Awesome UK breaks for February half term 2018

There’s nothing like a short break away with the family to lighten up the February drizzle. Take your pick from the best family UK breaks for February half term 2018.

1/11 Seven nights in a 5* cottage, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Relax in a home away from home with a week in the 5* Ginger Cottage on the Spice Cottages estate. Newly converted from an 18th century barn, the cottage offers a master bedroom with super-king sized bed and further bedroom, spacious kitchen, open plan living and dining area and entertainment system. Complimentary WiFi is included and guests have free access to a garden play area, outdoor barbecue area and a games room. If you fancy a trip out to discover the local area head to Armagh Planetarium for an educational day learning about outer space, visit Peatlands Park and ride on the miniature railway or check out The Argory, an Irish gentry house with a children’s playground and award-winning tea room.

2/11 Seven nights in a Highland Lodge, Oban, Scotland

Enjoy a digital detox in a hillside cabin with breathtaking views of the Scottish Highlands. Ash Lodge has open-plan living with a private patio and picnic bench for al fresco dining, and cots and highchairs are supplied for young children. Although it feels in the middle of nowhere, Ash Lodge is just ten minutes’ drive to the town of Oban (the ‘gateway to the islands’) which has all you need to make your week comfortable and enjoyable. There is a games room and children’s play area as well as nearby woodland and glens to explore. As a special treat for tiny tots, take a ferry trip to the village of Tobermory on the isle of Mull, which is used as the set for the children’s series Ballamory!

3/11 Four nights self-catering cottage at Bluestone National Park resort

Set in 500 acres of rolling countryside and peaceful woodland, the Bluestone National Park resort in the heart of Wales is a perfect nature-based getaway for families in half-term. Families can stay in a pretty two-bedroom cottage with a spacious open-plan living and dining area, well-equipped kitchen and bunk beds for the kids. During your stay get back to nature with forest bathing and breezy hikes, make a splash in the Blue Lagoon subtropical swimming centre (with waterslides!) or try out some watersports on the lake. Kids can become Bluestone Rangers for Enid Blyton inspired adventures, from ‘mud mysteries’ to miniature 4×4 driving and nature detective sessions to woodland survivor courses.

4/11 Four nights in a forest cabin, Forest of Dean, England

Enjoy getting back to nature in style with this break in a luxury wooden lodge in the heart of the Forest of Dean. Your ‘golden oak’ two-bedroom cabin features a hot tub, a wood-burning stove and up to three bathrooms and is located in a bright meadow. Visit Clearwell Caves nearby the lodge site for the story of 4000 years of mining, hire a kayak to paddle down the River Wye or even hire a chef to come to your cabin and whip up a gourmet dinner for the family. Kids will love joining the resident Forest Ranger for outdoor activities such as woodland survival, bug identification and even night vision sessions! Bike hire is available at the Forest holiday Site and there is a shop and a coffee and snack bar.

5/11 Three nights at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast

Explore a new city with a break in the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast. Staying at the Crowne Plaza hotel, families can enjoy a luxurious base from which to discover the city as well as being thoroughly entertained after a long day out. The hotel offers a large swimming pool and a fitness centre including state of the art equipment, and there are sports activities nearby such as archery centres, rock climbing and indoor ice skating. Why not take a Game of Thrones tour to see some of the most famous backdrops of the hit television series, visit the Titanic museum for an educational day out or enjoy a trip to Aunt Sandra’s candy factory, where kids can watch confectionary being hand-made before picking up a bag of sweet treats to take home.

6/11 Three nights B&B at Woolley Grange Estate, Wiltshire, England

Two hours each day of complimentary childcare ensures that parents get to unwind during this three-night stay at the Woolley Grange Estate in Wiltshire. This manor house has a child-friendly focus, so families can make the most of the luxurious surroundings while the kids are entertained and happy. Little ones can collect eggs from the chicken coop, pet Simon the rabbit, dive into the indoor pool and join in the Woolley Bears children’s club where they can enjoy crafts, team games and more. There’s a baby-listening service so that parents can enjoy a candlelit dinner together and even a kids’ breakfast club service where little ones are picked up at 8am from your room so that parents can have a lie-in, spa treatment or leisurely breakfast. Woolley Grange has all the baby equipment parents could wish for, from bottle sterilisers to nappy bins- even complimentary fresh milk each morning and evening.

7/11 Three nights B&B at Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Scotland

Also known as ‘The Glorious Playground’, this countryside estate has been running as a hotel since 1924 and is set in over 850 acres of pristine countryside. Families can enjoy activities such as mountain biking, off-road driving and falconry as they get into the wholesome spirit of Scotland. Other experiences include gundog training and Segway riding, as well as ‘own a pony’ days and tennis lessons. Little ones can have the time of their life at the Little Den creche for guests aged 2-9, exploring the wigwams, slide and play stables with hobby horses. Older children and teens aged 6-15 can hang out in The Den, an unsupervised chill-out space with a cinema room, Xbox and PS4 and giant games such as Jenga and Connect 4. Rooms are spacious and decorated in a comfortable country style, with luxury amenities and tea and coffee making facilities.

8/11 Three nights B&B at Inverlochy Castle, Fort William, Scotland

Play at being Lord or Lady of the Manor with this break at Inverlochy Castle in Scotland. Each of the 17 bedrooms and suites are individually designed, with features like free-standing copper bath-tubs and antique four-poster beds for guests to enjoy. Inverlochy’s bespoke range of toiletries are found in the bathrooms, and 40-inch television and DVD players are in each room. Families dine together in the Library and an early tea-time service is put on especially for children. Activities for younger guests at Inverlochy include woodland walks, a Playstation room, boat outings on the castle’s Loch and many others. Other trips that can be arranged through the concierge include horse riding, white water rafting, golf, archery and even a trip on the Hogwarts Express! A delicious full Scottish breakfast is included in the price of your stay.

9/11 Four nights at a Welsh farm with indoor pool, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Staying at Croft Farm and Celtic Cottages, families will get to experience a slow pace of life in the beautiful countryside of Pembrokeshire in Wales. Children and adults alike will love waking up to the sounds of clucking chickens, playful goats and cuddly sheep. The stone and slate barn conversions share a heated indoor swimming pool (swimming lessons bookable on request), a sauna and pool table and a soft-play area for young children. There is also a large play barn exclusively for guests that houses ride-on vehicles, play-houses, table tennis and table football. Local produce is used to create the fresh home-cooked dishes on offer to guests; just ask your hosts for a menu, sit back and enjoy! When it comes to local attractions families will be spoilt for choice- take in one of the Blue Flag beaches nearby or visit the market town of Croft on the banks of the Teify river.

10/11 Four nights in a Woodland Lodge, Whinfell Forest, England

Book an active family break at this Centre Parcs village on the edge of the Lake District. Staying in a cosy two-bedroom woodland lodge guests can enjoy the sounds of nature from their patio or get stuck into all the activities on offer. Squirrels and geese often come to the screen doors hoping for a bit of breakfast! Try horse riding, balance on Segways, take on an aerial ropes course or make dens in the thick of the woodland. There is also a Subtropical Swimming Paradise with waterslides that is popular with all ages- you may have trouble convincing the kids to leave! Whinfell Forest has a shopping centre with cafes, restaurants and even a takeaway so you can put your feet up and relax during your half-term break.

11/11 Three nights in a 5* luxury hotel with free childcare, Dorset, England

Indulge in a stay at this stunning Georgian manor house on the Dorset Jurassic coast in southern England. Overlooking Chesil beach, Moonfleet Manor is ideally located for families to run wild and explore, digging up fossils and enjoying the fresh air of Moonfleet’s grounds. If the weather doesn’t play ball head to the cinema room, jump into the heated indoor pool or play with the little ones in the creche. Two hours of complimentary childcare is included in the room rate, as is the special Sunday lie in- a nanny picks up your children from the hotel room and entertains them while you snooze. High Tea for little ones is served at 5pm and there is a special family dining session from 6-7.30pm. Moonfleet Manor goes above and beyond for families, providing all the baby equipment you could want so you can relax and enjoy your break.