Darwin Escapes’ brand new Dorset location, Wareham Forest Lodge Retreat is now open!
If you are looking for luxury holidays in Dorset now is the perfect time to book with our brand new location offering fantastic views in a magical woodland setting. Our wonderful managers cut the red tape for the opening day, Wareham Forest is a place where you can relax in nature and feel your stresses of everyday life drain away while you enjoy your luxury, self catering holiday in the Dorset countryside.
Take a look at the pictures below for a sneak peek of what could be your best holiday of 2017!
Book a holiday at Wareham Forestand explore the Dorset countryside, while relaxing in the woodland surrounding you in luxury, brand new accommodation!
Looking to keep kids entertained on a car journey? Darwin Escapes have the top 5 free kids car games! You don’t need to spend lots of money on fancy technology to keep the children entertained on long car journeys, think back to when we were little and were in the car going off on holiday, all those songs! So whether you are travelling to your summer holiday destination or driving home for Christmas, these classic car games for kids will keep everyone entertained!
the animal name game
A classic children’s car game, starting with the letter A, each person must name an animal beginning with that letter, once everyone has gone you move on to the next letter. The person who can’t think of an animal loses that round, this car game is also a fun way of teaching the Animal Kingdom to the little ones (don’t cheat and Google the answers!)
20 questions
Everyone knows this car game, but just in case you’ve never played it before here’s what you do… one person thinks of a person (either fictional or real) and everyone else takes it in turn to ask questions that can only be answered with a yes or no (i.e. are you female?). Everyone then tries to work out who it is under 20 questions, and the person who does wins. If no one guesses correctly the person who thought of the person wins…does any of that actually make sense? It’s a very hard game to describe, but so much fun to play! (kind of like Guess Who? without the board?)
my father had a grocery store
Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of this car game before, I hadn’t but now I’m hooked! It’s a simple memory game that starts with the phrase “My father had a grocery store, and in it he sells…” something beginning with the letter A. The Next person repeats all this and adds something beginning with B, and so on. Players get knocked out if they forget, mix up or can’t think of any items to add.
i spy
“I spy with my little eye, something beginning with the letter…” are words everyone has heard and said, this is a must-play car game. Players can pick something in or out of the car, as long as it’s constantly there, none of this ‘it was at the last stop’ nonsense! Everyone else uses the beginning letter to guess what the spyer sees and whoever guesses correctly wins! A classic kids car game that will have everyone laughing in the car.
dots & boxes
This kids car game is definitely not for the driver, as you will need two (or more) different coloured pens and a piece of paper. Create the outline of a big box using dots, then fill it with evenly spaced dots. Take it in turn to place a line between two dots, with the aim to make a full box, whoever creates a full box colours it in, marking it as theirs. The person to have the most boxes at the end wins the game.
Is your favourite car game in our list? I love all these games, but I win the most at Dots & Boxes so guess which I like playing the most…
Visit The Canterbury Tales Experience and learn all about the fascinating history of the local area, and one of the UK’s literary classics. Our brand new location Canterbury Reach Lodge Retreat will be opening its doors in Spring 2017, and The Canterbury Tales is the perfect introduction to the city’s literary history! Visit The Canterbury Tales attraction and enjoy a guided tour through an immersive event where you will enter the site to explore all the sights, smells and sounds of Chaucer’s medieval England. Be one of the first to stay at our luxury new location, Canterbury Reach Lodge Retreat and enjoy a introduction to the city like no other at St Margaret’s Church as one of the city’s most loved visitor attractions.
Experience Geoffery Chaucer’s medieval England from his most famous writings The Canterbury Tales recreated at this one-of-a-kind attraction…
Chaucer is known as one of the best poets of the Middle Ages, born in London around 1343, this is where The Canterbury Tales attraction begins its tour. Chaucer was from a family of successful merchants meaning he was well educated; being able to read and write during this period was particularly rare. The Royal family of the time were very fond of him, so much so that when Chaucer was captured by the French in 1359, King Edward III paid his ransom. They also implicitly trusted him, so much so that that the King even sent Chaucer on diplomatic missions to France, Genoa and Florence.
It was during these travels that Chaucer was exposed to some of the great authors of the time, he was not a professional writer himself but rather wrote for his own and friends’ pleasure, with his poetry becoming a favourite of the Kings. While working as Controller of Customs and Justice of Peace in 1386, Chaucer began writing his most famous works, The Canterbury Tales, written in a combination of verse and prose the collection of tales tells the story of over 30 pilgrims’ journey to the shrine of St Thomas Beckett. The work is also a comment on society at the time, with his characters offering insights and raising questions about social class, spirituality and religion. Chaucer didn’t follow the norm when penning his works, he wrote in English which was very rare at a time when everything was in French or Latin, the language of the courts, he was thought so highly of that he was actually the first poet to be buried in Westminster Abbey’s Poet’s Corner.
the Canterbury Tales
The Canterbury Tales share the journey of 30 people on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St Thomas Beckett, they engage in a story telling competition, making the tales a collection of 24 stories told as the pilgrims make their journey to Canterbury Cathedral. On your own journey through the attraction you will be immersed in five of Chaucer’s colourful and entertaining tales filled with love, infidelity, intrigue, courtship and death. All of this is brought vividly to life through recreated scenes, costumed guides and fantastic audio guides. Among the tales that you will hear at The Canterbury Tales attraction are The Knights Tale, The Miller’s Tale and The Nun’s Priest’s Tale.
You’ll discover 14th Century England in this immersive recreation of medieval life set in the historic St Margret’s Church nestled in the heart of the city. This is the second oldest attraction in the city behind Canterbury Cathedral. The attraction will give you a unique introduction to Canterbury and its literary connect to Geoffery Chaucer’s famous works.
Since opening its doors in 1988, the attraction has nearly 30 years of heritage and remains a must-see for all ages! The innovative and one-of-a-kind experience lets you explore medieval England through an immersive environment, it is the only tour dedicated to Chaucer and his works. Along with costumed guides taking you through the recreated scenes, there is an amazing array of audio guides voiced by ‘80’s TV stars, including Prunella Scales from Fawlty Towers, and Bernard Cribbons from Doctor Who. You will have a one-of-a-kind experience at The Canterbury Tales attraction, where you will learn all about medieval England and the fantastic writer Chaucer!
Now is the perfect time to start looking at attractions to visit in and around Kent with Canterbury Reach Lodge Retreat opening in Spring 2017, and The Canterbury Tales is the ideal attraction for the whole family to giggle and learn!
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!
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!
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 theirwebsite.
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!
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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