Pentewan Sands - 5 reasons to stay this summer

We recently had the chance to head back down to Cornwall to check out the 5 star holiday park that is Pentewan Sands situated on its own private beach near St Austell and see first hand what makes this place perfect for a family getaway. The drive down was really smooth and straightforward and checking in was very quick and easy. There are a variety of accommodation options from bringing your own tent or touring vehicle to hiring one of their family-friendly Caravans. We stayed for 3 nights in a Platinum 3 bedroom Caravan which made for the perfect base. The caravans go from Bronze all the way up to Diamond and Flagship, two above our category. Our Caravan was in a lovely spot with less than a minutes walk from the beach but incredibly peaceful. I have to say this is only our second static caravan holiday and I was extremely impressed with the facilities of this park and can see why it's so popular with families who want to get away and keep things simple without any big fa......

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Our Snowdonian Road Trip

You may have seen on my Instagram and YouTube channel that we recently packed up the car for the weekend and headed from South Wales through Mid-Wales to the beautiful Snowdonia where we spent two nights in Barmouth. We were really lucky with the weather being dry during the day and still fairly mild for this time of the year. As it's just over a four hour drive up we decided to spilt the journeys both ways with our first break along the way at the Elan Valley . This area has some fantastic walks, we spotted loads of Red Kites in the sky above us and the large reservoirs are breathtaking. There is also a an indoor exhibition at the visitors centre with a small children play area, a cafe with a great selection for those looking for a substantial break. Outside there is a fun play park with a nature theme as well as sculpture stones as you walk towards the reservoir. If your heading up North on the A470 this is a great place to break up your journey especially if you ......

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Embracing a No-spend Weekend

As much as we love to explore further afield it can become pricey so during our down time we love to embrace simple weekends staying close to home and taking advantage of all the amazing things on our doorstep here in South Wales. Living a stone's throw away from the city can mean that even local days out can end up costing a fair amount so taking steps to be more frugal especially on the weekends is important. Luckily we have plenty of outdoor places to explore in and around Cardiff which makes a great base for low-cost days out. We had recently been set a challenge by Scottish Friendly to get as much out of a weekend for as little as possible and who doesn't like a challenge? I thought the main thing we would struggle with was the little extras we pick up when we are out and about, such as coffee, a cheeky piece of cake or a sandwich. I always pack some apples, snacks and water but as we are often out over lunch time we do end up spending on food. This usua......

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Savouring Simplicity with The National Trust

Last year we made the very wise decision of becoming National Trust members, it was about time because we have visited some many NT properties over the past couple of years we would of saved loads had we been members. Deciding to join was probably one of the best decisions I've made for our whole family in the past year, in fact its a god send for me. I am passionate about the boys having natural childhood and proving a playground to grow and develop in, away from novelties and cheap attractions that can occasionally be found at other countryside parks. What I love about my three local NT properties - Dyffryn Gardens, Tredegar House and Aberdulais Tin works and waterfall is their focus is on the conservation of the areas, bringing them back to life and encouraging children to be apart of that. My boys can be quite a handful, my youngest is in a very active stage of toddlerhood where he is moving a hundred miles an hour but with complete disregard for his own wellbe......

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Weekend adventures with the KA+ Part 2

We were set a challenge by Ford to get as much out of a weekend on a very small budget while trying out the new KA+. You may have read our first post about this weekend were we explored Tredegar House, a National Trust Property we had yet to visit and gave us a chance to use our family pass. On the Sunday we had planned to drive up to the Brecon Beacons but after a jaunt into the city and the changeable weather we decided to stay local and go to a nearby country park which was not only fun but also very budget friendly. So we packed the car up with the boys two scooters, a few snacks and headed off to have some outdoor fun. I was really pleasantly surprised at how much the boot of the car can fit in, we had no issues getting in both scooters, our wellies, backpack and bag of snacks and still have plenty of room left. Two days before this I tried out getting my youngest pram into the boot as my mother use to have an old KA and I could never get it in but good news is t......

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Exploring Tenby & Pembroke Castle

At this time of the year its easy to feel the drag of winter and I always find January and February especially long months and I think if it's possible getting away even just for a few hours can do you a world of good. Last month we decided to bundle the kids in the car and head to Tenby in West Wales for a night, it's one of our favourite places and when the sun is out it's a truly spectacular place to be. It's only around a 2hr drive and we booked ourselves in at the Premier Inn, we have actually stayed at this one before when I was 38weeks pregnant with my youngest, it was our last trip as a family of three and even since then has had a special place in our heart. The hotel is pretty new to the area, about 2yrs old, the other options are mainly B&B's which are not always the best option when you have two young children running around. It's also located right in the centre of town and close to both of the beaches and all the cafes and restaurants. ......

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