s the dark and dreary days start to stretch out, it’s time to head outdoors and enjoy one of the south’s biggest country parks. From a 20 minute bimble to a 20 mile bike ride, Queen Elizabeth Country Park (QECP) has something for everybody.

With 2,000 acres of open access woodland QECP has become a real haven for families who want to get outdoors and enjoy themselves without having to pay a king's ransom.

From drinking coffee and devouring freshly made cakes through to horse riding, mountain biking or paragliding, you’re sure to find an activity that suits.

For walkers, the park offers a good selection of walks of varying intensity, for the occasional walker (1.7 miles) right through to the more intrepid hiker who wants to enjoy the South Downs Way (100 miles).

Butser Hill is an intense 45 minute uphill walk, but you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views across Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.
Children’s play areas are also well designed, catering for youngsters and more challenging obstacles for the more acrobatic eight years and older.

Or for a more mud splattering experience, the park has permissive horse and mountain bike trails which cater for the novice through to the more experienced rider.

The café offers excellent and airy facilities, with a fine selection of hearty and light food. The giant cake wedges have become a regular favourite with my clan.

One of the best things about QECP is their well managed BBQ areas. After months of eating indoors, what better way to enjoy some al fresco dining than to sit outside and enjoy the sizzle of a banger under the forest’s canopy? You can book hearths to suit all family sizes, but it’s an ideal location for a big family BBQ followed by a good wholesome game of rounders.

You can take as little or as much from QECP as you like. Ultimately, you can have a fun-fuelled family day out for just a few pounds.
Price: Free (except for parking)
BBQ Hire: From £5 - £100 (which includes electricity, toilets, picnic tables etc.)
www3.hants.gov.uk/countryside/qecp


Children love being around farm animals, but actually holding and feeding them offers a whole new dimension. Bottle feeding baby goats or cuddling a little porker puts a big smile on little faces.
Just outside Southampton, Longdown Activity Farm is a family run business that encourages everyone to get up close and personal with its residents.

It’s a well thought through attraction, with lots of activities happening at eye level for youngsters – my 20 month old son Jack could look the most energetic kid goat directly in the eye, I’m not sure who was the most intimidated!

Small animal feeding and handling sessions happen at regular intervals throughout the day for those who want to really get to grips with the stock. Rabbits, goats and guinea pigs play the game as they are passed from one set of small curious hands to the next.

Larger live-stock are also in abundance, Billy the shire horse looms large in his stables with an almost regal look in his eye!

My daughter Molly was checking the chicken coops and stumbled across a freshly laid egg – taking it to the office she held aloft, not unlike an Olympian proudly showing off her warm medal for tenacity.
Due to the nature of handling animals, strategically positioned anti-bacterial hand-washes are always within arm's reach (sadly I don’t think the animals are afforded the same luxury!)

Away from the animals the farm offers an excellent range of play facilities including; trampolines (for the young and the not so young), indoor soft play area, pedal karts, climbing frames and swings and The Farmer's Straw Den made up from hay bales, which sends the children into a frenzy!

The café is stocked with good wholesome products, reflective of the season. The farm shop also stocks a wide range of produce, much of which is grown/reared on site.
If you want a good old fashioned family frolic on the farm, you can’t go wrong!
Check website for opening times
Price: Adult - £7.95
Children - £6.95
Under 3’s free
Family £28.00
www.longdownfarm.co.uk

They also do birthday parties,
season tickets and group discounts.

With spring breaks and Easter getaways just around the corner, the New Forest is home to a little gem that offers the perfect backdrop to swim, cycle, kayak or just kick-back and relax.

Set in the heart of the New Forest, Sandy Balls has been welcoming visitors for over 90 years and is a brilliant hub to get out and about and enjoy the UK’s best National Park.

Whether you’re after a weekend break or something a little longer, there is accommodation to suit all budgets. From taking your own tent through to static homes and luxury woodland lodges, all are set in well organised and secluded surroundings.

Once parked up, you can put your car keys away for a few days and enjoy the facilities on-site. The swimming pools with inflatable sessions provide hours of energy zapping fun and for the more industrious the well equipped gym can offer sanctuary before retiring to the cosy pub or pizzeria in the Piazza.

Dynamic families can enjoy hiring bikes and having a good thrash through the forest – the trails aren’t too long or too severe, but enough to get a good bead-on and enjoy some good downhill screams! Taking the bikes off site is also a great way of getting around the forest to see the ponies, away from the confines of the car.

Of course, for the more gentile, the beauty salon offers a wholesome range of treatments too. Thinking about it, the whole family can enjoy mud-packs, some in a slightly more cultured way than others!
They also put on ‘Get Creative’ activities for youngsters at different times of the day – giving them a chance to let their creative juices flow whilst making some new friends.

Sandy Balls is a brilliant family orientated facility. The kids can race around and burn off their energy, leaving the adults to enjoy some well earned tranquillity when the mayhem finally subsides!
Accomodation costs: deals
available via the website
01425 653042
www.sandyballs.co.uk