We're home

We're back from our sailing adventure and we had a great time. The weather couldn't of been better and the kids coped really well on the boat. So what have I missed in the world of blogging?

I'm having a bit of writers block tonight, perhaps it's a week away from technology that has done it, which surprisingly I found I coped with a lot better than I thought I would. It was actually quite nice to wake up in the morning without checking emails, sending texts or checking out the gossip on facebook. 

So anyway, I'm now going to do the obligatory boring you with holiday snaps bit... 

 I just can't believe how lucky we were with the weather, we definitley chose the right week to go.

 Teaching my little man how to do knots, he was so pleased with himself when he mastered it.

 All this sailing is hard work mummy!

 Lj spent the entire time pointing out the window saying "Look big, big, big boat" to EVERY boat that went past. That's a lot of boats in a week!

 Near to where our new mooring is. We were sat here, looking out over this, with a glass of vino just after the kids had gone to bed. Lovely.

 Who needs to go abroad?

 H loved being in the sea and Lj kept a safe distance away. I did try and dip her in which resulted in her scrunching up her toes and screaming at me very loudly! It took the rest of the day for her to forgive me. She's scary when she's mad, I think it's the Celt in her.

 

 

It may have been a holiday but there were still chores that needed doing.

So there you have it, our holiday in a nut shell. I'd say it was a very successful trip, back to reality now. :-(

10 Child-Friendly Places to Visit in South Devon

I have just realised that as of next month we will have been living in Devon for a year now. I just can't get over how fast time seems to be flying by at the moment.

Even though we have been here a year it still sometimes feels like we are on a very long holiday. 

We keep discovering new and exciting places to go so I thought for todays post I would share with you some of the fantastic child friendly places that we have found, especially with the forthcoming summer holidays.

1) The Wood Cafe - 

Now this is a fantastic place that is set within a woodland Yurt Camp. They have a great range of food and drink available (their hot chocolate with marshmallows is my fave) and while you are enjoying your food the children can either play with the basket full of toys or go outside to the undercover play barn.  This place is definitely worth a visit. 

2) Trago Mills - 

 Trago is one of my regular haunts with the kids, especially when I don't want to spend a huge amount of money. There is so much to do there and you could easily fill up a whole day. (From an adult point of view it is all looking a little tired these days and could do with a good lick of paint but the children don't care about that).

There's an amusment park with a whole array of different rides, you can either buy a ticket for the day for these or pay as you go with tokens. 

The little steam train is a great way to travel around the site and takes you from one end to the other.

My sons favourite part of Trago is the model railway which costs just a pound each to get into (under 4's are free). My daughters favourite part is the animal farm, which is free to get into. Always a bonus.

 For the adults there is a massive, and I mean massive, discount store. They sell everything from carpets to candles.

3) Haldon Forest - 

If you fancy an active day, whether it be walking, cycling, climbing or flying threw the trees, then this is the place for you. It is free to get in, you just have to pay for your parking. ( Peak - Up to 2 hours £3, Over 2 hours £4).

I love this place when I'm having one of those days where the aim of the game is to wear the kids out. 

They have some fantastic walks to suit all abilities and if you aim it right you can end the walk at the big sandpit playarea. 

4) The House of Marbles - 

Personally I love this place, I have a bit of a thing for glass. 

This is another place that is free to get into. There's a shop, a restaurant, glass blowing workshop, outside games garden, marble museum and the fabulous marble runs (these keep my son amused for ages). 

If you are looking to buy a unusual present for someone then this is the place to go.

5) Stover Country Park - 

This is another place that we regularly frequent. A bit like Haldon, it's free to get in but you just have to pay for parking ( £1 for two hours or £2 for all day, I believe). 

Right in the middle is the massive lake that you can walk around and feed the ducks as you go. There are interpretation boards dotted around the walk, an aeriel walkway, a bird hide, picnic areas and a children's walk with little wooden animal statues. 

You can also visit the Nature Interpretation Centre. (Also free).

6) Cockington Court -

Cockington is a magical village hidden within the middle of Torquay. It has your classic 'choclate box' style cottages with thatched roofs and horse drawn carts. 

Cockington Court is right in the centre of the village and has cafes, playarea, workshops and plenty of space for the kids to run wild and free. 

You don't have to pay to get in but again you must pay for your parking, quite pricey at around £6 but definitely worth it. 

There is often events going on here so worth checking out their website before you go to see what's on. 

Photo taken from their website

7) Tumbling Teds - 

This is one of those, for what seems inevitable, wet days that we seem to be having so many of lately. 

Ted's is an indoor play place specially designed for under 6's. 

It's great because you don't have the usual worries that you have when you go to the other big soft play centres. You can drink your tea in peace knowing that your little bundle of joy isn't going to get squashed by a bigger kid or lost in a maze of colourful plastic.

It's £3 per child for unlimited play and under 1's go free. There's a cafe, free parking and baby changing facilities.

8) Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust - 

If your daughter is anything like mine and has a new found fascination with animals then this is a great little place to visit. It's free to go to but they are only open to the public on Sundays between 1.30 and 4.00.

They have a small selection of ponies that you can see and stroke and even adopt one if you feel like it. (That might make it a bit of an expensive trip though!) 

You can find the dpht in the grounds of Parke a National Trust area which is also a great free place to visit with lots of beautiful walks along hidden rivers.

I suggest you take a picnic, yummy.

Image taken from website

9) Ullacombe Farm - 

This is one of mine and the OH's favourite places to eat. The food is real, fresh rustic farm food. It's lovely!

The cafe has an indoor play area for the kids, so you can enjoy your food in peace. It also has an outdoor play area, a farm shop and an animal barn. 

If you are like us and still like to go out and enjoy good food but don't want the stress of worrying about the kids then this is the place for you.

10) Last but not least Teignmouth Seafront - 

This is another place that we spend quite a significant amount of time, well weather permitting of cause. It has the best playground around (free) and the pier is also a great place to visit. (free to get in, we like free)

You can stroll along the seafront and take in the views, you could even have some yummy fish and chips.

Image taken from website

 So that's it, this is my life, all the places that we spend most of our time. if you know of any other great places in the area then I'd love to know about them.

I've found heaven!

Yesterday, as it was the first day in what seems like months that it wasn't raining and was infact hot & sunny, we decided to make the most of it. 

The beach had to be the only option.

We've pretty much exhausted all of the beaches that are close by to us so therefore we decided to go a little further afield, and this is what we found...

 Now I don't know what you think but to me this is heaven! 
As I sat there on the beach I was thinking about how we could have been anywhere in the world but this was right on our doorstep, without all of the hasssle of passports, bags or foreign money. 
We took the fishing rods and buckets for the kids to catch fish although they didn't really get a look in with the bigger kids (a.k.a the daddies) around.

Lj was a little unsure about the whole thing, I don't think she likes the feel of the sand moving under her feet. She spent most of the time just sitting in her little chair watching everyone else. 

 

  In all though we had a great day and the kiddies were exhausted by the time we got home (always a bonus). They even slept in this morning and have gone to bed early tonight. Result!