When in North Norfolk …

HOLIDAY letting agency Norfolk Hideaways has searched for what it thinks are weird and wonderful activities families can enjoy when taking a break in its part of East Anglia …

Alpaca Trekking, Wells-next-the-Sea – The Inca Trail it is not, but for those wanting to have a unique coastal adventure, exploring the countryside and beach by Alpaca ticks all the boxes for family fun. Choose treks of between one and four hours. More kid friendly than Llamas (which have a tendency to kick and spit). Price from £28 per hour for a group of three. www.alpacatrekking.co.uk

Snail racing in Congham – Congham might have few claims to international fame but, surrounded as it is by salt marshes – a favoured breeding gastropod ground – it is home to that most thrilling of sports, snail-racing. The rules are simple: snails are placed in a small red circle in the middle of a round table and the first to make it to the outside ring is the winner. The time to beat? Two minutes, 20 seconds, a world record established here in 1995. www.scase.co.uk/snailracing

Davenport's Magic Kingdom, North Walsham – One of the largest collections of magic memorabilia and curiosities in the world. The interactive family experience takes visitors through 500 years of magic. http://davenportsmagickingdom.co.uk

Holkham Hall and Estate – Very few visitors to North Norfolk miss a visit to Holkham Hall and Estate, but this year, the events team has chalked up some new attractions: kayaking, Canadian canoe trips, and Zorbing across its expansive lake. Starting from July 11 and running until the end of the school summer holidays, Zorbing costs from £5 for a 10-minute, tummy-tumbling experience. www.holkham.co.uk/visiting/lake-activities

Langham Dome – Langham Training Dome, which opened in 2014 tells the story of the important contribution made by RAF Langham to the defence of Britain in WW2 and the Cold War. It’s a small building with a big story. https://langhamdome.org

Fairyland Fair, Sennowe Park, Guist – This year's fair (May 29-30) has music, Fairyland Trust workshops, storytelling, puppet shows, free woodland activities, pirate games, and craft workshops. Tickets £10, under three's free. www.fairylandtrust.org

Leigh's Bees beekeeping workshops – A must-do for anyone with even the slightest interest in apiary. Flexible workshops and demonstrations in various sites in North Norfolk, with protective gear provided. You'll learn how honey is made, what a queen bee looks like, and what bees do as well as practical advice from the structure of an empty hive to hands-on time looking through a working honeybee colony. Prices from £80 per person to £200 for a family of four … and you get a free jar of honey. www.leighsbees.co.uk

www.norfolkhideaways.co.uk

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Kent – England’s garden of delights

HEAD just a little way south-east of London to discover castles, moated manors, and perfect gardens and villages. 

The county of Kent acquired the nickname of the Garden of England, a provider of fruit, flowers, and hops. Here are five of its must-see highlights: 

• The Boleyn family home of Hever Castle played its part as the backdrop of Henry VIII’s romance with Anne Boleyn, one of the greatest love affairs in history. See Anne’s bedroom, and take a boat on the lake. 

• Whitstable is known for its oysters and maritime history. Sup a local ale at the Old Neptune pub on the beach and see how the building has stood up to many a storm with its wonky window frames and sloping floor. 

One of Britain’s most striking beaches, Botany Bay is recognized for its tall chalk stacks and stretching sandy shores that Turner captured on canvas. 

Then head to Margate, where you can watch those famous Turner sunsets. 

• Lovers are powerless to resist the romantic allure of Leeds Castle, surrounded by its own reflections in the moat. The interior is an art deco dream. 

•  The 14^th century Scotney Castle (pictured) has acres of woodland to explore, complete with a secluded picnic area. 

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Picture Credit: "Hever Castle & cottages over moat". Licenced under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons; "Cliffs at Botany Bay, Kent 3" by Nilfanion - Own work. Licenced under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons; "Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Kent" by Brian - originally posted to Flickr as Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Kent. Licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Wight price for family day trips

WIGHTLINK FERRIES has introduced a foot passenger family rate on its fast Catamaran service from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde; families can now go to the #IsleofWight for a day trip for £45.  The ticket is valid for a family group of up to five people – with up to two adults – making a return day trip from just £9 per person.

The Catamaran journey to Ryde takes 20 minutes. Alternatively, foot passengers can travel from Portsmouth to Fishbourne or Lymington to Yarmouth for a slightly longer journey of 40 minutes at £37.50 for a day trip.

Alongside the new rates, Wightlink has introduced a new section to its website that highlights the range of things to do in a day– www.wightlink.co.uk/daytrips. 

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Saints and Sinners in Wiltshire

THE Churches Conservation Trust – the national charity protecting historic churches at risk – has partnered with #VisitWiltshire to launch a heritage trail featuring four of its Wiltshire churches with four of the county’s best pubs and hotels.

The trust’s 21 churches in Wiltshire are open as free heritage attractions, many of which represent almost 1,000 years of English history and together attract more than 38,000 visitors a year.

As part of a drive to boost the number of visitors to these historic buildings, the charity and VisitWiltshire have matched four of its most idyllic countryside churches with four outstanding lunch venues to make a day out or short break for locals and tourists.

Katrina Hurford, national marketing manager at The Churches Conservation Trust, explains: ‘Our churches have a lot to offer in the way of nourishment for the eyes, ears, and soul, but nothing in the way of more practical nourishment! With these new partnerships, each pairing provides opportunities to explore the Wiltshire countryside by foot, bike, or car, to discover hidden gems offering irreplaceable examples of architecture, archaeology, and art, and to enjoy some of the finest produce Wiltshire has to offer, expertly presented.’

The four churches featured are: All Saints’ in Alton Priors; St. Leonard’s in Sutton Veny; St. Mary’s in Old Dilton; and St. John the Baptist in Inglesham. They are partnered with The Red Lion Freehouse in Pewsey, The Beckford Arms in Fonthill Gifford, The Three Daggers in Edington, and Stanton House Hotel in Stanton Fitzwarren.

To download the trail, go to www.visitchurches.org.uk/saintsandsinnerswiltshire

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Picture Credit: "All Saints Alton Priors" by Kevin Farmer. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, 

Fun in the forest

NATIONAL FOREST attractions and events this summer include:

Opening in July, the High Ropes course at Conkers is a dare-devil must with a 70ft zip wire; younger visitors can tackle the Low Ropes through ten different challenges.

This year's ten-acre maize maze at the National Forest Adventure Farm is a fiendishly intricate design of a giant JCB digger that will have visitors puzzling their way around three miles of paths, viewing towers, and bridges 

(July 11-September 6).

The Gibbon Forest at Twycross Zoo has four-moated islands and paths into the heart of the gibbon habitat. And there’s the Giraffe Savannah with a viewing platform to see world's tallest animals.

The National Forest Wood Fair (August 31) at Beacon Hill Country Park offers rural fun. See lumberjacks and chainsaw carvers in action, have a go at eco art or hitch a ride on a tree lift. 

The Mercia Marina at Willington is the largest inland marina in Europe … 24 acres of mood-enhancing lake.  There are countryside walks and boat trips, and a boardwalk promenade of boutiques. 

The Burton Real Ale and Jazz Festival (July 17–18) gets things swinging with a weekend featuring eight bands and a range of beers. 

The Strawberry Fields Festival at Heather (August 7–8) offers comedy, DJ sets and live and electronic music across five stages. 

www.nationalforest.org

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21042507@N00/519939222 >dalek, kaia, daniel</a> via <a href=http://photopin.com>photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)</a>, http://www.flickr.com/photos/95721592@N00/6108264152bear reaching for bee hive</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com>photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license), </a>, http://www.flickr.com/photos/66239816@N08/16870889368 Mercia Marina</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a>, http://www.flickr.com/photos/12568962@N00/12745946205">Gosport Beer Festival</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a>

When in Wales …

FEED the red kites at Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Visitor Centre, Ceredigion (Cardiganshire). Help to conserve the national bird of Wales, the red kite, by joining the daily feeding sessions, which are free of charge. The woodland also has gentle walking trails.

www.forestry.gov.uk/bwlchnantyrarian

HUG a hedgehog in Powys. Good Day Out organizes educational activities that raise money for local causes such as wildlife sanctuaries and rescue centres. At the Howey Hedgehog Sanctuary, a 90-minute drive from Cardiff, visitors can clean and feed orphaned hoglets. www.gooddayout.co.uk


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Picture Credit: Red Kites - Gigrin Farm Walesby Tim Felcevia Wikimedia Commons / Small hedgehog by Jacek Zapała Own work. via Wikimedia Commons 

New ice arena for Cardiff

ICE ARENA WALES is the keystone of the £400 million International Sports Village being built at Cardiff Bay. When completed in June, it will be the focus for ice sports in the UK, with two ice pads and seating for 3,000 spectators.

Next to the state-of-the-art ice arena will be a 200-metre real snow indoor ski slope, Europe's largest snow play area, plus hotels, bars, restaurants, shops, and Wales' tallest tower.

www.icearenawales.co.uk

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Board the Cutty Sark for free

THE Cutty Sark in Greenwich is among the new attractions introduced by the discounter London Pass. 

Passholders will get free entry to the ship, normally priced at £13.50 per person.

Last autumn saw the Royal Observatory added to the portfolio, while the National Maritime Museum, Fan Museum and Wernher Collection at Ranger’s House. 

They are also offering, as is a one-day ‘hop-on, hop-off’ Thames City Cruises ticket. 

The London Pass is also aiming to tap into the popularity of the BBC TV series Sherlock by introducing a one-hour guided Sherlock Holmes Walking tour. 


Participants are invited to wear deerstalkers and explore the locations featured in Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels.

Also new 2015 is the Science Museum’s IMAX Theatre. London Pass holders will be able to experience a 3D film (normally £10 per person) on one of the UK’s largest cinema screens.

A one-day London Pass is priced at £49 per adult and £33 per child (aged 5-15).

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Picture Credit: "The Cutty Sark" by Gordon Joly - Own work via Wikimedia Commons; "Cutty Sark Greenwich - Own work by Richard Toy via Wikimedia Commons.