From farms to waterparks, the best family holidays this October half-term from just £23pp a night
SCHOOL’S out again in a couple of weeks – and those energetic kids are going to need entertaining.
Mindful of budgets, holiday companies are offering some great deals on short and week-long breaks at home and abroad.
Trisha Harbord has a host of half-term offers waiting to be snapped up.
DOWN ON THE FARM
HEAD to the Malvern Hills for a warm welcome from the Knowles family.
Austin and Faye and their four children run Hollings Hill Farm, a working dairy farm in Herefordshire.
Kids will love watching the cows being milked, collecting eggs and petting animals, plus they can romp around the glamping site to their delight.
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The canvas hideaways have stoves and en-suites and you can book a hot tub.
Buy fresh products from the shop to cook your own stew over the open fire.
There are fantastic views over the hills, perfect for walking and biking. Visit Malvern Priory with its Norman nave and pillars and Eastnor Castle, near Ledbury, which has a maze, zip-wire, tree-top walkway and adventure playground.
Four nights’ self-catering for up to six people from October 24 costs £490 in total. See .
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STARS IN THEIR EYES
TAKE budding astronomers to the Dark Skies Fringe Festival on the North York Moors.
There’s a whole range of events, including navigating the hills in the dark, spotting nocturnal owls and going out on a wildlife adventure with a forest ranger.
There are also art and photography classes and you can ride on steam train the Light Spectacular Express – the local railway heritage carriages will be decorated with thousands of lights.
Stargaze at the Coast And Camplight glamping site near the seaside resort of Whitby, with views of the abbey.
Safari-style tents sleeping four people have a kitchen, comfy beds, log burner and fire pit for those marshmallows.
The festival runs from October 21-30. For more information, see .
Self-catering tent from October 27-30 costs £115 a night. See .
POET’S CORNER
AFTER a £20million refurbishment, Dylan Coastal Resort is as fabulous as the views.
The family-friendly holiday spot in Laugharne overlooks Carmarthen Bay where Welsh poet Dylan Thomas was inspired to write.
Now a museum, his boathouse is a ten-minute walk from the resort which has an infinity pool, spa, panoramic sun terrace, bar and restaurant.
Nearby attractions include Manor Wildlife Park with species such as rhinos, apes and tigers, and bowling venue Xcel Bowl, which also has a soft play area for kids.
Ride on the Gwili steam railway through farmland and spend a day at Blue Lagoon, jumping the waves and zooming down flumes at the subtropical indoor waterpark.
Four nights’ self-catering for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom lodge from October 24, costs from £755. See .
BIG CRUISE SAIL
THERE is a great half-term deal to cruise the Canaries on P&;O’s Azura.
And once on board the 3,000-guest ship, you have free entertainment for all the family – films, bands, dancing, cabaret performances, quiz shows, discos and more.
Adults can go for a workout in the gym or a pampering spa session after dropping the kids into dedicated clubs split for tots to teens.
Azura has four pools and ten restaurants from a pizzeria to fine dining.
The ship sails on a round-trip from Tenerife – home to Spain’s highest point, 12,000ft Mount Teide – calling at Madeira, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote with excursions to explore the islands.
A seven-night fly-cruise including full-board in an inside family cabin and return flights from Gatwick, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham or Cardiff on October 22, is from £649pp. See .
BACK TO NATURE
YOU’LL be spoiled for choice with the number of activities at France’s Les Villages Nature, just outside Paris.
The leafy resort has five immersive worlds where families can have fun in the woods, gardens, farm and in the biggest water park to be heated with geothermal energy in Europe.
Called Aqualagon, the waterpark has eight slides, a wave pool, a climbing wall and a giant water tree.
There are workshops galore, including beekeeping, chocolate and bread-making and den-building, along with yoga, canoe and bike hire, tree trails and pedal boats.
The park is just four miles from Disneyland Paris and shuttle buses run there regularly.
Seven nights’ self-catering for a family of four sharing a two-bedroom Comfort Cottage from October 22 costs from £2,199. See .
REIGN IN SPAIN
BENIDORM is always popular for families looking for a low-cost break away.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t holiday in style – with accommodation options such as the tallest hotel in Europe.
Standing 610ft high, the 4H Gran Club Mali dominates the Benidorm skyline and has a glass panoramic lift offering spectacular views over Spain’s Costa Blanca sea and mountains.
It is just 350 yards from sandy Poniente Beach and even closer to restaurants, bars and pubs.
In addition, you can enjoy nearby shopping, golf, street markets and theme parks.
Kids will love the hotel’s pools, playground and games room and adults can relax in the wellness centre with a Turkish bath, sauna and Jacuzzi.
Seven nights’ B&B with flights from Gatwick on October 21 costs from £597pp. See .
MAKING WAVES
FAMILIES can get away to Cornwall for just £23 per person – and take a couple of dogs with them too.
Award-winning Sun Haven holiday park at Mawgan Porth, near Newquay, is set on the edge of a wood within walking distance of a golden beach, shops, pubs and restaurants.
If you are into surfing, Fistral Beach – world-famous for the sport – is up the road.
The park has a board and wetsuit washing facility, showers for dogs too, a kids’ playground and cafe.
Visit the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay, take a speed boat ride from Padstow harbour or have fun at Camel Creek Adventure theme park and zoo.
Head for Siblyback Lake to go boating, kayaking, paddle-boarding and canoeing.
Three nights’ self-catering for six in a three-bedroom caravan from October 21 costs £138 in total. See .
HIGHLAND FLING
THE Highlands are calling families for a luxury break on a country estate.
Surrounded by dramatic landscape and rolling hills, Wyndham Duchally is set in 27 acres in Perthshire, near to the famous Gleneagles golf course.
And it’s only half an hour from Dunfermline, where King Charles just visited to celebrate its new city status.
Hotel guests can enjoy bike tours and walking trails in the Ochil Hills or relax in the leisure centre with indoor pools, a wellness centre with Jacuzzi and steam room.
The Monteaths restaurant has a children’s menu, uses local produce and features a whisky bar and craft gin distillery.
Visit Drummond Castle gardens and Dunblane cathedral and museum.
A two-bedroom self-catering lodge until October 29 costs £150 a night. See .
TURKISH TREAT
THERE’S still a chance to top up your tan in the Turkish resort of Olu Deniz.
Temperatures will be in the mid-20s, so the Hotel Karbel is perfect – it has pools, sun terrace and is close to the beach.
You can walk to shops, bars and restaurants and Turkey is still one of the cheapest holiday destinations.
Olu Deniz, a small fishing village on the southern coast with the mountains as a backdrop, is popular because of its stunning scenery and seven-mile shallow Blue Lagoon. Swim in it or hire a canoe or paddle boat.
The three-star hotel offers buffet and a la carte meals and evening entertainment.
Seven nights’ all-inclusive, including flights from Manchester on October 21, costs £728pp, based on two adults and two children sharing a room. See .
FREE-DOM ISLAND
LET the kids run wild on the car-free island of Herm with special activities for half-term.
You’ll travel to the tiny island on the Isle of Herm ferry from St Peter Port in Guernsey, with children travelling free.
And there are more savings as the 4H White House Hotel on the seafront is offering free B&B to kids under 15.
The local Mermaid Tavern, an old fisherman’s pub, is putting on bingo and quiz nights, a movie, popcorn and boards evening and disco.
You can also make your own pizzas and ice-cream.
Explore Herm’s unspoilt beaches, cliff walks, go coasteering, kayaking or paddle boarding. Six nights’ B&B for two adults and two children sharing, from October 23, is from £870. Herm ferry return, adult £16. See .
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Return ferry from Poole or Portsmouth to Guernsey for a car and family costs from £620.
To book or for more details, see .