Center Parcs (Frome & Longleat)
2nd to 8th June 2018
Our first family holiday adventure of the year started on the morning of Saturday 2nd June 2018, in the "magical second week" (Stockport primary schools get two weeks of half-term holiday at Whitsun, so it's rude not to go on holiday given the cheaper prices). We made good fairly progress down the motorway, avoiding some M6-to-M5 congestion by doing a neat double-back, arriving at Gloucester services just in time for lunch (it was ten minutes before noon in this shot). It was not busy so we easily found our own nourishment enclosure.
After food, it was time to let the young whippersnappers stretch their legs in the play area, where I struggled to get Gregory in shot, especially when he tried to camouflage himself whilst running.
After indoor pursuits, Gregory had time for some outdoor maze activity, easily finding his way to the middle on a glorious day. It had been raining in the North but as we passed into the South, it went sunny. Now that may be a cliché but it had actually been consistently warm and sunny in Manchester for many weeks; nevertheless, we were happy enough with the exchange.
The Gloucester services are one of the more picturesque around the country. They have built it into the landscape so that it is not visible from the surrounding areas.
Since the keys to our first accommodation of the week would not be available until around 4pm, and given it was only currently around 2pm, we headed for a planned stop at White Row Farm, which features (deep breath) a farm shop (including a fishmongers and butchers), a gift shop, florists, chippy, café and play area. That is a lot of features.
When in Somerset... use a combine harvester.
The warmth prompted some necessary refreshment. Daisy was appreciative of being allowed a can of lemonade - not just lemonade but straight out of a can - whilst Gregory just wanted to concentrate on hydrating and was therefore too occupied to raise both thumbs.
Of course, any play park is not complete without some slide action, and this one did not disappoint. Gregory looks calm and controlled.
During our time there, Gregory wandered over to join in a football match featuring a dad and a girl against two boys. He was happy to watch on the sidelines at first but gradually encroached, despite being barefooted and a good deal smaller than everyone playing. He suggested to me that he wanted to be the judge, or if not then maybe the goalkeeper. When the girl had to exit due to an accidental injury (ball in the face), Gregory was even keener to join in and he also asked the dad if I could play, so it was the three of us against the two boys. I think the game finished 5-5, with Gregory having the opportunity to score at one point, despite playing much of the game with no shoes. A break for sweets stopped the action but Gregory had made some friends (well, they were perhaps less taken by a four-year-old than he was by them).
Gregory offered to drive us to our next location in his bright red tractor, but we decided against it.
Later that afternoon, we arrived at our, and indeed the, place to stay for two nights, a bed and breakfast at Knoll Hill Farm.
The weather was glorious and we had a lovely, spacious room featuring two bedrooms, a bathroom and a living room.
We had a nice view from our window, of the nearby horse pen and the surrounding fields.
The living room featured a table football game on a table - seems like the right place for it - which certainly had Gregory's attention...
...but not for long - they soon reverted to their tablets (for a limited time only) whilst chilling out.
As the sky got ever bluer, we wandered down along the largely pavement-free road to the nearby pub since we had no beers in and couldn't be bothered driving to a restaurant. I ended up doing this walk three times - once to check it was open, once to actually get there and a bonus extra trip to retrieve the kids' bags. It certainly made the pints of Pravha taste all the better. The meal was notable mainly for Lynne's pulled pork burger, which seemed to be approximately madras strength, as well as the size of the children's meal portions, which they didn't come close to finishing. All kids' meals should have two sizes, I think.
The next day, the weather was perfect for a morning run followed by the obligatory fried breakfast.
Before we headed off, Daisy and Gregory had a quick chat to the horses, one big and one small, who were maybe called Rosie and Lucy, or something like that.
We were in a good location to get to Longleat Safari Park, although we managed go the more scenic way when we went later that morning.
As we headed down the road towards Longleat, we were greeted with a long-distance view of Longleat House, looking pretty spectacular.
We had a plan to do the jungle cruise in the morning and the safari in the afternoon, so we headed to the boat. But which way to go... (I had popped back to the car to get my camera).
We shuffled through some animal enclosures, first encountering some meerkats, one of which looked wistfully at what he (or she) might do today if he (or she) had the chance.
Next up, a mara, which can be found in the lowlands, forest and bush shrub areas of the Patagonia steppes in Argentina (and here of course). Fun fact: the mara can walk, hop, gallop or bounce on all fours, and have been recorded leaping to heights of 6 feet. Blimey.
Just an anteater stood on its hind legs leaning on a fence whilst using its amazingly long tongue to slurp some concoction or other out of a bottle.
We had a few minutes before the next boat ride and so there was ample time for Gregory and Daisy to hold some panda poses...
...and yet more panda poses...
...and still more panda poses.
There are a few more but that's enough to be going on with, so let's switch to a picture of a red panda instead.
After that little diversion, it was time for the jungle cruise.
Our first sign of water-bound wildlife was a great, hulking hippo, a creature that you do not want to mess with.
Team Allen-Schofield in formation on the boat ride, shaded or capped appropriately.
At the far side of the lake, we saw the gorilla enclosure, with two of the beasts visible here. They are cordoned off by the lake, although according to our guide, they do interact with the sealions, although not in an aggressive way (well, certainly the gorillas are not aggressive, from what I recall).
We had the opportunity to feed the sealions with fish, which Gregory wasn't keen on doing but Daisy did with gusto (much as the nature in which the sealions tucked in to the food thrown directly into their gaping, expectant mouths).
After a pleasant trip up and down the lake, there was a good photo opportunity with a very large gorilla.
On a sunny day, it was time to get some cooling refreshments, with the kids having push-up ice creams.
We then moved on to the predator zone, which was home to scary creatures such as this...
...but also, of course, an adventure playground.
There were other predator displays in the area, but we didn't examine them too closely.
Gregory and I went into an indoor play zone (which I think was called the Play Kingdom), which was somewhat sauna-esque (making it cooler to walk out into the warm summer air), but Gregory was happy to fire balls using air cannons, amongst other things.
Meanwhile, Daisy was outdoors with Lynne, going down a huge slide and ascending this crazy climbing frame.
A little while later, we just happened to wander into a sweet shop. Now that is a selection...
Next up, the Batcave, which saw us wander through a dark building, squinting our eyes to try to see bats, but only really seeing one or two. (We actually went in a little while after this photo due to the kids eating lollies and the Batcave being a food-free zone, perhaps understandably.)
Find out more of our Longleat trip here.
Back to the Secret Portal.