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Hello,

We're off to River Dart from 11/04 - 18/04, I have a 13 y/o boy, 11 y/o and 6 y/o girls. Can anyone who has visited the area or who lives down that way suggest some rainy day attractions that would suit the older children??

Many thanks in advance!

Hi

Woodlands http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=3286

Steam Railway http://www.paignton-steamrailway.co.uk/

All good for a rainy day!

If you want to travel to Torbay there is the Zoo, Babbacombe Model village and Bygones. http://www.bygones.co.uk/

IT IS NOT GOING TO RAIN THOUGH!!!!!

Cathie

You could trundle on up to Exeter and go to Crealy Adventure park (off junction 31 of M5) they have animal barns and playzone barn (ball pits, tunnels, etc)

http://www.crealy.co.uk/devon/explore-the-park.aspx

Thank you - I've also had a look at Pennywells for the miniature piggies, Trego mills and a few other places. I like to take details of a few different places to go and see what we\eel like doing when we get there!

Hi

Another good idea....we do this a lot with our kiddies.....mackerel fishing. From Paignton harbour it costs approx £10 adult and £7.50 for children for a 2 hour fishing trip. Great fun and you keep what you catch. They also do trips from Dartmouth quayside. You can also book a longer trip to the Skerries for wreck fishing. We always catch something and last year I was catching cod and plaice....yummy. This is normally half day trip but obviously more expensive.

Cathie

Thanks all!

Some good ideas and I've ordered wetsuits for all of us - I don't mind getting wet but I'd rather not be cold and wet!!

Cathie, your camping programe looks a lot like ours! We're doing Sailsbury next half term, Corfe and Tervesal in summer hols - and this is the first year that we haven't been doing all the cub camps too as now I'm teaching there just isn't enough time!

Plymouth for the marine aquarium and the Hoe, Exeter now has a great shopping centre at Princesshay and the Quay is lovely for a walk around and a bite to eat. AS Watersports are down on the Quay for all things aquatic such as kayaks, wetsuits etc and across the water from there you can hire canoes.  You can also take a ferry down to the pub and there is a nature reserve you can walk through too.

Cotswold Leisure and the farm shop at Topsham always good for a mooch.  Fresh fish and chips at Brixham are of course mandatory!

Ali

There is a Butterfly and Otter centre in Buckfastleigh which is half indoors and half out. You buy a ticket for the day, so that you can go anytime, and then return just before closing to see the otters being fed. While you are in the area, Sunday lunch at Buckfast Abbey is well worth the visit. Great food, good prices, and big enough portions so you don't need to eat again all day!

Crealy is a great day out, we have gone there on damp days, and still really enjoyed ourselves. The indoor play area is big enough for even your 13 year old to enjoy, and there are a few good rides.

If you go into Plymouth, take off your roof box! Most of the car parks have height barriers. The aquarium is great, and you can use Tesco vouchers if you have any. There is a fort near Plymouth that I can't remember the name of, and we spent one very wet day there having a great time.

There is also a high ropes centre near Ashburton (I think) which your older two could go to. There is an lower age limit of 10 though.

Have fun.

Eleanor

Thanks for your replies but theres a NEW DEVELOPMENT!

We will now also be taking our BLIND 4year old cocker spaniel and we have a very large vehicle with roof box (2.6metres) so car parks with height restrictions are a no-no any other ideas for dry or wet days?!

Crealy lets you take dogs, but if there are any others that spring to mind please let me know!