Admittedly, this isn’t your normal fitness content from us – but bear with me!
As a dad to an 8yr old girl (and with several mates in the same position), the summer holidays in particular get pretty difficult to fill with fun stuff to do. And I’ll make no apologies – I want the things to be fun for ME as well as my daughter, and I tend to want to be active.
I end up spending a lot of time in summer chatting with clients and gym members about where to go for days out etc, and over the years I’ve built up a pretty decent bunch of ideas.
Not all of these are Nottinghamshire, but they’re all very do-able as day trips and vary in cost, so you should find at least something you’ve not done before.
So, in no real order:
- Get a National Trust membership.
Varying from £8.65 a month for a one adult and all your children, to £14.05 a month for two adults and all the kids, it’s hard to beat the summer value of a National Trust membership. Within an hours drive from Nottingham you’ve got Belton House (with an amazing outdoor adventure playground), Calke Abbey and Kedleston Hall. Pretty much all of these have playgrounds and generally put on kid-related activities. Even National Trust car parks are free with a membership – which means a trip to Dovedale stepping stones becomes a free activity.
2. Get an English Heritage membership
Same as above, really, but throw castles into the mix! Ashby Castle and Bolsover Castle are both within an hour’s drive. Bolsolver in particular always has a huge kid’s schedule on. Generally English Heritage end up doing a Kid’s Eat Free promotion in their cafes over the summer holidays, which can easily end up recouping your monthly membership.
Head a little further away into the Peak District (again, only an hour drive) and you’ve got Peveril Castle to explore in Castleton.
Peveril Castle, Castleton
3. Head to the Peak District
Only just over an hour’s drive, and you’re hitting Chatsworth House – and the start of the Peak District proper. check out the petting farm and huge outdoor playground there – about £10 a person.
There’s castles, caves, pubs, parks, rivers and walking galore in the Peaks. For the price of a picnic and parking the car, you’ve got an endless choice of activities.
Personally, I love Castleton and Edale as bases for walking and staying.
Check out these guide books for some simple walks that should be easy enough for most kids:
3. Parkland and archaeology at Cresswell Crags
Picturesque scenery at this ancient gorge in North Notts – complete with cave tours, a museum, cafe and shop. If your kids are into mammoths and early human history, they’ll love it.
Best of all, apart from £4 to park, access to the Gorge and the parkland is free. Cave tours, the museum and any exhibitions are charged, but it’s only a few quid. Take a picnic and it’s pretty much a free day out.
4. Drive out to Conkers
A bit pricier, but Conkers is pretty under-rated for a day out. Huge woodland, visitor centre, adventure playgrounds – and in the holidays, there’s so many things happening in the place it’s impossible to list it all. It’s around a tenner a person, but you’ll easily spend all day there.
5. Further afield, but you can do Hunstanton beaches in a day trip
This is my favourite summer one – get up early, jump in the car, and be on the fossil beach by Hunstanton lighthouse by 9am. Fossil hunting first, then head onto the seafront for some old-fashioned arcade fun, then the the rides of the semi-permanent funfair.
I love this day trip because, although it’s not the cheapest (you’ll easily burn through £50-60 between the arcade and funfair) it is proper English seaside fun. Head out on the Wash Monster (a converted landing craft) to see the seals on the sandbanks, and grab a drink and fish-n-chips on a rooftop bar before heading home via Castle Rising.
Yes, you’ll have done about 4 hrs driving over the day, but it’s so much fun and nothing like the vibe of Skegness etc – it’s a little more wholesome! If you want to stay over, I’ve used Heacham Manor loads of times and it’s a great place to stay, and I think pretty cheap for such a great little hotel.
