Great excitement – Waitby School has been shortlisted for the Self Catering Award in this year’s Cumbria Tourism Awards. We made it to the last three, which is brilliant!
We found out just before we had to go to Kuwait on a business trip, so hadn’t been able to update the blog until now (and until the official press release went out). The awards final is being held in Kendal on May 6, and the winners of the award will be announced then.
Fingers crossed...
Friday, 27 March 2009
Friday, 13 March 2009
Keeping the kids amused...
We’ve had quite a few enquiries about things to see and do to keep younger children amused in the area around Waitby, so we thought it would be a good idea to put these on the blog as well. Bear in mind that these are our personal experiences, so we can’t promise that you’ll all love them. But they have been road tested by our daughter and her friends, or our guests.
However, when we asked Gracie - and a couple of other children who have visited Waitby - what their favourite thing to do was, the replies were all along the lines of “Kicking a ball around the garden.” Which goes to show that you don’t have to get in the car and plan elaborate days out all the time. So if the weather's nice, personally I would get out the G&Ts and simply sit back in the garden...
Those people who have had personal replies from George on this matter will notice that I have edited these somewhat – subtlety is not his strong point, and he would rather be exploring some of the local pubs or walking the fells than posing for pictures with Mrs Tiggywinkle…. I don’t know what is wrong with him.
Really local things (within 5 minutes drive)
http://www.p3play.co.uk/
A soft play centre and just over a mile from Waitby. This is all indoors and could be a very useful outlet for pent up kids!
www.visitcumbria.com/pen/kirstev.htm
Frank’s Bridge in Kirkby Stephen (1.5 miles away), take your old bread and feed the ducks or have a paddle on a nice day. This is a particular favourite with Gracie and her friends and we often have to drag them away (usually with wellies full of water).
www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=80
Two minutes down the road – this might be of more interest to slightly older children, but if you hit lucky you may see some red squirrels and other fluffy things.
All within 45 minutes drive
http://www.holmeopenfarm.co.uk/
Holme Open Farm, near Sedburgh
Highly recommended
http://www.rheged.com/
More indoor and outdoor play areas, with great shopping, local produce and various other activities throughout the year
http://www.hop-skip-jump.com/
The world of Beatrix Potter in Bowness is, again, a good choice for a rainy day. It is very interactive as you wander through recreations of Beatrix Potter’s stories. We went in winter and met Santa, who had the best beard we’ve ever seen. There’s lots more to do outside in good weather.
http://www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk/
You really need a nice day for this, we did it with our older daughter (6 at the time) and our friend’s 18 month old boy – they both thoroughly enjoyed it. As they insisted on sitting in one of the outside carriages in November, it was a touch chilly, but that didn’t dampen their enthusiasm (for some reason the adults were not so keen). Bear in mind this is a miniature railway, not a full scale one. And be prepared for queues. Check the timetables online.
http://www.wensleydale.co.uk/
Go and see the real thing being made and buy the Wallace and Grommit cheese! Other families with small kids have said it’s a good day out, although we haven’t been there ourselves.
http://www.ostrich-world.com/
Another one we haven’t visited but it has been recommended by other families who have stayed at Waitby. See the ostrich and then buy a steak for dinner. (Don’t tell the kids!)
However, when we asked Gracie - and a couple of other children who have visited Waitby - what their favourite thing to do was, the replies were all along the lines of “Kicking a ball around the garden.” Which goes to show that you don’t have to get in the car and plan elaborate days out all the time. So if the weather's nice, personally I would get out the G&Ts and simply sit back in the garden...
Those people who have had personal replies from George on this matter will notice that I have edited these somewhat – subtlety is not his strong point, and he would rather be exploring some of the local pubs or walking the fells than posing for pictures with Mrs Tiggywinkle…. I don’t know what is wrong with him.
Really local things (within 5 minutes drive)
http://www.p3play.co.uk/
A soft play centre and just over a mile from Waitby. This is all indoors and could be a very useful outlet for pent up kids!
www.visitcumbria.com/pen/kirstev.htm
Frank’s Bridge in Kirkby Stephen (1.5 miles away), take your old bread and feed the ducks or have a paddle on a nice day. This is a particular favourite with Gracie and her friends and we often have to drag them away (usually with wellies full of water).
www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=80
Two minutes down the road – this might be of more interest to slightly older children, but if you hit lucky you may see some red squirrels and other fluffy things.
All within 45 minutes drive
http://www.holmeopenfarm.co.uk/
Holme Open Farm, near Sedburgh
Highly recommended
http://www.rheged.com/
More indoor and outdoor play areas, with great shopping, local produce and various other activities throughout the year
http://www.hop-skip-jump.com/
The world of Beatrix Potter in Bowness is, again, a good choice for a rainy day. It is very interactive as you wander through recreations of Beatrix Potter’s stories. We went in winter and met Santa, who had the best beard we’ve ever seen. There’s lots more to do outside in good weather.
http://www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk/
You really need a nice day for this, we did it with our older daughter (6 at the time) and our friend’s 18 month old boy – they both thoroughly enjoyed it. As they insisted on sitting in one of the outside carriages in November, it was a touch chilly, but that didn’t dampen their enthusiasm (for some reason the adults were not so keen). Bear in mind this is a miniature railway, not a full scale one. And be prepared for queues. Check the timetables online.
http://www.wensleydale.co.uk/
Go and see the real thing being made and buy the Wallace and Grommit cheese! Other families with small kids have said it’s a good day out, although we haven’t been there ourselves.
http://www.ostrich-world.com/
Another one we haven’t visited but it has been recommended by other families who have stayed at Waitby. See the ostrich and then buy a steak for dinner. (Don’t tell the kids!)
www.lakedistrict-coastaquarium.co.uk
Several of our guests have recommended this, although it is a bit of a drive. However, we have not been allowed to go because my husband has, quite irrationally, vetoed any trips to Maryport, where the aquarium is located. Maryport is a pleasant enough place, but he insists that he has been emotionally scarred by interminable hours as a toddler visiting a terrifying elderly Victorian aunt (in his words: “She was the undead”) who lived in a dark, gloomy, scary house there. He promised himself he would never return. We’ll just have to leave him at home one day. There's another aquarium at Newby Bridge http://www.lakesaquarium.co.uk/index.cfm
And finally the nearest indoor swimming pools are:
Appleby Sports Centre
Tel 017683 52957
Several of our guests have recommended this, although it is a bit of a drive. However, we have not been allowed to go because my husband has, quite irrationally, vetoed any trips to Maryport, where the aquarium is located. Maryport is a pleasant enough place, but he insists that he has been emotionally scarred by interminable hours as a toddler visiting a terrifying elderly Victorian aunt (in his words: “She was the undead”) who lived in a dark, gloomy, scary house there. He promised himself he would never return. We’ll just have to leave him at home one day. There's another aquarium at Newby Bridge http://www.lakesaquarium.co.uk/index.cfm
And finally the nearest indoor swimming pools are:
Appleby Sports Centre
Tel 017683 52957
Appleby Swimming Pool and Gym
Tel 017683 51212
Tel 017683 51212
Barnard Castle Sports and Leisure Centre
Tel 01833 690400
Kendal Leisure Centre
Tel 01539 729511
Tel 01539 729511
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