the owner’s holiday home. For more information about joining this friendly club make sure to head on over to the dedicated Bowling Club Notice Board, which has contact details and more information, and is located in the swimming pool foyer. The notice board holds all the latest information about upcoming games, contact details of the club runners and the upcoming social events, which include the AGM for current and new members, as well as the Annual Presentation Night for members, sponsors and their families.

So if you’re a new owner at New Pines and are looking for a friendly club to join, the New Pines Bowling Club could be perfect for you!

becoming an owner at new pines

Joining our friendly community of owners at New Pines Holiday Home Park means taking full advantage of the social activities available, our stunning lodges and holiday homes for sale and our outstanding 5 star facilities.

Our fantastic facilities include an indoor heated swimming pool, a wonderful soothing Jacuzzi pool to enjoy, as well as a sauna and steam room. Enjoy a delicious meal at our Bistro Restaurant, which serves family favourites and mouth-watering meals for all to enjoy. The Over 21’s Lounge is the ideal place for the adults to relax with a drink from the fully stocked bar and a bite to eat, or head into the Cabaret Lounge for family fun entertainment from Charlie Bear and his Rangers, who offers fun days, afternoon tea parties, quizzes, games, performance shows and fabulous cabaret acts for all to enjoy. The little ones will love the family room, with a small selection of arcade games and a small soft play area to get stuck into, there is also a separate room for the teenagers to enjoy, which includes a pool table and a variety of games consoles. There is so much more to see here at New Pines you will be blown away, including an enclosed dog walking field, community allotments run by the owners, an outdoor play park and a large sports field.

Book a park tour and meet our friendly Sales Team, who will show you our wonderful facilities during your tour, as well as showcasing a selection of our wide range of lodges and holiday homes for sale at New Pines. Your dedicated Sales Assistant will be able to take you step by step through the process, while answering any questions you may have and providing a wonderful aftercare service, should you need it. There will always be a friendly face to have a chat with at New Pines.

To find out more information about ownership at New Pines Holiday Home Park, call our friendly and professional team on 01745 858010, or talk to an advisor via our Live Chat service below and start your ownership journey today.

Take a look at the images below of our stunning new accommodation at Norfolk Woods Resort & Spa, where you will soon be able to enjoy first class facilities, stunning countryside surroundings and beautiful lodge accommodation. Holiday Home ownership will also be available at Norfolk Woods, presenting you with the opportunity to help us shape a brand new community of luxury holiday home owners at a resort which is all set to revolutionise the holiday park industry in East Anglia.

Norfolk Woods Resort & Spa will be opening its doors soon and you could be one of the first to book your holiday at this sure-to-be popular holiday destination in the beautiful countryside!

Isle of Wight’s newest and most luxurious location is on its way to completion. Darwin Escapes is constantly expanding, and the newest addition in development is the luxurious Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat on the Isle of Wight. Surrounded by woodland and nature walks, with a relaxing spa lodge, delicious restaurants on offer and some extra special quirky accommodation, it will have everything you need for your perfect Isle of Wight holiday.

Feast your eyes on these latest development pictures from the Woodside site…

North Wales is steeped in history, with endless spooky stories and creepy castles to visit, the region offers a full programme of events this Halloween. Darwin Escapes has 4 luxurious locations along the North Wales Coastline, Aberconwy Resort & Spa in Conwy, Talacre Beach Holiday Home Park & Seaview Holiday Home Park in Flintshire and New Pines Holiday Home Park in Denbighshire. Each of our locations offers a unique experience, from a spa break in North Wales to a family focused location with a full programme of entertainment all year round.

But this Halloween, North Wales has a plethora of activities to explore, here is our ultimate list of what’s on in North Wales for Halloween…

a little magic monster mash

Where: Meliden Community Centre / When: 28th Oct / Times: 4pm – 6pm /

Watch a fabulous performance of all your favourite Most Wanted Villains taking to the stage this Halloween in Meliden. This spooktacular party will include lots of singing, dancing, games and a fun disco for all ages to enjoy!

halloween week

Where: Ruthin Gaol / When: 27th Oct – 2nd Nov / Times: 10:30am – 4pm

Don your best scary outfit to visit the historic Ruthin Gaol and listen to all the spooky goings on at the infamous jail. There will be plenty of family friendly activities, including arts and crafts to get stuck into.

the ghosts of Penrhyn castle

Where: Penrhyn Castle / When: 20th Oct – 4th Nov / Times: 12pm – 4pm

Follow the scary silhouettes around Penrhyn Castle that will take you on a journey through the castle and gardens, where you will learn all about the ghosts that haunt the castle the many traditions of Calan Gaeaf. There will be spooky servants on hand throughout the castle to tell you terrorific tales of ghost stories from years gone by, as well as a host of family fun available, with craft activities and puppet making.

frights at sites spooky halloween

Where: Criccieth Castle / When: 31st Oct / Times: 11am – 4pm

This fun Halloween trail will give you chills and thrills all throughout the day at a beautiful castle in North Wales! The trail will run through the castle grounds, where you’ll follow and solve clues along the way, there will be prizes for the first 100 children to the complete the quest.

spooky spectacular

Where: SeaQuarium, Rhyl / When: 20th Oct – 4th Nov / Times: 10am – 5pm

This Halloween the SeaQuarium will be filled with witches, ghosts and offering eerie tales to all who enter. Jasper the Jellyfish need your help, you need to help find his friends who are all under a spooky spell, so if you follow the trail of clues around the building you can win a prize and a fantastic spooky badge! You can visit after dark during the Torchlight Tours from 27th – 31st October, learn all about the darker side of the aquarium, the tours must be pre-booked and start at 5pm for the family fun event. If you’re looking for the extra spooky event, you’ll need to book the 6:30pm – 8pm tour. During the night time tour you’ll enjoy a fascinating pool talk, a night time harbour seal deed, trick or treat goody bag, traditional Halloween games and a face your feat event where you can come face to face with a range of creepy critters.

spooky halloween day

Where: Beaumaris Castle / When: 31st Oct / Times: 10am – 4pm

Enjoy a day of family fun, thrills and chills at the Halloween trail day. You can take a spook tour around the castle walls where you will find all the answers to the clues on the trail, once you’ve completed the trail you can win a prize and make sure to keep an eye out for the castle witch on your journey. There will also be lots of spooky crafts to get stuck in on, including classic pumpkin carving and scary mask making.

halloween spooktacular children’s trail

Where: Denbigh Castle / When: 27th Oct / Times: 10am – 4pm

Wander the grounds of the historic Denbigh Castle to find the missing skeleton bones! Join in and complete the Halloween themed crafts, there will also be a chocolate surprise for the first 150 children to complete the trail.

halloween daytime fun

Where: Ruddlan Castle / When: 31st Oct / Times: 11am – 4pm

Listen to all the spooky stories in the castle and join in with the fangtastic Halloween themed crafts, where you can decorate some yummy biscuits. Don’t forget to take part in our fabulous quiz, and make sure to don your favourite spooky costume as the first 200 children in fancy dress will receive a chocolatey treat!

The Isle of Wight is home to endless activities and attractions, check out top choices for a family day out below. Our own Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat is perfectly located in the Isle of Wight to make the most of exploring all the fantastic family attractions on the island. We’ve looked at animal parks, theme parks, historical gardens filled with fun and even more hidden gems around the Isle of Wight in our list, so sit down with a cuppa and scroll through to plan your family day out! So if you’re looking for a family day out in the Isle of Wight, we’ve got you covered…

Isle of Wight Zoo

P036 8QB / 10am – 5.30pm / Adult: £11.35 Child: £9.30 Family: £36.55

The zoo specialises in the care of lemurs and tigers, giving the older animals an enriching retirement home and those rescued animals a soothing home. There are various animals at the zoo, including 2 beautiful African lions, with Casper being the islands very first white lion. Visit the mob of meerkats or our friendly family of Wallabies, before meeting Darwin the Tawny Owl, who loves to meet new people in the falconry sessions.

Tapnell Farm Park

P041 0YJ / 10am – 5pm / Adult: £8.95 Child: £10.95 Family: £36.55

This fantastic family attraction was once a dairy farm, with the Farmyard Barn being home to a range of animals from sheep and goats to meerkats and alpacas. Pet’s Corner is home to the adorable rabbits and Guinea Pigs and don’t miss the Wallaby Walkabout where you can cuddle and wander around the friendly wallabies. There are also play areas to explore, with zip wires, pedal go karts and a straw bale pyramid in the Straw Bale Adventure Zone, and enjoy the all-weather soft play heaven in the Play Barn.

Amazon World

P036 0UX / 10am – 5.30pm / Adult: £11.95 Child: £9.95 Family: £41

Amazon World is the largest exotic animal attraction on the island and offers a great family day out in the Isle of Wight. Home to a wide range of animals, including exotic creatures such as giant anteaters and Tamandua. There is also a Jurassic themed playground to explore, as well as a gift shop and onsite café serving delicious meals and snacks.

Isle Jump

P036 9PH / 10am – 8pm / £8 per person. Family £30 / Booking is recommended

A new and fun day out with the family in the Isle of Wight, Isle Jump offers all weather activities for all ages. The main area houses 40 trampolines for general fun, with fitness classes and toddler time available. Isle Jump also offer dodgeball trampoline sessions (it’s exactly what you think it is) and they also have a brand new giant airbag, which is perfect for aerial tricks. You can also slam dunk like Michael Jordan with the basketball sessions.

Dinosaur Isle

PO36 8QA / 10am – 5pm / Adult: £5 Child: £4 Family: £16.50

The very first purpose built visitor attraction and dinosaur museum on the island, with over 1000 fossils on display. You can take a trip through time from as far back to the Cretaceous period, when the dinosaurs walked the earth, to our most recent Ice Age. This facility is open all year round and offers a fun family day out with dinosaur skeleton reconstructions and interactive displays to discover.

Blackgang Chine

PO38 2HN / 10am – 4.30pm / Peak Standard: £22.50 Off Peak Standard: £20

Let the kids’ imagination run wild with Blackgang Chine’s range of play areas, from fighting pirates aboard their own ship, discover life-sized animatronic dinosaurs or become a sheriff in their own town and lock up the outlaws, or become an outlaw and rob a bank! Explore a sunken shipwreck in the newest Underwater Kingdom attraction, which also has animatronic creatures! There really is no end to the adventures your family can have at Blackgang Chine.

Monkey Haven

 

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PO30 2NB / Open 10am. Call on bad weather days / Adult: £10.95 Child: £8.95 Family: £37

Monkey Haven is a happy home for rescued primates and birds of prey. The adorable animals are at the haven for various reasons, whether that be the illegal pet trade, or they are unsuitable for breeding programmes or having trouble with their original groups. There are a few birds who have been injured and wouldn’t be able to defend themselves in the wild, so they live enriching lives at the sanctuary. Explore Monkey Haven on your family day out to see the animals including gibbons, marmosets, barn owls, kookaburras, meerkats, tortoise and even boa constrictors!

the Lost World Adventure Golf

PO36 9JT / 9am – late / £4 per person

Adventure golf has long been a favourite family activity and The Lost World Adventure Golf is one of the best on the island. A round takes about 30 minutes to complete, you’ll enter the ancient Aztec ruins in order to start your challenge of mini crazy golf. On your adventure, you’ll go through rainforest ruins with monkeys and lions lurking nearby, as well as experiencing lightning, thunder and smoke effects to make the most of your journey.

Ryde canoe & boating lake

PO33 1JA / Call 01983 563656 for opening times / Canoe: £4 Swan 4 Seater: £10. 2 Seater £6

The picturesque lake is part of the Waterside Community and the lake is home to a number of swans and various other wildlife. In honour of beautiful birds, Swan pedalos are available to hire during the summer, so your family can take a gentle pedal around the lake and spot the wildlife around the area in the natural habitat.

Mattistone Gardens & Estate

PO30 4ED / 10.30am – 5pm / Adult: £7.50 Child: £3.75 Family: £18.75

Mottistone has had some form of residence for the past 1000 years and was mentioned in the Doomsday book in 1086, with the current manor house being built during the 15th and 16th Centuries. The adults will love the history and strolling around the picturesque gardens, while the kids will love walking the garden to find the 9 hidden flowerpot people, who have names including Nanny McPea, Captain Jack Marrow and Benedict Cucumberpatch. Once all 9 flowerpot people have been found, the children can draw and name their own flowerpot people!

Godshill Model Village

PO38 3HH / 10am – 5pm / Adult: £4.95 Child: £3.95 Family: £17

Robin Thwaites bought the model village in the late 60’s and it has remained a family business, with Robert’s daughter and son-in-law the current owners. Godshill’s aim is to give every visitor a wonderful nostalgic experience, with the model village being a timeless place to escape to with a unique 50’s feel to it, including cottages and beach huts. The All Saints Church sits atop the hill overlooking the cottages, exactly the same as the real All Saints Church does, and if you stand in just the right place you can see the life-size church and the model church at the same time.

Robin Hill Country Park

PO30 2NU / 10am – 5pm / Standard £19

Set in 88 acres of beautiful countryside, awaits endless fun and adventure at Robin Hill Country Park, making it the perfect place for family days out in the Isle of Wight. Explore the adventure play area and crawl through the tunnels and try the brand new jungle play with treetop nets. There is a wide range of activities and theme park rides to enjoy throughout the day and you can experience the falconry shows where you’ll see owls and hawks flying over the crowd and you’ll learn all about these fascinating creatures.

Sandown Park

PO36 9QQ / Always Open / Free

A wonderful large playground that’s perfect for all ages that includes a skate park for the little adventures, a football/basketball court to get the competitive juices flowing, as well as a great toddler play area for the littles to run wild! There is also a fabulous older children’s play area, which includes a zip wire! Head to Sandown Park for a fun and free family activity in the Isle of Wight.

Explore the Isle of Wight with your family and enjoy endless days of fun and activities on the island with our top picks of family attractions.

holiday at Woodside

Woodside Coastal Retreat offers the ideal place to base yourself while exploring the Isle of Wight, located in Wootton and only a 15 minute drive from both Ryde and Cowes, you can explore all the island has to offer.

Our luxurious lodge accommodation is ideal for a family getaway, with large open place living areas, with family dining tables, a fully equipped kitchen with ovens, hobs, dishwashers and sometimes wine coolers, as well as sumptuous sofas to relax on after a day of adventuring, with French doors leading on to a private decking, complete with furniture. We also have our Premier range of lodges which come with a personal hot tub, if you wanted to go all out on your island escape. Our beautiful bedrooms range from double rooms with king size beds to spacious twins, all with the softest of mattresses, to rest up ready for another family day out!

Our guests are able to take full advantage of our sister parks facilities. Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat boasts fabulous onsite facilities, including the Woodside Bay Spa Lodge, where our trained therapists offer Aromatherapy Associates treatments, as well as a range of Jessica Nails hand treatments, along with pregnancy and men specific treatments are also available. Enjoy a delicious evening meal or sumptuous lunch at The Bistro, which serves mouth-watering meals for the whole family to enjoy, as well as boasting a fully stocked bar to enjoy a refreshing drink from, or even a soothing Costa Coffee if you choose. Woodside Bay is also home to a fully equipped gym, so you don’t need to miss out on a work out during your holiday to the Isle of Wight.