Bournemouth Wheel

A Panoramic View over Bournemouth

2016 was the year I promised myself we would go on the Bournemouth balloon, however, it wasn’t meant to be as it disappeared back in June, never to return.

Thankfully, over the Christmas period, we got to take in panoramic views of Bournemouth from a big wheel standing more than 100 feet tall at Pier Approach.

Isaac and I first rode the wheel after his 100 years of Cubs parade which saw us marching through Bournemouth Gardens covered in glowsticks, before making the cub symbol out of glowsticks in the sand.

100 Years of Cubs

Once we had finished we headed back to the Pier to ride the wheel, which was really quiet. I had expected fantastic views over Bournemouth, however, our town is not as well-lit as I thought and we were left a little disappointed that we couldn’t see much and resolved to come back and ride it in the daytime.

Bournemouth Wheel

Yesterday was a beautiful clear day and after being cooped up a home over the festive period I managed to get the kids out of the house for some fresh air, with a walk along the beach, which was surprisingly warm for the time of year.

Bournemouth Beach

The wheel was much busier than our last visit, however we only waited around 10 minutes to board it as they had efficiently set up two queues which were moving quickly. Sebby was nervous at first and Isaac held his hand until he was more confident.

Bournemouth Wheel

You get three full rotations of the wheel and this time we had longer onboard as all the gondolas were full, therefore we got to enjoy the views over Bournemouth Gardens and Pier as they were unloaded and re-loaded.

Bournemouth Big Wheel

My only frustration is that the Gondolas are surrounded by perspex for safety and being by the sea they are covered in salt so taking photo’s is tricky, but I managed to get a couple through the gaps.

Sebby didn’t want to get off, but I managed to persuade him with a promise of going to see the birds in the Aviary in the Gardens.

Bournemouth Gardens

Isaac and Eliza wanted to do the ice rink, but as I was on my own with them I decided we will wait for a time when I have another pair of hands, so we headed back to the pier where there was a spiral Christmas tree-lined walkway leading to a letter box to the North Pole to explore.

Bournemouth

It was a lovely day out with the kids and although the big wheel doesn’t raise you to the dizzy heights of the balloon, at least I can say that I have seen Bournemouth from above now.

The Bournemouth Wheel costs £5 per adult, £4 per child and £16 for a family and is open from 10am-10pm until 7th January 2017. Don’t forget to take ID with you as BH residents get 50p off too.

Country Kids

Christmas

All the Magic of Christmas at Weymouth SeaLife Centre

This December we were invited to be guided through Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park’s festive forest by Weymouth’s jolly Elf, Bauble Jinglebell, to meet Father Christmas in his enchanting Christmas Cabin.

Father Christmas has travelled all the way from the North Pole to visit Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park, where he will be residing from now until Christmas Eve, giving each child he meets a special SEA LIFE gift.

After looking around the park and seeing all our favourite sea creatures we found the reindeer stables where we waited to be greeted by Elf, Bauble Jinglebell.

weymouth-sealife

The kids stayed quiet and posed for photo’s for all of a minute before they decided it would be a good idea to have a hay fight.

It didn’t take long for the Elf to arrive and greet us in time for our 3.45pm timeslot and she introduced herself and led us through the magical forest, where she taught us a magic snow dance which made it snow.

weymouth-sealife

Playtime in the snow over, it was time to head inside to the log cabin to see Father Christmas himself, whom I have to admit is the most authentic I have seen in years.

He spoke gently, asked the kids lots questions of questions and made the two older ones believe he really does fly all over the world, teaching them about time zones and where he starts his journey.

weymouth-sealife-

They each came away with a small gift, before heading back into the park for some more fishy fun.

weymouth-sealife-

As our appointment was late in the day, we arrived at the park at 2pm, expecting to stay longer after we had seen Father Christmas but we were not aware that the park closed at 4pm so we didn’t get to see everything we wanted to, if you want to visit it is worth bearing this in mind.

Weymouth Sealife

The kids were all disappointed that Adventure Island and the advertised Christmas Craft Zone were both closed. They had been looking forward to colouring their own Christmas tree decorations and writing their letter to Father Christmas.

If you are feeling peckish after a visit to Father Christmas Festive Fayre is serving up sumptuous hot chocolate and Christmas gingerbread or a warming mulled cider and delicious mince pies. There’s something for everyone – whether you’ve been naughty or nice!

Weymouth Sealife

Tickets to see Father Christmas cost £7 per person on top of the entry price (£6 for Merlin Annual Pass holders) and can be booked here: visitsealife.com/weymouth/discover/events/meet-father-christmas-at-sea-life/

Exploring #SpookySeas at Weymouth Sealife Centre

Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park has turned the spotlight on scary critters of the deep this Halloween.

As well as meeting creepy spider crabs, batfish, ghost knifefish and other appropriately named creatures, we got to find lettered pumpkins that told us that humans who are the real monsters! (Sssshhhh I may have given you the answer to the challenge there).

The Park’s special package of fright-fest’ entertainment is on now until Sunday 30th October and also highlights the horrors that pollution, over-fishing and other human follies are inflicting on the marine world.

spooky-seas

Of course there is lots of fishy fun too, plus spooky fact finding, lantern making, scary crafts and fancy dress.

Spooky Seas at Weymouth Sealife Centre

For a small extra charge (£3 pp), you can meet Weymouth Sealife Centre’s resident witch, Zelda.

Hubble bubble toil and trouble……. enter the Enchanted Cabin set among the Wetlands, where you get to find the ingredients to help Zelda make spooky and ghoulish potions to help cure her sister from a terrible illness, before she makes you your very own potion to take away. What potion would you choose?

spooky-seas-

Once you have drunk your magic slushy potion, you are brave enough enjoy the rest of the park including some scary and not so scary rides!

Exploring #SpookySeas at Weymouth Sealife Centre

Separate tickets apply for the magical experience with Zelda and to secure your place at the cauldron, book now at sealifeweymouth.com

Moors Valley Railyway 30th Birthday Gala

Last weekend we were invited to the 30th Birthday Gala for Moors Valley Railway.

It wasn’t until the event that I discovered that its origins went back to 1980 when Jim Haylock set up a miniature railway at Tucktonia Miniature Theme Park in Christchurch – somewhere I have very fond memories of visiting as a child.

The miniature railway then moved to the Old Kings Dairy Farm at Moors Valley five years later and opened to the public on 26th July 1986.

Moors Valley Country Park is somewhere we have visited regularly since my eldest children were small as there is so much to do for all ages and it remains a firm favourite with all the family.

Sebastian is train mad, so every visit we have to take a trip on the railway which is a recreation in miniature of a traditional British Railway complete with stations, locomotives, rolling stock, bridges, tunnel, signal boxes, carriage sheds and engineering workshops – in fact the Moors Valley Railway is the south’s longest, fully signalled narrow gauge 71/4 steam railway with the main ride being a mile long.

moors-valley-railway

For the Gala celebrations not only did we get taken on a very special loop of the Moors Valley Railway, but we got to look behind the scenes too.

moors-valley-railway

In its 30th Moors Valley Railway has carried over 3 million passengers, over 100,000 each year. A typical train consists of a barrier wagon, 11 coaches and a guards van and can carry around 65 passengers.

The workshop was fascinating as it is a true main line in miniature and has seen the construction of over 20 steam and two diesel locomotives, many of which were out on display.

moors-valley-railway

Of course the day wasn’t all about the trains as the kids were keen to explore the other things the park has to offer.

Moors Valley is somewhere I always recommend to visitors to Hampshire and Dorset as there is just so much to do with over 1000 acres to explore. There is forest trails (nature, play and story), kids parks, cycle tracks, an 18 hole golf course, fishing, the railway and picnic areas plus Go Ape, the award-winning tree-top adventure course with Tarzan swings, zip wires and Segways to try your hand at.

moors-valley

The Rangers also arrange over 300 special events throughout the year, ranging from nature walks, fishing lessons and off-road cycling to miniature railway events, art and photographic exhibitions and golf coaching. For children at the moment there is the Young Ranger challenge which involves 40 exciting challenges to complete and Joanne from CharlieMoos and her family have been busily ticking them off.

After burning some energy off in the park, we, and the CharlieMoos crew tried our hand at some Go Ape fun. Keep your eyes peeled for a post coming soon ………….

go-ape-moors-valley

Special events at Moors Valley coming up soon are:

6th November 2016 – Tank Engine Day

10th/11th and 17th/18th December – Santa Specials

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall