Family fun in the heart of Somerset at our 5 Star Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa! Cheddar Woods is set in the heart of Somerset countryside, and this award winning resort is perfectly placed for endless family fun. With an amazing Go Active programme, the Mendip Hills offering beautiful scenic woodland walks and just a stone’s throw away from the magical Cheddar Gorge.

You will never struggle for things to do!It is no different at Easter, with the lovely Go Active and Cheddar Woods team having put their heads together for some egg-tastic fun (har-de-har!). Make a bonnet, cards and paint some eggs at the Easter Crafts session or show us your best baking skills at the Easter Cookery. For something a little more peaceful, you could settle down to watch a fantastic Easter movie in your luxury lodge.

Of course on Easter Sunday, enjoy the all day family egg hunt! Easter fancy dress is fully encouraged throughout the Easter break and pre-booking for the Easter events is advised due to their high popularity.

Have an amazing Easter break, eat lots of chocolate and enjoy making some crafts with our wonderful team!

Happy easter from Cheddar Woods!

Family fun this Easter break in Bude, Cornwall, with laughs, sea, sand and fantastic entertainment on offer!

Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sandymouth Holiday Resort has the best of both worlds, being close to the sandy beaches but also offering the beautiful rural Cornish countryside. With our fun entertainment programme, indoor heated swimming pool, as well as being surrounded by picturesque fishing villages and market towns you will never be short of something to do in beautiful Bude!

Our Easter entertainment programme includes fun children’s activities, games and of course the always cheeky Charlie Bear! We will also have a performance from fantastic magician and illusionist Alexander J, as well as the superb vocalist Sam Wrey who will be taking the stage in the Ocean Bar, where you can feast your eyes on the shows, indulge in some mouth watering food and grab a drink to enjoy your night! The little ones will have a blast at the traditional fun day, where there will be loads going on including Easter bonnet decorating, parade and the traditional fun Easter egg hunt. You could also have a wondrous blast with a fantastic full day of Alice and the Mad Hatter’s tea party! Change places!

We hope you have plenty of family fun this Easter break at our beautiful Sandymouth Holiday Resort, in the stunning Cornish countryside.

happy easter from Sandymouth!

5 Star family fun at our award winning Cornish resort, Piran Meadows Resort & Spa

Winning the prestigious ‘Best in Britian’ 2015 Accolade at the Hoseasons awards last year, Piran Meadows Resort & Spa has an unrivalled range of family facilities in the stunning North Cornwall Countryside. Just a few miles away from the beautiful golden beaches of Newquay, Piran Meadows has a lot to offer holiday makers and holiday home owners a like. Undergoing an extensive redevelopment and opening its doors in 2014, it couldn’t have asked for a better first year!

Piran Meadows has pulled all the stops out for the Easter break this year! The lovely Go Active team are putting on the traditional Easter egg hunt, fantastic Easter crafts including fun egg decorating! As well as Easter Archery, using Easter egg targets and if you hit them you get a delicious chocolate egg! And then you can all settle down, put your feet up and enjoy a fun Easter movie and grab a drink at the bar too.

Our relaxing Serenity Spa also has some great offers on for Easter too, if you book yourself a treat of a 30 minute express massage or a 30 minute express facial you’ll get a £20 voucher to spend on any Ren Products. We also have special teen treatments available, as well as fun and funky child’s Easter nails!

The View Bar & Bistro are also offering for a limited time, a decadent Cream Egg Sundae for dessert! While playing host to two fabulous cabaret shows, Jay Washington who is offering a soul and Motown tribute and some fantastic vocals from Mark Andrew Smith!

With so much on this Easter at Piran Meadows you will find the perfect Easter fun for you and your family!
Happy Easter from Piran Meadows!

Darwin Escapes has a holiday perfect for everyone, and if you are looking for a relaxing break away with a few indulgent treatments, we have a few stunning locations for you to choose from…

With 16 holiday locations around the UK, and more coming soon, we are sure to have the perfect spa break holiday for you. Whether you are looking for a spa weekend break or some time to yourself on a family holiday, we have a few locations to help you out on your spa holiday break.

Darwin Escapes is lucky to be partners with Aromatherapy Associates, a company with over 30 years worth of experience, and experts in how to relax, rejuvenate and unwind with their treatments. To learn more about Aromatherapy Associates read our blog here. All our locations also offer Jessica Nails treatments, perfect for a quick mani-pedi or a longer nail treatment and hand massage.

Eden spa

Located in our award winning Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa, in the heart of the Somerset countryside and surrounded by the stunning Mendip Hills, the Eden Spa is the perfect relaxing getaway. After a long day walking the Gorge or having fun adventures with the Go Active team you can indulge in a luxury treatment and relax those achy muscles with a full body massage.

Ezina spa

Nestled in the sleepy village of Hawkchurch, but close to the bustling town of Lyme Regis, the Ezina Spa is in the perfect location to escape the day to day stresses of life. Take a dip in the Hydrotherapy pool, specially designed to release muscle tension and increase blood flow, as well as relaxing in the sauna and steam room.

Serenity spa

Surrounded by the understated Cornish countryside, Piran Meadows Resort & Spa is home to the wonderful Serenity Spa, a place where you can unwind from a day of fun activities or just loose yourself in a relaxing treatment.

Aberconwy Spa

This owner’s exclusive location has everything you need, with the stunning Snowdonia Mountain Range as a backdrop and a stone’s throw away from the Conwy Morfa beach, with an award winning restaurant on site, as well as the Langley’s Country Club and even Mali’s Hair Salon. Aberconwy Spa offers rejuvenating treatments in a sumptuous setting, have a splash in the pool or Jacuzzi, or spend some time in the tranquil Relaxation Room between treatments.

Ammara spa

The Ammara Spa is coming soon to the sure-to-be stunning Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat, located in the breath-taking surroundings of Cumbria. Currently undergoing an extensive redevelopment Keswick Reach is sure to be the go-to destination for the Lake District, keep your eyes peeled for the Grand Opening this December!

So keep your eyes open for Keswick Reach, and in the mean time why not pop along to your nearest Darwin Escapes location or book your holiday now and enjoy a relaxing treatment at one of our spa locations!

Happy Spa Day Ladies and Gents!

Whether you are visiting the Roman Baths, the Jane Austen Centre or working in the city for a day, Bath Mill Lodge Retreat is just two miles from the city centre, making this peaceful park the ideal alternative to a busy city hotel. Being surrounded by nature, the beautiful woodland and the dreamy sounds of the slow meandering of the Newton Brook, you will lose yourself and forget that you are close to a noisy city centre. Our luxury studio lodge accommodation is perfect for one night stays in Bath regardless of whether you are staying for business or pleasure.

Bath Mill offers city tranquillity

Our breath-taking lodge retreat is located within walking distance (if the weather is on your side) from the historic city centre. But being surrounded by woodland and the beautiful Newton Brook trickling through the retreat, you will get the best of both worlds at Bath Mill. We have a state of the art, fully air conditioned gymnasium with everything from cardio workouts, with our treadmills and cross trainers, to core strengthening with our free weights, as well as having a luxury flat screen TV and cold, filtered water. Pure peace and tranquillity, only minutes away from the city centre.

luxury one night accommodation

Our fantastic Norland Lodge is available at Bath Mill, and are a studio style accommodation for the ultimate in city comfort. If you are looking for the right alternative to a city centre hotel break, the Norland Lodge is it.

Our one night stay bookings receive early check in, from 12 noon, as well as a continental breakfast at The Brook Bar & Bistro onsite. The Norland offers a kitchenette for those that wish to cook, including a microwave, kettle and toaster, a super soft super king size bed, as well as a private decking area to enjoy your breakfast.

It also has all the mod-cons you could wish for, including a flat screen TV with Freeview channels, free Wi-Fi and Bluetooth docking stations. Along with a stunning en-suite, including a glorious bath, shower and double sink area, all beautifully finished. The lodge also boast fancy floor lighting, so you don’t need to turn the lights on for those mid-night bathroom trips.

luxury food for your stay

The Brook Bar & Bistro is located on site, inside the recently renovated, stunning, 350 year old Mill House. The Brook has become one of the most sought after restaurants in the area with our talented team serving unpretentious fine dining. And with its modern and cosy décor, you will feel relaxed while enjoying mouth watering dishes from our fantastic menu.

business taken tare of

We also have fantastic corporate conferencing facilities, including state of the art audio/visual equipment, free Wi-Fi, a private room and entrance, as well as tablet connectivity, giving you the freedom to roam outside if the need is there. We offer completely bespoke day delegate and 24 hour delegate packages, including food and refreshments available and provided all day, our maximum capacity is 65 people so we cater to all kinds of corporate functions. If your conference is on site at our state of the art facility, you will know that your delegates are well rested in some of the most comfortable accommodation Bath city can offer.

So if you are you looking for the perfect one night stay accommodation in Bath, the Norland Lodge at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat is perfect for you, offering all the mod cons and facilities you’ll be looking for in a city break.

So this year there is 366 days, we all have an extra 24 hours!

I don’t know if you noticed, but it’s a leap year. A whole extra day, so if you could do whatever you wanted, what would it be? What about us I hear you ask? Well read on lovely reader and find out…

I know we don’t really have an extra 24 hours to do whatever we please with, as there is still work and washing to be done. But this begs the question, what would you do if you had an extra 24 hours to do whatever you wanted with? (with in reason, this isn’t Groundhog Day, you will have consequences the next day…no robbing banks please!)

Would you take time out for yourself with a spa pamper day? Or do all the things you want to, and truly enjoy that hobby you keep meaning to get round to? Well here at Darwin Escapes we asked our good friends, and wonderful mummy bloggers, Jo, Hayley and Karen what they would do, here is what they said…

karen from stopping at two would:

With 2016 being a leap year, it means that we have an extra day this year. So what would I do with an extra 24 hours? It’s a bit sad that the first thing that comes to mind is to catch up on my “To Do” list. Since becoming a mum, it feels like there is always SOMETHING that I could do. But that seems like a waste. Time is a precious commodity and I should make the most of it, so I would want to be with my family, in beautiful surroundings – maybe a walk in the countryside, with good food and all finished off with a glass of gin and tonic – perfect!

hayley from hayley from home said she would:

If I had an extra 24 hours I would want to spend it doing something I’ve never done before. Have you heard that expression ‘when was the last time you did something for the first time?’ I read that recently I couldn’t think of an answer. I’d like to change that. It would be a wonderful way to make the most of an extra day. It could be as simple as going to the cinema alone, something that I have always wanted to do, or having a spa day, sadly something I have never done. Alternatively I could do something crazy and go skydiving or take a helicopter ride. Whatever I decided on it would be something new and different – an experience I’ve never had before, something to push me out of my comfort zone.

jo from single slummy mummy says:

If I had an extra 24 hours I’d make it totally about me do all the things I normally feel too guilty to do! In my extra 24 hours, I’d make my own rules, so there would be no one else around and calories wouldn’t count, obviously. I’d eat every meal out, in gorgeous places, with open fires, whilst reading magazines and cutting out pretty pictures of things. In between food related outings I’d indulge in some serious relaxing – watching all the films I’ve had on my wish list for years, munching my way through some luxury chocolates, and generally spoiling myself. You have to love yourself first right?

and me…

Imagine that, no calories?! I would be in chocolate ice cream heaven. But I do like the practical idea of catching up on the to do list, that way the rest of your days would be more relaxing! Great answers girls! But what would I really do? I think we all know… spend time with these two lovely fur-babies of course! And I would obviously go on the biggest Netflix binge of my life, along with a lot of food (following the no calories rule of course). I would watch my Netflix list, it is so long, I’m still only on the fourth episode of Luther!

What would you do with an extra 24 hours? Drop me a comment below or let me know on facebook, I would love more ideas!

Happy Leap Day Guys and Dolls!

So you’ve booked to go on a self catering holiday and are struggling for ideas of what to eat, I’m here to help!

All Darwin Escapes luxury holiday homes and lodges come equipped with stunning and fully functioning kitchens (no fake cupboards or stick on buttons here folks!), we have ovens, microwaves, hobs and even dishwashers to help clean up after. A self catering holiday dream!

So that’s all the equipment sorted, now what about the meals? Well we have the bases covered for that too, this blog has the top 5 easiest (and tastiest) things to make in a holiday home. But remember, most Darwin Escapes locations do have mouth watering restaurants to visit too, so you don’t have to cook if you don’t want to. But if you do…

Then read on and see what recipe tickles your taste buds…

tuna pasta bake

What you’ll need: pasta, tuna, cheese (broccoli, courgette and tomato if you like them)

My favourite dish made by my lovely mum! And what’s not to love? Pasta, easy to make on the state of the art hob, tuna and cheese (I am such a cheese fiend!). It’s super easy to make, stick it all in the dish, grate a bit more cheese on top, and let it cook in the oven for 20 – 30 minutes. The BBC have a great step by step recipe for this tunatastic (har de har) dish!

chicken fajitas

What you’ll need: tortillas, chicken, peppers, onion, salsa & mayo

Fajitas in general are pretty versatile (and fun to say), but chicken ones are my favourite. You can add pretty much anything you like, so I have peppers, onion, a bit of lettuce, a dash of salsa and then some mayo to cool it all down. I sometimes cook the chicken in a spice so it’s a bit more tasty too (I say ‘I cook’, that’s code for the hubby cooks…). Simply Recipes has a great variation too, and it comes with step by step instructions (with photos). Throw it all into a pan and eat with your hands…my kind of meal!

turkey stir fry

What you’ll need: turkey, carrot, baby sweetcorn, veg & soy sauce

Again a super easy dish that you can add anything to, but I like turkey. It’s really quick and easy to cook, stick it all in a pan and you’re pretty much done, I love the fresh egg noodles, but that’s personal choice, you can get them dry too. You can also get a pre-packaged stir fry veg if you didn’t want to make it all from scratch. The Netmums have a fantastic stir fry recipe!

homemade pizza

What you’ll need: Base – flour, butter, egg & milk. Toppings – BBQ/tomato sauce, cheese and mixed herbs

Okay so this can go two ways. You can make your pizza completely from scratch, including the dough base if you wanted to, or you can buy a base and create your own toppings (or for healthy fiends, try some pitta bread). Guess which one I would choose? Pizza’s are amazingly easy to make when you get down to it though, and you can add literally anything you want to on top. Once my hubby put BBQ sauce as the base – totally delicious, I love spinach and goats cheese as my toppings. They normally only take around 20 minutes to cook as well, super quick! The Netmums have another great recipe for this!

bbq

What you’ll need: meat, corn on the cob, jacket potatoes

This is a super simple meal to do. You just pick up any kind of meat you like, some bread buns, a corn on the cob or two and maybe a jacket potato if you fancy it. Stick it all on the BBQ and bob’s your uncle (if he really is then wahey!) you have a ready made meal. And don’t worry if your holiday home is not equipped with a BBQ, the shops sell disposable ones now-a-days so pick that up the same time as the food! Sorted. Tasty food, smells delicious and enjoying it in the sunshine, what could be better?

So that’s the top 5 easiest caravan meals, was your favourite dish in there?

If you are heading off to one of Darwin Escapes UK holiday resorts and thinking of cooking for yourself, I hope this has come in handy. And if you don’t want to cook for yourself? We have you covered with many of our locations having their own Darwin Escapes restaurants on-park, check out this blog post here to learn more about them!

Happy Cooking Guys and Dolls!

Disclaimer: Most, but not all, accommodations have all the equipment mentioned. Some resorts don’t allow BBQ’s, please check before firing it up!

Beach Cove Coastal Retreat is fast becoming romance capital of the UK

Devon is known for its stunning scenery and fantastic ambiance, and Beach Cove is no exception, being right on the cliff side of Hele Bay with unrivalled views of the beach and sea. The breath taking retreat is also fast becoming the romance capital of the UK, with too many proposals to count at the retreat itself.

And love must be in the air as our very own Tony Giffard recently popped the question to our lovely Emily Scoffield, and she said yes! Tony has been at Beach Cove since the start and Emily joined us a few months later, they started dating a little while after meeting at Beach Cove, and recently went on holiday to New Zealand and that is where Tony proposed.

This is how Emily described Tony’s proposal:
“We were staying at this really remote campsite, next to a massive waterfall, we’d just been on a walk and seen glow worms for the first time. Then we got our pillows and blankets out and lay looking at the stars for a bit, and then he asked me, he was very nervous poor thing!”

Here are the happy couple themselves! (look at those smiles!)

I can only imagine how nervous the poor guy was after going all that way too!
A massive congratulations to Tony and Emily! We hope you have a wonderful wedding and long, happy life enjoying the scenery of stunning Devon!

Love is in the air!

Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat is almost ready! Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat is Darwin Escapes luxury new development, on the stunning Isle of Wight. I’ve shown you a sneak peek on the progress of development previously (see here if you missed it!), but now I have an amazing teaser for you guys!

I am so excited, feast your eyes on these beauties and see what awaits you at Woodside Bay!

So my lovely readers, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, are you all ready and prepared for the love festival of the year?!

No? Well no fear, Darwin Escapes are here (and we rhyme, yay!) to help you plan your perfect Valentine’s Day! We have everything covered in this post, from stunning accommodation for a lovely weekend away and a romantic evening meal (I will be dining with Hugo and Bella, my two loving puppies…), to activities, as fun or relaxing as you choose. So if you aren’t feeling too sick from all the mushiness, keep on reading and let’s plan that perfect Valentine’s Day!

accommodation – fall in love all over again

If you are deciding to get away for Valentine’s Day, as most people would like to, it is the perfect excuse for a long weekend break. Looking for a romantic break by the beach? Our adorable beach huts at Beach Cove Coastal Retreat, on the coast of Devon, are fast becoming the romance capital of the UK. Right on the doorstep of Hele Bay, the charming beach huts have brilliant views of the bay, private decking areas and even some hot tubs!

If you wanted to travel to the beautiful Isle of Wight why not visit our stunning Woodside Coastal Retreat. With great views of the Solent and surrounded by glorious woodland you can lose yourself in the nature and relax in this most romantic setting. The luxury lodges will have everything you need for a self-catering Valentine’s weekend away, with all the modern conveniences like dishwashers and washing machines (as great as these are, who is doing their washing on Valentine’s Day…oh right, me). But also the luxuries like DVD players for that cosy night in, maybe with a bottle of wine.

activities – as active or relaxed as you want

Are you the envious adventurous couple? Love to climb mountains and go running? Well Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa could be the perfect place for you this Valentines, with amazing Go Active and target shooting activities on offer at the park. Or scale the 3 mile Cheddar Gorge and see the magical Wooky Hole! There is so much to offer at Cheddar Woods for the active couples out there!

Looking for a city escape, but without the hustle and bustle of a city centre? Bath Mill Lodge Retreat can offer everything you need for a romantic city break, being only a few miles out from the historic City of Bath. It’s nestled and secluded in a beautiful woodland area, with the picturesque Newton Mill Brook meandering through the resort. The sound of the water will relax you and add that special ambience to your Valentine’s Day.

Looking to relax and reconnect? Our brand new Hawkchurch Resort & Spa is the perfect stop for you this long weekend break. With our own Ezina Spa offering the most luxurious spa treatments, from fantastic facials to relaxing full body massages. You will feel the stress slip away as you reconnect, take a dip in the glorious Hydrotherapy pool, heated to a higher temperature and proven to release tension in your muscles. This will be the most relaxing and luxurious Valentine’s Day you’ve ever had.

restaurants – luxurious food in a romantic setting

Hawkchurch Resort & Spa is fast becoming the relaxing capital of the UK, with so much on offer to relieve your stress, The Beeches is the perfect place to whet your appetite, with an eloquent and mouth-watering menu on offer there is sure to be something to tickle your taste buds here.

Our mouth-watering and award-winning restaurant Signatures, owned and run by Executive Chef Jimmy, and talented wife Louise, will be there to open the doors and spoil you this Valentines. Placed on the North Wales coast, a stone’s throw away from the Conwy Morfa beach, you can have a taste of the Aberconwy Experience, our exclusive owners-only resort and spa will have you wishing for the finer things in life. Aberconwy Resort & Spa is perfect for a lovely meal in a romantic and opulent setting.

Bath Mill Lodge Retreat, in the heart of Somerset, has a picturesque setting and The Brook Bar & Bistro is set alongside the meandering Newton Mill Brook. You can sit by the brook and listen to the water slip past, while enjoying a delicious meal, or if the weather is a bit on the chillier side (it is February guys…) you can enjoy your mouth watering dish in the 300 year old converted water mill.

Or if you are taking a country break in Surrey at our beautiful Tilford Woods, why not pop around the corner from the park and visit The Duke of Cambridge for your romantic meal out? Famous for it’s very warm welcome, with it’s heated patio room and cosy fires, this is a fantastic farmhouse pub. Enjoy your Valentine’s meal here, have a few drinks after and soak up the friendly atmosphere!

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day (myself and the hubby will be spending it with the pooches!) and a lovely weekend away if that’s what you have chosen to do! Let me know anything you got up to on social media, I love to hear your stories!

Happy Adventuring Love Birds!