Easy does it…just look at that gorgeous girl! Ella takes up horse riding at DairyLand Farm World.
THE daily pressures of life as a stay-at-home-mum can get a bit overwhelming. Sometimes the best medicine comes in the form of some fresh air and a new setting. I had an opportunity to recharge my batteries with my daughter in tow on a weekend break to Newquay courtesy of Have a Lovely Time, bmibaby and the Sands Resort Hotel.
Our flight to Newquay through bmibaby from
Boarding the plane was a bit awkward as we had to negotiate stairs down to the Tarmac and a rather long walk to the plane while carrying a pushchair, changing bag and my daughter. The flight lasted approximately an hour from take-off to landing and thankfully we were greeted at
The journey to The Sands Resort Hotel took about 10 minutes and was a glorious drive along the coast. We drove past Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant and saw some magnificent surfing beaches along the route. The Sands Resort Hotel is located on the top of a cliff side in Porth, North Cornwall between Newquay and
The receptionist at the check-in desk was exceptionally friendly and helpful. All arrangements had been made in advance so I was checked in very quickly and after storing my pushchair in a locked cupboard in the lobby, was escorted to our sea-facing family suite. We were afforded the luxury of being on the first floor and a brilliant view, however, with no lift we had 32 steps to climb which was not easy with a two-year old and luggage. The view and the family suite were definitely worth it though. We had the expanse of the Cornish coastline to greet us which was breathtaking.
The family suite consisted of a children’s sleeping area containing two single beds and a cot bed as well as a television and DVD player on the wall. There was a separate sink outside the family bathroom and the family bathroom was spacious and tidy. The main living area contained a king sized bed, chaise longue, coffee table, chair and footstools as well as a flat-screen television with DVD player and Sony Playstation and coffee/tea making facilities. The room itself was light, airy and decorated with modern touches. My daughter was immediately drawn to the French doors looking out over the ocean which were thankfully guarded with iron bars thus ensuring her safety.
"Hey Mum, looks good to me."
In addition to the family-friendly suites, the grounds of the Sands Resort Hotel are ideal for families. There is a secure playground area with toddler-safe equipment and a fence surrounding the area. There are two pools (one indoor and heated, one outdoor and not heated), an adventure play area with zip-line and maze, crazy golf, tennis courts, a putting green and a nine hole golf course. For nominal fees you can make use of the four age-banded Ofsted-registered children’s clubs. The Sands Resort Hotel also provides baby listening services, baby and toddler equipment and the option of children’s teas.
After getting ourselves settled in the room, Ella and I made our way back down to the reception desk as I was booked in for a spa treatment and Ella was scheduled for the kids' club. We were greeted by an outgoing and warm childcare worker named Sally who instantly bonded with Ella. Ella readily followed after her with a quick kiss to me and a “Goodbye Mummy”. I was so pleased that she felt so comfortable to walk away with this virtual stranger. I was escorted down to the Ocean Breeze spa where I was treated to an amazing and much needed full-body massage by one of the certified massage therapists. Parents can take advantage of any number of spa treatments for a reasonable charge. I highly recommend the full-body massage which is the perfect prescription for relaxation.
Following my massage, I collected Ella from Sally and we headed off to dinner. The Sands Resort Hotel provides a children’s tea time from 4.45pm until an hour later, but you can also eat with your little ones if you'd prefer from 7pm in a family dining room.
After the full-on day we'd had endured, the earlier tea time would have been a better choice as Ella started to fade about half-way through dinner. Children’s meal options are available at the later family dinner time and Ella gobbled up everything on offer. The Cornish ice cream for dessert was the biggest hit, however. Adult menu choices were outstanding and offered a variety of choice. The dishes were brought out quickly and we were not left waiting too long between courses. This is quite important when eating with a toddler.
The bonus of having a separate sleeping area for the children is that adults can enjoy a bit of privacy and the opportunity to watch television or movies without disturbing the children. Ella and I slept very well after the excitement of our adventure. Unfortunately, breakfast is not served until 8am which is a bit late for a toddler who wakes up at 6.30 or 7am. We were treated to a variety of choices for breakfast including full-English breakfast buffet, yoghurts, cereals, toasts/breads/croissants and tea, coffee and juices. Our half-board booking afforded us breakfasts and dinners.
Following breakfast on Saturday, we made taxi arrangements to travel to Dairyland Farm World. The drive was only about 15 minutes from the Sands Resort Hotel and was very picturesque and entertaining thanks to our Cornish taxi driver. Dairyland Farm World is a functioning dairy farm which offers families the opportunity to see animals up close and personal, ride ponies, bottle feed calves and play, play, play. Ella was highly entertained by the giant slides, roundabouts and toddler-sized Wendy House. There were in-ground trampolines, indoor soft play areas and plenty of ice cream to be eaten. Ella was delighted by most things on offer (there were tears during the pony ride!) After several hours the excitement had taken its toll. It was time to get back to the hotel and have a much needed rest…for Mummy and Little Miss.
After a restorative nap, Ella and I had a swim in the indoor pool as the outdoor pool was a bit too chilly. There were a few flotation devices around the pool which helped to encourage Ella’s independence in the water. The water was warm and the pool area was clean, warm and safe. It was a pleasant place for a nice dip with my daughter.
A blue sky and a lovely cozzy and necklace, who could ask for more?
As we weren’t flying back to
We were lucky to have fantastic weather for the weekend, enjoyed the sun, sand and surf and had a wonderful bonding weekend that I will never forget.
I was anxious about undertaking a full weekend of single parenting but my daughter was amazing, the Sands Resort Hotel was exceptionally helpful and welcoming and Newquay and
On behalf of my daughter and me I would like to thank Have a Lovely Time for the opportunity to work with bmibaby, The Sands Resort Hotel and Dairy Land World courtesy of The Rabbit Agency . Ella and I returned from Newquay with renewed energy, a better focus for the future and some amazing memories.
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This is one of a series of a Great British Days Out reviews. Reviewers receiving complimentary stays/attraction tickets are asked to make a donation and we also hope readers can support children's cancer charity NACCPO. If you enjoy Karin's review or would just like to support this much-needed charity, please visit our JustGiving page. We're about £50 off our target. (Yay! and a massive thanks to Karin for all her help.)
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