What to do with kids when it rains & snows at Darwin Forest Country Park

*This is a collaborative post

We spent the first weekend of February Half Term at Darwin Forest in the Peak District. Just a 3-hour journey by car from our home in Northumberland, we were able to leave after school on Friday evening and check into our accommodation at around 6:30pm which worked really well for us. Darwin Forest is a gorgeous setting and there is so much to do in the warmer weather from adventure playgrounds and bike hire to forest trails and mini golf. There's a lot to explore in the immediate vicinity too from quaint little villages such as Bakewell to the thrilling rides of Alton Towers as well as farm parks, the Heights of Abraham and more. Unfortunately for us, the weather was not on our side and it rained all day on Saturday which was followed by a day of snow on Sunday. Not to worry though as there was still plenty to fill in our weekend and today I thought I'd share with you a few ideas for enjoying a break at Darwin Forest when the weather isn't playing ball (which let's face it in the UK happens more often than not).

1 - Swimming

The pool at Darwin Forest is free for guests to use. We visited on a rainy Saturday afternoon in half term and I'm not lying when I say I was dreading it. I had a feeling it would be packed and to be honest, taking the kids swimming is my least favourite activity. I have to say though, I was pleasantly surprised. There were plenty of clean family changing rooms and lockers and there were complimentary hairdryers too. The pool actually wasn't packed either and it was even less busy when we re-visited in the evening (yes - we visited twice in one day). There aren't any slides and 90% of the pool is 1.25m deep so if your younger children are weak swimmers I'd advise packing your water wings but as far as swimming is concerned, overall it was a decent experience plus the kids loved it. 

2 - Soft Play

My children are aged 7, 8 and 11 so at the very upper end of their soft play years. Taking them on a Saturday is something I'd not normally consider but you know, when in Rome! Little Monkeys Soft Play is located behind reception and a chargeable activity at the reduced cost of £3.50 per child for 2 hours play. It was really busy when we visited after swimming but extremely well managed. Rather than cramming as many people as possible in, the staff operated a 'one in, one out' system and found each family their own table which was cleaned just before you sat down. I don't know if this is coincidence but as our children are older and need very little in the way of supervision, the staff found us a lovely table in the conservatory area. If you half closed your eyes you could almost forget where you were. There's decent coffee for sale as well as food and Steve and I used this opportunity to check up on our emails and browse Social Media as the kids entertained themselves. Soft Play is not normally a place I would ever recommend but we really couldn't fault this one. H, H and J loved joining in with a basketball match with some of the other older kids. 

3 - Embrace the weather

A little rain and snow never put us off. It's the perfect excuse to pop your wellies on and play outside. The forest trails are actually pretty sheltered and there are lots of grassed areas for children to play. I loved walking past everyone's lodges and spotting snowmen standing proudly on the decking. 

4 - Board Games

We love a good board game and really don't play enough of them at home. It's something we really enjoy doing and look forward to when we take short breaks though and Darwin Forest provides a family board game in every lodge which is a lovely touch. You can exchange it for another game at reception too. We played Cranium for the first time and loved it. 

5 - Pool Activities

You can book a variety of activities during your break and there is something for everyone. We tried waterwalkerz and snorkelling in the pool and loved them both. Waterwalkerz is available to children aged 5+ for the bargain price of just £5 per child and was a real highlight from our trip. The staff were lovely and the kids loved it. It was pretty comical watching them from the viewing gallery too. 

6 - Head to the pub

Every time we take the kids to the pub we ask ourselves why we don't do it more often. The beauty of having a pub on-site means that you can leave the car at home. The pub at Darwin Forest is called Forresters and it's lovely inside. We watched some of the England Rugby Match there and all really enjoyed it. There's also a restaurant too but book a table well in advance as it does get busy. 

7 - Takeaway and movie

Our lodge kitchen was well-equipped for cooking but after a Saturday spent swimming, taking part in sports and soft play, cooking was the last thing we fancied. You can order takeaway from the pub at Darwin Forest and we ordered 5 meals for £38 which is a similar price to what we'd pay at home. The photo does not do the food justice at all, we all said it was much better than expected and I love that the chips were homemade. You can rent DVDs from reception too which makes for a pretty perfect cosy Saturday night in. 

8 - Hot tub in the snow 

Our lodge had it's very own hot tub (regular readers will know that this is the kind of accommodation we book most often) and the kids decided to take it upon themselves to jump in during a snow storm! They loved it and spent the whole time laughing. Not ones to be left out, Steve and I decided to follow their lead that evening. The sky was pretty clear and as we were in the middle of the Peak District we could make out lots of stars. When it started snowing, we decided to stay put and I have to say the feeling of freezing snow on my face whilst sitting in a hot tub reminded me of one of those spa experiences where you throw ice on yourself then jump in a sauna - it had to be good for my skin and circulation! 

9 - Wildlife spotting

Darwin Forest is home to lots of wildlife and we spent a lot of our weekend following trails and trying to identify various birds. This lovely little robin was a regular visitor to our decking and the kids named him Robbie the Robin. 

10 - The Activity Den 

The Activity Den is located next to the pub and perfect for older kids to play whilst their grown-ups enjoy a pint in peace. There are pool and air hockey tables plus arcade games to play. Our three loved the freedom of hiding in here for half an hour. There's also a free smaller soft play in here for younger kids. 

Sometimes when we stay somewhere over the weekend, we feel as if we're ready to come home. This was certainly not the case at Darwin Forest. I feel like there was a fantastic range of both activities and chances to relax and unwind and if we had this much fun in bad weather, I can't imagine how good a week in the sun here would be.

Darwin Forest still has some late availability for February and you can find out more and book online here. 

*Our accommodation was gifted and all activity costs & meals were covered by ourselves

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Throwback to the 80s and 90s - My childhood memories of days out in North East England

Today I'm taking a trip down memory lane and remembering some of the days out I enjoyed as a child growing up in North East England back in the 80s and 90s. Let me know if any of these were places you loved as a child too.

First school trip 

I vividly remember our first school trip in reception. I would only have been around 4/5 years old at the time. Back then we didn't even have such a thing as a school uniform. We all climbed aboard a coach and headed to Marlish farm which seemed to take an age to get to. The reason I remember this trip is because it was the first time I saw a real-life pig AND we watched a lamb being born and I was fascinated. These days, Marlish Farm isn't a farm park or place you can take the kids for a day out (at least I don't think it is) but sometimes if you're somewhere fancy you might spot Marlish Farm water for sale and I often wonder if it's the same business. Does anyone know?

I also remember visiting the Hancock Museum in Primary School and being amazed and being able to see a real mummy. I had 50p to spend in the gift shop and was able to buy a precious stone and a rubber! My three still love visiting the very same mummy. Wonder if my grandchildren will too?

Memorable school trip 

My most memorable school trip was to the Farne Islands. This trip was when we were in High School and I often wonder if it was Serenity we sailed on? We actually landed on one of the islands and spent the whole time being attacked and dive-bombed by the birds that live there. Who thought this was a good idea with a group of teenagers I will never know? Girls were screaming and hiding for cover and some of the boys had bought water pistols from the gift shop at Seahouses and decided to start shooting at the birds! Not good. Needless to say, our year group was banned from any future trips to the Farnes....... Harry has taken this trip with his class recently and I'm pleased to report he was a lot better behaved.

Family Days Out 

Family days out in the summer always revolved around a big picnic somewhere every Sunday. We were often joined by neighbours, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents and loved the freedom of spending hours in a park, running around a field or plodging in streams and catching tadpoles. Some of our favourite spots were Plankey Mill, Ingram Valley and Hexham Park. Sadly, I've only visited these places a handful of times with my own children - there seems to be a much bigger focus on commercialised days out these days which is kind of a shame I guess. I'm definitely going to re-visit some of my old childhood haunts this summer so watch this space for reviews and pictures. I hope they're as good as I remember.

Not a family day out but something I always remember as a child is our organised street bus trips. I grew up on a fairly rough council estate in Cramlington and despite it not having the best reputation, it was such a close-knit community and something I really miss about where we live now. It was the kind of place where the whole street would play rounders outside, we'd have pool parties and invite the neighbours and the highlight of our whole summer was when we'd organise a big bus trip for our whole street to visit Flamingoland (another place I've never taken my children as it's just too expensive for a family if 5 these days). Happy days!

The Teenage Years 

Moving onto the teenage years and I loved living in a time where you could travel pretty much anywhere in the North East for 50p with your teen card. It's mad to think that we didn't have mobile phones back then and we used to go all over! We'd head to Newcastle every Saturday and browse the clothes and candles at Internationale, then it was onto HMW to buy that week's latest single and finally The Body Shop before heading the Food Court for lunch. Oh how Newcastle has changed now! 

If we were feeling particularly flush or it was somebody's birthday we'd catch the bus from Newcastle to the Metrocentre and spend our days hanging around Metroland. I *really* miss this place and really wish I could have taken my own kids and explain what it was like.

Our beach of choice in the summer was always Cullercoats. Our parents would drop us off in the morning and then collect us at around 6pm. Our days were spent checking out boys from behind our sunglasses and generally just trying to act super cool. I often wonder if my own children will spend their summer like this or if times have changed now and it's not the done thing anymore????

Wet n Wild was another place we'd love to hang out (I can't ever bring myself to set foot in the place now) and we'd spend days tying to impress each other going down the Kamikaze or the 'Black Hole'. I always remember feeling super grown up sitting in the jacuzzis and thinking 'this is the life'. I can't think of anything worse now! If Wet n Wild was a little out of our budget, we'd head to Waves in Whitley Bay instead. It used to be the best local pool to us and we'd walk to the amusements after or visit Spanish City and of course buy some chips too. I don't think there was such a thing as kids meals at Fish and Chip shops back then? We always used to buy half a bag for around 40p. 

If you grew up in the North East I'd love to hear where you remember spending your childhood. Did you visit the same places I did? 

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The Various Attitudes of my Children towards a Family Walk

*This is a collaboration with Missuswolf

As my children grow older and into their respective personalities, it's very obvious that they each have their own traits and characteristics and this can very much be demonstrated with a day out. Recently I suggested a nice walk in the countryside and it allowed H, H and J to play the very best version of themselves. 

Harry

Harry is 11 now and is very much a typical tweenager. As soon as mention any form of fresh air or exercise he seems to turn into Kevin the teenager and will grunt, groan and once he even rolled around the floor in disgust! Then he'll try his very best to get out of it so expect a full repertoire of headaches, joint pains or sickness. He would much rather be playing on his X Box at home (much to my annoyance). I try to reason with him how important walking and getting outside is and he always responds with 'well I walk to school'. Sigh! I still force him to come along though and what always makes me smile is he ends up really enjoying himself! Family walks always encourage lots of conversation and Harry and Steve will spend hours walking around a ruin or gardens discussing history or random facts. They love it!! Harry will never admit this though, he's far too cool for that. 

Heidi

Heidi is *such* an easy child and is always so well behaved and will do anything she is told without a single complaint. I don't ever remember a time Heidi moaned that she didn't want to do something and she'll honestly try everything we throw at her. She has a real can-do attitude about her. Despite being our only girl, Heidi is always the first one of our children to climb a wall, investigate a cave or challenge herself to learn a new skill. Walks for Heidi are all about climbing, running around and discovering new things. I love that she has this love of life inside of her and I think this 'Mini Warrior in Training' T-Shirt by Missuswolf could have been designed just for Heidi as it describes her personality down to a T! 

Jack

Where to start with Jack? He is the child that cannot be tamed! Days out with Jack are always a real adventure as you just never know what he's going to come out with or whether he's going to spiral into one of his tantrums. One thing you can guarantee is that he's going to collect lots of sticks as the day progresses and use them to cast spells, try and catch fish, investigate holes or more than likely start chasing his siblings. Feral by name, Feral by nature. You can't help but love him though and despite being the biggest handful at times, I love that Jack has a real awareness of his surroundings and already seems to practice mindfulness. As we're walking along he'll point out different types of trees and flowers to me which always makes me feel as proud as punch. He may be feral at times but I wouldn't have him any other way, 

It's weird to think that H, H and J all share the same gene pool and have been raised in the same manner yet have completely different attitudes to days out. I wonder if they'll change with age or if things will always be this way? 

Feral Collection by Missuswolf

Heidi and Jack are wearing T-Shirts from the brand new Feral Collection by Missuswolf. Missuswolf Clothing is the brainchild of my school-friend Gemma who was inspired to create the collection during maternity leave. All products are made using fully sustainable material like Organic Cotton, are printed in the UK and £1 from the profit of every product sold will be donated to Children with Cancer UK. I LOVE the whole collection and really think there's a T-Shirt for every personality and child. You can view the full Feral Collection here. There's also a fun collection for grown-ups too and even a section of slogan T's dedicated to a love of sprouts! 

When you buy from Missuswolf, not only are you buying a pretty cool and unique top for your child but you are also supporting a local small business from Northumberland AND a children's cancer charity at the same time. What's not to love? 

Feral Collection Giveaway

Gemma has kindly provided us with a voucher which can be exchanged for any T-shirt from the Feral Collection (subject to size and availability). The Feral Collection is available in ages 3 - 12 years and in a variety of colours. You can enter using the rafflecopter widget below. Daily entry is available via Twitter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions:
Prize is 1 x T-Shirt of your choice from the Missuswolf Feral Collection including delivery to any mainland UK address (subject to size and availability).

Prize is non-transferable, there are no alternatives and refunds are not possible. 

Giveaway is open to UK residents aged 18+ and excludes employees of Missuswolf and North East Family Fun

No purchase is neccessary

Giveaway ends midnight Sunday 25 February 2018. One winner will be selected at random from all valid entries and notified via email. You have 28 days to respond to this email in order to claim your prize. 

The Ultimate Bucket List for Children in Northumberland

We are super lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world. Northumberland will always be home to us. It occurred to me that there is just so much to do in our region and I thought it might be nice to put a list together featuring activities in Northumberland that we think North East children should enjoy as they grow up. Let me know in the comments how many your family has ticked from our list and if there's anything you fancy trying next.

1 - Join Roman Soldier School on Hadrian's Wall 

English Heritage normally run Roman Soldier School across their Hadrian's Wall sites in school holidays. We've signed up a couple of times and it's always lots of fun - grown-ups can get involved too! You get to dress up, learn how to march and discover what life was like for soldiers from their perspective. Read about the time we joined Roman Soldier School here. 

2 - Fly your own broomstick at Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle is where Harry Potter himself learned how to fly a broomstick and you can follow in his footsteps and take your very own lesson (most weekends and school holidays - included with admission). Lessons are fun and suitable for the whole family. Don't forget your camera! Read about our attempt at Broomstick Flying here. 

3 - Bottle feed a lamb at Whitehouse Farm

I don't actually have a picture of us bottle-feeding the lambs at Whitehouse Farm as it's quite tricky to catch the right shot with lots of kids around but visiting Whitehouse Farm is a little bit of a ritual we have every spring. We have been visiting for over 12 years now and it still remains as one of our favourite North East attractions. Read about our trip to Whitehouse Farm for Heidi's birthday last year here. 

4 - Barter old books for new at Barter Books

Barter Books is a quirky second-hand bookshop in Alnwick with roaring fires, walls lined with thousands of books and even it's own train set running around the top of the bookcases. Set in Alnwick's old station, you can trade old books for new and it's such a lovely place to spend an hour or so. You can read about our last trip to Barter Books here. 

5 - Stargaze into a truly dark sky at Kielder

Kielder is home to Europe's largest area of certified dark skies and it's the best place in England to experience a truly dark sky. We stayed at Kielder back in 2015 and were honestly blown away by just how dark it was and how many stars there were in the sky. You could hold your hand out in front of you and not even see it! That first time we experienced dark skies like this is something I'll never forget. You can read about our stay at The Calvert Trust in Kielder here. 

6 - Get stranded on Holy Island

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is cut off from the mainland twice every day and being stranded on the island is a quiet and magical experience that everyone in Northumberland must try at least once. A trip to Lindisfarne Castle and Priory is an absolute must and if you're lucky, you'll spot some seals basking in the sunshine too.

7 - Enjoy an ice cream fresh from the farm at Wheelbirks Ice Cream Parlour

Wheelbirks Ice Cream Parlour is such a cute spot in Northumberland. You can meet the dairy cows, play in the lovely children's area, say hi to some chickens, play in the play barn and of course enjoy some fantastic ice cream which is made in an array of flavours. You can read all about Sprog on the Tyne's visit to Wheelbirks here. 

8 - Play in the fountains at Alnwick Garden

Is it even summer if you don't visit Alnwick Garden and let the kids splash around in the water features? It is always so much fun and this feature pictured above is a real favourite of ours. Read all about the water fun you can have at Alnwick Garden here. 

9 - Experience life as a miner at Woodhorn

Mining is a huge part of Northumberland's Heritage and at Woodhorn you get the chance to experience what life was like as a miner. My three love walking through the mocked-up mine and walking amongst the mining banners and learning about life was like. Woodhorn is one of those places where history really is brought to life. Read about Woodhorn's new annual pass here. 

10 - Spend the afternoon building an epic den at Wallington

Wallington is a National Trust property with its very own den building zone. Children (and their grown-ups) can work together to build the ultimate place to hide. It's great for their self-confidence and sense of achievement too. Read all about our afternoon den-building at Wallington Hall here. 

11 - Go strawberry picking at Brockbushes 

Something I will always remember from my own childhood is fruit picking and I love that we get to do this with our own children at Brockbushes. You can pick your own strawberries and more here and it's something H,H and J always look forward to doing. It's a good way to encourage them to eat new fruits too.

12 - Spot seals and puffins at the Farne Islands 

Catching a boat from Seahouses (we recommend Serenity) and setting sail to the Farne Islands is an unforgettable experience. If you time your trip right, you'll get to see an abundance of seals and puffins who will swim right up to your boat. The excitement you feel in the boat as you all spot your first seals should be bottled up and sold as nothing beats it! Read about our seal-spotting trip to the Farnes here. 

13 - Get lost in the Labyrinth at Cragside

Entering the Labyrinth at Cragside is only for real adventurers. There are twists and turns aplenty and before you know it, you really are lost! It's all good fun though and if you're lucky you'll stumble upon this magical music box at the centre. Read all about our experience in the Labyrinth here. 

14 - Order an indulgent milkshake at the Doddington Milk Bar 

The Doddington Milk Bar is such a fun place for kids to visit. You'll find it just as you cross the bridge into Wooler. This 1950s diner serves epic shakes and ice creams which have to be tasted to be believed! Don't forget to say hello to Doddington the cow outside. Read about our trip to the Doddington Milk Bar here.

15 - Play Kings and Queens at Bamburgh Castle 

Bamburgh Castle is the perfect place to let your imagination run wild. From the grand state rooms to the canons pointing out to sea and castle walls and grounds that were built for sword-fighting, it's definitely a castle not to be missed. Read about our trip to Bamburgh Castle back in 2014 here. We are planning a re-visit this spring so keep your eyes peeled for that.....

16 - Walk with Wallabies at Northumberland Zoo

Who knew you could walk with Wallabies right here in Northumberland? I had no idea until a few months ago. It's included with your admission at Northumberland Country Zoo and we were lucky to see some little Wallaby babies wriggle around in their mam's pouch! So cute! Read about our day at Northumberland Country Zoo here.

17 - Walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle 

The walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle and back is 4 miles and mostly flat so perfect for school-aged children. The walk takes you along the Northumberland coast and we've been lucky enough to spot both seals and dolphins in this area before. There are coves to explore, sheep to dodge and lots of wildlife to admire - definitely a walk for your bucket list! Read all about our walk to Dunstanburgh Castle here. 

18 - Watch a Knight's Tournament at Belsay Hall

A Knight's Tournament takes place in front of Belsay Castle each summer and it's an event that should definitely be on your calendar. With lots of live action from Knights and horses, re-enactments, a Medieval village and it's very own jester, the tournament is lots of fun for the whole family. Read about our experience watching A Knight's Tournament here.

19 - Sample Children's Afternoon Tea at The Running Fox

It's a well-known fact that The Running Fox bakery sells the best cakes in Northumberland. Children can enjoy their very own afternoon tea here and it really is the best treat. Go with empty tummies though as the portions are very generous. Read about our

20 - Listen to Gruesome Medieval Stories at Warkworth Castle 

Warkworth Castle run special events throughout the summer holidays where you can listen to gruesome tales from medieval surgeons and dentists. It's really like Horrible Histories being brought to life! I can still remember the tales we listened to three years ago and I remember that H, H and J were captivated. Read more about our trip to Warkworth Castle here. 

21 - Walk with Lorikeets at Kirkley Hall Zoo

Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens now has it's very own Lorikeet enclosure where you can walk through and feed the Lorikeets yourself. We have yet to visit this new addition but have fed Lorikeets in Florida (pictured) and at Longleat and can confirm it's lots of fun!

22 - Watch a real excavation at Vindolanda 

Visiting Vindolanda is a chance to watch real excavation of a Roman site as it happens! This Roman Fort is vast and I love that you can watch history being uncovered before your very eyes. Read about our trip to Vindolanda here.

23 - Visit one of the world's biggest treehouses

Did you know that the Treehouse at Alnwick Garden is one of the biggest in the world? Children will love running across the rope bridges and dining amongst the trees by fairy light inside the magical treehouse restaurant.

24 - Join a Secret Forest School at Plessey Woods 

Footprints on the Moon run a secret forest school in the heart of Plessey Woods where children can make their own bread, craft using real tools, play in a mud kitchen, build and cook on a real fire and learn lots of new skills with friends. Getting their hands dirty is always something my three will enjoy and this is an activity that is not only fun, but useful too. Read about our afternoon spent at Forest School here.

How many have you ticked off our list? Which one are you going to try next? 

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