This week we’re returning to our musical theme and reviewing a lovely little class run by a lady called Sarah Priddice called Boogie Woogies. Held in Compton Dundon village hall (just outside Street), the group is energetic, fun and loud – designed to get little ones up on their feet and moving about. It’s clear that this group has a really strong local following and the children were already happily running circles around the room when we arrived; an activity that the Not So Little One wasted no time in joining in with! From that point on, the fun never stopped.
Unlike Rock the Tots (which I reviewed earlier this month) this group is wholeheartedly geared towards the children so, while we didn’t have the standard nursery rhymes, we had some very popular alternatives – Ridin on a Donkey was a memorable one – all of which encouraged the children to move in different ways and dance along with the music.
There were props a-plenty – at the beginning of the class Sarah pulled out a huge bag filled with teddies and we all had to make lots of noise to wake them up, before each choosing one to join us for the rest of the session. A few songs were designed to get us moving with our teddies – lots of head patting and waving – and the rest were about getting us as active as possible. This was where the hall really came into its own – lots of space for us to go marching or twirling around the room or to make a large circle in the middle and dance together as a group.
At the end, the pace slowed and we said goodnight to our teddies… I think the Not So Tiny One was ready for a nap herself!
It’s not all running about though. After about 45 minutes of movement, it’s time for refreshments! This is where the grown-ups get a bit of a rest and the chance to sit and have a natter and a cup of tea while the little ones can either join them or continue burning off steam, with a variety of toys to entertain them.
The group is term time only and runs from 10-11:30am. The first session is a free trial and then its £5 per week thereafter. There’s also a group in Edington if you’re Bridgwater way. You can find out more here.
The summer holidays are upon us and with this balmy weather here to stay (*crosses fingers hopefully) I thought I’d do a little round up of our favourite places to swim. I’ve included some indoor and outdoor options, to suit all weathers (*faces facts and notes that said balmy weather probably isn’t here to stay).
Please note: These are all official leisure venues. Although I quite like the idea of wild swimming, if I’m honest, it’s the last thing I fancy doing with a toddler and a pre-schooler in tow (*shudders at the thought). Maybe in five year’s time I’ll do a wild swimming blog post… watch this space.
Wells Cathedral School, Wells
One of our favourite regular groups to go to is Sing and Swim at Wells Cathedral School. The drop-in class features a music and dance session (run by the school’s dance teacher) followed by a general swim in the school’s lovely pool. The pool is housed in a glass atrium and the water is usually pretty warm so on a sunny day it can feel like you’re in the South of France. Sadly, the group only runs during term-time and the public school holidays are particularly drawn-out. However, last summer I realised that the lovely people at WCS keep the pool open during the summer holidays! Result. The pool’s opening hours are sporadic (they rely on having lifeguards available and sometimes there are last minute cancellations so it’s worth checking again on the day) but all times are listed on the school’s website. At the moment timetables are up for the next fortnight, with new dates being added each week.
Cost: Adults £4, Under 18s £2 and under 5s free
Shepton Mallet Lido, Shepton Mallet
One of two lidos, or outdoor pools, within close proximity of Wells. Shepton Lido is smaller, quieter and, in my opinion, more relaxing (if you can say that when you have two kids in tow). By that I mean that everything is in one place so you can easily keep tabs on two children that will undoubtedly want to be doing different things at the same time. There’s a full-size pool and a children’s pool; a very small splash park with a few fountains; a mini play area and some picnic benches. There are some pretty basic changing facilities at the far end and there’s also a place to buy snacks. The water temperature is a little on the cool side but on a baking hot day it’s the right side of refreshing. Speaking of baking hot days, there’s very limited shade by the poolside so come prepared to make your own!
Cost: Adults £5.50, juniors £3.75, under 5s free
Greenbank Outdoor Pool, Street
At the other end of the scale of outdoor pools is Greenbank, which is Shepton on steroids. It has a huge pool with an adjoining kids pool (that is also pretty big and has a great slide that you’ll have to fight to get the little ones off). It has an equally large splash park with another great slide (it’s fast so probably not one for the really little ones); and there’s a ton of green space around the pool so you can make yourselves comfortable and settle in for the day. The changing rooms are bigger and cleaner too. The best thing about the pool is the temperature: it’s over 30 degrees and the children’s pool, particularly, feels like you’re in a bath, bliss. Greenbank is open from May to September and during the school holidays (from July 20) the pool opens from 12-6:30pm. A word of warning – it does get very busy and you’ll probably need to queue if you want to get in there early, but the queues usually go down pretty quickly and it’s worth it, honestly. Another thing I’d say is that everything is quite spread out so if, like me, you have more than one pre-school aged child in tow, you might want to take reinforcements and go with a friend!
Cost: Adults £5.70, Child (age 2-17) £4.70, under 2s free
Cheddar Woods Resort and Spa, Cheddar
Cheddar Woods is a holiday resort on the far side of Cheddar with an indoor swimming pool that is open to the public. Being a spa destination, the changing rooms feel pretty plush and the pool is lovely and clean. There’s a full-size pool and a children’s pool, adjacent to eachother. The pool is open to the public every day but do check the website for timetables as you’ll need to go for the general swim if you’re taking the family. Once you’ve been for a swim, you could head to the cafe or give the kids a run around in the park (which you can see from the cafe’s veranda).
It’s the weekend. You may have a quiet couple of days ahead with no plans. Or you may have friends coming over and are yet to decide how to entertain them. Well, if, like us, you enjoy exploring the local countryside then you’re sure to love these walks. And if, like us, no walk is complete without incorporating a local pub where cold beverages and yummy grub is on offer, then you’ll be even more pleasantly surprised by this list. Read on and get those weekend plans Locked Inn (pun intended. *See item 5 on list).
Wookey Hole Inn, Wookey Hole
Duration: 45 minutes each way (or 30 minutes if you return via the road) Terrain: Pram-friendly with some hills Type: This route has the benefit of being circular, or linear if you return the same way you came
The walk… For all you Wellsonians out there, this is a brilliant country pub walk that can be done without even getting in the car. A rare thing indeed. It’s also a walk that can be done with a pushchair (or a sling, depending on your preference). So top marks all round from us. Heading up from town, the walk takes you up Ash Lane and onto Milton Lane (where you’ll face the steepest incline of the route) before heading out of town and into the countryside with gorgeous views across Wells and beyond. You then follow a semi-sheltered path that runs alongside the Split Rock Quarry, uphill first and then switching to downhill as you start the descent into Wookey Hole village. The last 10 minutes or so of the walk is on road (Wells Road) so do take care if walking with a pram. It’s not too busy but you’re likely to meet a car or two. Wells Road merges with the High Street and you’ll see the pub on your right hand side. On the way back, you can choose to return via the same route or go the quicker way along the road (Wookey Hole Road) and follow the footpath all the way back into Wells.
The pub… The Wookey Hole Inn was owned by the guys that now run The Sheppey in Godney (another favourite of ours) so it’s got bundles of character. The roast dinners are delicious and it has a good varied menu. They welcome children with open arms – every table has a pot of pencils and a white paper tablecloth so they’re actively encouraged to get creative. There’s also a garden that is great in the summer (it’s on a slight hill but, as long as you’re keeping an eye on them, the kids can happily run around).
The Litton, in Litton village (near Chewton Mendip)
Duration: Around one hour Terrain: Sling only as there are a number of stiles to navigate. Can get muddy in wet weather too. Type: Circular walk
This is a firm favourite of ours. So much so that I’ve written a blog post dedicated solely to it. Fabulous pub with an even more fabulous circular walk that combines all (and more) of the must-see sights that every good country walk should include. What’s more, the pub has created a beautifully illustrated pocket map of the walk for its visitors to download or take as they explore the area – it would be rude not to combine the two. And you’ll certainly deserve that lunch when you’re done. Read more here.
The view from the top of the Dam
The Railway Inn, Sandford, Winscombe
Duration: Various distances. The walk follows the old Strawberry Line railway so you can opt for a short amble or a longer walk, depending on your mood Terrain: Flat and prammable – a mixture of grass, gravel and tarmac but it’s footpath or road all the way Type:Linear
The walk… This one is around a 35 minute drive from Wells but is well worth the trip. The Railway Inn is owned by Thatchers Cider and sits on the site of the Thatchers orchards and factory. It’s also on the Strawberry Line, a disused railway line that runs through Mid-Somerset so walks from there are nice and flat. If you’re walking from the pub, turn right onto the road, walk for around 300m and there are two options: turning left onto the Strawberry Line takes you towards Winscombe and turning right takes you towards Congresbury. The Winscombe way is shorter and more direct (it takes just over an hour to reach the village) and the Congresbury route is a little more meandering, coming on and off the Strawberry Line a couple of times and incorporating a bit of quiet road walking too. Congresbury is around 13 miles away so it’s unlikely you’ll do the full route but you can walk for as long as you like and turn back anytime you’re ready. On this route, you get to stroll through some of the Thatchers orchards, which is pretty interesting, but (I must warn you) you also have to put up with the God-awful stench of a sewage plant as you turn off the first section of road and return to the Strawberry Line. Don’t worry though, the smell disappears as quickly as it arrives!
An array of signage signals the start of the Strawberry Line and the way back to the pub!
The pub… The Railway Inn itself is a lovely pub with a great outdoor space, complete with a wooden train (that the Little Big One loved playing in) and a large grassy area for running around in. There’s also a toilet outside with changing facilities, meaning you don’t have to tackle the busy pub and oodles of stairs if you need to get there quick!
The Talbot Inn/ The Walled Garden, Mells
Duration: As long or as short as you like Terrain: Flat Type: Linear
The pub… Mells is a beautiful little village near Frome, about a 25 minute drive from Wells. Here, you have the option of dining pub-style at the Talbot Inn (it has a kids menu and a grassy area just off its outside courtyard where children can have a run around) or heading opposite into the more relaxed Walled Garden where you can have sandwiches, salads or pizza (from their very own pizza oven) while enjoying the tranquility of the beautiful gardens and nursery. There are an abundance of different seating areas to choose from (including a covered greenhouse area) but while there’s lots to see, there’s not a lot of space to let children loose. You can save that for the walk!
The beautiful Walled Garden in Mells
The walk… If you take a little amble through the village – past the post office and village store – and take the second left turn, you’ll discover a wonderful little woodland walk that follows the river. About 10 minutes into the woods, you’ll come across a waterfall and shallow area that is just perfect for paddling. It’s just beautiful! The path can take you all the way to Great Elm village if you’re in it for the long haul, or you can choose to walk as far as you like and turn back when you’re ready.
There are a few parking options in the village. We parked in the free car park adjacent to the recreation ground (there’s ample space) but there’s also limited parking at the Talbot Inn and, if you’re visiting the Walled Garden, you can park in the Mells Barn car park too.
The Lock Inn, Bradford on Avon
Duration:Multiple options Terrain:Generally flat and prammable, although the canal path may get muddy in wet weather Type: You can opt for a circular route or come back the way you came
The pub… We love visiting Bradford on Avon. We have close friends that live there and we got married there, so it holds a special place in our hearts. It also has a number of blooming great pubs and some lovely canal walks too. Our pub of choice is The Lock Inn, which has a lovely large beer garden (and a funky little dining area on a canal boat if you fancy something quirky). The food is homely and served in giant quantities (which is always a winner in our eyes). And it’s right on the canal so you can wave to passing narrow boats and watch the activity at the nearby lock that gives the pub its name.
The great thing about a canal walk is that it’s also perfect for bikes
The walk: From The Lock Inn, you can walk around the picturesque town of Bradford on Avon or opt for a river and canal walk instead. There’s a lovely circular canal route that’s about 1.5 miles long. You can extend this walk to include some field paths too (this adds a further 1.5 miles onto the route and may make it trickier with a pram). The local council has created a very helpful guide to walking in Bradford on Avon which includes directions and maps to all of the above. You can download it here.
We popped along to Palette and Pasture’s Open Farm Sunday event at the end of June and what a revelation it was, on all sorts of levels! Based at Pyle Farm in Trudoxhill, just off the A361 on the way to Frome (around 25 minutes from Wells), it’s home to Paul and Rachel Candy (and their menagerie of animals) who, between them, manage a 200 strong herd of dairy cows and multiple businesses, including arts and crafts, seasonal pop up events and their delicious farm-produced gelato.
The Open Farm event is one of four pop up events (they call them “Country Markets”) that occur throughout the year that enable the family to showcase their brilliant businesses and provide visitors with an insight into the inner workings of the dairy farm. Here are five reasons why it’s well worth heading along to one.
Palette and Pasture’s Somerset Gelato is divine. My, it tastes good. I mean, really good. Flavours range from the classics – rum and raisin, strawberry and mint choc chip – to the more unusual – Jaffa cake, white gold and cherry and banana sorbet. The best thing is that the flavours change each week so you can always try something new. We opted for pear and it was a real crowd pleaser. The ice cream is made from cows milk rather than cream. According to those in the know, Pyle Farm’s milk is naturally sweet, so not only does their ice cream contain less fat, it also has less added sugar. Ideal!
We learnt some really cool facts about cows and dairy farming… whilst riding on a tractor! We hopped on a trailer to join one of Paul’s fabulously engaging tractor tours of the working farm, where we learnt some fascinating facts about cows. Did you know, for instance, that cows drink up to 150 litres of water a day? Or that they lie down for 12 hours a day but actually only sleep for 20 minutes? Incredible. The farm’s 200 dairy cows produce a massive 4500 litres of milk a day and some of this goes into making their delicious gelato, which is great news for us. Oh, and they supply local cheese maker Barbers too!
It’s not just cows. They have a host of other animals you can meet. Right next to the ice cream parlour, you’ll find the family’s smallholding which is home to a couple of pigs (in the summer months), pygmy goats (that you can feed), chickens and some geese. It’s a real family affair here, and you’ll probably be enthusiastically greeted by one of their friendly dogs too.
There’s a great outdoor play area. Our two loved the digger pit and push along tractors, but there’s also a pedal tractor race track and a mud kitchen. Perfect.
Your visit will support a great local, family-run business. In addition to the dairy farm and the fabulous gelato, Rachel, who is a talented artist, sells paintings too. At their Country Market pop-up events they also like to support other local craft and food traders so the events are a great advert for shopping local.
The dates for Palette and Pasture’s upcoming events can be found on their website but for the remainder of the year these are the dates for your diary: Sunday 27th October – A Day on the Farm: Zombies and Pumpkins; Sunday 15th December – Santa and Snowflakes.
It’s worth knowing that the ice cream parlour is also open at weekends – Friday to Monday 11-5 – so you can head over anytime to enjoy a gelato, visit the animals and have a play.
Last month, we took the girls and the in-laws for a short break at Center Parcs in Longleat. It’s not the kind of holiday the hubby and I would have looked at before; we’ve always thought of it as an expensive option and we’re the type of family that likes to get away and do our own thing, rather than stay somewhere with everything at your fingertips. Anyway… after an unmissable deal popped up, the hubby booked it on a whim, quickly locking in the grandparents too.
Well, through fear of this sounding like a sponsored post (I promise, it most definitely isn’t) this was hands down our easiest and most wholly enjoyable family holiday to date! Unbelievably there was zero stress too. And I mean, zero stress. I told you it was unbelievable. I just can’t praise Center Parcs enough. Having young children certainly changes your perspective on holidays. Up until now, we were the types to research holiday spots reminiscent of our youthful, carefree days, where the accommodation was quirky rather than practical and off the beaten track instead of all-inclusive. As we’ve discovered, this type of place is almost impossible to find when it needs to accommodate two small people. It also tends to involve more hassle when you’re there too, sometimes having an effect on the overall enjoyment levels of the holiday.
Now, even those that haven’t visited Center Parcs will know that it is NOT that holiday. It’s a complex. With cabins that are designed to be functional and all look the same. With an abundance of entertainment options and restaurants serving every cuisine under the sun available on tap. And with a tropical swimming paradise just a short walk away. It’s basically a cruise on land. But, and here’s the but. With very young kids in tow, this is exactly what you need. It’s convenient, easy and has everything young children need to enjoy themselves. And everyone knows that happy children make for happy parents.
Our cabin was perfectly located, far enough from the central drag that we felt like we could escape a bit, but close enough that we could walk to the main village with a pram. We were close to the top of the Cascades walkway, so it was just a short meander downhill to the beach and beyond. We also had a land train stop just a minute’s walk away. The land train, of course, was a massive hit with the Little Big One who insisted on riding it every day. Our bulky pram didn’t fit on – next time we’d definitely take an umbrella folding stroller – so the Not So Tiny One was able to take her naps in the pram while some of us walked to and from the cabin to the village (about a 25-30 minute walk). The cabin was set within the forest so it felt secluded and a bit “wild” (which pleased us) and was positioned above a pond, which meant that we got to see an abundance of wildlife from our living area. Ducks came up to the doors at bedtime looking for food, squirrels played chase up and down the trees outside and on one particularly early morning, we were lucky enough to see two deer frolicking by the water. A huge privilege that made the super early start more than worth it. There have to be some benefits to having early risers in the family!!
As this was our first Center Parcs experience we decided not to book too many activities upfront and to just go with the flow when we were there (there are an unfeasible amount of great options available though). Having said that, I treated myself to a Pilates class which gave me a rare hour of freedom (and was lovely), and we booked the Little Big One onto a toddler rollerskating class, which was well worth it – she got loads out of it and was super proud when the grandparents rocked up halfway through to see her skating All By Herself. To be honest, this was all the extra entertainment we needed. The swimming complex is a real winner and we went once a day, sometimes twice (this would seem absurd under normal circumstances, but we just packed an extra set of swimmers! This is Center Parcs us. I like Center Parcs us). As well as the main pool and the numerous slides and flumes, there are two brilliant splash parks – a pirate themed one for the bigger kids and another filled with taps, pumps, tunnels and sprinklers, which was perfect for keeping the toddlers amused. As we had the grandparents in tow, the hubby and I took the opportunity to brave the big water rides alone (brilliant fun) and we also enjoyed the outdoor thermal pool which felt really spa-like and luxurious. Our favourite bit of all though was the Lazy River rapids which both girls giggled and laughed their way around about a million times!
Aside from all of this though, it was a really good place to just be. Being in the forest surrounded by trees feels fabulous. And there’s so much to do and see outside. We took the Little Big One’s bike and she loved having the freedom to just go. There are a multitude of parks for all ages. And the lakeside beach is beautiful (I think Longleat is one of the only resorts to have this). On our final morning, we were lucky enough to be at the beach to witness dozens of carp gathering at the shoreline, only to be joined by a curious heron. Not a sight you see everyday.
We booked a Monday-Friday stay and the four nights cost around £500 for a three bedroom cabin (which had ample room for all of us – four adults and two children). We kept additional costs down by preparing batch meals in advance so all evening meals were sorted but we did treat ourselves to a couple of lunches out (it would have been rude not to!) Perhaps the biggest bonus of all about this holiday was that Longleat is a mere 30 minutes away from home. So on the last day we spent the morning at the pool, visited the beach, had a lovely family lunch, played in a couple of parks… and were still home for the girl’s dinner time!
As far as holidays go, it really was the easiest, most convenient and relaxed holiday we’ve been on. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we’ve only gone and booked to go at the same time next year, this time with my parents. See you then, Center Parcs! x
Oh and our cabin had a blackboard for recording all of our adventures – a really lovely touch.
The Little Big One is loving imaginative play at the moment so it was a real joy to let her loose at Mini Town Play over in Wincanton recently. The indoor play area is fab for feeding little imaginations and is designed to look like a mini high street. It has everything – a greengrocers, a hair salon, a toy shop, a boutique shop with plenty of fun dress up options to suit every taste, a police station, a vets and a fire station. The greengrocers was a big hit for us – both girls spent an inordinate amount of time playing with the child-size shopping basket and trolley! The toys are all great quality and, rather impressively, super clean too, which is a real bonus as, as we all know, this isn’t always the case. This is probably helped by the fact that between each play session there’s a half an hour gap, allowing the staff time for a quick tidy up. They run three play sessions every day, each lasting 90 minutes – which to my surprise went really quickly – at 9am, 11am and 1pm. And it’s super reasonable! It’s just £2.95 for children age 1 – 6+ (this includes free entry for 1 adult). Babies and pre-walkers are free and any additional adults cost just £1.50.
Mini Town Play is based at Cale Park Kitchen – a brilliant little cafe serving great value, tasty food. We ordered a couple of paninis (£6 each), a kid’s Bento box (£3.95) and a child’s egg and soldiers (£2.50). You can eat in the cafe downstairs or order your food to be brought up to the Mini Town area upstairs (we wanted to maximise our playing time so did the full 90 minutes of play at 11am and ate lunch in the cafe afterwards). If you’re just after a snack, they do cakes and small bites too and, if you have very little ones, there’s a great little extra playroom downstairs that has a lovely selection of baby and toddler toys and some comfy seats; just perfect for having a coffee and a sit down while your baby enjoys some tummy time or a little play.
Another great thing about this place is the fabulous park just around the corner. As well as all the usual attractions, it has a train, a couple of mechanical sand diggers and a giant slide with room for the whole family (yes, we tried it) or multiple children at a time! The park is surfaced with sand so it’s soft underfoot and perfect in summer (in wet weather though, you might want to have wellies to hand). There are a number of picnic benches dotted around so I’d definitely suggest doing that on a sunny day.
Booking is advised for Mini Town play as space is limited (they only let a few people in at a time) and it can be done very easily online: https://www.caleparkkitchen.co.uk/ We’ll be going back soon, for sure!
Recently we spent the most glorious Sunday discovering a gem of a place just a mere 10 minutes up the road from Wells. Isn’t it funny how these places can go undiscovered while you spend weekend after weekend venturing out to the same handful of places. Anyway, situated just a stone’s throw from the village of Chewton Mendip is the beautiful Litton, where the pub in question – The Litton – gets its name. The Litton is one of those pubs that has it all: a delicious menu, a wide selection of drinks, great ambience and an area to suit everyone. From the sunny and spacious landscape gardens (with an abundance of seating and plenty of room for children to run around and play – they’ve even supplied a giant Connect4), to the sheltered and more peaceful Riverside courtyard with its cosy seating areas scattered with kilim cushions and festoon lighting (I imagine this to be a rather special spot in the evening, preferably sans children!) Inside the pub is airy and bright with lots of tables and some beautifully stylish, yet homey furnishings. This pub is a winner in all seasons. Although we didn’t eat on this occasion, the menu looks very tasty (if a little pricey) and they offer a good children’s menu too (more interesting than the standard fish fingers and chips that are usually on offer).
While the pub itself is well worth a visit, the best thing about this place is the fabulous little walk, starting at the pub car park and taking in all of the sights around this picturesque little village. It’s the perfect length for little ones and just long enough to justify popping in to the pub on your return for a nice cold beverage! Just two miles long (it took us around an hour, carrying both girls in slings) it’s a nice flat route. That being said, this is not a pram walk – you’ll need to tackle a number of stiles so slings are a must if you’ve got babies and toddlers in tow. You’ll amble through open fields where sheep and shetland ponies graze; circle around the pretty Litton fishing lakes where you’ll cross a dam before strolling along a stream that is perfect for paddling; and you’ll wander past some pretty incredible houses (personally, I love checking out other people’s homes).
A couple of things to note: in wet weather, some parts of the walk can get very muddy so wellies will be required. And there’s a short section along the lake where the path gets very narrow so you’ll need to hold on to little hands!
As an extra special touch, the pub has created a lovely illustrated map of the walk for customers to use – the big one loved playing navigator. The map can also be downloaded here.
I’ll be sharing more child friendly pub walks in due course. Research is underway 😉
Back at the end of March, when we had that spate of glorious weather, I took the girls to Chew valley lake. What a fabulous spot! I have to admit, we’d been before – I think it was last summer – and I’d found it a tad disappointing. Being the height of summer, the hedgerows around the lake were covered in leaves, meaning most of the prime picnic spots had very restricted views of the lake. Coming back in the spring though, was a different story. With the plants just beginning to come back into bloom, the lake was clearly visible from most spots and was stunning with the sun glistening on the water. Not only did we enjoy a picnic with a view but we discovered a host of other great things too!
We’d been to Chew Magna for a performance by the Dragonbird theatre (I’ll be reviewing this separately) and had packed a picnic. I was expecting us to lunch and go, crossing my fingers for a successful nap in the car on the way home (the baby not me), but we were having such a lovely time that we decided to make an afternoon of it. We stayed for a good three hours in the end. We parked up in the main visitors car park, where you’ll find the Salt Malt fish and chip restaurant. The lake and its facilities are part of a Bristol water site so there’s a charge for parking, but it’s a very reasonable £2, whether you’e there for an hour or the whole day (up until 6pm; I believe it’s free after that point). The car park is adjacent to the lake, and the grassy banks surrounding it provide the perfect spot for a picnic (as I said, the views are lovely in the spring, but in summer it can get a bit overgrown). The restaurant was pretty busy when we were there but there were less people picnicking so it gave the girls plenty of space to run around. There are toilet facilities right next to the restaurant and there’s also a pretty cool play area.
There are some lovely, short walks beside the lake too, which allow you to view the lake in all its glory. You can walk straight from the main car park along a gravel walkway that lines the lake offering great views (the only downside is that it’s riddled with flies – that could just be the time of year though). This walkway links the main car park with a secondary car park (it’s about a 10 minute walk between the two). From this secondary car park you can take one of two extended walks. The first is the Grebe trail, which is 1.2km long (10-15 minutes) and starts and finishes at a wooded picnic area. The trail follows a surfaced path which is ideal with a pram. The second trail is the Bittern trail; this one is slightly longer at 1.5km but is unsurfaced so you’d probably need a sling rather than a pram to tackle this one.
All in all, this is a great day out and the best bit is, it only cost us the price of parking! If you’re not up for picnicking, the fish and chips at Salt and Malt are darn good (it’s been shortlisted in the Fish and Chips awards as ‘Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year’) and if you spend more than £7 in the restaurant then you can get £1 back on your parking (nice little tip there!)
For a thoroughly wholesome couple of hours, I’d recommend heading across to Bath city farm. Unlike most other farm attractions, this one is free to visit (although a donation of £2 is encouraged – a snip given it costs £8000 a day to keep the farm running). The farm is tucked away in Twerton on the outskirts of Bath (Wells side), with panoramic views across the city but feeling a million miles away from the hustle and bustle.
Head over on a Tuesday morning and join the Roots and Shoots toddler group (10-11:30am). Aimed at under 5’s, it encourages children (and their grown-ups) to explore the farm and feed the animals. We got to meet the chickens, ducks, pygmy goats, pigs and sheep and hear a little about what their life is like at the farm, before heading back to the cafe area for a hot drink (adults), a multitude of snacks (kids) and storytime (everyone who could sit still and listen). I’m told that there are often additional activities laid on too like bug hunts and crafts, but we were there on a particularly busy day so there wasn’t much time for anything extra. The group is a bargain considering refreshments are included – £3.50 for 1 child, £4.50 for 2 or £6 for 3.
While the group was lovely, and a wonderful way to spend a Tuesday morning, I would recommend going on your own too for a visit. You can wander around the farm at a pace that suits you, and, while you can’t feed all of the animals, you can buy chicken feed from the cafe kiosk, head into the chicken and duck enclosure and enjoy having them flock around you quacking and clucking. Personally, this is our favourite bit of the farm. As well as the animals, there’s a little cafe kiosk where you can buy hot drinks and small bites – there are picnic benches too if you bring your own food; there’s a well-equipped park; and there are two mile long walking trails – a history trail, which features a replica WWII air raid shelter and a nature trail, which takes you through the woodlands. Neither route is prammable so you’ll need a sling for very little ones. Given the site sits on the side of a hill, there are some steep bits too.
IN A NUTSHELL
A brilliant place to while away a couple of hours. Tag a visit on to a day out in Bath, or head there in the morning and stop off at Newton farm shop for lunch on your way back; it’s just down the hill from Twerton (on the way to the globe roundabout).
If, like me and my two girls, you find yourself climbing the walls after a morning inside, then you’ve come to the right place. With two young daughters, I spend my days looking for ways that we can escape the clutches of our tiny house and get out and about. Thankfully, we live in Wells, Somerset; a beautiful city (of town-like proportions) where regular toddler groups, nice cafes and open green spaces are right on our doorstep.
Over the past three years though, we’ve pretty much exhausted every option Wells has to offer for pre-schoolers, so I’m making it my mission to explore further afield and seek out all the great things available for children across Somerset, Wiltshire and beyond.
If you’re on a budget like me, then you’ll find lots of cheap entertainment options here, as well as the occasional Big Day Out idea. I hope that this guide will be useful for other mums, dads, grandparents and anyone else in need of inspiration and ideas.
If you’ve had a great experience recently and would like to share it with others, please do get in touch x
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