Days Out

Climbing High at the O2

Last year during a visit to London we discovered you could walk over the top of the O2 and from that moment Hubby and Kian kept dropping hints that they wanted to do it.

I am an O2 customer and they run half price promotions on certain days of the year, but each time they did it clashed with Hubby’s work so we didn’t get to take advantage of the offers. I decided enough was enough and this half term we had tickets to Comic Con over the river at the Excel so it seemed the perfect time to book them on.

The minimum age for the climb is 10 years old (and 1.2m tall) so it was just Hubby and Kian doing the climb this time. After the initial booking in it was time to watch a short safety video and get ready. You are not allowed to take bags or items up with you so these are packed away in a blue crate which is wheeled around the O2 so they are waiting for you at the other side.

You are provided with a Climbing jacket, Boots, a Harness and the Latch for the climb. Apparently the boots are the most comfortable they have ever worn and once you are ready it is time to climb.

Up at the O2

They had planned to take the Go Pro up with us and charged it prior to our trip, but somehow left it switched on so the battery was dead which was a real shame, but thankfully were allowed to take the camera and phone up with them as long as it was kept away until they got to the top. Anything dropped on the way up or down could potentially damage the roof of the O2 and would be unlikely to be retrieved.

Ross, the tour guide, gave another brief safety talk and asked if anyone wanted to lead – of course Hubby volunteered straight away and they were clipped onto a safety line and set off.

Up close the walk looks quite steep but you can go at your own pace and the boys say it was fairly easy. Ross, the tour guide, gave a fantastic commentary and happily pointed out all the sites which included Historic Greenwich, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Canary Wharf.

Up at the O2

Our booking was at 3.30pm and the sun was starting to dip which made for an even more spectacular view at 52 metres in the air.

Up at the O2

At the top you get to walk around a large circular walkway so you can take in the 360° views.

Up at the O2

There is also an app you can download which gives you a labelled view of the skyline as well as staying up to date with the weather.

Up at the O2

The climb itself takes around an hour, but with the briefing before hand the whole experience lasts around 90 minutes. At the end of the climb you are reunited with your belongings and offered the chance to purchase photo’s of the climb which were a very reasonable £10 and a great reminder of the day.

Up at the O2

Hubby has promised me that next time he will take me to climb the O2 and this time we will make sure the Go Pro is charged!!

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

It’s easier to go down a hill but the view is much better at the top!!

This week is half term and typically Sebastian has come down with the lurgy so we had to spend two days indoors, which is most unlike us. By Wednesday we were all going a little stir crazy, but as Sebby still wasn’t quite himself we decided that it would be safer to take him somewhere quiet where he could not share his bug.

Badbury Rings is an Iron Age Hill Fort set just up the road from us, just outside Wimborne in east Dorset.  The site dates from around 800 BC and was in use until the Roman occupation of 43 AD. It is a site of historical importance, but more importantly for the children it is somewhere where they can run and play and hide and seek to their hearts content.

We arrived just after lunch to an almost empty free car park and set about putting on welly boots as the last couple of days had been very wet. Cue an almighty meltdown from Sebastian who didn’t want to wear his wellies so after a 10 minute stand off I relented and let him wear his shoes and suddenly my happy boy reappeared.

Badbury Rings

Badbury Rings is a high point in the local landscape and provides excellent views in all directions. Isaac, Eliza and Sebastian enjoyed climbing the fortifications to see what they could see around them.

Badbury Rings

We headed into the woods at the centre of the fort, but as they were shaded it was quite boggy in places, so we decided that playing on the rings was a much more sensible idea as the ground was much drier.

Badbury Rings

Sebby brought his binoculars with him so we were playing a game of what we could see. From the rear of Bradbury Rings we spotted Kingston Lacey House and the town of Wimborne. We saw a Buzzard flying high on its search for food and a Chinook helicopter that has been around for days, apparently on a training exercise. Isaac brought his sonic screwdriver along and him and Eliza were playing Doctor and his assistant – even the Tardis dropped in for a visit at one point.

Badbury Rings

We spent a good hour and a half exploring Badbury Rings, walking up and down the forts and finding mini beasts. Getting fresh air did Sebby the world of good and he seemed much chirpier afterwards and actually ate his dinner which he hasn’t done all week.

Badbury Rings

I think we have found a new favourite place to visit with the children and next time we hope Sebby will wear his wellies so we can explore further!!

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

A Stylish Christmas with My Little Pony

Last weekend we were invited to to the launch of Rainbow Dash Style & Groom at Happy Faces in Wandsworth.

Happy Faces is a children’s hair salon that has the salon upstairs with hairdressing chairs that all the kids wanted to sit in, followed by two further floors with party rooms where the kids could get their nails painted, have glitter tattoos and most importantly get up close and personal with Rainbow Dash Style & Groom where they got to test out their hair styling creativity.

We started off downstairs where we were introduced to Rainbow Dash and the kids were quick to get started. Eliza demanded I put little plaits in her mane, whilst her and Isaac got stuck into covering her in stickers.

Rainbow Dash Style & Groom

Rainbow Dash comes with a long mane of multi-coloured hair which children can be adventurous in creating new hairstyles on the mane before trying the look themselves. Also included are colourful Cutie Mark stickers, gems, hair beads, a comb, clips and bobbles.

Once we had created our personal style on Rainbow Dash, Eliza got to have it recreated on her hair and we headed upstairs for some girly pampering.

Rainbow Dash Style and Groom

We had a lovely time playing with Rainbow Dash Style and Groom and catching up with some other bloggers and their girls. Poor Isaac and Sebby were the only boys there but gamely joined in and Isaac made Eliza a necklace out of all the beads he could find.

Rainbow Dash Style and Groom3

Rainbow Dash Style and Groom is a great take on popular styling heads and a must have for any My Little Pony loving girls! It is available from Amazon, Argos, Asda, Toys R Us, The Entertainer, Hamleys, Harrods, John Lewis, Very, Littlewoods, Tesco Direct, Smyths and Boots priced at RRP £24.99.

Zip World

If it scares you it might be a good thing to try!!!!

Every since a visit to Adrenalin Quarry and Eden Project in Cornwall, Hubby and Kian have gone Zip Line crazy, so when we saw Zip World on the news we knew we just had to visit.

Zip World is situated in Snowdonia National Park in North Wales, which is a good 6 hour drive away from us, so we knew we would have to stay overnight. Over the summer we were offered a review of The Broadway Hotel in Llandudno and our prayers were answered – we were off to North Wales.

We set off from Bournemouth early Saturday morning and arrived in North Wales at lunchtime. The boys were booked in to do the Tree Top Adventure on Saturday afternoon, with Zip World being saved for Sunday.

There are four different adventures to be had at Zipworld – three in one location; Titan, Zip World Caverns and Bounce Below and the longest and fastest Zip line at another, Velocity.

One day is not enough to do all four zips, so we booked onto Titan, Zip World Caverns and Bounce Below.

Zip World Titan

Zip World Titan is a four person zip line which offers spectacular views over moor, mountain and mine and encompasses three separate zip lines – Anarchy, Bedlam and Chaos! Each rider travels over 2,000m and the total length of the zip lines is over 8,000m!

Hubby and Kian got kitted out in a red flight suit (I did comment they looked a bit like Dr Who when he went in the mine, safety harnesses and helmets before being taken by vehicle to the start of the first zip line, Anarchy – the longest of the three.

Zip World Titan

There were 9 people in their group, so the first four went first, followed by a group of three and then hubby and Kian.

The first zip is the longest, but the slowest of the three so it eases you in gently with breathtaking scenery all around you.  Once you have gone down the zip, there is then a short and scenic walk between the end and start of zip line 2.

Zip World Titan

Whilst riding Bedlam and Chaos hubby had to wear a small parachute on his back to slow him down as they came into land as the zips are a lot faster than the previous one. The last zip line, Chaos, takes riders back to Llechwedd Slate Cavern where they started. This involves flying high over the buildings as you come in to land.

Zip World Titan

Riding the zip lines was an exhilarating experience for both Hubby and Kian and you can see how they got on in my short video below.

Zip World Caverns

Zip World Caverns is the world’s largest fully underground zip line and adventure course is the perfect balance between exhilaration and fear, with adrenalin really kicking in as you tackle zip lines, rope bridges, obstacles and tunnels in almost complete darkness.

Zip World Caverns

You stay in your red suit and helmet but are also given protective gloves for this adventure. It is also important to ensure you have warm clothing as the caverns are a chilly 10 °C all year round and it is quite a walk down to where you start.

Sadly our Go Pro footage was inside is too dark, but we did film the walk down so you get an idea of what is inside.

Bounce Below

Bounce Below is directly below Zip World Titan and is a thrilling experience hidden underground in a 176-year old disused slate cavern with giant trampolines, walkways, slides and tunnels all made from netting.

You are not wearing a protective suit for this and my only tip is don’t wear jeans with buttons on the pockets as these got ripped off. You also wear bizarre netting cover over your shoes to protect both your shoes and the netting in the cavern itself.

Bounce Below

The trampoline like nets of Bounce Below are hung within two vast chambers at different levels, so you can bounce, climb and slide just like a giant playground for adults. You are completely enclosed in the nets so there is no fear of falling and they have split the young children (age 3 to 6) from teens and adults for safety. Expect an hour of giggling as you release your inner child!

The boys had so much fun that we intend to go back next year with all of us, but this time add in Zip World Velocity which is the longest zip line in Europe and reaches speeds well in excess of 100mph can be reached. I cannot fault Zip World or Bounce Below, their service was bright and cheery and safety is paramount but the emphasis was on having oodles of fun!!

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

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