I have been blessed with a husband who hails from Greater Manchester. While his Lancastrian tones and dry sense of humour are really rather lovely, the distance we have to travel to see his equally lovely family is less appealing.

On a good day, it can take as little as five hours to get up to the (self-proclaimed) Northern Love Machine’s home town from our house in Devon. On a bad day, however, we are talking eight hours plus. Eight hours. In a car. With a three year old who “GOT WEE! GOT WEE! MUMMY!” every hour or so. It’s not pretty. 

I remember the first time we went up to see the NLM’s family, back when Frog was a mere 6 weeks old. I was nervous about the trip, worrying about getting caught in traffic and not being able to placate my screaming newborn with a milky boob. Luckily for us she slept most of the journey (back then it was a shorter trip, from Berkshire). Since then we have had many, many more journeys up and down the M5 and M6.

A few things have made the travelling easier. I always stock up on snacks and pack sandwiches, fruit and plenty of drinks for the journey. At Christmas I chuck in a mince pie and some chocolate too. It saves on being charged fifty million pounds for a packet of chocolate buttons at the services.

We take a supply of books for the journey, which Frog will happily “read” before dropping off to sleep. We were recently sent a stash of books to make the long journey easier – including Frog’s current favourite The Tiger Who Came to Tea. (Thanks to Airport Parking and Hotels  – a good place to find cheap airport parking – for the tips.) There’s also a really handy travel desk she has for the car, which means she can doodle with crayons when she wakes up too.

Regular stop-offs are an absolute requirement when travelling with a young child – not to mention a mother with a weakened post-child pelvic floor. We tend to stop at a couple of service stations en-route to have a bit of a walk about, go to the loo and get some (straight off the motorway) fresh air.

Frog is at the age where she loves the idea of games. She can’t quite grasp the concept of “I Spy” yet, but she had a good bash at it on our most recent trip up north at Christmas. It basically ended up with everything beginning with “I spy with my little eye sumfink beginning with M Mummy.” We quickly learned that “M” was not for “Mummy”, but “ME! (ha ha ha ha)”. The joke got old after the tenth time, but still, at least she wasn’t crying.

Music is another companion for us on long car journeys. We tend to flick between various radio stations and CDs, to appease ALL members of the family. Frog loves music and has done ever since she was a baby. Back then, if she started getting fidgety then we could guarantee at least 15 minutes grace period if we put some music on.

How about you? How do you survive long car journeys with kids?

***

This post is written in collaboration with APH. I was sent a selection of books for the purpose of this piece. 

The post How to entertain a 3 year old on the longest journey ever appeared first on Mother's Always Right.

I’m inviting a rare guest to the blog today – my dad!

As a former English teacher and gifted writer (he’ll cringe when he reads that), I told him the only way he and my mum could join my three year old and I on a review trip to Spain would be if he wrote something about it.

So here it is.

*****

“Just go!” she orders from the babyseat as the wait to drive into the Big Boat snaps her three year old patience. She’s not concerned about the cars in front of us, bringing back memories of her mother and her sister at about her age, at the start of our annual trek to France. The excitement is an urgent, physical tingling as the adventure is about to begin and I’m pleased by its rippling through the generations from Frog to Molly, to Ghislaine (Molly’s mum) and to me, her dad.

And then on the ramp, into the jaws of the Pont-Aven, I say, “I only hope they remember to close the doors” and Molly groans, “Not again, Dad – you always used to say that!” She even texts her sister Lizzy who can’t believe that Dad would say that yet again. Their loving scorn is cement between the generations.

When our girls were young we always went to France. We did consider the crossing to Santander in order to widen our horizons but the reputation of the Bay of Biscay put us off. I am a little worried, therefore, at the captain’s tannoyed announcement that crossing the bay today and tonight might be a little rough, owing to high winds from the south-west. (In fact, I was amazed at how smooth it was – a slight rise and fall, the occasional small shiver but nothing uncomfortable or alarming. The size and technology of the boat must have a flattening effect, I suppose.)

On our previous family trips we never dared use the restaurant with our young children, worrying about its formality and cost in relation to the self-service cafeteria. This evening, though, the waiter is cheerful and relaxed as we ask for a small spoon and a tub of ice cream for Frog, as her very first experience afloat lessens her appetite. He doesn’t mind that her pasta hasn’t been touched and nobody need feel self-conscious. The rest of us thoroughly enjoy excellent food, though Mols takes Frog back to the cabin before her cheese and dessert. I’m impressed that the waiter offers to bag these up for her, should we want him to.

All in all the crossing is a very pleasant experience, particularly after Frog perks up the following morning and we see a pod of dolphins swimming and leaping beside the boat as we near the Spanish coast. And Spain, so close, so soon!

We appreciate having our own car and clutter as we drive along the coast from Santander to Noja, a short and easy journey. The scenery is dramatic, craggy but much greener than the Spain I’ve seen before. Plumes of pampas grass sprout from rock faces and then there’s a valley as green as Wales. This is where many Spanish come to holiday, I’m told, and the atmosphere certainly seems mellow, compared to the Mediterranean coast or the heat of the interior at this time of year.  The roads are calm and well-signed and there are very few other foreign cars on them as we drive to our resort. Frog and Ghislaine are happy in the back and Mols navigates easily.

We arrive in Noja in the rain and the tourist development is very quiet now but we stare at the sea, the sand, the rocks and the surf before finding a cheap and friendly bar for lunch. We have precious little Spanish language between us but a smile and sign language gets us through. It seems that the Spanish in Cantabria have less need to speak English than elsewhere in Spain, but we feel very welcome and nothing is too daunting.

Our stay of a few days passes in a blur. The apartment is very comfortable and easy to manage, though I worry about the marble staircase and floors with a toddler, but no harm comes. The basement parking is very convenient and we discover more life, what feels like ordinary, genuine Spanish life, in the older part of town. The weather picks up and we are amazed by the Safari park about 45 minutes’ drive back towards Santander. The views are breath-taking, as is the range of animals, roaming in their cleverly designed open enclosures. Frog wants to touch the elephants and she loves the bells on the goats and their pooh on the track. She loves being roared at by her human mummy lion, but is a little more wary of the real thing. A brilliant day out, except that now Froga is nagging for the beach and a new bucket and spade.

Back on the beach in Noja we experience a miracle: We are unable to find a bucket and spade shop open during siesta, and most of the holiday shops by the beach have closed for the season. Oh dear – are there going to be tantrums? The Brittany Ferries beach ball goes down well in the breeze (“chase me, chase me!”) but how is Frog going to dig? This is when the Beach of Bounty offers up her spoils. Beachcombing hero grandad finds not just one, but THREE plastic spades, one rake, two buckets and even a couple of plastic balls for her to play with. The beach is very clean but the tide (and litter bins) are generous today. Thank you, Neptune or your Spanish relation.

And suddenly it’s time to leave.

How lovely to have been so foreign and with one’s own car and things after such a short drive. How lovely to have seen such spectacular scenery. Most of all, though, how lovely to have spent a few days with my daughter, my granddaughter and my wife mooching about in Spain in September.  (Oh, and lovely, too that the prices in Spain were so cheap!) I’d love to go back.

***

Thank you to Brittany Ferries who provided us with travel and accommodation for the purpose of this series of posts. All opinions remain those of my dad – who is always honest!

The post Spain in September: A grandad’s perspective appeared first on Mother's Always Right.

A trip to Northern Spain in September is never going to mean unadulterated guaranteed sunshine. This is what we learned when we travelled to Noja in Cantabria last week with Brittany Ferries. Despite the mixed weather though, we still managed to relish every second of the break.

It’s the first time I’ve been away with just my parents and daughter, so it was a bit of a test to see a) how well we all got on (very well, as it turns out) and b) if there were enough things to do to keep all ages happy (there were).

We stayed in a beautifully light and airy town house  in Noja, an expanding seaside resort about 45 minutes west of Santander. You can find out more about the place itself in this post from earlier in the week.

Noja is a relaxed kind of place, popular with Spanish holidaymakers wanting to escape the fierce heat and hordes of foreign tourists further south during the summer. For that reason, it’s a brilliant spot to submerse yourself in “real” Spanish life. We loved spending time browsing the market (in the square on a Wednesday morning) and soaking up the atmosphere of a local restaurant overlooking one of the beaches.

To be honest, just mooching around Noja and enjoying each other’s company kept us happily entertained for a full morning. That afternoon, we headed to our nearest beach a ten minute walk away, to run off some steam and build some sandcastles. You don’t need blazing sunshine to enjoy the huge expanse of golden sand that Noja offers. In fact, at this time of year you get most of the beach to yourself, which is rather lovely really.

Noja is perfectly situated to explore other parts of Cantabria. A region of lush green, dramatic mountains and stunning beaches, there’s lots to see. Driving in this area is easy too, because signs are clear and directions straight-forward. We travelled back towards Santander along the A8 motorway which connects all the regions on the northern coast of Spain.

A scenic hour’s drive east of Noja we found the Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabarceno – a huge wildlife park nestled amongst the orange rocks and green valleys of an old open-cut mine.

It boasts elephants and lions, giraffes and camels, zebras – and many other exotic and exciting species. The sheer size of the park means the animals can wander about without being confined to small cages or “goldfish” type spectator bowls. Our first glimpse of the elephants had Frog whooping for joy. It was almost surreal seeing them gracefully loping about far below us, deep in the valley.

Entry to the park costs €21.00 for an adult in high season (or €18.00 for a group and €13.00 for children aged 6-12) between 1st April to 30th September. During the rest of the year admission is priced at €15.00. I think that’s a pretty reasonable amount to pay for a memorable day out and is certainly competitive compared with similar types of places Britain.

There are plenty of picnic areas around the park, along with a pretty fancy restaurant, a bar for more relaxed eating (burgers, pizzas, chips etc) and a self-service cafe. We plumped for pizza and chips in the bar area, washed down with a cold Spanish beer. When you’re on holiday it’s rude not to, after all.

If you’re after a more adrenaline-fuelled day out, then around 3 hours drive from Noja you’ll find the famous Fuente De Cable Car. Described as the “jewel in Cantabria’s crown” the cable car crosses a section of the Picos mountains, the mountain range that joins Cantabria on the east and Asturias on the west.  We didn’t get this far as it’s quite a long trek to make just for the day when you have a three year old in tow, but if we go back to the region I’d love to schedule in a night stop near the cable car site, so we can go up in it. It looks like one of those activities you don’t forget in a hurry.

If we had stayed longer we would also have taken day trips over to Santander to explore the city. As it happens, we caught glimpses of it on the drive off the ferry. As it’s such an easy, direct drive from Noja, it’s definitely worth a visit if you can fit it in. Further east, around an hour from Noja, there’s another city I’d like to visit. Bilbao is in the Basque Country and is home to the famous Guggenheim art gallery – it’s worth a look for the impressive space age design of the building alone!

Finally, a huge part of any trip abroad for us is always sampling the local food. We tried local cheeses, paella, fresh fish and countless huge, vibrant vegetables. I have a separate post planned about this element of the trip, mainly because I want to relive it all over again. Sorry about that.

Have you been to this part of Spain? What did you do when you were there?

***

Thank you to Brittany Ferries for providing us with our travel and accommodation for the purpose of this review. And thank you to the Cantabria Tourist Board who provided us with a family ticket to visit the Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabarceno for the day. All opinions remain my own, as ever. 

The post Spain in September: Things to do appeared first on Mother's Always Right.

With a husband who works as a teacher, I’m not familiar with holidaying in September, despite the fact my child is yet to start school. I’ve always thought of September breaks as being the sloppy-seconds of summer, imagining empty resorts and depressingly deserted beaches. But last week, on our break in Northern Spain, I found out that a trip taken out of season doesn’t have to be second best. In fact, there are many reasons that make it far more appealing.

We travelled by ferry to Santander and drove 45 minutes west to a little seaside town called Noja. This is an expanding resort popular with Spanish holidaymakers at the height of the season.

With dramatic mountains set against huge swathes of golden sand, Noja is certainly a scenic place – but there is also a sense of normality that removes it from your typical tourist resort. There are no pseudo Irish pubs, for example, nor cafes proclaiming “The Best Fry-Up in Spain”. It’s low-key, especially in September when many of the restaurants and bars have closed and the heat of the peak season has waned. 

We were staying in an apartment rented through Brittany Ferries, a fifteen minute stroll from the centre of town. The Apartamentos Quinto Sueño Torre Cristina is spacious, light and airy. Covering three floors, it boasts three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living and dining room, kitchen and shared pool. There’s also a terrace with sun loungers and outside table and chairs. The decor is traditional, with marble floors and bright colours on the walls.

It’s part of an L-shaped complex consisting of ten apartments, which all share a pool. Plus, it has parking for two cars, which is a huge bonus in a resort like Noja – I imagine this comes in especially handy during high season.

The two flights of stairs and sharp marble corners don’t make this apartment ideal for a family with babies or toddlers, but for us – a group made up of mum, three year old and grandparents – it was perfect. There was room for Frog and I to have our own space, while my parents had a whole floor to themselves with their huge double bedroom (and en-suite bathroom complete with jacuzzi bath) on the top floor.

Cantabria as a region is ripe with lush green vegetation, golden beaches and towering mountains. I never associated Spain with so much green until I visited the Northern coast. It’s much cooler, with temperatures not peaking above 21 degrees while we were there. It’s hotter in the summer, but still more temperate than resorts further south.

If you’re a sun worshipper, then I wouldn’t advise going to Cantabria in September, as you won’t be guaranteed unbroken sunshine. That said, we had spells of beautiful blue skies and warmth – although these were mixed with showers and gusty winds on other days. As a verified heat lover, I was a bit grumpy on our first morning when I saw grey skies, but that bad mood instantly vanished once we got out into the area and I took in the breathtaking views. Rain or shine, these are impressive – and you don’t need hot hot heat to enjoy time playing at the beach anyway.

There’s something incredibly calming about wandering along a quiet beach, as the waves crash against the shore and the sun peaks through the clouds. I lost myself in the mountains and the water and the sense of space this place has – with no sun loungers to pick a path through, or games of volleyball to dodge. I imagine this isn’t the case mid-August, although the more relaxed pace of this part of Spain means it’s never over-run with British tourists. I quite like that.

Our nearest beach was a fifteen minute walk from our apartment – ten if you walked quickly. Even in low season there was a lifeguard there at one point, keeping a close eye on the few surfers in the water.

Ten minutes in the opposite direction we came to the town centre and another beach, with the few cafes and restaurants that were open all year round, whatever the season. That’s where we stumbled across a thriving local market one morning (in the town square) and the best supermarket I’ve ever been to. More on that in another post.

I’d love to go back to this part of Spain and explore it a bit further. Noja makes an ideal base to get to know the area, plus it really worked for us as a group made up of different ages all wanting varying things from the break. While it didn’t get hot enough to sunbathe, we still managed to spend a good chunk of time at the beach playing, running, building impressive sandcastles and just watching the sea. And, of course, we managed to fit in a delicious meal at a nearby restaurant and a couple of lovely evenings eating local food we cooked back at the apartment.

If you’re the kind of person who hates the crowds and loves stunning natural scenery, you’d love this place – especially in September. If you crave the heat and enjoy the hubbub, though, you’d be better going a month earlier and enjoying Noja during peak season. At that time you’ll find it lively with Spanish tourists, but still low-key enough to avoid the reams of British themed pubs and 18-30s types. The prices reflect that too, meaning your euros will stretch further than in other parts of Spain.

You can read my other post in the series so far: Spain in September – Getting There to find out how we made our way to Noja. And come back later in the week to find out what we did while we were there and how we enjoyed the local food.

***

Prices start from £1169 for a week’s stay at Apartamentos Quinto Sueño Torre Cristina – this price includes property rental and return ferry crossings on selected sailings to Spain, for a standard car, 2 people and a cabin each way. 

Our accommodation and ferry crossings were provided for the purpose of this review. All opinions remain my own, as always. 

The post Spain in September: Where to stay appeared first on Mother's Always Right.

I was last on a ferry circa 1998. Back then, I was a 15 year old, en-route to a holiday in France with my parents and sister. It was the last of our traditional run of long summer breaks in France, where we would always catch a ferry over, our car heavy under the weight of multiple tents, bikes and far too many clothes (teenagers don’t travel light).

My memories of the numerous crossings over the years are rosy; the excitement of seeing the ferry looming before us, running down the long corridor to find our cabin, eating breakfast looking at the sea – it was all part of the holiday experience. It was like our break didn’t properly start until we arrived at the port. 

When I was asked if I’d be interested in going on a review trip to Spain, using the Brittany Ferries Plymouth to Santander crossing, I didn’t need to think twice. I was interested to see if my rose-tinted memories of the ferry were correct. Was it really a less stressful way to travel with kids? Would it be a successful marker to the beginning of a holiday with grandparents? Would I choose the ferry over a plane, when it came down to it?

My answer is yes. And yes again. And yes after that, too.

We arrived at the port in Plymouth in driving rain. As huge drops of water hit the windscreen, my dad warned me to expect a rough crossing. But as soon as I saw the huge white ship bobbing ahead of us, I didn’t care. The Pont-Aven is the biggest ferry I’ve ever been on. At ten decks high (complete with a pool, soft-play area and three restaurants) it’s not to be sniffed at. I couldn’t help it – those familiar childhood butterflies of excitement had me again.

“We go on that boat Mummy?” My three year old clearly shared my excitement – craning her neck to catch her first ever glimpse of a ferry. “I want to get on NOW!”

We were booked into a four berth outside club cabin. This meant we had sea views and the comfort of an en-suite bathroom with a shower, basin and toilet. We also had a TV (although we didn’t watch it) and tea and coffee making facilities. It was plush, but not huge, providing the perfect base from which to explore the boat.

It was only a matter of time before a wander round the ferry took us to the soft-play area. Frog is like a homing pigeon when it comes to anything soft-play related.

Set in a corner of the cafe at the front of the Pont-Aven, the area is ideal for families with young kids. It’s by no means a huge all-singing, all-dancing feat of soft-play engineering, but it was just the right size to keep my three year old entertained for a good half an hour, in between popping out to watch The Smurfs on the TV in the room, or peeking out of the port holes nearby. There were some tables set up in the corner too, so parents could sit and have a cuppa while watching their kids, if they wanted to.

A little more exploring took us to the deck, then over to a bar, then a boutique shop and, finally the swimming pool. The pool is only open May to September, so don’t expect to take a dip outside of these months. Luckily for me, my three year old wasn’t too bothered, preferring to return to the soft-play area for more jumping, sliding and bouncing.

The thing about travelling on a ferry, is that you don’t need to worry about the amount of luggage you take on holiday. When we went to Turkey a couple of years ago, I remember getting terribly stressed about how many nappies I could realistically fit in the suitcase, and if the big baby board books I packed for the flight would take me over the baggage allowance. There’s none of that when you go on a ferry. You simply pack up the car with all your stuff, and take a separate overnight bag for the crossing. My stress levels were operating at pretty much zero before I even got onboard.

Our evening meal was in the restaurant with table service. You need to book a table for this one well in advance, but it was still pretty busy when we arrived for our 6.30pm seating. After we’d queued in line we were shown to a quiet spot in the corner of the restaurant, by a window.

We sipped wine (Frog was on water) while overlooking the sea. A piano tinkled away in the background and the whole thing was very civilised. The restaurant is equipped for young kids, with high chairs and a separate menu, although the portions are pretty generous for even the hungriest three year old. As fortune would have it, Frog was feeling a bit sea-sick at supper time, so she only lasted for a couple of the courses. My parents tell me the cheese board and pudding courses were delicious though – as was the rest of the wine!

The night passed uneventfully. Snuggled in our cabin we didn’t hear any of the music from the bar (there was a live band and magic show on) and Frog fell to sleep almost instantly – as did I. Again, this is where travelling by ferry top trumps a plane ride. There’s no uncomfortable shifting of seats or cramped legs, you simply go to bed and wake up even closer to your destination.

I remember being overcome with amazement when I first saw the sea from the deck of a ferry. In the middle of the ocean, you can only see the horizon and it feels like you’re on a little floating world all of its own. I had that same feeling when I took Frog on deck the following morning. She pointed to the sea, asking where the fish were and trying to spy a mermaid. Again, it felt like part of the holiday itself, rather than a journey to get through before the holiday actually began.

That moment was kind of blown out of the water by what happened next though. We were invited up to “The Bridge”, which is a pretty big deal. I almost said no at first, thinking I was being offered the chance to take part in a game of cards that my nan would enjoy. My hesitation disappeared, though, when I realised it was an offer to meet the captain and see behind-the-scenes on the ferry.

From the front of the ferry, next to the flashing control panels and amongst the buzz of the walkie-talkies, we had the most incredible view of the sea. It was there that we spotted a pod of dolphins swimming alongside the boat – something we’ll never forget. Frog was beside herself with excitement, as were my mum and dad. I was scrambling for my camera, but I was too late as usual. This is the best I could do…

We eventually arrived at the Spanish port of Santander around 20 hours after we set sail from Plymouth. With full bellies of food (minus my slightly sea-sick child) and a night of unbroken sleep, it didn’t feel like we’d been travelling really. Apparently it was a rough crossing, but the ferry was obviously designed to stabilise itself on the waves, so I barely noticed the swell.

The journey provided us all with a chance to eat good food, relax, play and generally get started on enjoying our holiday. With a cinema and two other restaurants that we didn’t get a chance to try, my only complaint would be that the crossing wasn’t long enough!

***

I was provided with tickets covering accommodation, travel and food for three adults and one child, for the purpose of this review. As ever, all opinions remain my own. 

The post Spain in September: Getting there appeared first on Mother's Always Right.

The purpose of our trip? To discover a part of Spain totally new to us and to see if travelling there on a ferry is a less stressful way to journey than by plane.

We’re taking the Plymouth to Santander route, on Brittany Ferries’ flagship ferry, the Pont-Aven. They call it a “cruise ferry” and, to be honest, I’m just as excited about this element of the trip as the rest. I’m looking forward to sampling the food and wine, while my daughter is counting down the minutes until she jumps in the on-board swimming pool. 

When we arrive in Spain, we’ll be heading to the little seaside town of Noja, in the Cantabria region. I’ve never been to this part of Spain before but my research tells me it’s popular with Spanish holidaymakers and is still relatively unspoilt. This pleases me.

The guidebook talks about “cottage crafts” in a “rural region” where “ancient towns and churches” sit alongside “pretty fishing ports”. It sounds like the perfect kind of place for a multi-generational family holiday, with plenty to keep everyone happy. I’m looking forward to finding out if this is, indeed, the case.

We’re in Spain for three nights and then have two nights on the ferry – one getting there and one coming back. In total, it’s a five night break, just long enough to feel refreshed and decide if it’s somewhere we might return to.

Five nights on holiday with my daughter and parents… what could go wrong?!

***

Disclosure: We will be guests of Brittany Ferries, for the purpose of the review. This includes our travel and accommodation costs.

The post Spain with kids… and grandparents appeared first on Mother's Always Right.

The purpose of our trip? To discover a part of Spain totally new to us and to see if travelling there on a ferry is a less stressful way to journey than by plane.

We’re taking the Plymouth to Santander route, on Brittany Ferries’ flagship ferry, the Pont-Aven. They call it a “cruise ferry” and, to be honest, I’m just as excited about this element of the trip as the rest. I’m looking forward to sampling the food and wine, while my daughter is counting down the minutes until she jumps in the on-board swimming pool. 

When we arrive in Spain, we’ll be heading to the little seaside town of Noja, in the Cantabria region. I’ve never been to this part of Spain before but my research tells me it’s popular with Spanish holidaymakers and is still relatively unspoilt. This pleases me.

The guidebook talks about “cottage crafts” in a “rural region” where “ancient towns and churches” sit alongside “pretty fishing ports”. It sounds like the perfect kind of place for a multi-generational family holiday, with plenty to keep everyone happy. I’m looking forward to finding out if this is, indeed, the case.

We’re in Spain for three nights and then have two nights on the ferry – one getting there and one coming back. In total, it’s a five night break, just long enough to feel refreshed and decide if it’s somewhere we might return to.

Five nights on holiday with my daughter and parents… what could go wrong?!

***

Disclosure: We will be guests of Brittany Ferries, for the purpose of the review. This includes our travel and accommodation costs.

The post Spain with kids… and grandparents appeared first on Mother's Always Right.

Being raised my two teacher parents, I used to spend long summer holidays under canvas in France. It was one of the rare times of year I wouldn’t hear my mum and dad moaning about OFSTED or marking and (apart from the odd occasion) I would get along with my little sister really rather well.

One of my favourite things about camping is that you are totally free to look utterly horrendous in public without so much as a raised eyebrow or judgemental frown. Let’s face it, when you’re trudging through a field to brush your teeth and have an emergency wee, matching your shoes with your jumper is not a top priority. 

More than that though, I love the freedom that camping brings. There’s nothing like the pleasure of watching your kid run around in a field, making friends with other children, while still wearing her pyjamas. You can do what you want, eat when you want, go to bed when you want and live according to the rhythms of nature.

Despite my love of canvas, I’m no Ray Mears. I’m very much a “mild” camper over the “wild” sort (in fact, I discussed this very subject recently on Woman’s Hour *cheeky plug*). I like to be comfortable, with cushions and duvets and a tent that I can stand up in.

Enter, the Coleman Galileo 4.

We set off on a mini camping break earlier this week, to test out the Coleman Galileo 4. I was looking for comfort, ease of use and – very importantly – a tent that fit back into the bag it came from once it was time to put away. I’m pleased to say, the Galileo 4 was all of those things and more.

It’s a big tent, sleeping four people in two compartments, with a separate living area at the front. When we arrived it was a hot day, so I zipped open the front “door” along with the side “door”, and opened the back “window”. It was airy, without any hint of sweaty canvas.

If you want to keep the flies out you also have the option of zipping up the door but unzipping one layer to reveal a fly-proof mesh that also features on the inner bedroom compartments.

There are only three poles to the tent, so it’s easy to put up. In fact, the (self-proclaimed) Northern Love Machine and I managed it without an argument, which is a first. The inner compartment simply hooks to the clips on the inside of the main tent and was up in about two minutes. All in all, the whole tent was erected (*snort*) within half an hour. It took us twenty minutes to take it all down and packed away. Easy peasy.

In terms of comfort, it’s roomy enough for the three of us and all our luggage (we don’t travel light). Even my lanky husband could stand up, which is no mean feat when you’re 6ft 5” tall.

Our camp breakfasts were cooked on this little number, a one burner stove from Camping Gaz. It’s the perfect size for a short camping break and cooked our sausages quickly. Delicious.

With a tent up and breakfast consumed, it left us plenty of time to enjoy the surrounding beaches and countryside. We picked a campsite just half an hour from my parents’ place on the other side of Devon, on the Cornish side of the border near Bude.

Cornish Coasts campsite near Widemouth Bay was the perfect size for a couple of nights, with exceptionally clean toilets and shower facilities (complete with pretty bunting and funky toilet seats), a play area and a lovely intimate setting spread over a couple of fields.

We had a brilliant time and have already vowed to return before long. I love camping, and I’m pleased to say my formerly camping-phobic husband is starting to love it too. That’s what I call a result.

***

I received a Coleman Galileo 4 and Camping Gaz stove for the purpose of this review. 

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Our recent trip to Cornwall saw us cram as much as physically possible into the three days we were there. With so many places to see and sights to explore, it seemed rude not to make the most of what was on offer.

As well as kayaking, swimming and checking out the kids who were crabbing on the private foreshore at the hotel we were staying out, we also managed a trip to a castle, eating pasties on the harbourside, playing at the beach and a day at The Eden Project. We certainly weren’t bored. 

The Eden Project is the gem on Cornwall’s crown, set amongst the pearls of stunning coastline, chocolate box villages and pretty harbours. It’s almost unbelievable that, despite living in Cornwall for a year and holidaying there a few times before, I’ve never actually visited this beacon of tourism.

The thing is, until now, I’d always had this preconception that the place was nothing more than a glorified garden centre. I imagined old ladies wandering around sniffing roses and chatting about mulch. I didn’t see the place as a family attraction, with activities and sights that could occupy a restless three year old all day.

Oh how wrong I was.

In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been more wrong about anything in my life. Ever. And that’s some statement to make. From its breastfeeding rooms to its baby-changing rooms, and its storytellers to its facepainting artists, there is absolutely no doubt that The Eden Project can cater for families with young kids.

Frog was in awe of the place as soon as we walked through the double doors and were confronted with the giant space-like biomes that she thought were massive igloos. Tiny touches, like hidden cut-throughs for kids on the walkways, or peep-holes for little eyes to peek through and check out the view, make The Eden Project a real treasure trove of experiences for little ones.

The food was outstanding too (you know me!). We dined on fresh paella and pizza in The Mediterranean Terrace restaurant in the Mediterranean Biome. It was incredible and actually felt like we were on holiday!

Another food tip is to check out the Eden Ice-cream. The hazelnut flavour was the best ice-cream I’ve ever tasted, and I’ve tasted A LOT of ice-cream.

Food aside, we spent an amazing day at The Eden Project and I’m kicking myself for not trying it out sooner. We would have needed a full week to experience everything the place has to offer – we didn’t even get to sample the den building or costume making – so I’d advise getting there nice and early to get your money’s worth. (Also, if you walk, cycle or take public transport, you’ll pay a smaller entrance fee.)

Set high on the cliffs, overlooking Falmouth Bay, you’ll find Pendennis Castle looming. Originally built by Henry VIII to defend the country against invasion, it’s the kind of place that transports you right back in time.

From its towering turrets to winding stone staircases, the castle has everything you’d expect from a Tudor building. But beyond the castle itself, there are also shelters used by soldiers during both World Wars, as well as ancient canons and a field that often holds medieval jousting re-enactments.

It’s well worth a visit – although for younger kids there’s not enough to occupy them for more than a couple of hours really.

And did I mention a spot at the top of the castle provides some of the best views over Falmouth?

With its position on the edge of Falmouth, Pendennis Castle makes for a handy place to visit in the morning, before a lunch of pasties on the harbourside as you watch the boats bobbing up and down in the water.

If you do decide to brave the busy streets of Falmouth in the summer, don’t expect to get a parking space right next to the centre. There are plenty of carparks but, equally, there are lots of side roads away from the centre where you can park for free if you’re happy to walk to your destination.

And if you do opt for a pasty (you’re in Falmouth – why wouldn’t you?!) I recommend the King’s Pipe pasty shop on a little side street at the end of town by the harbour. Best. Pasties. Ever.

Washed down with this view, you certainly can’t complain.

Another word of caution though – Falmouth’s busy pavements are heaving in high season, so if you take a buggy then expect long delays as you negotiate the hoards of shoppers and pasty-lovers. Once you get past the sheer number of people though, Falmouth is definitely worthy of a visit to look at the shops, sample the pasties and – of course – check out the various beaches.

Other places not on the list: 

Unfortunately we didn’t make it to Trebah Gardens, just up the lane from The Budock Vean Hotel where we were staying. We just didn’t have enough time but, having visited before, I can recommend it as a place to escape the crowds and lose yourself amongst beautiful gardens.

I was also disappointed not to make it to my favourite pub in Cornwall – The Ferryboat Inn. When I was last there the food was brilliant and the setting, on the North Helford Passage waterfront, was unrivalled.

I could wax lyrical about this area of Cornwall for a thousand more words but I’m aware I’ve already gone on for a while. I could have told you about the Pitch and Putt at Swanpool, the watersports on various beaches, the rockpooling opportunities at Castle Beach… thing is, there’s just too many places to talk about.

You’ll have to go and see if for yourself.

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Entry to The Eden Project costs £23.50 per adult on the door and £10.50 on the door for kids aged 5 to 16 years old. You’ll save 15% if you book online and even more money if you walk, cycle or take public transport. To find out more about ticket prices check out the website. 

Entry to Pendennis Castle costs £6.70 per adult and £4 for kids aged 5 to 15 years old. For more details head to the website. 

(Our trip covered entry to Pendennis Castle and The Eden Project, for the purpose of this review.) 

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My latest Shopcade obsession is my “Summer Days Out” list. Whether it’s an outfit, a bit of kit or a handy item to make day trips easier, I’m on it.

You can see the full list over on my Shopcade pages (along with all my other lists of wants). Here are some picks from the last few days…

The outfits: 

The practical stuff:

The handy stuff:

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Disclosure: As a brand ambassador for Shopcade, I regularly get sent treats from the site. All opinions remain my own. 

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