Based in North Wales, June and husband Billy educate and excite people with their beautiful exotic animals! Animals Out The Box work with the local pet store, Chrysalis Pets, and offer exotic animal encounters with the aim to educate. June holds a BSc (Hons) in Animal Science and is under taking a PGCE too, both June and Billy adore their animals and love to introduce them to the children and adults alike, loving the smiles on the faces of someone meeting a lizard or snake for the first time. Being so knowledgeable in the care of exotic animals they take part in birthday parties, events and also help with phobia curing, being patient and giving someone the knowledge around the animals and letting them become comfortable around them.

In their family of exotic animals, joined with Chrysalis Pets, they have lots of snakes, a whole host of arachnids, insects, mammals, rodents and lizards! With a particularly friendly gecko, who loves to jump on your chest for a cuddle and hello – he’s irresistible with his cheeky smile; a posing and beautifully photogenic rat; plus chinchillas, hedgehogs and an extremely relaxed guinea pig. But the undoubtable star of the show is Bandit, the Tanuki (or Racoon Dog), which is actually closer in relation to a fox rather than a dog. Bandit is something of a local celebrity and when you meet her you can understand why, gentle in nature and breath-takingly beautiful, she is a joy to see!

Recently visiting Talacre Beach Resort, Animals out the Box delights everyone – including Charlie Bear and his Rangers, who were on top form to help June and Billy take care of the animals!

A fantastic treat for everyone at Talacre Beach! Lots of fun was had, with loads of knowledge too! June and Billy are two of the most friendly, knowledgeable and patient people you could meet, with a family of relaxed and happy creatures to boot! (I now really want a smiley gecko!)

Check out their pages and see the beautiful pictures of their stunning family for yourself! Great family fun with a twist!

With 16 luxury UK holiday destinations, 8 of which offer holiday home ownership, Darwin Escapes are sure to have a location that fits your needs perfectly!

And now, we are adding to our holiday resort portfolio with the beautiful Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat in the stunning Lake District! This luxury location is currently undergoing a major redevelopment to turn it from the tired touring and camping park into a sure to be mouth watering, secluded and stunning resort! Keep your eyes peeled for updates on our latest development in the coming months!

Keep an eye out for information, we will share development news as soon as we have it for you to feast your eyes on!

It’s that time of year where we all have to figure out how to change our car clocks again, but the same things happen every year…

Now if you didn’t know how this all started, we can blame a gentleman named William Willett, not Benjamin Franklin as most people think. Good old Will first came up with the idea in the 1700’s because he wanted to be able to get up an hour earlier for a horse ride around London before it got ‘busy’, and not be in the dark, so cheers Will! But to be fair to him, we didn’t actually adopt the practice until during the Second World War to help conserve energy and resources.

So now we are at that time of year where we have to change the clocks and lose an hours sleep. Now in the grand scheme of things my brain says, logically it’s only an hour, it doesn’t make that much difference, but my brain is lying. It makes a big difference to the amount I moan at everyone for not getting enough sleep, for about a week afterwards.

every year the same things happen when the clocks go back, it’s inevitable, do you recognise any of these?

1. You worry your phone won’t automatically change, like they all do. So you end up using Google to find out, still not believing in it and setting another alarm just in case your phone is the only one in the world that won’t change.
2. Your parents become obsessed with telling you when the clocks change (every year without fail my mum texts me to tell me, and it’s generally the only reason I actually know)
3. You will forget to change the clock in your car for months – oh well it’s right for 6 months out the year.
4. You struggle to remember the saying “spring forward, fall back” – because we aren’t American and it’s called autumn.
5. Your tummy doesn’t understand that clocks have changed and grumbles away, a lot! How is it possibly another hour until lunch? (although mine grumbles ALL day anyway)

How many of these happen to you? Hawaii, Pueto Rico and Arizona State don’t have daylight saving, because I guess they don’t need to get up earlier for more sun, another reason to move to Hawaii (apart from being able to see the Hawaii Five- O show!). There are some adverse side effects to the clocks changing, there is a high risk of car accidents and workplace injuries so please be careful guys! There are also major cases of cyberloafing (you’re probably doing it now) by fatigued workers, and not to mention everyone is in a bad mood from losing an hour sleep – like me.

However, it does mean that we get an extra hour in the afternoon to be able to do whatever we want with without being in the dark. Like going out for a walk on the beach, or playing a round of golf, or like me you could pop to a spa and have a lovely treatment or get your nails done, perfect way to relax!

So good and bad points to the clocks changing – just bare with me while my mood adjusts to this new sleeping schedule, after a few coffees I’ll be back to normal!

Be Safe, Enjoy Sleep and Happy Extra Hour Adventuring!

A family favourite for the past 50 years, Talacre Beach offers fantastic entertainment on the North Wales Coastline! Located just a stone’s throw away from the beautiful sandy beach Talacre Beach Resort is a family favourite. Offering a traditional seaside feel, including its own fish and chip shop, with all the mod cons and luxury that Darwin Escapes offer. Being close to the up and coming town of Prestatyn and the beautiful city of Chester, there is always something to do in and around this 5 Star holiday park.

Our fabulous entertainment team have worked hard to create an egg-tastic Easter programme (see what I did there?) Along with plenty of party dances, laughs and of course Charlie Bear, we have fun Easter Crafts, where you can make a fun Easter card and paint some eggs. Get your running shoes ready for our fun traditional family sports day, will you find the gleaming golden egg in the Easter egg hunt? And don’t miss the fascinating creatures and the beautiful, infamous, Racoon Dog from *Animals out the Box, and join in the cheering and fun at the **Basix Wrestling show!

We also have a fun night time entertainment programme, with fantastic vocalists, such as the family favourite tribute ‘The Frozen Show’, join in the singing with some fun karaoke, win big at bingo and meet Charlie Bear too!

*Animals out the Box dates: 31st March, 7th & 14th April 2016
**Basix Wrestling dates: 6th April 2016

Easter delights at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat for guests and foodies alike! Bath Mill is steeped in relaxing nature, surrounded by woodland and the beautiful babbling Newton Brook streaming through the retreat, you would never know we are only ten minutes away from the busy, bustling city. Having recently under gone a multi million pound redevelopment, adding a state of the art gym, and renovation the beautiful 350 year old Mill House. Bath Mill is one of the most sought after holiday destinations in Somerset…

The Brook & Bar Bistro has become known as one of the best places to eat and is located on site at Bath Mill. Offering unpretentious fine dining set in a contemporary and cosy décor. If you reserve a table with us this Easter, you will have a personalised Easter egg with the surname booked under as your reservation table card! Beautiful chocolate in a beautiful setting! And don’t forget the fantastic Easter egg hunt on Sunday 27th all around the retreat, great fun for all the family!

Easter delights for our guests and foodie lovers visiting The Brook, a relaxing Easter break in a secluded retreat, just a stone’s throw away from the bustling city centre.

Happy Easter from Bath Mill!

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.