Days out diary - child friendly and family activities

Family days out Disneyland Paris, France Family days out zoos Family days out London area Family days out children friendly narrow guage railways Family days out fun with boats Family days out UK self catering holidays Family days out Thomas land and children railways

After the disappointment of the accommodation and site at Haven Craig Tara in Ayr in Scotland, we went on to a weeks holiday at the Haven Lakeland caravan site near Grange-over-sands in Cumbria. This couldn't have been a bigger contrast, we fell in love with the site as soon as we arrived.

Scenery of the Lake District

It started with the little things, like not having to join a 20 minute queue to collect the keys, but it was the excellent condition of the caravan we stayed in that really stood out from the previous holiday apartment. There were a few little negative things about the site, but none to tarnish a great holiday.

The caravan we stayed in at first appeared to be brand new, as it was in great condition. From looking at the date for the commissioning of the gas boiler we later guessed at it being 3 years old, but it had been very well looked after. The caravan appeared to be privately owned and was located in a quiet and secluded part of the site.

The site itself was quite small and you would think that it wouldn't compete with the larger site, but what it lost in quantity it gained in quality as the site seamed all the more personal, friendly and inviting. The soft play area included a section for under 3s and the meet the character sessions were much more personal. I believe that the site was formally a British Holidays site, but has now become a Haven site.

Despite the small size of the site the shop was well stocked, although it did seam to sell out of the "takeaway meals" and from the fresh bakery counter. The fish and chips were good, and the food in the restaurant / bar was pretty good.

The site was only a short drive to the southern Lakes, about 15 minutes to the tip of lake Windermere. It is however some distance from the nearest beach, despite being near Grange-Over-Sands (Unusual “seaside” resort - Grange-Over-Sands, now a curiosity). The site is actually at Flookburgh and as you look on a map it only looks a stones throw from the sea, but despite the coastal path running alongside the site it's not possible to actually see the see as it still some distance away.