Travelling Cornwall to Scotland with a 15month and 3 year old

[smallgingerone]

Hi,

We are driving down to Cornwall next month stopping off at Drayton Manor for Thomas Land on the way, but could do with finding somewhere for the way back up.

Zoos/animal parks don't hold much interest for either and the 15 month old wants to be out and walking but obviously still can't be trusted not to run in the wrong direction.

Any ideas? We will have spent the week in Cornwall in a holiday park so lots of time in swimming pools etc.

thanks

Where in Scotland do you travel back to ie would you be coming up the west/east coast and how far up?
If you were going Newcastle way for example I would recommend beamish - my two loved it.

We did E Anglia to W Highlands with 2.5yo DS1 and 5mo DS2 and stopped at Fountain's Abbey on the way back. Leg stretch, nice playground and decent cafe.

Try National Trust or English Heritage websites.

I'd second Fountain's Abbey if you're heading up the easy coast. If you're taking the M6, the Trentham Estate and Gardens, just off the M6 around Stoke on Trent is super. Gorgeous grounds, lovely cafe.

As an aside, we took my Thomas TTE mad DS1 aged 3 to Thomas World at Drayton Manor and it ain't all that. God, it was packed, queues were endless lasting 30 mins for a 2 min ride, it wasn't an immersive experience (more a fairground with Thomas stickers). We went on a Friday in November.

If coming up the A1 you are not far from all the lovely beaches in Northumberland - you could park and walk on the dunes near Bamburgh.

I would second choosing a nice National trust place to chill out or maybe English Heritage - could you detour via Goodrich or Kenilworth castles? Agree with pp about Drayton Manor - unless you are specifically staying over there - the queues are hellish and it could be a very tiring day out for little ones on top of the journey you are doing.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will look in to some of the NT/EH places. It is the Scottish Borders we are heading for and usually go up the west coast as it is a much quicker drive.

On the way down we are spending the night in Droitwich, Drayton Manor seemed to be about halfway through the journey and we can be there by 10am.

Last time we came back west coast and stopped at Little Moreton Hall www.nationaltrust.org.uk/little-moreton-hall/ which is a nice, small scale place. Lots to explore, cafe, room for picnics.