Enjoy a magical family day out at Pili Palas where you can get in touch with nature & friendly resident animals. Pili Palas is a relatively small zoo which is located in North Wales within driving range of our Aberconwy Resort & Spa. It is the perfect destination for a fun family day out.

Visitors will get the opportunity to get hands on with the resident animals at the zoo which includes meerkats, various bugs and also a butterfly enclosure. It is primarily aimed at children, who are also sure to have a great time in the indoor play zone.

Read more to find out what is on offer at this much under hyped local attraction.

meet the animals

One of the main attractions at Pili Palas are the butterflies with the zoo making a significant contribution to butterfly conservation efforts with an ethical butterfly farming policy in place. You van view the various breeds of butterfly in the on-site butterfly house where you will experience tropical breeds flying around you in a magical environment. You’ll also get the chance to meet Elvis when you head into the birdhouse, along with his fellow furry friends Del, Rudolph, Jake and Charlies.

Although these animals are slightly less hands on, you will get the chance to be up close and personal with the animals in the barn which include rabbits, sheep, guinea pigs and goats. There are also a selection of donkeys and pigs in what is the ultimate real life animal farm. Kids will love getting the opportunity to feed the sheep and pet the rabbits. You may even get the chance to catch a glimpse of the nosey meerkats.

Slightly less cute are the animals in the bug-zone where you will see terrifying tarantulas and scorpions as well as seeing ants, cockroaches and much more interacting with one another in their own natural environments.

something for all ages

This is a farm which is primarily aimed at helping you keep the kids entertained for the day, and they are sure to have hours of fun when you head to the indoor play area where you will find various activities for toddlers.

Older children will also be accommodated with the giant bouncy castle and also in the adventure playground which features its own zip-wire.

While the children are busy playing, the adults can head to the on-site café which serves a range of scrumptious home cooked meals and beverages. The tables in the conservatory area are ideally placed to allow you to watch the meerkats at work while you eat.

a magical experience for all

With so much to do and see, Pili Palas is a great place for a family day out particularly for the animal lovers amongst you.

It is located just a 20 minute drive away from Aberconwy Resort & Spa; ideally placed for countless fun family days out if you are a holiday home owners at our five star resort.

Have a great day out for the whole family the next time you are staying at Hawkchurch, when you pay a visit to Pecorama

Pecorama is one of the leading tourist attractions in East Devon, being situated in the historic fishing village of Beer on the Jurassic Coast, just over ten miles away from Hawkchurch Resort & Spa.

This is a great attraction for railway enthusiasts, with the name of park stemming from the PECO model railway equipment manufacturers whose headquarters are situated adjacent to Pecorama. Pecorama enjoys a close relationship with PECO, even displaying and selling many of their products on-site.

There is very much a railway theme here, with Pecorama being home to one of the country’s finest 7 ¼ inch gauge railways in the form of Beer Heights Light Railway. The hillside location of the railway means that you can enjoy breathtaking views over Lyme Bay and also the Jurassic Coast itself, which is of course one of the few World Heritage Sites in the UK, as you take a ride around this 1 mile track, which was first opened in 1975.

Starting off from near the garden entrance, the journey takes you over many bridges and also a lengthy tunnel in a beautifully recreated track.

something for everyone

This isn’t just a place for railway enthusiasts though, with Pecorama also being home to The Millennium Gardens which was first opened in July 2000 to help celebrate the millennium. Designer Naila Green has ensured that a celestial theme has been followed here, with the sun, moon and rainbow gardens reflecting this with their colour schemes.

You will also find the impressive Millennium Garden Grotto here which is constructed mainly from sea shells as part of the aim of creating a sea theme, with the grotto also featuring an impressive dolphin sculpture leaping out of the sea. It really is a must-see masterpiece.

There is also plenty to keep the kids entertained as well, with a 10 hole crazy golf course and the play station indoor soft play area. You can all grab a bite to eat in the Garden Room Restaurant or enjoy a cream tea in a 1951 ‘Orion’ Pullman Carriage.

If you are looking for a bit of tranquility, then why not head to the secret garden and take in the peace and quiet ensured by the wall herbaceous borders.

peco charity garden day – sunday 17th july

Pecorama puts on a number of special events throughout the year, the next being their annual Garden Day aiming to raise money for charity. This will be taking place on Sunday 17th July and is being put on for Parkinson’s UK and the MS Society.

Special £6 admission prices are available on this day, with £5 of this being given to the two chosen charities. Also on-site on the day. to add a little something extra. will be the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary with their miniature donkeys as well as the Sidmouth Steppers Morris Dancers.

If you happen to be planning on a trip to Hawkchurch Resort & Spa, make sure that you pay a visit.

Get the know the local wildlife & explore some of the most beautiful walking routes that North Wales has to offer. North Wales is famous for its scenic walking routes and beautiful countryside, and you can explore all of this at its very best when you visit Pensychnant Conservation Centre and Nature Reserve on the Sychnant Pass in Conwy. This is not just a great place to explore the countryside, but is also an area filled with glorious local wildlife which the Centre works hard to safeguard.

a history lesson

This is a hidden gem of the North Wales region, being based around the former home of the Stott family and covering 150 acres of land.

The original house built on the grounds was erected in 1690, but much of the architectural character of the estate stems from the Victorian era. It is beautiful relic of this time when the grounds were the home of the Stott family headed by Abraham Henthorn Stott who led one of the most prominent Victorian architectural firms. He was responsible for building a large number of the cotton mills in Oldham.

However, by 1937 the world had moved on and cotton was no longer the booming trade it had once been. This resulted in the Stott family being forced to give up their home; with Pensychnant and all of its grounds being sold.

The great grandson of Abraham Henthron Stott managed to buy the land back in 1967. In 1989, Brian Henthorn Stott set up the Pensychnant Foundation and it is for this that the centre is now most famous, with the aim of the foundation being to support local naturalists and wildlife, with countless conservation organisations counting on the support offered by the Centre.

wildlife conservation

The nature reserve is now open all year round and is firmly one of the best wildlife sites in North Wales.

There are countless rare and exotic wildlife in the region. Did you know that the Conwy Morfa region is home to a rare wingless Moth known as the Belted Beauty? These animals only exist in one of part of England as well as in the Hebrides. If you are a holiday home owner at Aberconwy Resort & Spa and happen to see some bright lights floating around the dunes late at night, then fear not because it is simply the team from Pensychnant looking to catch a glimpse of these rare creatures.

This is just one of the many animals who inhabit this nearby area, including the beautiful spotted Flycatcher whose numbers have declined by 77% over the past 25 years. The centre deserves praise for its efforts to help these rare creatures survive.

steeped in history

This isn’t just a great site for animal lovers, with Victorian woodlands on the estate where you can view relics of Welsh oakwoods which stood long before Conwy Castle was even constructed. The Stott family also planted many beautiful trees during the Victorian era, with Corsican pines, sycamore and much more which are still on the grounds of the estate.

Sychnant itself is classified as being a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS). This is awarded on account of the areas value to Earth science and heritage, with many of the stunning mountains around the Sychnant Pass a result of erosion caused by the melting of ice age waters. It is a wonderful geographic area where you can feel at one with nature and the history of the area.

You can take advantage of the guided walks which are on offer at Pensychnant to really gain an insight into the local wildlife and the environment.

pay a visit to pensychnant

While the nature reserve is open all year around, if you are looking to pay a visit to the house then you will need to go between the beginning of April and the end of September.

In the house you can take advantage of the Victorian Arts and Crafts exhibition where the work of some of North Wales best wildlife artists are put on display. Many of these works are available for sale so you have a great memory to take back with you to your holiday home or perhaps a gift for someone back home.

Go behind bars at Bodmin Jail for a fascinating family days out in a historic building which was once used to house the crown jewels…

If you are looking for a great family day out in Cornwall which is as educational as it is fun, then head over to Bodmin Jail which was built for King George III in 1779 on the edge of Bodmin Moor.

Designed by Sir John Call, the jail was originally intended for prisoners of war and is famous for being the first British jail to hold prisoners in individual cells. During the First World War, it was used to house some of the countries national treasures including the Domesday Book and the crown jewels.

look back in time

The jail eventually closed in 1927, but the building is now used as the base for this fascinating attraction which houses countless interesting exhibitions to showcase the history of the jail and the prisoners who were detained there.

Jaunt through the various cells where you will find mannequins, historic documents and objects which will highlight the crimes of the inhabitants and what life was like for them once they were behind bars.

Please be aware that the jail tends to get very cold and there are many steps to navigate, so make sure that you wrap up warm and wear sensible shoes to ensure you can make the most of the attraction.

You may not automatically associate jails with fine cuisine, but Bodmin Jail is doing its bit to alter this with a range of food and beverages on offer in the impressive Governors Hall and the Witness Box Wine Bar.

the paranormal

On account of the public hangings and grim nature of the past undertakings which took place in the building, it is perhaps inevitable that it has become closely linked to paranormal activities. It has even recently been used as the setting for an episode of Most Haunted.

You can learn more about these paranormal events when you book yourself onto an After Dark event at the Jail where a resident medium will teach you the basics of Reiki and energy management before setting your lose on the jail over night. The event includes a 3 course meal, souvenirs and a free family pass for a day visit to the jail at a different time. You will also receive a complimentary £20 gift voucher. Take a look at the available booking slots if you are interested in one of these events.

20% discount off tickets

Bodmin Jail is just a twenty minute journey away from Piran Meadows Resort & Spa, and anyone staying at our resort can enjoy a 20% discount off the price of tickets to the attraction.

All you need to do is show your holiday park card to staff on reception when you are buying your tickets in order to benefit from this.

Want to keep up to date with all the latest information? Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all things Darwin Escapes!

We love some good scenery here at Darwin Escapes, and there is no striking landscape quite like Cumbria!

Thanet Well Lodge Retreat is located just minutes away from beautiful Penrith, the scenery around Cumbria and waking in your holiday lodge to the mountains is like no other. Here are our favourite instagram posts from around Thanet Well and the Penrith area…

1. imagine waking up to this

A post shared by Gibson90 (@bhoygibson21) on Jun 7, 2016 at 2:09am PDT

2. secret hideaways

A post shared by Faith (@abbey_yorks) on Jun 19, 2018 at 2:55am PDT

3. stunning mountain scenery

 

View this post on Instagram

 

We had such a wonderful time together and today afternoon the weather made us even happier. A typical postcard picture from Lake District. Be greatful. Be present. Enjoy every minute.

A post shared by renisjourney (@renisjourney) on Dec 26, 2017 at 12:33pm PST

4. heaven in a hot tub

A post shared by Darwin Escapes (@darwinescapes) on Apr 20, 2018 at 12:01pm PDT

5. a surprise around every corner

A post shared by Nikita Lane (@the_country_mums_diary_) on Jun 20, 2018 at 7:52am PDT

6. animal friendly areas

A post shared by Nikita Lane (@the_country_mums_diary_) on Jun 19, 2018 at 5:06am PDT

7. peaceful personified

A photo posted by Emma (@emma_1091) on Jun 9, 2016 at 2:03pm PDT

8. explore the region your way

A post shared by Geoff Moorhouse (@headbadge) on Jun 19, 2018 at 11:20am PDT

9. wonderful wildlife (that’s one way to keep cool)

A photo posted by Eden Rivers Trust (@edenriverstrustuk) on Jun 8, 2016 at 5:40am PDT

10. surrounded by history

A photo posted by Rhiannon Moore (@rhiannon.s.moore) on Jun 8, 2016 at 4:05am PDT

Thank you to everyone for their stunning images! Remember the next you’re visiting Thanet Well to use the #thanetwell or #thanetwelllodges and we could be using your images in out next post!

Family fun at this wonderful annual event, with interactive displays and activities for all ages! Visit Canterbury Reach Lodge Retreat from 7th – 9th July and join in with the annual family fun! The annual event is organised by Kent County Agricultural Society, and offers a wide range of diverse entertainment, with the Shetland Pony Grand National, live music and baby Dinosaurs to headline the weekend long event. With a balance of traditional displays, alongside new, unique and contemporary entertainment, there will be something for all ages at the Kent County Show.

traditional activities

The Shetland Pony Grand National is spread across the 3 days, with small jumps and real jockeys (children) enjoying the fun! This hugely popular event started 20 years ago, and is raising funds for Bob Champion Cancer Trust this year. There will be local bands attending on the different days, including local brass band Faversham Mission Brass Band, and the Kent Police Band, a self-funding band with both current and retired officers.

Tractor Ted will be back to entertain the children again this year, he will have his own area where the little ones can play on the Tractor Ted bouncy castle, operate digger den and complete a giant puzzle!

Titan the Robot will also be back this year, this incredible giant robot is a real crowd pleaser and has been a-part of the show for over a decade! Don’t miss out on the awesome free-flying birds of Prey at The Hawking Centre, visit the Dog and Duck display where a Collie dog herds the ducks skilfully through a course and around a ring. Don’t miss out on the Terrier Team, Harrietsham Ferrets, Gamegoer Gundogs, as well as free pony rides!

Purchase a 3 day membership ticket, where you can take advantage of the membership area, priority parking, enhanced amenities and dedicated caterer, as well as live music including The Damsels, whose members have West-End experience.

brand new events for 2017

Meet Dexter, a 2 year old baby Tyrannosaurus, Dexter is a brilliant 4m long life-like, part animatronic dinosaur who mesmerises children and adults alike. Visitors will also be able to see the Dinosaur Nursery, with new-born Tyrannosaurus, baby Triceratops and a baby Stegosaurus, where you may even be able to give them a hug if you’re lucky!

Keep an eye out for stilt walkers Mr and Mrs Flora, who will be covered head-to-toe in scented flowers that are so realistic people often think they have been freshly picked. These living, moving sculptures are mesmerising and enchanting.

Also new for 2017 is The Old Milk Parlour, a unique display of a vintage dairy parlour. You will get an insight into how milk was produced and how it first made it to our breakfast tables and cereal bowls! Get a real sense of a what a working diary was really like.

opening times & ticket prices

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, however there is no need to rush out as quite often the food stands will stay open later.

There are 3 day membership tickets available to enjoy the member’s area and perks that come with the exclusive ticket. Children under 5 go free, there are pre-show tickets are available with 10% discount, and prices on the gate are;

• Adult – £23
• Child (5 – 15) – £7
• Family (2 adults & 2 children) – £50

Visit our brand new and beautiful Canterbury Reach Lodge Retreat in Kent and join in with the family fun at the annual Kent County Show, where you can take advantage of all the fabulous family fun to be had!

Book your holiday now and visit one our wonderful new locations, where peace and tranquillity is the order of the day, and it’s the perfect place to base yourself while you explore the region.

have some summer fun!

A Championship Link course on the stunning North Wales Coastline, breath taking scenery on 150 acre of unspoilt links.

Prestatyn is an up and coming seaside town on the outstanding North Wales Coast, located just a few minutes away from our very own New Pines Holiday Home Park and a short drive from Talacre Beach Holiday Home Park. Talacre Beach is a couple of minutes walk from the stunning sandy beach, with a fantastic Go Active programme and entertainments team; there is always something going on for you to enjoy. Or take a minute to relax in our indoor heated swimming pool, beautiful sauna and steam room or treat yourself in our brand new Tranquillity Spa with an Aromatherapy Associates treatment. And then take a jaunt to Prestatyn, do a bit of shopping at the sparkling retail park, take a walk along the promenade and even enjoy a round of golf at the historic Prestatyn Golf Club!

And if you are a Darwin Escapes holiday customer, you can enjoy all the facilities and a great round of golf with 20% off, keep reading to find out how…

over 100 years of history

Established in 1905 Prestatyn Golf Course has become one of the most prestigious courses in the country, the outstanding club house was originally built in 1907 and has undergone many changes since then, even turning into a residential home at one point. The estate was sold off separately to the house, and in 1990 the club embarked on a programme of development to create a championship course, and in 1993 they added extensions to the clubhouse and out buildings to create unparalleled facilities. In 2003 the club bought back the house that had been sold separately to the green all those years ago, and the course remains to this day a Championship Links standard course.

setting is everything

With views of the Welsh coastline, and countryside the Links course has 150 acres of unspoiled landscape, the seaside location means that one of the best courses in the country can be played all year round. The stunning course has a welcoming clubhouse that can be hired out for parties and functions, with delicious catering and bar facilities too, perfect for all occasions. The Prestatyn beach is a glorious sight and can be enjoyed throughout your round of golf on the most northerly course in Wales.

practice makes perfect

All good courses are nothing unless there are good practice areas to use and hone your craft and skill, Prestatyn is no exception to this rule and has 3 outstanding practice areas to work on specific skills. The Driving Range lets you work on, you guessed it, your drive! 300 yards long you will have plenty of room to practice your swing, practice those long shots and improve your driving. The Prestatyn Putting Green is right next to the clubhouse, so you can grab a quick drink easily while practicing those hole pots and your celebration skills of course! (No Happy Gilmore moments here please…) And then try your hand at the Chipping Area, which includes a bunker for you to practice getting out of those difficult situations, this excellent area is great for practicing every chip shot in the book! This all helps to make Talacre Beach the perfect place for golf holidays in North Wales.

Staying at either Talacre Beach or New Pines Holiday Home Park? Just show your park swipe card for a great 20% off!

Happy Adventuring My Loyal Golf Buddies!

Visit one of the most traditional attractions in the Isle of Wight, a charming and very realistic model village! Godshill Model Village is located on the picturesque Isle of Wight and is not far from our brand new redevelopment Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat! One of the best things about the island is that everything is within around a 20 minute drive away, making Woodside Bay the perfect base for your Isle of Wight adventures!

a family business

Godshill Model Village is family run business, purchased in the late 1960’s by Robin Thwaites it was in desperate need of some TLC and repair. Robin’s vision and keen eye for detail has set the standard and his daughter Penny, along with Stuart are both just as passionate! Surrounding themselves with a fantastic team they aim to give every customer a wonderful nostalgic experience.

models galore

The model village is set in the grounds of the old vicarage and when you walk in you will see a perfect scale replica of Godshill village. The models are a 1/10th scale version of real buildings in Godshill, as well as Shanklin Old Village and Chine, two of the oldest tourist towns on the island, you will find all the houses, cottages, shops and pubs in real life as you wander around the village. You’ll see the model of All Saints Church proudly overlooking the cottages, just like the real one on top of the hill, and if you stand in exactly the right spot you can see the real church and the model church below it. All the models are made with sand and cement so they weather with age, and they are even thatched like the real buildings using authentic materials and methods. With attention to detail at the heart of the model village, it comes as no surprise they have one of the most detailed landscaped gardens, with over 3,000 ornamental shrubs and many of the trees being coarse bonsai trees, treated to maintain their scale (coarse bonsai means they aren’t planted in pots, who knew?). You’ll need to visit to truly see how amazing it all is!

Drop into the shop that has a great range of products, a helpful and friendly team as well as toys, party bag ideas, nautical themed and unusual gifts. And if you find yourself a little peckish grab a bite to eat, and a cup of tea in the café!

2016 is Wales’ Year of Adventure, a country that is incredibly diverse in it’s offering and has adventure right on your doorstep! Aberconwy Resort & Spa is located in the heart of the Conwy Valley, with the beautiful Conwy Morfa beach just a stones throw away and the spectacular Snowdonia Mountain Range as a backdrop. It perfectly presents some of the best adventures you can have along the Welsh coastline.

mountain walking

Wales has endless mountains to scale, including the famous Mount Snowdonia. But for a determined walker who isn’t looking for a huge challenge, the Great Orme in Llandudno is the perfect place to start. Beautiful views of the coastline and town at the summit you won’t regret your choice! (You can even get the tram back down)

Surf Snowdonia

One of the worlds first surfing lagoons Surf Snowdonia offers lessons for all ages and abilities from their expert tutors. As well as the hugely fun Crash and Splash, jump on to the crash mat and splash straight into the lagoon! With the Wavegarden seating and café after you’ve had your epic water adventure grab a bite and spectate!

King Arthur’s Labyrinth

An underground adventure beneath the mountains in Southern Snowdonia. Join a mysterious hooded boatman and enter a new world through a magical waterfall, all underground! Learn all about the Dark Ages, ,myths and magic at this magical story telling adventure.

Beacon climbing Centre

An awesome indoor climbing centre that caters to all ages and abilities! Fancy a spot of mountain climbing but the weather isn’t on your side? No problem, drop into the Beacon Climbing Centre and get your fix! Try out their one of a kind CrazyClimb experience, with 12 different challenges its climbing as you’ve never experienced it before!

Bounce Below

One of the first of its kind, this vast slate cavern is covered with giant trampolines and nets across it for the ultimate adventure! With an underground zip line, net tunnels, slides and walkways you will have endless fun here!

Porth Eirias

Located along the promenade at Colwyn Bay, Porth Eirias is the epicentre for water sports on the North Wales coast. With a vibrant community the centre offers lessons in surfing, sailing and wind surfing, as well as power boating and even canoe and kayak hiring available! There will be something for everyone here; including enjoying the stunning beach and surrounding scenery.

Zip World

Gaining international acclaim for Zip World Velocity, which includes a pair of zip lines 500ft off the ground and can reach up to 100mph! They also opened the first 4 person zip line in Europe calling it Zip World Titan! Zip World has made North Wales the zip-line capital of the world! High velocity fun that will give all thrill seekers a high flying adventure!

RibRide Adventure Boat Trips

The fast and fun guide to the natural history of Anglesey, offering an unbeatable adventure you can chose either the RibRide adventure along the Menai Strait, or the exciting Bear Grylls adventure tour to the islands and high cliffs around Anglesey. Visit the seal and puffin island and experience a new view of Beaumaris Castle.

Zip World Forest

Located in the beautiful oak woodland of Betws-y-Coed this amazing and adventurous forest is perfect for both children and adults! Playing 9 meters high in the tree tops you can try the zip rides, including zip safari, the plummet or even the skyride, are you brave enough? With giant trampolines, walkways, slides and tunnels all made of netting, and surrounded by 3 meter high netting walls, there is no need for harnesses. You will feel Tarzarn in this woodland tree top adventure!

Paintball Wales

The ultimate paintball and laser tag experience near the picturesque town of Llanberis, and just at the foot of the magical Mount Snowdonia. Centrally located in Warrior Woods you will have the paintball adventure of a lifetime, navigating the trees and assault courses for the best thrill!

Go Below underground adventures

A completely different underground experience at Go Below, you will navigate the huge caverns through zip wires, ladders, bridges, waterfalls and magical underground boat rides on forgotten lakes. Sure to excite the thrill seeker in you and suitable for everyone, with no squeezing through small spaces you will have one of the best days of your life here!

So there are just a handful (11 to be exact) of amazing adventures you can get up to here in North Wales! There is so much on offer here you are sure to find your epic in the breath taking Welsh countryside!

Go find your epic & happy adventuring!

A taste of the good life at Langley’s Country Club in Darwin Escapes’ Aberconwy Resort & Spa. You could enjoy access to a first class gym and even get your own personal trainers when you take advantage of the newly renovated facilities at the stunning Aberconwy Resort & Spa.

Our 5 star gym in Conwy is the talk of the town and available exclusively to holiday home owners at Aberconwy as well as our much valued gym members. Here you will gain access to our standard gym alongside the state of the art contours gym, our breathtaking new pool as well as tranquil hot tub facilities so that you can chill out after a workout.

Personal trainers Jonathan and Ross have created a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere at Langleys, a place where total beginners to the fitness world, as well as experienced gym buddies, will feel at home and comfortable. Watch the video above to learn more about the Country Club, as well as the two very lovely trainers Jonathan and Ross:

join the club

For information on memberships at the most exclusive health club in North Wales please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Alternatively you can book a no obligation tour by chatting to a friendly member of our team on 01492 572032.