Explore Exmoor Zoo and visit some of the most exotic animals in the world at the award winning zoo!

Beach Cove Coastal Retreat is a fantastic getaway for all couples, and exploring Exmoor Zoo will add fun and excitement to your trip. The zoo is home to over 50 exhibits, an integral part of the Europe Breeding Programme and houses exotic, beautiful animals you won’t see at another UK zoo.

Note: Scroll to the bottom for some stunning photos that will make you say ‘awe’ over and over…

the zoo

You wander around the beautiful winding paths, which are lined with shrubs and trees, which provide homes to countless birds and invertebrates, so you can find interesting creatures all over the 12 acres of land on your adventures! The zoo promotes natural husbandry for the park as well as the animals enclosures, that means there are plenty of safe, hidey holes for the animals, and you can glimpse these stunning animals when they are most relaxed. All the staff at the small, family run zoo are passionate, knowledgeable and exceptionally friendly, which means that if you have any questions about a habitat or animal they are always more than happy to help and answer them!

Exmoor Zoo has won Best Small Attraction in Devon, which is a huge achievement for this family run zoo! And while you are wandering around seeing the animals it is easy to see why, there are educational and interactive talks every 30 minutes (and sometimes every 15), with feeding and handling experiences too. These are often the talk of the day as they are filled with fun facts and incredible information!

the animals

The list of animals you can visit at Exmoor Zoo is extensive, including a trio of young female African Wild Dogs that you will spend hours trying to tell apart, the Caracal Cats that are absolutely stunning, make sure to look out for them and their black ‘butterfly wing’ ears! Say hello to Hendrix and Flea, the beautiful Eurosian Wolves, as well as the pretty Manned Wolves and Singing Dogs. Pop along to visit the Meercats everyone’s favourite burrower, the breath-taking Lynx Cats and Cheetahs. And don’t forget one of the most photographed animals at the zoo, the Sand Cats where you will hear “Oh I wish I had one” being uttered, but don’t be deceived by the most adorable of faces, they have sharp teeth and claws! The reptile house is a fun place to visit too, with chameleons, snakes, spiders and even crocodiles among the many residents here.

home of the exmoor beast

The Exmoor Beast is a local legend, born of the wild big cats living in the moors, they can be seen walking in the shadows in the few wild places left. Those who have seen this ‘mythical beast’ say it looks just like a panther, or a black leopard, not unlike Ebony and Zoysa at Exmoor Zoo…

Ebony and Zoysa are two stunning black leopards residing in the Exmoor Beast enclosure, who are an inquisitive pair. They live in a natural enclosure so it may take some work to find them, if it’s sunny you may catch them in the middle of their mid-day nap, or playing with a the trunk of a tree. Although they may look asleep, don’t be fooled, they will perk up at the first sign of any potential meal, or if the occasional visitor attracts their attention… You can witness Ebony and Zoysa’s afternoon feed around 4:15 pm (except on Friday’s) and watch these magical creatures in action.

beautiful images

So on your next stay at the Best in Britain award winning Beach Cove, make sure to visit Exmoor Zoo for some fantastic educational and interactive talks, jaw droppingly beautiful animals and a glimpse at the magical Exmoor Beast!

Happy Adventuring Zoo Goers!

Images provided by Exmoor Zoo

Learn to ‘catch a wave’ at the home of British Surfing with the experts at Fistral Beach Surf School

Our own Piran Meadows Resort & Spa is located in the underrated Newquay countryside; with 5 star facilities, this award-winning location is a fantastic family holiday destination. Piran Meadows is only a short trip away from Fistral Beach itself, which is the home to both British Surfing and the fantastic Fistral Beach Surf School.

Fistral Beach Surf School is open all year round, so no matter when your trip is you can have a lesson from one of the professional surfing coaches. There are private and group lessons available, including hen and stag groups, as well as schools and special discounts for military groups too! The Surf School offers lessons for all abilities from complete beginners to more advanced surfers, where you will work on your timing and manoeuvres.

There are changing rooms and hot showers available to warm up if you want to hit the waves in the Winter, and a café on Fistral Beach for a bite to eat once your lesson is done. Being the only surfing school on the beach means that the Fistral Beach Surfing School can take full advantage, and make the most of your lessons, as you only need to wander to the waters edge with their equipment. Having the right equipment is important to your lesson, and Fistral Beach Surfing School knows that, so they make sure to have the correct equipment all year round and it is all included free in your lesson! And that includes everything, whether that is just the wet suit, or if you want to be layered up with a hooded thermal rashvests, boots and gloves, it will all be included in your lesson, so you will go out knowing you are safe and about the have a seriously fun time!

So if you are in Newquay, why not drop into the Surf School and have a look around, or give them a ring on 0163 785 0737 to learn more and book a lesson before your holiday at Piran Meadows!

happy surfing!

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Rookin House offers activities in breath taking Cumbrian surroundings!

Our brand new Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat in Cumbria offers fantastic facilities and outstanding views of the Lake District. Just 8 miles down the road from the town of Keswick is the Rookin House, a place filled with fun and adventure!

what is Rookin House?

An established adventure venue in Cumbria, that is a family owned and run business for over 20 years. Rookin House offers a huge variety of outdoor activities, with something for everyone and all ages. Offering adult activities, children’s activities, family fun, couples adventures, stag and hen party activities, as well as corporate fun days and team building exercises, phew! There will definitely be something for you, even if you want to sit and admire the stunning Cumbrian view, with the Blencathra providing an outstanding Lakeland backdrop.

the activities

Rookin House offers an endless stream of activities, including; air rifles, archery, argo cat rides (which is an amphibious all terrain vehicle for the adventurous out there), both children’s and adult’s assault courses, clay pigeon shooting, paint balling and quad biking. And that’s not even half of what they have on! The activity that grabbed my attention was the fun looking Video Navigate, where someone drives a car with blacked out windows and has to be directed around a course by the rest of their team. This is the ultimate in a communication skills test, I can only imagine how my husband and I would fair in this task!

Have fun in the local area at our brand new luxurious Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat holiday destination!

Happy Adventures Dear Readers!

The Snowdon Mountain Railway will give you the journey of a lifetime to the breathtaking rooftop of North Wales. Our own Talacre Beach Resort is only a short drive away from the Snowdonia Mountain Range, so while you’re on your holiday you can have the trip of a lifetime up in the clouds. And if you are looking for holiday home ownership on the North Wales coastline we have both Talacre Beach and Aberconwy Resort & Spa offering a beautiful haven away from the hustle and bustle. The Snowdonia Mountain Range brings in thousands of visitors every year, and is one of the must see attractions of the region, but you don’t have to walk the world renowned mountain, you catch the Snowdon Railway to the summit.

the history

Spanning three centuries, starting in the late 1800’s, the Snowdon Railway is in a unique position of being very aware of its legacy. The railway celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2016 with a whole host of festivities to celebrate this milestone across both its Traditional Diesel Service and also its Heritage Steam Experience, which includes the Snowdon Lily steam train which was reconstructed from its original 1896 chassis.

The railway has recently built and commissioned new carriages for its ever expanding fleet, so you are sure to have a fantastic trip up the mountain.

the mountain

At 1,085 meters Snowdon dominates the landscape and is a true colossus of a mountain, with its very own place in Welsh legends. Said to be the burial place of the giant ogre Rhita, who was vanquished by none other than King Arthur himself, and some believe that Arthur’s Knights still sleep beneath the stones. The mountain is a fabulous land of fairies, giants and kings, with Welsh Princes holding council here for centuries, the land up the to the summit is dotted with ruins that chronicle the history of long lost communities that lived in the clouds, and keep a special eye out of the stunning Hebran Chapel.

the journey

The train ride to the summit will take around an hour, with a 30 minute stop over at the peak, where you can gaze on at the endless miles at the beautiful North Wales countryside. On the way you will see the breath-taking waterfall of the Afon Hwch plunging into the gorge below, as well as once in a lifetime sights and fantastic panoramic views of the Mountain Range. Once you reach the peak of the highest mountain in Wales, you will gaze at the most stunning scenery and awe-inspiring views the region has to offer.

So my dear readers, what ever time of the year you are visiting, you can jump aboard a beautiful and historic train to reach the peak of one of the most stunning and legendary mountains in the UK. Take that trip into the clouds and marvel at the outstanding beauty surrounding you.

If you are looking to make a booking at the Snowdon Railway during your North Wales Holiday, then you can always make your booking online on their website.

Ruthin Gaol is the only Pentonville style prison open to the public as a world heritage site, and is a fascinating day out for all the family. Located in a sleepy and traditional Welsh town, Ruthin Gaol (Jail) is a fascinating few hours out for all the family, and with it being so close to our wonderful New Pines Holiday Home Park, it’s the perfect place to visit while on holiday with us!

In 1886 the large Pentonville style wing was added to help improve conditions at the dark, overcrowded and unhygienic prison.

The wing was in contrast with the prison, with it’s clean and stark interior, it was originally designed to rehabilitate prisoners through hard labour and a strict regime.

While wandering around Ruthin Gaol you can learn what life was really like at the prison, the prisoners daily routines, what they ate and what punishments they suffered (and you can even try a few of these out if you want to!). Learn all about the man they called the Welsh Houdini and even about William Hughes, who was the last man to be hanged at the prison, and view his ‘condemned cell’.

During your tour around the prison you will hear tales of some its most colourful prisoners, there are fun ‘prisoner hunts’ to enjoy, as well as plenty of quizzes and activities for all ages to take part in too! Ruthin Gaol also have a calendar of special events that add more to the experience and history of your visit, including fun activities around Halloween half term!

For the opening times, please visit the Ruthin Gaol website.

A great family day out in a picturesque town, learning the local history and culture!

Here at DE HQ we have some great Christmas party game ideas that will have your Christmas table the place to be this festive season!

Family fun Christmas games around the Christmas table are what the festive season is made for, we love Christmas games and wanted to give you some Christmas game ideas to help…

There is always that awkward time while everyone is sitting at the table waiting for food, or waiting for the last person to finish their dinner, or even just waiting for their food to settle before diving into your chosen Christmas desert. It’s normally the time that people play with the toys out of the crackers, and it’s usually the time that those toys break, so we have some fantastic Christmas party game ideas for family fun!

Darwin Escapes has made this list of the best Christmas table games that you can play in those in between times. Everyone loves a good Christmas game…

sprout catapult game

You can buy this from Amazon, it’s pretty cheap and really fun! You sling fake sprouts across the table into the target, using the catapult of course, a great fun Christmas themed game.

christmas peel the sprout

A festive themed ‘pass the parcel’ based Christmas table game. Again purchased from Amazon, it has 25 layers of crepe paper with wonderful Christmas themed trinkets hidden throughout.

christmas bingo

Recently purchased this from Amazon, a great time killer while waiting for food to be placed up around the Christmas table. Easy to set up and all you need is a pen, a family fun Christmas table game for everyone!

christmas reindeer toss

This is a game that will have everyone belly laughing around your Christmas table, the chosen person wears the inflatable reindeer antlers, while everyone else tried to toss the rings over them.

scratch cards/trivia

There are a number of different scratch cards and trivia cards you can find to entertain you Christmas table guests, these are fun and easy to do while waiting for food or just a conversation topic.

These are Christmas games for all the family, everyone will be laughing and guessing around your Christmas table. Is your favourite Christmas table game on our list? Let us know your favourite Christmas table game!

Happy Merriment Ladies & Gents!

The staff at Piran Meadows managed to show this Teddy a good time before he was reunited with his much loved family!

Teddy was accidently left behind at one of the lodges at Piran Meadows Resort & Spa in Newquay; while waiting for his transport, Teddy managed to help out the reception staff by answering the phones and he even relaxed and enjoyed the facilities! He gave archery a go, had a soothing massage at Serenity Spa and even chilled out in the sauna, what a lucky Teddy!

After Teddy’s fabulous day, he was ready for his transport home with his new duck friend in tow, his little suitcase and even some special sweets for his owner!

We want to say a huge thank you to the amazing staff at Piran Meadows Resort & Spa for spoiling Teddy and treating him to a fun-filled day, and for reuniting him with his family with pictures of his wonderful printed out too!

What does your Teddy get up to when you’re away?

Happy Adventuring!

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Winter is coming and it’s time to prepare… (hah!). Let’s learn all about Winterisation and how to take care of your holiday home during the colder months.

It’s getting to that time of year where your loyal holiday home will be heading off for its winter hibernation and you head home for the snowy months. Now if you are new to the world of holiday home ownership, firstly welcome to your first winter! And secondly you’re probably thinking what the heck is Winterisation? And that’s what I’m here for, also remember that our lovely team offer a Winterisation service so you don’t have to do it yourself!

So let’s see how we set up Winterisation…

first things first…

On the last day in your holiday home you will need to air it out as much as possible, open all the windows and doors, while doing this also check the window seals for any cracks and make sure all the locks are in good order.

bedrooms

Make sure to remove all valuables from cupboards and wardrobes. Take duvets, blankets and pillows home or place in vacuum sealed packs. If there is room stand the mattress on its side away from the external walls, make sure to leave all the cupboards open to improve air circulation.

kitchen

Empty the fridge of all water and wash inside to clear any crumbs and spills, and leave the door open. Remove all food from cupboards and wash with anti-bacterial solution. Don’t be tempted to leave unopened packets of food, it will encourage pesky wildlife, they will still sniff it out and nibble. Clean all surfaces, including the cooker, making sure no spillages or crumbs are left, and make sure to leave the cupboard doors open.

lounge

Even though our parks are under 24 hour security, even during closing, we do suggest that you take your valuables with you, including TV, DVD player and any music systems you may have. Make sure to clean all surfaces in case of food spills or crumbs, move all sofa cushions away from the exterior walls and roll up and loose rugs and stand on end in the middle of the room.

bathrooms

After turning off the water supply, lift the lid on the toilet cistern, flush the toilet and as it refills add anti-freeze in to what is left. Remember to remove the shower hose and shower head as these could become damaged if any water freezes in them over the winter.

external

Check that all guttering and downpipes are in good order. Try to block any gaps that wildlife could use to gain entry. Make sure to take a look at the roof, chassis and any skylights for leaks or loose joints. If your steps are removable then place inside the holiday home for safe keeping away from the weather. Try to clear all vegetation that might have grown close to or underneath the holiday home to discourage pests.

general

Any loose items outside, such as storage boxes or chairs need to be safely locked away. Consider removing curtains or nets to avoid mildew, and make sure to vacuum all the carpets and clean surfaces to remove any food crumbs.

Phew! During the colder months your lovely holiday home can become a little poorly if not cared for properly. That’s mostly getting the holiday home ready for its winter hibernation, there are other bits too, like drain down of the pipes, but check out our  Winter Checklist post for more on that. If that all seems daunting and time consuming don’t worry, we offer a fabulous drain down service to take the all the technical stuff off your hands, as well as offering a Deep Clean Service to take all the cleaning off your hands too! And then you can leave in the knowledge that your lovely holiday home is properly cared for. Pop into reception to find out prices and when is best to book them in!

Happy Winter Break!

Beach Cove Coastal Retreat has the most stunning beach hut accommodation and I just can’t wait to show you them…

From the small details, beautiful decorations and the sumptuous bedding to the relaxing sofas and outstanding views, our unique beach hut accommodation will leave you breathless and desperate for a Devonshire holiday in Beach Cove Coastal Retreat, so let me show you my Beach Hut…

Book your Beach Cove Coastal Retreat holiday now and escape from the mundane with a quirky Beach Hut holiday!

Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat is perfectly placed to the base for your Cornish Halloween adventures this Half Term…

There are lots of fun family adventures to be had in the local Cornish area around Mullion Cove, filled with fireworks and spooky stories!

halloween happenings at Godolphin

When: 22nd – 30th Oct. Time: 10am – 5pm. Prices: £8.50 (adult) £4.25 (child)

Learn some gruesome and fascinating facts about baths along the family bat tail at Godolphin this Halloween half term, venture into the undercroft and listen to some spooky stories of years gone by and learn all about the ghost that still haunt Godolphin today. Keep your eyes peel as you wander around as you never know what you might see!

fireworks half term at flambards

When: 28th Oct. Time: 6pm Start. Prices: £12.50

Flambards annual Tricks and Treats Firework Spectacular is not to be missed, with Flava and the Big Dance Company headlining the stage where talented crews will be performing their super skilled moves it’s sure to be an amazing half term show! You’ll be able to see one of Cornwall’s finest live bands the ‘Broken Down’ who will be getting the crowd ready and amped up for the spectacular firework display!

spooky Trail at Flambards

When: 24th – 30th Oct. Time: 10am – 5pm. Prices: £19.95

Along with all the fun Flambards attractions, this Halloween half term you can step back in time almost 200 years, with the Spooky Trail through the Victorian Village. Things were terrible for the working class people, disease was rife and the spooky streets were plagued with sneaky pickpockets and murderous rogues. Visit the infamous Peggy Price the Victorian Villager who wanders the cobbles and tells tales of vicious Victorian villains, a great trail for all the family.

After a day out celebrating half term Halloween fun you can retreat back to your stunning lodge in Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat and relax while watching a spooky movie!

Happy Half Term Ghosts and Ghouls!

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