By Parkdean Resorts on 06/05/2021
From 17th May 2021, Coronavirus safety measures are due to be relaxed further, just in time for May half term! If you’re wondering where the best places are to take the kids during the May holidays, then wonder no more. We’ve put together some of the top places which will be open to the public during the May holidays.
Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or history geek, there’s definitely something to inspire you to get out and about this May Half Term in 2021. With holiday parks across the UK, Parkdean Resorts is the perfect base from which to explore all corners of the beautiful British Isles, and get stuck into some of these exciting activities.
So if you’re still unsure of what to do this May Half Term, make the most of fantastic savings on short breaks and 7-night holidays with our last minute May Half Term deals.
The Best Holidays for May Half Term Activities
Holiday parks make the best locations for holidays and short breaks during half term as you have everything you need in one perfect location. We have recently made big investments in seven of our holiday parks, to make them even better for both kids and adults to enjoy. We have packed them full of new activities and facilities ready for the 2021 season. As far as new facilities go at the parks, we have brand new high ropes courses, virtual reality rooms, bungee trampolines, new sports domes and some parks even have dog agility areas! You can enjoy Pirate crazy golf at Cayton Bay or Lizard Point, or if you’re in the mood for a more prehistoric vibe then Warmwell Holiday Park hosts an impressive new Jurassic crazy golf course.
Test your survival skills at Trecco Bay Holiday Park in Wales at Base Camp where you'll find the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, along with Outdoor ‘n’ Explore. For the keen gamers, we have a brand new Next Level Gaming Arena featuring all of the latest and best consoles as well as gaming PCs. Get the kids involved in arts and crafts, laser tag, hover boarding at selected parks this half term, for a fun-filled holiday to remember.
The Best Walks For Springtime
Springtime is a fantastic time of year to have a long walk and enjoy some of the beautiful natural scenery that the season brings. Our park locations host some of the best places to walk in the UK, with outstanding beaches and impressive, vast countryside spaces. Enjoy the sunshine, blue skies and blooming flowers as you take to your May Half term adventure, exploring the amazing natural sights that Britain has to offer. The best thing about a springtime walk is of course, that they're free!
The Lake District
The Lake District has hundreds of walks for you and the family to enjoy. Whether it’s a countryside trail, a lakeside stroll or a mountainous climb, the breath taking Lake District has it all. We have 4 different holiday parks at the lakes and they are all located in ideal places for great spring walking routes and hiking trails. Fallbarrow and White Cross Bay Holiday Park are located right by Windermere lake, meaning you can enjoy some lovely lakeside strolls without having to travel far. Limefitt and Gatebeck are both great locations for finding the best walks in the Lake District, suitable for all of the family.
Cornwall
Cornwall is home to miles of unspoiled coastline, so if beach walks are what you love, this is certainly the holiday destination for you this May Half Term. Cornwall is one of our most popular locations and we have 8 holiday parks nearby the best walking spots in Cornwall. If you are staying at Lizard Point, be sure to include Kynance Cove in your walking route for spectacular views and to see the Kynance Cove cows grazing on the Cliffside. Crantock Beach is situated near fields of wild flowers making it wonderfully colourful and ideal for a spring walk. Cornwall's coast is home to lots of marine life including seals and dolphins that you may catch a glimpse of on your walks this half term.
Scotland
Scotland is a great place for long, scenic walks, with vast countryside and beautiful sights. We have 8 holiday parks in Scotland meaning lots of different options if you’re looking for your ideal walk. Visit beautiful lochs and stunning beaches this half term. If you are staying at Wemyss Bay Holiday Park, there is a stunning waterfall at Gleniffer Braes Country Park, which is under an hour’s drive away. You will find miles of walking trails around Craigie Linn Waterfall but it’s often quite muddy up there, so make sure you take your wellies!
Best Holidays to Witness Nature
For all of you nature lovers, eager to witness some impressive nature, make sure you don’t miss out on visiting these recommended places this half term. The UK is packed full of exciting nature experiences and most of them come absolutely free. From animal sightings, to forests and stargazing you can see it all this May break.
Stargazing
Stargazing is an interesting, fun and educational experience for all of the family to enjoy. The best places to stargaze are places with the least light pollution which usually means countryside locations. Scotland is up there with one of the best locations to see stars, so if you’re a guest at one of our 8 Scottish holiday parks, you could be in for a treat! National parks are a great place to see stars because they have no light pollution. If you want to learn more about stargazing and where to find the best spots, head over to our Stargazing blog post.
Forest Fun
The UK is home to some of the best forests for walks, discovering wildlife and beautiful scenery. Grizedale forest in the Lake District is a well-known and popular forest to visit. It’s located between Coniston and Windermere and is perfect for a spring scenic stroll, family day out or an exciting bike trail. We have 3 holiday parks in the Lake District and this forest is just 30 minutes away from them.
Another impressive forest worthy of a mention is Pressmennan Wood in Scotland. This forest is just 30 minutes from Eyemouth Holiday Park and great for kids. The forest has so much to see including sculptures of creatures and fairies, giving kids the chance to go on an adventure in the woods to find their magical houses. There is also a beautiful lake where you can take in the panoramic views and if you love wildlife, the forest is home to deer, bats, hares, otters and owls. For more fantastic forests, check out our Forests To Visit blog.
Marine Life
Marine Life sightings are often such a rarity that when you do stumble upon a marine animal in its natural environment, it can be super exciting. If you’re looking for dolphins, head to Cardigan Bay on the West Coast of Wales. This is home to the largest pod of bottlenose dolphins in the UK. There are a range of boat tours and cruises available for if you want to really get up close. This area is located just an hour from our Brynowen Holiday Park.
Head to the Farne Islands, located just off the coast of Northumberland, this half term if you want to see lots of sea birds such as puffins, long tailed ducks, terns and guillemots. You can experience these up close on a cruise, along with dolphins and more marine life. The Farne Islands are just 45 minutes from our Eyemouth Holiday Park.
Blakeney Point in Norfolk seems to attract a lot of mothering seals, making it a great spot for a seal pup sighting. This area is located just over an hour away from California Cliffs Holiday Park. You can either see the seals from a boat trip or from the sand dunes. For more tips on where to spot Marine life, head over to our Marine Life Hotspots blog post.
Top May Local Attractions
There are so many exciting things to do on park this year, your holiday itinerary is sure to be jam packed. If you’ve still got time, there are lots of fun family local attractions nearby each of our parks. Let’s take a look at our list of our top local attractions across the UK, for inspiration of things to do with your friends and family this holiday.
The Eden Project
- Address: Bodelva, Par, Cornwall, PL24 2SG
- Admission: Visit the Eden Project website for latest ticket prices and to pre-book tickets
The first May Half Term local attraction on our list is perfect for those curious about the world we live in. Cornwall's incredible tourist attraction is welcoming visitors once again. The Eden project will be celebrating the reawakening of the gardens this May half term with daily live music sessions in the Med Biome. There is a brand new family trail around the gardens which shows the incredible resilience of plants. Come along to witness the incredible journeys the plants take to provide our world with wild and diverse flora.
Not only is the Eden Project set to be a fantastic day out for all the family, but it'll also be a great opportunity to learn more about the planet and the incredible things that we can only begin to understand. Be sure to book your time slot online before you arrive!
Video courtesy of edenprojecttv
Holidaymakers visiting Looe Bay, White Acres or St. Minver will be pleased to hear that the stunning Eden Project is less than a 40-minute drive away. The awe-inspiring museum is a collection of domes housing different climates, along with an amazing array of plant and wildlife. There's even England's longest zip wire and a rainforest canopy walkway, what more can you want from a day out?!
Brockhole on Windermere
- Address: The Lake District Visitor Centre, Windermere, LA23 1LJ
- Admission: Prices vary depending on which activities you choose, pre-book online
If you're looking for a bit of excitement this half term then definitely consider a visit to Brockhole. A 15-minute walk from White Cross Bay, and less than 10-minutes in the car from Fallbarrow and Limefitt, Brockhole sits just a stone's throw from Lake Windermere.
The centre offers lots of fun activities for you and the family to enjoy from archery to boat hire and tree top treks. Once you've had enough of the action packed activities, enjoy some wonderful food in the Cumbrian café or browse the gift shop.
Woodhorn Colliery
- Address: QEII Country Park, Ashington, NE63 9YF
- Admission: Adults pay once for 12 months unlimited returns, children go free. For more information, view the Woodhorn Colliery Museum website
Kids will love this attraction based in the largest pit village in the world. This former colliery is now home to a fantastic museum offering excellent facilities, arts and cultural exhibits and lots more! The team at Woodhorn invite you to join them to find out the events that shaped modern day Northumberland and beyond. From crafting to learning and farming opportunities, Woodhorn hosts a series of fun arts and crafts activities for kids.
Image courtesy of Woodhorn Museum
Also at Woodhorn Museum, visitors can see an incredible private collection of artwork from the Pitman Painters. In partnership with the Ashington Group, Woodhorn aims to showcase this stunning collection of paintings in the home of the North East's mining community. Visitors to Church Point, Sandy Bay and Cresswell Towers can all access Woodhorn in less than 10-minutes. There's always something to keep the kids busy at Woodhorn, whatever the weather!
Folly Farm
- Address: Begelly, Kilgetty, Wales, SA68 0XA
- Admission:Pre-book your tickets on the Folly Farm website
Folly Farm in Kilgetty, Wales is jam packed full of fun for the kids this May half term. Explore the zoo, visit the barn animals and have fun at the fairground before finishing your action packed day playing in one of the 8 adventure playgrounds!
There are plenty of activities to keep the kids busy at Folly Farm throughout the half term. The farm is home to an exciting selection of zoo animals including lions, giraffes, rhinos and penguins! As well as a barn full of adorable farm animals, fantastic indoor and outdoor play areas and the chance to meet and greet the expert zookeepers!
Visitors to Pendine Sands Holiday Park can reach Folly Farm in just twenty minutes by car. It’s the perfect day out for families and children of all ages!
Fort George
- Address: Ardersier, Inverness, Scotland, IV2 7TD
- Admission: Tickets are available to pre-book online
Aspiring historians will love the next spot on our list. Sitting on the peninsula jutting out into the Moray Firth, Fort George is an 18th century fortress with quite the history. Built in the aftermath of the Jacobite rising of 1745, the historic site is now open to the public. A fascinating combination of educational and fun, Fort George could allow you to experience a Viking invasion this half term!
Video courtesy of glasgow1234
Fort George is an educational and exciting day out for holidaymakers visiting Nairn Lochloy this May Half Term. Not to mention the 20-minute drive from Nairn through the highland countryside to Fort George, which is definitely one of the most beautiful journeys you can do this summer.
The Wildheart Wildlife Sanctuary
- Address: Yaverland Road, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8QB
- Admission: Tickets are available to pre-book online
The Isle of Wight is home to the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, formerly known as the Isle of Wight Zoo. The kids will thoroughly enjoy this wild experience this May half term, having the chance to meet nature's most amazing creatures in the flesh. The sanctuary looks after threatened wildlife, helping animals to flourish in a caring environment where humans can learn and be inspired by the natural world that surrounds them.
Kids will have the chance to get up close to lions, tigers, lemurs, farm animals, birds, monkeys, small mammals and more, while learning about the different species along the way. The sanctuary specialises in Lemurs and Tigers and offers a variety of experiences for all ages. Children aged between 8 and 16 can get involved with the Junior Keeper Experience where they can join the team and care for the wallabies, farm animals, primates, reptiles and big cats, with an exclusive look behind the scenes of the sanctuary.
Wildheart Animal Sanctuary can make a fun filled and educational day out for families and explorers visiting Parkdean Resorts holiday parks such as Landguard, Lower Hyde and Nodes Point.
What are your plans this May Half Term? Let us know of any fun-filled activities in your area on our Facebook page!