‘No computers, just outdoor fun’: readers’ favourite family nature trips | Family holidays

Win a prize: Meadow birdsong on the beach in Pembrokeshire

Since 1988, we have been visiting West Hook Farm In Marloes in Pembrokeshire to camp. The farm only has a few lovely showers and toilets. There are no other facilities except for the beautiful meadow grass fields. At dawn and at dusk, swifts and swallows eat bugs by darting along the tops grass. Skylarks and other birds sing all day. Fields run along the coastal path with a beautiful hedgerow of wildflowers, birds and flowers. The most beautiful place on Earth is here (when it doesn’t rain). There are many beaches with soft, white sand. Our children have grown up playing free in the fields on their yearly holiday – no computers, just outdoor fun.
Em

Hiking the Highlands mountain

To get a taste of Scottish Highlands in Ballater, hike up the 1,155 metre (3,789 feet) peak of Lochnagar, located in the Grampians. The trail is a winding path through pine forests, open moorland and crisp air. Prepare yourself for weather changes like pages of a novel: sun, sudden rain and snow at the summit. As you descend, slide into the river. Its water is sharp like ice. Bring snacks, layers and plenty of time. The walk will remain with you long after the summit is gone.
Eva

Walking the Cotswold Way – inspired by Laurie Lee

After a family read-through of Laurie Lee’s As I Walked Out One Midsummer MorningWe decided to take our teens on a walking vacation in the Cotswolds. We packed a backpack and a tent for our trip. Cotswold WayThe walk began just outside of the vibrant Chipping Campden before ending in Bath. Mobiles were limited to an hour a day in the evening and we did 10 miles a day – covering the walk in 10 days. As fellow walkers greeted us and shared drinks and tips along the way, we felt like a part a community. We also learned more about the Japanese concept. shinrin-yoku – feeling free in nature under the canopy of trees, sky and stars – from a family from Tokyo. We came back fitter, happier and more united than before.
Ann

Forests, folklore and the Carpathians

Following a brilliant solo back-to-nature trip to the Carpathian mountains in Romania two years ago, I talked my two teenage boys into a family repeat earlier this summer – dangling the carrot of a trip to Count Dracula’s castle. It was the vampire who was the most helpful, but the region itself also played a role. It was exciting to walk through the forests flanked with looming mountains (with a guide). Brown bears, wolves, and lynx were all present, adding to the excitement. There were medieval towns and villages with rich folklore. One highlight was sampling local cheese and singing songs with villagers in the Bârza valley. The boys were rewarded with a ride on a horse-drawn cart to the next village, near Dracula’s alleged abode – Bran Castle. Don’t miss the stiff climb up to Postăvarul peak (1,799 metres) for great views over the area.
Joe

Austria’s Hills are alive

The Austrian Lake District is called Salzkammergut. There are endless days to be spent swimming, cycling and lazing in the sun. The Sound of Music is a great example of the beauty of this area. Wolfgangsee is home to well-marked biking trails, opportunities for swimming and cafés serving delicious meals. kaiserschmarrn (fluffy pancakes) and Schnitzel. In the nearby Fuschlsee there is an amazing water park with swimming pools, slides, and quiet water to swim in. The water park is a great place to entertain the whole family. We stayed at the newly renovated Feichtingerbauer which provides complimentary access to all the amenities. Fuschlseebad.
Neha

Paddleboarding in County Derry

By 2021, we were in a bind due to lockdowns. The kids were never so quiet. Bob, my good friend in County Derry, insisted that we paddleboard with his family in Swanns Bridge. Swanns Bridge, located just a few minutes from Benone’s Atlantic beaches, uses the River Roe instead of the ocean. Something happened after 20 minutes of struggling to remain upright. The beauty of the Roe distracted us for the first year. The only sound we heard was the water (mainly me falling into it) and laughter. Since then, we’ve returned to the same place for various distractions. It works.
Kieran

Peak District Trigbagging

Try trigbagging. It doesn’t cost much to spend a weekend at the Peak District, or a week in the Lake District. A campsite is a great place to pitch a camper or find cheap accommodation at a youth hostel. My children love to scramble up the hills and paddle in the streams flowing down them. They also enjoy spotting ground nesting birds, as well as the snacks that accompany hiking. This teaches children about safety and nature, as well how quickly weather can change.
Rebecca

Searching for buried treasure on Ynys Môn (Anglesey)

What’s your favourite back-to-nature activity? A spontaneous treasure hunt through the dunes of Newborough beach on Ynys Môn (Anglesey). There’s no admission fee needed – just a hand-drawn pirate map, a flask of lemonade and plenty of imagination. The children scurried between the marram grass and the shoreline in search of shells and buried treasure (a biscuit tin filled with sweets that we had hidden earlier). The picnic under the pines was magical, with views of Llanddwyn Island. Just bring some snacks, suncream, and a sense of adventure.
Robert Serebriakoff

Isle of Arran is car-free.

The farm we stayed on on the Isle of Arran was a great place to stay for a summer holiday. The perfect family-friendly holiday without a car, the train from Glasgow takes you right to the harbour. [at the mainland ferry port of Ardrossan]. We stayed in the organic farm. We picked our own fruit, vegetables and cooked them on a camping stove by the beach. Our accommodation was right on the beach. On our first morning, we saw a huge pod of dolphins. We spent our days walking along the beach and playing in rock pools. Absolute heaven. The owner, who was formerly a chef in a Michelin star restaurant, cooks seafood and lobster most nights. You can see him and daughter in their kayak, catching their daily catch.
Gemma

Rockpooling East Sussex

Seven Sisters beach in East Sussex has always been one of our favourite places to go. The walk to get there is lovely – it’s flat and a good size for our boys to ride their bikes along. There are cliffs and rivers that wind along the coast, and a small building with an open door to explore is also very interesting for young children. There are so many things to do at the beach. You can wade across the area where the river meets the sea, and there is a decent current. You can also rock pool in the crystal-clear water, or, on a nice day, you can get dirty in the sludgy, sludgy, sand! It’s fun to watch people teetering over the rocks as they wade to the cliffs to avoid getting wet, or to find crabs and see the little islands that are created as the tides come in and go out. If you’re the winner of the contest to find the best stone or the prized seaglass, it will be even more fun. Chalk can be fun, but is too common to be considered an entry in the competition.
Lauren