Trekking in the Zoo

Quite easy to find even though I have a terrible sense of direction and don’t know the area at all. Recommend you follow the signs for the M2 and once on it, it well sign-posted and there is a sign for the turn off that takes you to the zoo. Really easy to find from there.

We went on a freezing cold early February day so didn’t expect to have any problems parking. We didn’t. The car park is really big and there were one of only three other cars there. In the height of summer, it can fill up and the zoo runs open days and other events.

We took two children with us – one two and a half the other nearly three. All children under four are admitted free which was good news as an adult is £6.30 off-season. I think you can buy a family ticket if you have kids over four with you which I’m sure will work out cheaper.

There are free maps of the zoo to guide you around and there is also a recommended route that is clearly sign-posted. We ditched the map and decided to follow the recommended route. We saw nearly all of the animals which is unusual judging from previous visits. We normally go in the summer which means the majority of animals are trying to find shade. It was not as pleasant as walking around in the sun, it was good to see (nearly) all the animals. It was very clean and tidy and I was happy enough to let both kids run around on their own. As it was off-season we had the place practically to ourselves which proved so was much easier to keep an eye on them.

Quite a trek to the top and I wasn’t sure if the kids legs would last it! I wasn’t keen on attempting to carry either of them! I suppose you could bring a buggy but I decided to chance it with them; carrying on by foot – and they did :).

Top tip: Be sure to visit the brown bears. If you stand close to the glass they come right up to see you.

There is a café that is open all year round. There is also a ‘zoouvenir’ shop. But don’t bother unless you want to fork out for cuddly toys (triple what you would pay in a shop).

All in all an excellent way of tiring them out! Both slept solid for nearly two hours afterwards!

wow Guest Overview

Stress Level 0 (providing you avoid the shop. :()

Fun Level 4 (both kids talked about it for ages after)

Cost Level 2 (At a cost of £12.60 for all four (which isn’t bad) for a couple of hours entertainment and two hours peace and quiet :))

Old McDonald had a Farm

This farm is located between Bangor and Newtownards. Heading along the dual carriage-way its on the left if coming from Bangor – opposite the Somme Heritage Centre.

We visited on a weekday and it was easy enough to park. I would say on a busy Saturday in the summer it could be like wacky races in the car park (which isn’t really very big). Maybe they have additional parking somewhere – if they did I didn’t see it!

Price for adults is £3.70 and £3.00 for kids over three. You can also buy feed for the animals which I think was about 30p per cup. There are loads of chickens running around so the kids loved feeding them. Depending on kids age of your kids, it may be a better idea to hold chicken feed yourself (mine insisted on pouring it all out then wanting another cup).

There is a great selection of animals. Everything from birds to horses. The whole farm is really well set up and very clean. My sister was with me who is a huge animal lover and even she didn’t disapprove of the conditions! The kids got to feed a lamb with a bottle and the staff were all great with the kids. They offer rides on a little Shetland pony (which I think) was £1, both kids really enjoyed it.

One point to note with smaller kids; mine were able to climb easily into the animal pens, I looked round to find him standing beside an alpaca. He is just two and at his size, he easily fitted between bars. Something to watch!

There are loads of places to play. Huge playground and an indoor play area filled with tractors, sand etc. It was a battle for me to get the kids out of this room.

We also had something to eat in the café which was lovely and reasonably priced. The shop sells ‘farm’ type toys, books and a variety of food. You have to walk through the shop to get in and out so you will probably end up having to buy something. Even this was reasonably priced. I bought a book and a small model tractor which I think came to around £3.00.

wow Guest Overview

We had a great day at the Ark open Farm. Loads to do and see, with very friendly helpful staff. I was impressed that although they could probably have charged a lot more for cups of feed, (every child will want a cup or 5) they didn’t. On most days out I find I end up paying above the odds for something – refreshingly not at the Ark.

Stress Level 0 (although see above about parking in summer, could get a bit tricky)

Fun Level 5 (Everyone had a great time, kids loved getting up close to animals)

Cost Level 1 (Its not free but really good value)

Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’ - Keep em Horses rollin’

Mount Pleasant is situated in Castlewellan, deep in the heart of County Down and is well sign-posted. It is about 10 minutes from the main road into Castlewellan town.

Horse Trekking. Oh my!
An exciting prospect for all of us. I am interested because I used to own a horse trekking business in New Zealand (back in the good old days) and the kids were interested because its just plain exciting. My boy was so excited I was not sure if he would be calm enough to stay on the horse.

We arrived a bit early but I was happy to do so as it was a good chance to get the kids used to the horses and the environment. This was essential as the 5 year old needed to calm down a lot. We dealt with the money side of things in the office and you are required to fill in disclaimer forms (this can be downloaded from their website before arriving). Once the technical bits were out of the way we were free to wander around and meet the horses. There are tables dotted around which would be useful in the summer. They have full toilet facilities which are clean and well kept. There is even a shower in the Ladies (though I didn’t check the Gents).

The staff were efficient and well-practiced at getting everyone on their horses and it was obvious that the horses were very used to the routine. My kids were mounted and very excited. The 6 year old (who can be a bit nervous) was put at ease by one of the staff. He actually moved her around so that she could stand next to me. The 5 year old could not take the smile off his face and we were still standing in the yard! To be honest with you, he would have been happy just sitting there.

Once everyone was ready for the off, (it took about 15 - 20 minutes to get us all ready) the barrier was dropped and my 5 year old led the way (the youngest rider in the group). He was on a lead-reign with a member of staff on foot. The horses jiggled and jostled into single file and the trek had begun.

We rode through a pine forest which had been harvested and re-planted. The scenery was not as stunning as some of the views we had seen on this trip but I think that in late spring or the summer it would be very pretty. Having said that I don’t think my two would have cared what they were looking at; they were too busy enjoying being on horses.

It was a big group and I thought the staff handled the different levels of riders very well. The experienced riders were able to hold back for the odd canter. This happened seamlessly and did not disrupt any of the younger/less experienced riders at the front.

A very enjoyable activity and one we will definitely do again. The kids wanted to book again for Monday! Thank goodness we didn’t as I don’t think they would have enjoyed themselves quite as much in the rain.

WOW Overview

Kids Say:

6 year old: My horse was called Ebony and she was a bit cheeky and kept eating grass. It was very wobbly and I liked the way they all walked in a line. I was in front of mummy and my brother was the leader
5 year old: My horse was called Evie and she was very good. I was the leader and was very good at it. It was like sitting in a boat because you rock from side to side.

Stress Level: 2 (To be honest with you I was a bit stressed to start with. Firstly because my son was bouncing off the walls and I was worried that he was going to freak out all the horses and secondly because my daughter tends to be a bit cautious. The last thing I wanted was her freaking out and not wanting to go I was put at ease very early on)

Fun Level 5 (Heaps and heaps of fun. But then I am biased :))

Cost Level 4 (I am putting this as a cost level 4 not because I think it is expensive for what you get but because it is probably the most expensive activity we have reviewed so far. I personally think it is value for money)

A Maze Us!

We headed for Castlewellan Forest Park as we had heard they have a maze. We have not been very successful in finding one that is open out of season! Both the Carnfunnock maze and the Seaford Butterfly Park maze have been closed when we visited.

There is an entry fee to park your car here all year round. Admission prices are on the gate. We were charged £4.00 to park the car.

We headed for the Maze and entered from the main car park entrance. Both kids set off at speed, zig-zagging to and fro. We saw a wooden bridge and headed in that direction. I have a sneaking suspicion that there could be water fountains to add to the excitement in the summer.

Having wandered around for a while (passing the same blinking tree time and time again!!), the 5 year old decided he was going to go it alone. We headed back to wait on the wooden bridge, count to 10 and follow him. Oh my goodness, how we laughed! We followed a little stick which he was holding up, just visible, over the hedges. He was so quick, it took us ages to find him. We tried to reach the middle to ring the bell but after eighty minutes of trudging we decided to try to find the entrance we started at. Eventually we found it. There is a bridge that takes you to the middle so we went to investigate and joy of joys we found the bell.

This is the newest addition to the Forest Park and was funded as a Peace and Reconciliation project. This is the largest and longest hedge maze in the world (apparently) and covers 1 hectare and 3.5 kms of path. I can assure we did more then 3.5 kms of walking. The view from the middle is stunning (even though we had to cheat to get there!)

After a good five minutes of ringing the bell, we decided to head for some lunch.

The café was closed at the Forest Park but they allowed you to return to the car park if you retain your receipt. I am assuming this will still be the case in high season.

We did not get to see the lake or any of the other attractions at the park as we had just totally run out of time. You would really need to spend the whole day there to see it all. Remember the maze alone will take you a good hour or more! This park covers 460 hectares and includes walks, lakes, a garden and arboretum, a castle, an ice house, a standing stone and more! You really do need to pack a picnic and your hiking boots to see all of it. Next time we are in the area we will devote a whole day to Castlewellan Forest Park.

Kids Say:
6 year old: I liked the maze and I liked my brother running around and us following the stick. It did take a long time and got very tiring.
5 year old: I loved running over the rocks and around the maze. I was very good at finding things

Stress Level: 1 (I have marked this a stress level one because we did get lost! I think the children were getting a bit tired after the amount of time spent in there. To be honest with my sense of direction it probably did not help matters)

Fun Level 4 (It was good fun. Lots of laughs)

Cost Level 3 (I am giving this particular visit a three because we were there for just over 1.5 hours and it cost us £4.00 to park. I think if we had a whole day there it would have received a better score!)

Park Life - Delamont Country Park

After running up and down sand dunes for a good hour the kids wanted to find a playground. To be honest the sand dunes hds actually dried us off a bit. Dry sand is easier to shift than wet sand.

Delamont Country Park is situated about 5 minutes from Downpatrick near Killyleagh in Strangford Lough Nature Reserve and is very well sign-posted. There is a charge for entry to the park for cars and buses in high season. First thing we spotted was the Miniature Railway. I hoped it was running and it was:) A small charge is made, £2.50 for adults and £1.50 for kids, though I did not really need to ride it with them; my kids are probably old enough to ride alone. The track is mostly visible from the café area. The train went round a portion of the park and passed the Adventure play area. That was obviously our next stop. The kids enjoyed the ride and as we were the only ones on the train, they were able to sit at the front.

We headed to the playground which is very impressive. It is separated into 4 sections and gives you plenty of room to sit and picnic. It is huge and well spaced out. There is a younger childrens section but to be honest it all looked safe and well maintained (and I know a three year old that would give it all a good go). It was very muddy in places when we were there but it is out of season, it all added to the fun. Not that it mattered to us. The playground kept them busy for a good while though it had been a long day and I could see the kids slowing down.

We stopped for ice cream and a much-needed coffee at the little café onsite. The train driver was covering the café and the train so had to keep popping off for a quick spin on Freddy the Train. It was quite funny to watch but he was in good sprits and no-one seemed to mind waiting at either place.

I let the kids choose a walk, trying to direct them to the shorter of the five trails on offer. I don’t think I would have been able to cope with a 7 km hike after the exertions of the day The Garden walk was picked, which is only 1.2 kms and very do-able we thought. So, following the red markers we headed up the hill and came across the Strangford Stone.

An impressive structure which was put in place in 1995. A group of local people decided to fulfill an ancient tradition and bring one thousand young people together to celebrate the start of a new millennium. They erected this stone by pulling up the one-thousand-centimetre-high Strangford Stone by hand. This, they hoped, as the peace process was gaining momentum, to involve young people from all backgrounds in Northern Ireland and creat a lasting testament to a shared future. I must admit it is impressive! There is a very detailed description of how they acheived this and full list of names of everyone who helped. I think it would have been very moving to see it happen.

Moving on we headed along the red path to the bird hide. The first thing that hit me was the view. Strangford Lough is stunning. A highlight for my son was a little tractor heading over the water! (I’m still not sure if it was actually driving from one island to another or if there was a bridge close to the surface but it looked like a cool trick!) The bird hide was well laid out and we spent a good while in there looking for a heron or two. Binoculars in tow (from the Downpatrick Cathedral!!) Suddenly we saw them in the trees straight in front of us. They were sitting in their nests. It was good to see (and the binoculars did help!).

Just after the hide, we spotted a sign for a lookout tower. Decision made and off we went! The lookout had an impressive view out towards the Lough but it was not very easy for the kids to see. Too high for them to see over and I wasn’t really happy for them to stand on the wall. This detour actually gave us a short cut back to the car park and Ithink we were all secretly pleased to cut the walk short.

WOW Overview

Kids Say
6 year old: We did a lot of walking today. The park was good fun and there was a big scary slide. When you went down it it was not as fast as you thought it would be. I liked the bird house and looking at the Herons.
6 year old: I liked the train and the ice creams. There is a tractor that can drive on water here.

Stress Level: 0 (It was a super place and very relaxed. Out of season admittedly but still a good place for the kids to let off steam.)

Fun Level: 4 (The kids really enjoyed themselves. Lots to keep them amused)

Cost Level: 1 The train and the refreshments were reasonable, although there will be a cost for entry for cars and buses in season)

Back in the car and off home for the day..

Tyrella Beach: A little slice of paradise in Co Down

We stumbled across this beach on the way to Newcastle though I think everyone raised in Northern Ireland has been to or heard of Tyrella Beach. Tyrella was sign-posted off the A2. I noticed the brown tourism sign saying Tyrella Beach was only five miles and the kids seemed very keen. We headed that way as it was a pleaant countryside drive and easy to find.

There is a charge, I believe, in high season to park but there was no-one on duty when we arrived. The car park was open so we parked and headed off, all excited. It was glorious day with the sun shining which was unexpected for mid-February. It was still a bit chilly, being winter and all that, but we made sandcastles with bridges and stones and flags and sticks and seaweed. It was Carrick Castle according to the kids. My 5 year old was very impressed that the man (John de Courcy) who built Carrick castle also played a big part in building Downpatrick Cathedral (He says: He must have been a very very busy man!).

We walked along the beach and collected shells and stones and general treasures. It is a really nice place. Beautiful and peaceful. We came across a path which lead to the dunes. That opened a whole new world. Up and down sand mountains, in and out of dunes. A good hour was used up marching around the dunes. We came across a picnic area which was a bit disappointing. The tables were burnt and there was a lot of broken bottles lying around. I would like to think that this will change when the beach is patrolled in season. It will be interesting in to see it in high season. I hear it can be very busy!

But apart from that it was a good place to go and let off steam. A good fun trip.

Kids say:
6 year old: I liked collecting shells and helping with the sand castle. The sand dunes were really really good fun and it was good that I led us the way back through the car.
5 year old: The sand castle was the best one I have made. I liked jumping in the sea with my boots on.

Stress Level 0 (A good clean beach. There was some rubbish around but not really stressfull rubbish.. If this is possible.

Fun Level 5 (Good fun, lots of laughing and playing together)

Cost Level 0 (I am not sure of the costs when this beach is in-season. I will try to get that information)

Off in search of something to do…

We actually ended up walking around the Cathedral as we had be pointed at a Museum which was closed for the next 2.5 hours. St Patrick’s Grave was where we headed. The kids were very impressed with the old headstones in the graveyard though thought it all looked a bit creepy. The signs to St Patrick’s grave were good and it was not what I expected to see. The Children did not really get too buzzed by this even though I did try to explain what I could. I think they need to be a bit older. I even tried the tale of St Patrick chasing all the snakes out of Ireland.

As we passed the Cathedral doors we could see inside and the kids wanted to go in. I was very hesitant about this to be honest; two kids in a quiet and serene place like that?

Inside we were all very impressed. The windows are stunning and both kids were taken in by their colours and subjects. There are fantastic box pews which are characteristic of the Regency period. The kids loved sitting in them. There are Thrones in the centre which were used by the Bishop and the Judges. It is all very impressive. The organ pipes were impressive and above you as you walk into the main part of the church (built on a pulpitum). We all nearly jumped out of our skins when the organ gave us a blast! It was re-built in 1913, enhanced in 1966, then cleaned and voiced to concert pitch in 1987.

The Cathedral has a gift shop which has some very nice gifts. We got talking to the lady at the shop and she was very informative. She came up with lots of suggestions as to were to go and what we could see in Downpatrick. We also got a really cool pair of fold-away binoculars from the gift shop for our sight-seeing.

It is free to get in but they do ask for a donation for the running costs and upkeep.

WOW Overview

Kids Say
6 year old: I liked the big metal pipes on the bridge (the organ i think!) also the precious things in the shop.
5 year old: I liked the shop and the boxes that you can shut yourself in and kneel on a cushion

Stress Level 3 (Lots to touch!!)

Fun Level 2 (It was very interesting but I think they may have been a bit young to understand the concept of what they were seeing)

Cost Level 1 (Gift shop was very reasonable. Binoculars cost £1.50 I think. Donation is voluntary so it is up to you what you give)

Carrickfergus Castle, Carrickfergus

(map)

We headed from Glengormley to Carrickfergus which is well sign posted. Carrickfergus is located 25 minutes from Belfast up the M5 motorway. It is well sign posted from all routes. Carrick is a cute little town with a lovely marina/harbour, steeped in history which is well noted throughout the town.

We arrived at 1.30 to find the castle not open until 2pm. (We are out of season so the opening times will differ in high season).  We decided to take a wander down to see the boats and walk along the harbour. It could have been an idyllic walk as the weather was good, cold but sunny. The views were fabulous and you could see the Isle of Man. Sadly you could not walk more than 10 yards without encountering a pile of dog mess. It was scattered along the marina like land-mines. It was scattered at the base of every obstacle and had even been landed on steps. It was disgusting. After two direct hits, (both the 6 year old and the 5 year old) I gave it up as a lost cause.

We headed back and went to the public toilets to clean ourselves up. They were clean and well kept (ladies only viewed).

It was nearly 2pm so we headed to the entrance of the castle. A number of other families were waiting as well. When the bolt was slid across the front door all the kids ran (as did some of the grown ups actually). It was fun to see. We were given a map and started at the Keep. This is three story building which housed all manner of excitement. The well, the banqueting hall, the spiral staircases with the famous Trip Step, the Royal lavatory complete with King John! We stopped on the third floor to play a game of giant Snakes and Ladders. They also have a huge game of chess which we attempted to play (I need to brush up on my chess skills I think, I have forgotten how the king is allowed to move! Eek). We did enjoy jumping the knights over everyone though. We had the place to ourselves for some time which was nice. After heading down the spiral staircase we ventured outside and dived straight into more history. We scaled the walls and looked out over the sea. We played on cannons and visited the bowmen. We visited a bloke in jail with only two fingers! All in all it was a good day out and the kids enjoyed it immensely. We all did.

The gift shop on the site is reasonably priced and offers a good range of cheap trinkets for the kids to buy as a souvenir of their day out. It also stocks some very nice gifts which are again not overpriced in my opinion. There is a cafe area which has a couple of vending machines. The snack machine was out of order on this visit but we managed an ok coffee and some soft drinks for the kids.

WOW Overview

Kids Say:
6 year old: Liked the castle and would like to have seen a princess for real. Did not like the trip step as it was very scarey, so was the dog in the Keep. Really liked wondering around the castle and the grounds.
5 year old: Liked the castle and like pretending to have a big sword and fighting the baddies. Liked the man in jail and the man with the bow and arrow under the ground. Liked the big dog in the Keep because he was not really real.

Stress Level: 0 (A very relaxed and easy day out. Some of the steps would be a bit more worrying if the kids were younger.)

Fun Level: 5 (Lots of fun and educational. I would like to think we all learned something :).)

Cost Level: 2 (At £3.00 for an adult and £1.50 each child I thought it was very good value. I think the vending machines cost me less than £2.00 for a coke, a water and a coffee. The gift shop cost me £4.00 for an orange quill, a little silver knight and a cross necklace.)

Cave Hill Country Park, North Belfast

Cave hill is situated 8 Mins from Belfast heading north on the M2. The drive was short and sweet.

As for the country park walks - well, it was an adventure for sure!

The park is located off the Antrim Road, before the Zoo (if you’re coming from Belfast). We had one quick stop at a shop to pick up supplies (4 packets of crisps, 4 chocolate bars, 4 fruit juices and two healthy cereal bars for the adults). The turn off for Cavehill country park was less than 20 yards away from the shop. We followed the signs, got a bit lost and went round again to make sure we were in the right place - the signs are not obvious!

Parking really looks like it could be tight in the high season - if you’re heading up Cave Hill, park in the first set of spaces you come to. If you’re going to the Adventure Playground, wait until you have passed Belfast Castle on the right and follow the road round.

There were a lot of very pleasant and cheerful people from all walks of life all over the Mountain. The signs on the trails are also a bit odd, trails seem to criss-cross and the map doesn’t really tell you which trail is which, which proved to be fun. We’d advise you to keep to the major paths and look ahead as we took a path that turned into a 10 cm wide track along the side of a ridge and ended up with us having to cross a shallow scree slope! It wasn’t dangerous but it gave the kids a real thrill! One of the boys slid about 10 foot down the muddy slope and we sent one unlucky adult down the slope to retrieve him. Once everyone had stopped laughing - we continued up the hill. Views were wonderful, we really do live on a pretty Island. Scenery both in front and behind was breathtaking.

After nearly two hours on the hill, we decided to start our decent. With the promise of the adventure playground to speed the kids up we were off down the mountain! Sadly, the park was closed! Not only that, there was a charge! £1.70 per child. Hmmm. We were there on a Saturday afternoon in February but it was a sunny day, chilly but very clear. I would again like to review this in high season. This is a council run park and therefore the amount of litter and broken glass on the walk itself - especially near the cave entrances - was very surprising. There wasn’t much dog mess which was a saving grace. It was a fun day out with the kids; they thought it was a blast. The slipping down on bums, the falling in wet grass, the climbing up rocks, the getting covered in mud. It was like a washing powder advertisement.

Closing times for Parks and Open Spaces

Cave Hill Adventure Playground

Belfast Castle Visitors Centre

Belfast Castle Estate (pdf)

WOW Overview

Kids Say
6 year old: “It was a lot of exercise! I really enjoyed watching my brother sliding down a muddy slope.”
5 year old: “I had great fun. I liked having to be rescued by Matt.”
4 year old: “It was good when he slipped down the side of the mountain. I didn’t like it when I fell and hit my lip”
3 year old: Too tired to talk!

Stress Level: 0 (until we turned up at a closed adventure playground! Stress then 5!)

Fun Level: 3 (until we turned up at a closed adventure playground Fun factor then 0)

Cost Level: 0 (until we turned up at the adventure playground and would have had to pay £6.80 to get in.

Carnfunnock Country Park, Larne.

1/2 hour from Belfast. Easy to find and well signposted from Larne town centre. Lovely drive up the coast road. Kids enjoyed the sea views, tunnels and light houses on the way. Plenty of parking once we had arrived. A number of different carparks became apparent once we had walked round a bit. The carparking was ample but it was out of season so there were very few people around. Out of season, it is free but you pay by the hour in season. The season starts from 17th March.

Very clean, no rubbish, no dog mess (which is a huge bonus when you have kids in tow). Wildlife galore, birds are very tame, nature ie. trees and plants are named for those who are into that.

Signs very descriptive for various gardens. The sundial garden could have been very interesting if there had been any sun! The walk were well signposted and took us well away from the main road. Kids enjoyed the freedom to run ahead and play.The maze was not open but has potential to amuse. Crazy Golf likewise. We didn’t tell the kids about the miniature railway or bouncy castle just in case of upset

The Adventure playground was a huge hit after the long wildlife/nature hike, although visibility seemed to be a bit restricted and some parents may not feel happy that they cannot see their kids all of the time. Generally there was plenty of seating, tables with built in barbeques and the ground was well-provisioned with rubbish bins. Views are outstanding from all areas of the park of the coastal countryside and views out over the Irish Sea. This trip was out of season as we have mentioned before. As a result, there was no cost and as an additional bonus, no crowds.

I would be very interested to visit again in season to compare the difference. The toilet facilities, even out of season, were excellent; clean and plenty of them with separate Disabled, Ladies, Gents and baby-changing facilities with child toilet and basin.

Official site info : Carnfunnock Information Page at Larne Borough Council

WOW Overview:

Kids Say:
6 year old: Enjoyed the day. Very keen on seeing the maze.
5 year old: Liked the views out to sea.
4 year old: Would love to be in the middle (of the maze, apparently)

Stress Level: 0
Fun Level: 3/5
Cost Level: 0