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City to Coast in a FORD Kuga

24th April 2019 By thatmummysmile Leave a Comment

Ford Kuga Car — The Ford Kuga in Notting Hill

We had the opportunity to test drive the Ford Kuga ST-Line over the Bank Holiday weekend, which was a treat considering we were heading down to the Devonshire Coast for a few days. It felt as though we were cheating on our beloved Land Rover, but this was a brand spanking new SUV that was sure enough to make our drive to the South West even more enjoyable!

Thursday night Tye whizzed home from work, we loaded the boot of the Kuga and with the boys already in their pyjamas we hit the road with two excitable yet tired children and enough luggage to last us 4 nights away by the Coast. It was late and we weren’t the only family to be leaving the city in the dark that evening to try and avoid the Bank holiday traffic!

All four of us were extremely comfortable. The boys had plenty of space in the back, with an armrest complete with cup holders. We were able to Sync our phones effortlessly because there are a couple of usb points in addition to bluetooth, so we could play our own playlists for the duration.

The Ford Kuga has an integrated Sat Nav, so where we’re used to using our phones to navigate us, we could type in the postcode of our destination and the navigation system came up with the quickest route, avoiding unnecessary traffic jams and road closures. We broke up the drive by stopping over for the night in Somerset, so we could hit the road nice and early on the Friday morning.

The features on this car are endless and always outsmarting us! For starters, we were instantly impressed with the keyless ignition! Getting into a car and not needing to insert a key was a new concept to us. One press of a button and the car starts! Tye set the headlights to automatic so we didn’t even need to think about when we needed to turn them on and off. Driving a new car makes everything feel seamless and smooth. The acceleration was very very impressive indeed, so much so you barely felt the speed increase which is something we’re not used to in our 20yr old Land Rover!!! The suspension wasn’t too floaty so it made for a nice ride, gripping the road well when it came to the smaller winding A-roads. For the duration of our mini-break, the car made us feel completely safe at all times, never letting us down.

Driving around South Devon up and down their hills and steep streets was effortless and even I (who usually hates hill starts!!) felt comfortable and confident driving this car. The Ford Kuga felt totally at home whether it was driving in the city, on the motorway or meandering through the country roads…. It’s a great family car that treated us very well on holiday, from the City to the Coast and back home again.

To find out more about this particular model, please visit the Ford website HERE.

by Laura x

Easter in Devon

23rd April 2019 By thatmummysmile Leave a Comment

It was set to be the HOTTEST Easter Weekend we’ve had in the UK, and with temperatures hitting 27 degrees, we thought what a perfect opportunity to spend Easter in Devon! Curtesy of Visit South Devon, we had a 3 night stay at South Bay Holiday Park in Brixham, which is one of the John Fowler Park sites.

South Bay Holiday Park

Set amongst the South Devon hilltops high above the Harbour town of Brixham, the South Bay Holiday Park is a family friendly Caravan and Challet site which is safe and beautifully kept. South Bay boasts a variety of activities for children including a fantastic playground, plenty of green space, a basketball hoop, crazy golf, mini arcade and indoor and outdoor pools. The on-site supermarket caters for all of your needs and is reasonably priced.

The main clubhouse plays host to regular Bingo games, children’s entertainment, a licensed bar and ‘Chef’s Corner’ restaurant for dining inside as well as offering a take-away option.

The caravan we stayed in was a generously sized 3 bedroom which could sleep up to 6 people, so we actually had a spare bedroom! The boys shared a twin room, while our master bedroom had a small en-suite. The family bathroom was compact and the kitchen and diner was kitted out to the highest standard with all mod-cons including a dishwasher and microwave. This particular caravan model also had in-built speakers with the option to plug your devices in for the surround sound- perfect for entertaining! The one downside was that there was no wrap around outside terrace- that was probably the only thing we would have LOVED, so that we could have al-fresco dining as the sun sets and the boys could play out as we watched on.

With it being the Easter Bank Holiday, the site was full with families, which was wonderful for the children. We’ve stayed in various Caravan Sites over the years and the evening entertainment is usually one of the fun perks when you’re in a Holiday Park. I have to say however that the entertainment side of things did leave us feeling a little underwhelmed. The reps lacked in a bit of oomph and every night once the Bingo was finished, many people left the clubhouse, leaving it half empty and not the buzzing atmosphere we would have expected. Whether this was just because it wasn’t the peak of the school holidays and we weren’t quite experiencing their full itinerary, I don’t know.

Stanley and I spent a couple of hours at the indoor pool on our first afternoon which was lovely. There is a small toddler pool that adjoins the larger and deeper swimming pool and the large glass bifolding doors open directly out onto the outside terrace with outdoor pool and water slide. This area was closed for cleaning during our stay, but we didn’t mind as I think the water would have been far too cold to swim in!

The boys LOVED the crazy golf activity. Even though this area is the most tired looking and needs some maintenance and bringing up-to-date, the kids loved nothing more than hitting the golf balls along the track and it’s got the most stunning views of Brixham down below!

South Bay Holiday Park is in the most perfect location with some impressive views. The staff were lovely, helpful and friendly, the park itself was very well kept and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. A big perk for staying on this particular site, is the short walk through the Holiday Park which leads you to steps giving you DIRECT access onto St Mary’s Bay….a tucked away beach cove perfect for some rugged beach action with the kids!

St Mary’s Bay- direct access from the Holiday Park.

Visit the John Fowler Holiday Parks website HERE to discover more of their sites and for further information on Tariffs.

Goodrington Beach

On Saturday morning we packed up our beach bits and headed along to Goodrington Beach, only a 15minute drive away. The weather was already 18 degrees at 10am when we arrived and the beach was already filling up quite swiftly with other families who had the same idea! The outlook is stunning, set within a large cove, with an impressive steam train backing onto it and an epic looking water park.

Babbacombe

Easter Sunday we woke up and went to explore the village of Babbacombe. The Cliff Top Railway was an exciting experience overlooking the most picturesque beach of Oddicombe. The sea was turquoise in colour and the sun was beaming down. The rugged backdrop is pedestrianised and means you can walk the scenic route along the base of the cliff between sandy Oddicombe Beach and the pebbled Babbacombe Beach. It’s a stunning area and we wish we could have spent even longer there but we had plans to visit the Babbacombe Model Village, back up in the village so we took the Cable Car once again back up the cliff.

Babbacombe Model Village

Babbacombe Model Village is set among 4 acres of superbly landscaped gardens, full to the brim with beautiful flowers and foliage. The boys were thrilled to be the giants among this teeny set-up. Every corner you turn there is an intricately displayed model village, most of which is based on real life places of interest. The village has been open since the early 1960’s and portrays English life and culture over the last 6 decades. In fact my favourite model village was the 1960’s Chalet Camp…barely unchanged, as it is one of their original models!

If like me, you love all things miniature, then this is the place for you. Miniature dwellings, famous landscapes, train tracks and tiny villages with detailing to be admired by all. Lots of animatronics, moving pieces, sounds and plenty going on…it’s a place that you need to walk around slowly in order to absorb everything you’re looking at! In addition to the model scenes a-plenty, there is also coin operated water boats and cars for you to drive, as well as a hut with crazy golf to enjoy!

After our tour of the Model Village, we headed inside for the 4D Theatre experience. Totally unprepared for what we were about to do, we got handed some 3D glasses and shown into the cinema room with lots of other people. A viewing of ‘The Lost World’, a 12 minute animated movie about Dinosaurs. Not only this, but an experience to test ALL of the senses in the dark! The cinema seats moved with every dinosaur STOMP, air blew into our faces as the explorers ran through the desert island and the odd spray of water came as a huge unexpected surprise!!! The boys loved it, although Stanley wasn’t sure if he was scared or not hahaha!

We thoroughly enjoyed the couple of hours we spent leisurely walking around this pretty Model Village in Babbacombe. The ‘Gullivers’ Tearoom there serves Devonshire cream tea’s, refreshments and has a lunch menu to dine wither inside or outside on the rooftop terrace. And don’t forget the gift shop which has an array of fun things for the children as well as collectible dolls house miniatures which I totally fell in love with!

Visit their website HERE for further visitor information, and make sure to spend some time in the village and down on the beach if you can!

River Dart Country Park

Set among 90 (yes NINETY!) acres of Parkland and Playgrounds, the River Dart Country Park is hands-down a MUST visit for family adventures, located within the Dartmoor National Park in Ashburton, South Devon. In all its breathtaking beauty, it is home to meandering lakes, an abundance of wildlife, park attractions to suit all ages, Camping and Touring Holiday Park and also boasts an impressive collection of ‘Tourism Excellence’ Awards to be very proud of. In addition to this, they take their environmental responsibilities very seriously; their very own Hydro-electric Generator uses water from the river to help sustain them for 8mths out of the year therefore reducing their electricity consumption during the peak seasons.

The River Dart Country Park welcome day visitors as well as Tourist and Holiday-makers wanting to stay on site. Their Camping and Touring site has excellent facilities and means you can have access to all thats on offer 24hours a day! There is also the Holne Park House set among the grounds of the park which offers comfortable ensuite rooms on a bed and breakfast basis ranging from £95 p/night.

River Dart Country Park is the setting for all things adventure and the best outdoor activities for everyone. Tree houses, play forts, assault courses, zip wires, high ropes, swimming lakes, canoeing, kayaking, zorbs, caving, pony rides, rock climbing, inflatables, bike hire and MUCH MORE. We tried our hand at canoeing as a family which was wonderful. Harry and I shared a boat and Tye shared with Stanley. The boys , donning their wet-suits, had some water fun in the Lake (which was admittedly freezing cold!) and on the giant wooden pirate ship. Harry and Tye braved the heights and took on the challenge of the high ropes in the treetops. Harnessed safely, Harry still found it quite terrifying and Tye admitted his legs felt like jelly!!! The playgrounds are vast and accommodate for all ages from toddlers through to adults. There really is something for everyone and you won’t stop smiling and laughing. Such a thrilling day, one that we will never forget. We can’t wait to return again in the near future.

Visit the River Dart Country Park website HERE to explore more. You won’t be disappointed!

Lake obstacle course — Lake Obstacle Course

Over the years we’ve been to Devon a handful of times, more often simply because we’re driving through to Cornwall. However this was our first family holiday in the South of Devon and one that we will treasure. The Devonshire countryside and coastline is to be admired and adored and we did just that.

Visit the official South Devon Tourist board HERE to discover many more of the hidden gems within the South Devon area. We’ve only just scratched the surface and are very much looking forward to uncovering more fantastic family destinations and attractions in the near future.

https://www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk

by Laura xx

Sharky and George

4th March 2019 By thatmummysmile Leave a Comment

We first discovered Sharky and George when Harry started primary school and we entered the world of ‘party-shares’ because when you have 30 classmates you want to invite, birthday parties can soon add up! So for Harry’s 5th Birthday (5years ago), we threw him and his best friend Louis an awesome party in Holland park hosted by Sharky and George. It was a jam-packed couple of hours complete with water balloons and sling shots, tug of war and good old-fashioned games and sports to knacker out the kids good and proper!

Sharky and George

If you’ve not heard of Sharky and George (and why not???!), they are party and event planners extraordinaire! We have been to at least 8 birthday parties where they have entertained the children, each time a different theme. Their legendary strapline is “Finding the Fun in everything” and that is certainly what they live by. Think of Sharky and George as your new best friends…they turn up equipped at your party, enthuse the children with their energy and contagious smiles and quite literally take control of the whole event- giving you and your adult mates ample time to glug on fizz and pat yourselves on the back for all of your (not so hard) work!! With over 200 team members under their belt, you’re sure to strike gold with these experienced planners and entertainers. No event is too big or small and they really know how to bring the fun!

I recently met up with some of the Sharky and George team in their HQ treehouse- YES, a real treehouse, built in their office by their very own hands, complete with a pulley-system to bring up our teas and coffees, incredibly steep ladder (note to self: don’t wear a skirt!), fairy lights, 2 cosy sofas and giant jar of chocolates! Their other meeting room is a giant ball pit which sadly I didn’t get to see 😉 The office is the hub for all things exciting…where the magic happens. This is where the Sharky and George team really go to town with planning, like kids having fun and plotting at a secret hideout. A giant Shark piñata hangs from the ceiling above their desks, boxes of sweeties and nerf guns are piled up among fancy dress items and disco lights. This is the creative haven all grown adults would want to come to work in!

Sharky and George and I are teaming up this year on some of their fantastic events they have coming up and I couldn’t be more thrilled. During half term a couple of weeks ago, Harry and his friend had the pleasure of attending one of their Action Clubs which was a full day of activities both indoors and outdoors. These clubs have proven to be incredibly popular and in high demand following the success of their Grotto experience at Christmas. They are the perfect Holiday clubs to throw your children into whether you’re a working parent or not.

The fun doesn’t stop there…the ‘Don’t You Dare’ book Sharky and George have brought out is a compilation of games, pranks, jokes and stickers, giving your little ones ideas and inspiration galore! This is an epic book filled with FUN facts, crafts and inspired adventures to keep the kids busy and fully entertained.

To find out more about this EPIC Creative and Events company, visit the Sharky and George website HERE.

by Laura x

Windsor Great Park

15th February 2019 By thatmummysmile Leave a Comment

Last weekend we brushed off the winter cobwebs and went on a long over-due Sunday walk in Windsor Great Park. We didn’t get out much in January and we’ve pledged to continue to go on lovely family walks, especially to new parks.

We’ve not been to Windsor Great Park before and it’s vast! There are a couple of large car parks and we decided to park in the one which had the Visitor Centre in, Virginia Water Lake. The boys took some stale bread along and we stood to feed the ducks for a while before walking around the lake, weaving in and out of trees, collecting sticks and walking through ditches of mud.

Windsor Great Park is full of so many hidden gems. There are apparently 4,800 acres of parkland to explore, which is bursting with Royal history, ancient forests and an abundance of wildlife and flowers. As the weather gets better and we get knee deep into Spring, we plan to re-visit and check out the landscaped Saville Garden which is apparently very beautiful. We’d also like to find the Long Walk and Deer Park, which is an impressive 3 mile long tree-lined avenue!

After a couple of hours roaming much of the south of the park (Virginia Water), we went into the Visitors centre for some lunch and to peruse around the shop that is stocked with everything from plants, homewares, gift, toys and fresh produce. There are a variety of food choices, including freshly baked cakes and treats, to wood fired pizzas and hearty lunches for when you’ve got a family to feed following park adventures!

If you’re looking for somewhere beautiful to go during the half term with the family, head out to Windsor for stunning scenery and plenty to explore. You won’t be disappointed.

Windsor Great Park… until next time….

visit their website HERE for further visitor information.

by Laura x

Our Jersey break with Condor Ferries

28th October 2018 By thatmummysmile Leave a Comment

Condor Liberation first official visit to Guernsey and Jersey.

This half term we were treated to a family holiday to Jersey curtesy of Condor Ferries. Jersey has been one of those destinations I have always been keen to go to but have never been, so when we were asked if we wanted to take the Ferry over for a two night stay on the island during the October half term, we jumped at the opportunity!

We woke the boys up at 5.30am on Monday and loaded them half asleep filled with holiday excitement into the car to begin our drive down to Poole to catch our morning ferry. Despite it being so early, the boys were adamant they weren’t going to go back to sleep! We arrived at the ferry port as the sun was rising, with plenty of time before needing to board. A couple of cups of tea and bacon sandwiches from the port cafe sorted us right out after two and a half hours in the car, with the kids asking if we were nearly there yet.

Driving onto the ferry and making our way up to deck was an adventure in itself, or at least as far as the boy’s are concerned! Harry took it upon himself to locate our ‘reclining seats’ we had been allocated in the ‘Ocean Plus’ lounge. Then after about 5 minutes of Tye, myself and Harry trying to get our heads around the seat numbers in the thousands (maths isn’t our strong point hahaha), lo and behold the 4 seats bang at the front of the ferry were ours- BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE 😉 In order to get into the Ocean Plus lounge, you had to type in a 4 digit code at the door, so in true Harry style, he needed to ‘go to the toilet’ once in a while so he could independently type the code in… James Bond style!

The sun was up and the weather was absolutely perfect for sailing across the channel. We were seated, laptop plugged in, boat departing from the dock and all round a family of happy chappies. That was until about 40mins into our 4 hour journey when I suddenly remembered my issues with sea sickness!!! A slight minor issue I had overseen, because our usual ferry crossing from Dover to Calais for our summers in France, is so short that by the time I begin to feel sick, we’re pretty much docking! Discovering I felt best when I wasn’t walking around the boat, and plotted on a seat a few rows back away from the amazing views, made all the difference. Having a cooked breakfast and cup of tea on board actually helped too. Stanley and Harry were thrilled with their sausages and scrambled eggs- this was certainly a breakfast with a view like no other!

Half an hour before arriving at Jersey, we stopped off to let passengers alight at Guernsey. Another island we’ve yet to travel to and yet heard so many wonderful things about (..next time!). When we pulled into the dock at St Helier in Jersey, we loaded into our car and made our way to The Mayfair Hotel in St Helier, only a 5 minute drive from the port.

We were welcomed and shown to our suite, to find a two double bedroom, two bathroom family room, perfectly more than adequate for our stay! Harry and Stan were thrilled they had their own space, with hot chocolate facilities and their own TV. We of course were just as thrilled to have our OWN space and large walk in shower! On our bed was a Visit Jersey welcome pack curtesy of the hotel, containing some tourist information, x4 Jersey passes for complimentary entry into attractions and caps and sunglasses for the boys.

It had been a long day of traveling but spirits were still high and Tye had already pre-booked our evening meal, so we had a couple of hours to relax, unwind and get ready to head back out for supper. As we were staying in town, and roughly knew were the restaurant was, we decided to go for a walk and see what was around. The pretty high street was literally on our doorstep, lined with fairy lights and conveniently in the direction of the nearest beach! Discovering the beach was the highlight of our long day. The boys were quick to run off in different directions and once again be at one with the sea air, sand and open space they crave so often. They really are at their happiest when they are on a beach- wherever they are in the world. We could only really spare about 45mins before making our way to The Quayside restaurant opposite the marina for supper. Give us a menu full of fresh fish and we are in our element. Luckily for us, the boys also love fish, so we went all out and indulged. We can highly recommend eating here, the food was utterly delicious!

The following morning we woke up and discussed over our hotel breakfast what our Itinerary was for the day. Having been given some great suggestions from friends ahead of our trip, the agenda was to visit the Jersey War Tunnels and check out the beach at St Ouens. The Jersey War Tunnels is 100% worth a visit. They are beyond fascinating, incredibly enlightening and moving. Tye and I felt pretty emotional walking around them and reading all about the German occupancy during WW2, when Hitler was in power. You are educated about what life was like during those years on the island, and read first hand accounts from those living there during the War and experiencing such harrowing times. Stanley was too little to understand of course, but Harry was the perfect age to TRY to understand, although it was a lot of information to absorb. Even now, sitting here typing this, I continue to think about it, and want to know more.

We heard that the beach at St Ouen’s Bay is GREAT for surfing, so we took a chance by bringing over Harry’s surfboard with us in the car! Unfortunately there was no surf that day, but it didn’t matter, because the boys didn’t need anything other that their spades to dig holes in the soft white sand while Tye and I admired the stretch of the beach in all its beauty. Just set back among the dunes, is Le Braye: a perfectly situated beachside eatery, serving up yummy fish and chips, fresh homemade cakes and all with a great sea view. I had a tasty crab sandwich for lunch which def hit the spot!

Another beautiful beach we had heard great things about was Beauport Bay, an unspoilt cove in St Aubin, a short drive from St Ouen’s Bay and we were desperate to check it out. It certainly didn’t disappoint. From the minute we parked in the car park and looked over the edge of the cliff at the view, we knew instantly the walk down the many steps onto the beach would be worth it. Bearing in mind this is October and the view took our breath away, I can only imagine what a hot summers day would do to the senses! Arriving onto the bay having mastered the steep walk down was a real treat. Yet again, another beautifully sandy beach, with only one other family there…Stanley running in one direction and Harry heading straight out to the rocks in the sea for climbing. Such true beauty, a beach we will definitely want to visit on our net visit. The photos almost don’t do it justice!

Back at the hotel, we tried out the indoor swimming pool which was fab, then returned to our room to get ready for our final night in Jersey. Our evening meal on our second night was at El Tico– a highly popular beach cantina with a vibrant and fun atmosphere. It also apparently has stunning views of St Ouen’s Bay, but as we went in the dark, we didn’t get to experience them. Harry ate the largest plate of bbq ribs and rice, while Tye and I both chose curries.

Wednesday morning came all too soon, as the last day always does when you’re having fun on your holidays! Following a hearty breakfast in the hotel, we packed up the car and headed straight out to Jersey Zoo. Founded and created in 1959 by Gerald Durrell, bound by his passion for saving threatened animals for extinction. This Zoo experience is like no other. Tye and I both agreed that hands down it is the most beautiful Zoo, with its pretty landscaped gardens, winding paths and willow trees, happy animals BIG and SMALL and exciting family of Gorillas which are a MUST SEE! We were blessed with the sunniest and warmest October weather and luckily set aside the whole day to explore all that the Durell Zoo has to offer. If you plan a visit, don’t expect to rush around in an hour or so. It’s a visit that you should dedicate a few hours to, and do at your leisure because it doesn’t disappoint in any way whatsoever.

We boarded our Condor Ferry home, just as the sun was setting and as we sat back in our reclining seats overlooking the horizon, we reflected over the jam-packed couple of days we had on the magical island of Jersey. Our feet barely touched the ground as we explored and discovered some popular places of interest. Our 2 night’s stay was a wonderful insight into a new destination, not too far from home and yet a lot closer to France than I had first anticipated! Travelling with Condor Ferries was an adventure and added a new dimension to our holiday experience, one that has provided us with new family memories and firm in the knowledge of being certain to visit Jersey again in the near future.

Condor Ferries operates a year-round service to the Channel Islands from Poole with its fast ferry Condor Liberation, alongside a conventional ferry service from Portsmouth. To book and check current prices, visit condorferries.com or call 0345 609 1024.