Fun For Kids On The Farm
You’re choosing a holiday, not just somewhere in Devon to stay, so you need to know the kids will have fun here…
On the farm you can:
Play outdoor chess or draughts | Use the swings and slide | Climb a tree | Visit the cows (in summer) | Go pond dipping in the wildlife pond | Take the boats and boards out for a paddle | Fish the farmyard pond by Otter Cottage | Ride the gocart down the hill – always a hit | Borrow pushbikes, try a tandem (or tag along) | Search out the outdoor art | Devise a nature hunt | Take a guided nature walk | Borrow a book or DVD|
A Bit Further Away From The Farm
Here are some more suggestions for kids of all ages – ordered roughly by distance from the eco lodges (nothing more than 30 miles away) rather than age. Most are things to do with parents, some are suggestions for partially-supervised adventures that our own kids have found fun and empowering. Some could be independent trips for active teens.
Find the big tree and picnic by the Taw | walk in Hollocombe or Winkleigh woods | Buy a cactus at the Winkleigh cactus shop | Track down a Hockings Ice Cream van | Go horse riding at Bold Try | Play skittles at the Waie Inn or go to the soft play area | Bag an easy Dartmoor Tor at Belstone | Really go adventuring in the wilds | jump in the river at Fingle Bridge or swim in the pools near Meldon | visit the National Trust’s Finch Foundry | take a woodland walk at Halsdon Nature Reserve | explore RHS Rosemoor | Catch a film at the Torrington Arts Centre | visit the Dartington Glass Factory in Torrington | Climb the hill to Torrington and be met with a cake | Cycle on the traffic free Tarka Trail at the Puffing Billy, at Meeth Quarry or at Yarde Orchard Cafe, East Yarde | Visit the Cobbaton Combat Collection | Canoe the canal or river at Exeter | go further on the Tarka Trail – beyond Bideford and to Instow, or from Instow to Fremington or even up to Barnstaple | Make that a round trip car free adventure | Bike the whole Exe Estuary trail (26 miles) | Visit the Big Sheep near Bideford | Try the Ultimate High | Bounce at Air Extreme in Barnstaple | Experience Clip and climb in Exeter | Explore the lovely Lydford Gorge | Learn to surf at Westward Ho!
What if it’s wet?
Heaven forbid! Go on now – it never rains in Devon. Never! Well, OK, maybe it does. A little. So if the weather is unkind, here are some suggestions.
- Ignore it and go outside anyway. Seriously, getting out of the door is usually the biggest challenge. Woodland walks like the one at Belstone (where there’s also a pub) are good even in the rain.
- Really embrace it and go surfing – the beach will be emptier and you’re going to be wet anyway.
- Go online and book a session at Clip’nClimb Exeter for some energetic fun.
- Also in Exeter you’ll find the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, which has some pretty wacky stuff.
- Catch a film – there’s a cinema in Okehampton, or try the Arts Centre in Torrington.
- For little ones there’s soft play at the Waie Inn – and skittles for older kids and the bar for you.
- Have coffee at Catkin Blooms in Winkleigh – lovely atmosphere and you’re supporting a local business. Vegans properly catered for here.
- And if it’s not raining too hard, why not just convene in Wheatland Farm’s open sided Pizza Shed. You can rent the pizza oven if you like, or just play the outdoor chess game.