Family Self Catering Cottages

Every family looks forward to a summer break, somewhere safe, comfortable with plenty of enjoyable things to do for the whole family and preferably at the best possible price.

Self-catering in its various forms is a good value sensible choice for families. Holidays should be relaxing and keeping children quiet and restrained in hotel rooms does not lead to relaxation. However, stay in a holiday cottage with a garden, plenty of space to run about and let off steam and your children can be happy and behave as they would at home.

There are individual self-catering cottages to rent, also groups of cottages or pine lodges in a holiday park with free amenities for children; a swimming pool, swings and playground, trampolines, sand pits, football fields and more.

Despite family summer holidays being all about the children, it is also good for parents to have time for a little pleasure themselves. In certain cottages, it is possible to book the babysitting service and leave your children in the capable hands of a registered child minder whilst you enjoy an evening out.

There is a very wide choice of holiday cottages with differing facilities and activities on offer. These compare favourably with UK based family package companies such as Center Parcs or Butlins. The package companies sell accommodation at a certain price then charge extra for sporting activities and some of the entertainment. Staying in a holiday cottage may mean doing a little extra research into the activities that you can do in that area and being selective. You could plan for a mixture of free and paid-for activities in advance that suit your budget. This would avoid the extra pressure added by children in these venues when they see what is available.

Different locations have their own natural attractions. The seaside is a popular choice for family breaks because children simply adore being by the sea, building creations in the sand, paddling, fetching and carrying water. And it’s all free and healthy. Go to the south west of the Isle of Wight in search of good beaches and dinosaur fossils and one of the best family friendly locations in Britain.

Anyone who has ever visited the Atlantic beaches of Cornwall around Newquay or Bude will have seen entire families taking to the waves on surf boards. It’s an exciting family sport that attracts thousands each summer. Surfing is available at any beaches with good waves, mainly south west England and Ireland.

All ages enjoy doing something different and it widens our horizons. A cycling holiday for the family could be great fun. There are baby carriers for bicycles and cute attachments where the little prince or princess can recline in comfort as parents pedal their hearts out. Bicycle hire centres abound in holiday areas, especially near safe cycle paths. There are places with traffic free family cycling.

Nature trails in the country are much more exciting than most people realise. Try a late evening or night-time safari and watch the creatures come out. Listen out for wings, hoots, snuffling and noises. Spot bats, foxes, badgers, rabbits, deer and a host of other creatures depending on your area. Scotland and Ireland would be excellent destinations for animal spotting. In Scotland, it is still possible to spot wild cats and otters. Just go to the edge of a wood or moor and organise your own safari. It will cost nothing and your children would remember their after dark safari forever.

Sometimes we take the lazy option and go for a package break because it’s easy, one payment and it’s done. The tragedy is that many people miss out on all the natural treasures of Britain and Ireland. Get to know your country and teach your children to appreciate it. We will always look after the things we love.