Dorset

The Stick Man Trail at Moors Valley 2016

The Stick Man trail was last at Moors Valley back in 2013 and the kids loved all the activities there were to do as we walked around the self-led trail and now it is back with new challenges and a new route to explore until the end of February and because the kids saw the film on Christmas Day they were even more excited to take part and of course Stick Man himself had to come with us.

We planned our visit around a break in the rain to help Stick Man find his way back to his family tree and be reunited with his Stick Lady Love, and his Stick children three.

The trail is basically the play trail backwards and leads you through the forest using activity points with activities based on the Stick Man book allowing them to live the epic adventures of Stick Man, finding characters from the book and learning about the importance of forests for people, wildlife and timber.
Stick Man Trail

We had to build a cosy nest, trying and hit a pine cone with a stick from 3 metres away, find a curves stick to make a bow and arrow and of course, make our very own Stick Man.

You can also buy activity packs for £3, which include a fun-packed activity leaflet, sheets to create your own Stick Man rubbing and pipe cleaners to make your own Stick Man, a chunky crayon and a pencil, but they are not essential as the boards have all the challenges on and the trail is clearly signposted.

Stick Man Trail

The kids had lots of fun doing all the activities, squelching in the mud and sploshing their way through the muddy puddles and as they did so well I promised them a visit to the park afterwards. The park for the older kids was open but for no apparent reason the park for Sebby’s age was closed off which was a real shame as there was nothing really for him to do apart from watch the miniature train as it trundled around the outside of the park.

Moors Valley

Despite the park being closed, we had a lot of fun doing the Stick Man Trail and you can sign up to the Stick Man and friends email newsletter to receive exclusive offers, free activity sheets, information on events and more.

Ringstead Bay

A Winters Day at Ringstead Bay

As a family we have challenged ourselves to visit every beach in Dorset and we made a good start in 2015 by ticking off Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, Swanage, Portland, Charmouth, West Bay, Lyme Regis, Kimmeridge Bay and Burton Bradstock as well as the 7 miles of beach we have in our home town of Bournemouth.

Yesterday we headed to the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth and had planned to go up in the Sea Life Tower too but sadly it was closed. I was going to take the kids onto the beach in Weymouth but as we drove in I remembered seeing a sign for Ringstead Bay, somewhere which had been recommended to me but we hadn’t yet visited, so we headed back out-of-town in search of somewhere new to visit.

Ringstead Bay lies on the Jurassic Coast and is known for its natural beauty and fossils. The car park is a short walk from the beach and as we rounded the corner of the path to get a view of the beach it was a real “WOW” moment.

Ringstead Bay

Ringstead Bay has a pebble and shingle beach with some sand and Sebby wasn’t sure at first as the shingle was quite tricky to walk on, however he soon found his balance and headed down towards the water where they all threw pebbles into the water to make different sounds.

Ringstead Bay

There was lots of seaweed and other debris washed up on the beach thanks to the recent storms and we found a couple of mermaids purses, but Eliza was far more interested in spinning around and using the seaweed like a gymnasts ribbon.

We then headed around the corner and down the wooden steps to another section of the beach. This was framed by clay cliffs and the kids were fascinated by the soft texture of the clay which was dotted along the beach. We didn’t find any fossils as I didn’t want the kids too close to the cliffs as they are unstable because of the amount of rain we have had recently.

Ringstead Bay

We spent a good two hours exploring the bay and playing on the beach. We even spotted a couple of Cormorants on top of a pole who appeared to be having an in-depth conversation with each other.

Ringstead Bay

It was a lovely afternoon by the sea and we certainly be back when it is warmer as there is a small outcrop of rock which appears when the tide is low which we want to explore. We could just make it out as waves were breaking over it.

Ringstead Bay

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

The Somerford

Somerford Beefeater has re-opened its doors with a brand new look!

Somerford Beefeater has re-opened its doors with a brand new look and we were invited down to check out the designer interior and mouthwatering menu.

We last visited in September and didn’t think it needed a new look, however the restaurant has undergone a huge makeover in just eight days, with a fresh look inside and out creating a light, welcoming environment and with booth seating for large groups inside, a comfortable bar area and a modern design.

The updated menu is packed full of favourites for the whole family, including succulent steaks, BeefPasties, Mega Ribs and Oven-Baked Seabass. You will also find plenty of classics including Beer-Battered Cod & Chips and the Beefeater Mixed Grill, each prepared with care and presented with flare. And if these weren’t enough, Beefeater is now offering unlimited skinny or triple cooked chips with selected main meals.

The new menu has even created new roles, and all staff have undergone expert steak and wine training. Despite the restaurant’s new image, familiar friendly staff members remain ready to welcome everyone through the doors, ensuring that guest’s every need is met.

Kelly Redmond, General Manager of Somerford Beefeater said: “All these great changes make Beefeater even more inviting and we’re proud to reopen our doors. We have spent a lot of time working on the presentation of the new look to give our guests the wow factor. We are confident our guests will enjoy the changes as much as we do and friends and families can make the most of their time here. It’s still their Beefeater – but with a modern twist.

Beefeater is all about affordable quality and has great value always-on offers, catering for all manner of tastes. Steak and chips start from just £10.99, Daytime Menu dishes start from £4.99 Monday – Saturday and with kid’s eating free breakfast every day, a visit to Beefeater won’t break the bank either.

We visited last Sunday and saw some of the changes as we pulled up. Gone is the old porch and instead a large, modern wooden plaque features outside with the same Somerford carved into it.

The Somerford

The most significant changes I saw inside was to the bar area and the entrance where we were greeted and shown to our table in the large extension which now has comfy booths to sit in with lots of cow themed artwork to admire.

The Somerford

As it was a Sunday, Kian, Hubby and I all ordered from their Sunday Roast menu. Hubby and I went for Lamb which was perfectly cooked and came with lots of fresh vegetables and Kian went for the chicken which was also delicious. Isaac, Eliza and Sebby chose from the children’s menu and because they can be fussy were able to pick and choose what sides they wanted with their main meals.

The Somerford

I have to admit that as it was a Sunday it was fairly busy and the service was not as good as it had been on our last visit, but the meals arrived within 20 minutes of ordering them. We did have to flag the waiter down to clear the table and order our desserts, but once they had been ordered they did arrive within 10 minutes.

The Somerford

All in all we loved the new look of The Somerford Beefeater and will definately return. The only think that would have improved our visit was to have been served by Lyn but I think she must have had a much-needed day off as we didn’t see her.

If you are visiting your local Beefeater it is worth checking their website or app before you visit as we received a BOGOF voucher of the main meals which took our bill down from £76 to £65. That was for two courses and drinks for 3 adults and 3 children which is very reasonable.

Disclaimer: We were given a £50 gift voucher towards our meal for the purposes of a review.

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

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