7 of Britain's best kept secret tourist attractions for families
A selection of our favourites for you to visit
Hampshire’s hidden secrets
Not far from the bustling noise and traffic of London is the tranquil peace and fresh air of Blackwood Forest, the perfect base to discover Hampshire’s hidden secrets.
Take a short drive to Andover and visit The Museum of the Iron Age with lots of fun facts and exhibits demonstrating life in Iron Age Britain. If you have a Lego fan in the family they’ll love the detailed Lego hill fort, while everyone will find plenty to do in the activity hall. Not only is this hidden treasure a great place to visit, it’s completely free.
Golden Oak Treehouse across a magical rope bridge
Lost in Gloucestershire
All explorers know how to navigate by the stars, but we are fairly sure you’ll be just fine during the day, finding your way through The amazing Hedge Puzzle in the Wye Valley, close to our hot tub cabins in Forest of Dean.
A fantastic example of a traditional hedge maze, there’s plenty of fun to be had playing tag and solving the puzzles. The maze is right next to the Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo, giving your family plenty to fill the whole day.
Close up of the trees at Forest of Dean
Family days out in Norfolk
Find out how wheat was ground into flour using wind power at Denver Windmill near Downham Market. The windmill sails were destroyed by lightning in 1941, but it has since been restored and is now back in use. There is also a bakery, visitor centre and tea rooms on site. Downham Market is a beautiful and ancient Saxon market town on the edge of the River Great Ouse, a short distance from the greenery of Thorpe Forest.
Head north-east from your holiday log cabin in Thorpe Forest to the curiosities to be found at Bewilderwood, an activity filled adventure land for the whole family. Climb treehouses, swing on jungle bridges and discover exciting creatures in this magical land.
Cabin nestled between the trees at Thorpe Forest in Norfolk
Discover Yorkshire
Before cars and aeroplanes, every great voyager travelled by way of their trusty steed. Your adventure starts here, at the Bilsdale Riding Centre, with a trek across the heather-clad moors. After a day’s riding, soothe away aching muscles in your private hot tub on the decking of your lodge at Cropton or Keldy.
As a (slightly) more modern adventurer, perhaps you prefer the comfort of steam. Take to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and discover Goathland, a village virtually untouched by time and yet quite a famous location – parents will recognise scenery from Heartbeat and All Creatures Great and Small, while children will find themselves on the Hogsmeade platform, ready to journey on to Harry Potter’s school at Hogwarts. A perfect day out and ideally located near to both our Yorkshire log cabin holiday locations at Cropton and our Keldy.
Cabins at Keldy in North Yorkshire
Family secrets in Scotland
Teen heroes may feel they are ready to face a more daunting challenge. Leave the safety of your modern cabin in Strathyre, and step back in time as you discover ghosts, murder and mystery on the Ghost Walks of Stirling. As an ancient medieval town with a long history, there are plenty of tales to create a truly frightening evening.
Of course, every traveller needs their safe haven. Get safely home to your cabin and you’ll soon be recounting tales of derring-do over the evening BBQ, as you relax and unwind in the gentle evening sounds of the forest...
View of Strathyre across the loch in Scotland