Jemma Slevin is a mother of three, and founder and editor of The Little Book. Despite being one of the busiest women we’ve ever met (she single-handly produces The Little Book herself), Jemma lives in Windsor with her family, making her the perfect parent to advise us on things to do in the home counties with kids. The Little Book is the family lifestyle magazine for parents with young children covering Berks, Buck, Oxon and Surrey.

Cliveden. 

I’m always excited to arrive at Cliveden. Sweeping along the drive through beautiful parkland and catching the first glimpse of the majestic house, it never fails to overwhelm me. So, whether it’s because Mr. S and I are escaping to enjoy a few hours together over dinner, or simply popping over en famille for a walk before Sunday lunch, it’s always a treat to go there. The maze is a highlight for our children; exquisitely pruned and one of the best examples of a maze I have ever seen, it enchants and entertains them for hours. And the gardens are breathtaking. Each visit is completely different to the last, as they change with the seasons and provide a fabulous backdrop for hide ‘n’ seek. The National Trust have a wealth of family events lined up throughout the year, including outdoor theatre in the summer and Christmas decoration-making in the winter. And, if this all gets too exhausting, head to the house for a sumptuous high tea by the enormous fireplace.

The River and Rowing Museum, Henley-on-Thames.

Toad, Ratty and Mole enthusiasts, (and anyone with an interest in The Thames), will adore this spacious and very family-friendly museum with it’s light and airy cafe. It provided the perfect introduction into Wind in the Willows for our children who have loved the various themed events and workshops that are regularly held during the year. From crafts to animation, there is something for all age groups and the finale of the year for children up to age 11 has to be Toad’s Christmas party – poop, poop!

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Great Missenden.

I’m a huge advocate of enhancing a child’s reading experience by making stories come alive and, at The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, they do just that. This is where Roald Dahl lived and wrote for 36 years, and it’s true to say the magic of his imagination is well and truly alive there. Children who are familiar with such classics as The Twits, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, will marvel in delight as they recognise props and paraphernalia from the stories. Daily events are catered for children aged 6 to 12 and include crafts and other activities based on the books: how can they not be enticed by Witchy Wonka biscuit bars and Bogswiffling cloth bags? The village itself is charming and provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend walk with kiddies in tow.

Windsor Great Park, Windsor.

Living in Windsor, we are fortunate enough to have the great park as our back garden – and not because we live in the castle! The park is so vast that anyone living in town or the neighbouring villages is only ever a few minutes drive from this immense estate and, for many, it is visited daily for dog walking, exercise and, in our case, the school run. This time of year is particularly special, as the children love to walk under the trees collecting conkers and kicking up the fallen leaves. It’s magical; the colours are breathtaking and, sometimes in the early hours, there is a low mysterious fog; every morning I feel so lucky to experience this and the children arrive at school so happy.

The Long Walk is easily accessible from Windsor town, but the park also offers a number of other locations where you can park and set off on a gentle walk, family cycle or intrepid ramble. The Savill Garden offers the perfect venue for a leisurely stroll, the perfect place to enjoy a coffee or even Sunday lunch. Close by, Virginia Water is a wonderful place to explore the antiquity of the landscape, including ruins imported from Tripoli in 1816. It is enhanced by the scattering of some of the great ancient oaks for which the Great Park and its forest are renowned. Two good family pubs for a welcome rest bite are The Fox and Hounds (reviewed in our latest issue) and The Baliwick, both in Englefield Green and backing onto the Great Park itself.

The Thames.

As it meanders out of London and becomes non-tidal, the Thames River passes through some delightful villages and towns with beautiful countryside in between. It’s heavenly spending a summer’s day pottering on the river. There are many locations where you can hire a boat, and the river is full of little islands and creaks that create a Wind in the Willows-esq adventure, as well as the perfect place to picnic. A lovely lunch destination up river from Windsor is the Oakley Court Hotel, with its sprawling lawns reaching down to the water and mooring facilities. You’ll be assured of a friendly welcome and a great lunch on the terrace during the summer months, where the children have space to play on the lawns next to you, or inside the main hotel for the wet, colder months.

As previously discussed when we ranted and raved about the idyllic Studland location for the latest Pig hotel opening, The Isle of Purbeck on Dorset’s Jurassic coast is about as good as seaside country escape destinations get. Seahorses inhabit the clear, clean waters of Studland Bay (no, seriously), tiny lanes wind around picturesque cottages with sweeping views of the Isle of Wight and the people couldn’t be friendlier. And should you take our advice and decide to spend some time there with the children, there is now even more reason than ever to visit.

Fore Adventure is a new business that has opened along Middle Beach, a gorgeous sandy strip that sits, unsurprisingly, in the central part of Studland Bay. The whole ethos of the business is connecting people with nature and whether you opt to kayak or canoe, camp, forage, bushcraft or feast, you’re children will undoubtedly be doing just that. And if you’re up for some luxury accommodation while you’re there rather than camping, the local environ of Studland is rife with lovely hotels, though your little ones can still benefit from the incredible surrounding environment thanks to Fore Adventure. Because Jade and Dan Scott, the clever couple behind the company have some amazing “beach schools” now open for booking that will thrill little ones in the coming months.

How each day is spent will depend on the weather and the tides but, no matter what happens, supervised children will be exploring the local playground of cliffs, sea, beaches, woods and heathlands. Beach-based art, scavenger hunts, foraging, fishing, rockpooling, bushcraft, kayaking, wild cooking and snorkelling are just some of the outdoor antics that Fore Adventure organise through both their Beach School and their Outdoor Adventure Summer Scheme. Children react in incredible ways to the experiences according to Jade and Dan: “seeing children first recognise that glorious relationship between the outdoors and what they eat is always a special moment. It’s exciting! Donning your wellies and grabbing your basket and exploring the hedgerows and seashore is like a treasure hunt of the natural kind. Being able to eat what they have found in this adventurous way is an added bonus – it becomes about the journey. There is something deeply satisfying in finding and cooking up your own food, which is so clearly evident when working with children – it appeals to all the senses, something that can’t be said for many go-to children’s activities. Our own brood (now 3!) are sold on it.”

And if you want to get involved, there are plenty of things available for parents, too. The foraging and cooking looks especially enticing, given the wealth of amazing local produce found right on the Studland doorstep. And given how family-focused Dan and Jade are themselves, it’s no wonder Fore Adventure began: “a pursuit of the English dream was our inspiration for the business. Wanting to move out of the city and all of the trappings that comes with, we had a desire to head to the country with Molly who was four months old at the time. We really care about getting people outside, seeing it from a new and exciting perspective, and adventuring.” 

Fore Adventure are now are now taking bookings for their 2015 summer scheme, which will run from 09.30-16.30 each day ( for those aged 6-14 years of age).

Bespoke options for parties or children are priced according to group size and the scope of your adventure imagination. Please visit Fore Adventure for more information.

Having just returned from the most idyllic few days exploring the Cornish coast from north to south, I am a little in love with that southwestern pocket of England at the moment. Being based in Dorset, admittedly, it isn’t a million miles from us (a comparatively “short” three and a half hour drive) but, no matter where you’re based, that far-flung county, dotted as it is with surfers, sweeping beaches and panoramic skies is well worth a look in, either as a long weekend destination or the spot for your summer holidays (which we’re seriously considering should the weather keep going as it has the past few years). So if you want to know what to do in Cornwall, this is what we simply wouldn’t miss.

Where we stayed

Natural Retreats is a company with properties across the United Kingdom (and they now have a few in North Carolina and Virginia, too) who specialise in eco-friendly, dog-friendly, family-friendly houses that are luxurious, lovely and extremely welcoming. We stayed in a fabulous, four-bedroom house in Trewhiddle, which skirts the edge of the lovely Cornish town of St. Austell. Self-catering it is, but the house comes fully equipped (and we mean FULLY equipped), so you need bring nothing with you except what you plan to eat and drink at home. The area is dotted with delightful pubs if you plan on spending not a second in the kitchen (see below for the big name restaurants that aren’t more than a short drive away). The Natural Retreats hub is absolutely tranquil and there is a charming on-site playground for children. A concierge on the property means that any questions you have can easily be answered, DVDs can be borrowed, and bookings can be made on your behalf. This is a delightful and very intimate way to holiday as a family if you want something more personal than a hotel, but far more luxurious than a B&B, a cottage, or (dare we say it), a tent.

Where we ate

Padstow is about as idyllic as fishing villages get. From the rock-dotted estuary across to the small, painterly harbor that bobs happily with wooden fishing boats, this is the stuff of picture postcards. And for food-lovers it’s worth, quite literally, hiking to. Rick Stein has his name stamped right across this little pocket of Cornwall, but Padstow itself manages to retain a charming, historic and very localized feel. So, if the culinary genius of one of our most-watched television chefs is what you’re after, there are several options. His fish and chips can be ordered in super stylish blue-and-white boxes and enjoyed along the waterfront (there are lines waiting to order before the place even opens), and his fish and chip restaurant has communal but very inviting wooden seating. He has a deli (where I had to resist spending a small fortune) from which you can buy home made pies (we did just that for Saturday night supper), meats, cheeses, his own oils and wines, and, of course, any of his cookbooks. And then there is Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant, the smarter, more formal version of all the above, which I can’t recommend highly enough. Laden with flowing white tablecloths and inhabited by seriously professional wait staff it may be, but we wandered in with our three year old Lola and couldn’t have been made to feel more welcome. We dined on lobster and fennel risotto, monkfish curry and a lobster salad (all washed down with one of Stein’s own surpisingly delicious Spanish white wines), while Lola ordered from the Mini Stein’s menu. Children aged three and over are absolutely welcome and there is a wonderful amount of thought given to their food, as well as yours. Forget the usual sausages and fried scampi options: she happily munched on squeaky fresh grilled cod and vegetables (the battered fish and chip option is available too, of course), drank fresh pressed apple juice and happily coloured her menu (crayons are provided by the lovely staff). This meant we could sit back, as a family, and enjoy a long, lazy lunch. We walked (a small portion of) the calories off along Padstow estuary at low tide later that day, which was glorious. The air was fresh, the beach was practically empty (despite Padstow being so buzzy) and then we meandered back through the Cornish lanes to our charming house in Trewhiddle for those aforementioned (seriously tasty) ale and steak pies, red wine and a trashy movie.

What we did

Aside from exploring the beaches of Cornwall (another one worth a visit is Waterside Bay Beach – home to Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant which is vast, great for surfing and seriously beautiful), we also couldn’t miss the Eden Project. Having heard so much about it over recent years, we spent a very happy Sunday afternoon there. Appearing as if out of nowhere, the glass biomes of this incredible conceptual space house perfect examples of untouched environments so rarely found on today’s planet. The rainforest biome, for example, is an immaculate example of a natural rainforest – it demonstrates the same humidity, heat, sound and plant life, only you’re in the middle of Cornwall’s heartland. Aside from offering gorgeous acres of gardens in which children can happily spend a day, the entire project is designed to educate and inspire children about the world they live in, to work to preserve what we have and appreciate everything around us. Though too young to fully grasp the concept of where she was, Lola was mesmerized by everything around her.

And if you’re in the area this coming half term, the Eden Project’s own ice rink is set to open on the 18^th of October, while Halloween promises to be great for kids. Fans of “Room on the Broom” (by “Gruffalo” creator Julia Donaldson) will adore the Little Monster’s Ball on October 31^st though, no matter what time of year you’re lucky enough to find yourself in this part of the world, The Eden Project really should be a requisite visit.

The little ones may have only just gone back to school, but half term will be here in the blink of an eye and, in all honesty, I’m seriously missing Lola by day so counting down to it already. If you can’t be doing with jumping on planes after hours killing time (and spending a fortune) in duty free, Scotland’s iconic Gleneagles hotel is seriously worth considering.

Gleneagles this half term

Gleneagles is always family-friendly and well worth a look in at any time of year, but from October 11th to November 2nd this year the hotel is offering a host of amazing activities, specifically with kids in mind. So no matter what week you’re half term falls upon, this is a great option for a getaway that doesn’t require enormous travel. From falconry to horse riding, learning to train a gun dog to cycling, off-road safaris to junior golf lessons, there is something here for children of every age and interest. Very little ones can be entertained in the playroom should you wish, while teenagers have their own ‘Zone,’ which includes table football and karaoke. There will be Mini Athletics, Football Skills, Basketball Drills and Kids Zumba classes going on that will help children make friends while seriously wearing themselves out. And throughout those dates, activities are organised for children all day long so they needn’t have a quiet moment alone (unless they want one of course).

And for parents?

Set across 850 acres of stunning Scottish countryside, Gleneagles offers far more than the world class golf for which it’s associated. Should you want some activity of your own, there is an on-site equestrian centre, clay shooting options, endless walkways and bike trails, and, of course, seriously sensational golf. There is a whole host of things to do, including riding in a hot air balloon and off-road driving. If you’re erring on the relaxing side of things, you’ll find yourself at the service of one of the world’s few hotels considered a Luxury Spa “Resort.” Aside from the amazing Ayurvedic treatments, massages, and choices of holistic therapies on offer, the whole experience, from the moment you walk into the ESPA spa, is one of relaxation, tranquility and pampering.  

Accommodation

There are lots of luxury family friendly accommodation options available: those with young children can arrive to cots or additional beds if needed, while those with older children should opt for the array of interconnecting rooms. There are no less than four restaurants to choose from at Gleneagles (one of which is Michelin-starred) so the dining options are immaculate and cater for even very fussy eaters. Children don’t have to order off the kids’ menus on offer in each restaurant if they don’t want to as the chefs will gladly create bespoke dishes based on their individual taste.

Where is it?

Located in the very heart of Scotland, Gleneagles is near to Perth and Stirling. If you don’t fancy driving, it has it’s own train station just two minutes from its front doors; if you crave the fun of duty free and choose to fly, both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports are about a one hour drive away or, should you be one of the few with your own helicopter, arrangements can be made for them to land on the property. And once you’re there, you needn’t worry about having your car as the hotel offers a chauffeur service. I’m up for that. And the hot air balloon ride myself.

To book this hotel click here.

For other UK based hotels this half term, click here.

The chain of Pig hotels across southwest England has been making waves since opening its doors in Brockenhurst, Hampshire only a couple of years back. Garden to table food philosophies, to-die-for interiors that totally redefine the notion of classic country house hotels and an overall air of informal elegance has been pulling crowds from all over the British Isles ever since. First there was The Pig hotel in Brockenhurst. Next came in The Pig in the Wall in Southampton; just three months ago we saw the fabulous Pig near Bath open and in June The Pig on The Beach flung its doors open. Located in Dorset’s heavenly village of Studland on the Jurassic Coast, it is causing more excitement than ever.

Studland

Arguably one of the most idyllic villages in the country, Studland is famous as the summer bolthole of Enid Blyton who would book into legendary Knoll House Hotel and spend the warmer months writing. From the multimillionaire properties of Sandbanks (which seem a million miles away despite being up the road) one jumps on a chain ferry (which takes both passengers and cars) across to the magical Isle of Purbeck, a peninsular that is home to stunning Shell Bay, historical Corfe Castle and home of the latest Pig, Studland. The surrounding beaches are powdery, untouched and fringed with old-fashioned beach huts. Children can play in relative safety thanks to the shallow, very calm waters of the bay and the views across Harry’s Rock are the stuff of picture postcards. It is hard to imagine such places still exist in this day and age, but it is a slice of heaven. I am lucky enough to live here so I am, admittedly, biased though I count my blessings daily for ending up in such a spot.

The Pig on The Beach 

So, come off the chain ferry as it arrives at Shell Bay, follow the road up to Studland and you’ll find The Pig tucked along the edge of the sea with Isle of Wight views, just next to a local favourite, The Banks Arms. What was once a well-loved but slightly dilapidated hotel has recently been transformed. The whole village has been buzzing with the renovations that have been taking place in recent weeks. Small cottages dot the edge of the main hotel (totalling 23 rooms in all), a sweeping garden with wooden communal tables for drinks looks straight out across the water, and the dining room has both indoor and outdoor seating which, given the weather we’ve had recently, is being put to great use.

Eating and sleeping

As with all The Pig properties, food is either grown on site or supposedly brought in from no more than 25 miles away. The usual meaty favourites feature, but there are expected seafood extras such as crab risotto and accompaniments of samphire, too. Children can enjoy a wonderful array of healthy choices on the kid’s menu or order anything off the adult menu in half portions if they wish. And as with all the others, The Pig on the Beach perfectly blends a stunning interior design that appeals to any self-confessed aesthete, while retaining an informality that makes it inviting for younger guests. The surrounding gardens and the beautiful culinary garden are rife for exploration, making this a particularly good option at lunchtime. They can run around until the plates hit the table and you can sit back and enjoy a chilled glass of Rosé in the meantime.

And while the idea of 23 intimate rooms in a small country hotel may not initially appeal with children, The Pig on the Beach is as family-friendly as the rest of the litter, and ideally located for a family trip. Between the surrounding beaches and wonderful walks, the inviting atmosphere of the hotel and the endless children’s activities in nearby areas, Studland may well become a top spot favourite for both summers and winters to come.

Be warned: the hotel is currently fully booked so if you read this and decide you want to go, be prepared to book ahead of time.

Read our review of The Pig near Bath here.

For more info visit the hotel’s website here.