11 Apr 2014
With spring having well and truly arrived, it is time to look ahead to next season and start planning a summer holiday! Families in search of sand, sea and sunshine need look no further than the UK, as Natural Retreats provides a fantastic selection of properties, perfectly located for guests of all ages to enjoy the best that the UK has to offer. To make that summer holiday even more fun, Natural Retreats are offering new kids' packs laden with goodies for children to entertain them throughout their stay. The highlight of these packs is Natural Retreats' creative new “bucket list for kids” which includes tasks such as building a grass harmonica, making mud pies, building forts and more. Children can tick off the items on their bucket list at any of the Natural Retreats locations around the UK. So leave the X Box and the iPads at home and get creative! Here's some of our favourites…
The UK's premier holiday destination, Cornwall boasts spectacular beaches, quaint fishing towns and picturesque countryside. An idyllic escape from the frenetic pace of everyday life, the rural hideaway of Trewhiddle is nestled in a beautiful valley. Natural Retreats holiday homes are just one mile from the beach, well-located for a bracing coastal walk, a refreshing dip in the sea, or just the chance to soak up the sun. There is plenty of exploring to be done: enjoy a day out at the Eden Project, visit the quaint local fishing towns, or treat the whole gang at Rick Stein's seafood restaurant. Children can consult the bucket list and begin to check items off by looking under rocks for exciting aquatic insects. As well as the endless activities available, guests will love the wonderful comfort and sleek interiors of the luxury self-catering properties. Ranging in size from two-bedrooms to four-bedrooms, the properties are ideal for families of all sizes, large groups of friends or an intimate couples' getaway.
*Prices at Trewhiddle in July start at £42 pppn for 5 night nights based on 4 people sharing
Fistral Beach is surfers' paradise. What better time than summer to perfect those skills? Ideally located on Cornwall's north coast, Natural Retreats' apartments are the perfect base from which to enjoy this activity. Tick another item off the bucket list jumping over the waves as they reach the beach and go exploring through the caves and rock pools around the area's numerous beaches. Explore the local town and enjoy a traditional Cornish cream tea. After an active day on land or in the sea, the Natural Retreats apartments are the perfect respite. These stylish properties boast state-of-the-art commodities, beautiful furnishings and everything guests could need for comfortable contemporary living.
*Prices at Fistral Beach in July start at £46 pppn for 5 night nights based on 4 people sharing
The award-winning Yorkshire Dales properties are another great option for families and friends looking for a picture-perfect holiday spot from Natural Retreats. Enjoy country walks, fishing trips and mountain biking around the area, or sit and admire the rolling hills in all directions. For the most active holidaymakers, activities such as canoeing and caving are available nearby, while those seeking more relaxation can enjoy luxurious spa treatments in the comfort of their own residence. After a recent extensive refurbishment, the lodges offer modern commodities and rustic charm. A real highlight of the UK summer is the Tour de France, which this year is coming to Yorkshire! Setting off from Leeds on 5th July, the cyclists will snake their way through the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and visitors to Natural Retreats can be there to see it. Just a 20-minute drive from the lodges, the cycle route is easily accessible for guests hoping to catch a glimpse of the action. Those inspired by this momentous occasion can take advantage of the excellent cycle routes in the area. Horse riding, fishing and country walks are just some of the other activities available. Children can really work their way through the bucket list here, from making grass harmonicas and daisy chains to building themselves a spectacular fort. With rolling hills as far as the eye can see, guests of any age should wake up to watch the sun rise at least once; another bucket list favourite!
*Prices at Yorkshire Dales in July start at £47 pppn for 5 night nights based on 4 people sharing
The Inn at John O'Groats is another delightful holiday option, whose quirky, original design and remote location makes it a destination like no other. Located at the northernmost point of the UK, it is the perfect spot for an outdoorsy summer holiday. The area is blessed with some of the most exciting wildlife in the UK, and guests will revel in the chance to head out on a boat trip and spot Orca whales and dolphins! The Inn boasts storey high windows, offering guests sensational views across the Orkneys, while sophisticated interiors make this aparthotel a comfortable and charming place to spend the summer. As well as the fascinating wildlife, guests can enjoy trips to local attractions, such as Caithness castle or The Old Pulteney distillery, where they can sample award-winning malt whisky and enjoy a true taste of Scotland.
Right on the doorstep, all of these UK properties make for a perfect trip. Book now to avoid missing out on the ultimate summer holiday! Even if the British weather is its usual unreliable self, Natural Retreats have added a few rainy-day options to the bucket list. Run around in the rain, go puddle jumping and make a mud pie! Celebrating the great British outdoors, a holiday with Natural Retreats is a charming and wholesome experience that visitors of all ages are sure to enjoy, come rain or shine.
*Prices at John O'Groats in July start at £36 pppn for 5 night nights based on 4 people sharing
To learn more about Natural Retreats, view its worldwide portfolio of properties and book travel, visit www.naturalretreats.com.
*The Natural Retreats UK Bucket List includes the following activities:
- 1. Make a fort outside
- 2. Go jumping in piles of leaves
- 3. Make a daisy chain
- 4. Star gaze and pick out the big dipper and Orion's belt
- 5. Make a shadow monster
- 6. Go puddle jumping
- 7. Skim stones in a river
- 8. Shout your name in a valley or gorge
- 9. Look under river rocks for aquatic insects
- 10. Wake up to watch the sun rise
- 11. Find and identify and animal track, bone or scat
- 12. Wish upon a star
- 13. Collect leaves and flower petals to press in a heavy book
- 14. Jump over waves
- 15. Play Pooh sticks and win
- 16. Make flower petal perfume
- 17. Collect leaves and rub them with paper and crayons
- 18. Catch a worm or caterpillar
- 19. Play hopscotch with a stone
- 20. Catch a bug in your hands
- 21. Run around in the rain
- 22. Make a mud pie
- 23. Visit a farm
- 24. Catch a falling leaf
- 25. Make a grass harmonica
Notes to Editor - About Natural Retreats
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain's quote is as relevant today as it's always been and reflects the sense of freedom and adventure we like our guests to experience on a Natural Retreats escape.
At Natural Retreats we pride ourselves on being a unique leisure and travel company offering extraordinary experiences at a selection of stunning coastal, countryside and wilderness locations around the world. We all work and live by the principles that underpin the company forever on a quest to help or guests and customers explore, dream and discover.
We are your guides to life's most amazing experiences and guardians of quality time understanding how important your leisure time is to collect moments to form memories that will last a lifetime.
Natural Retreats truly believes in sustainability, the communities and landscapes within which we develop are the real amenities. We have a real passion for these rural communities; after all, this is where its founder, Matthew Spence, came from having developed the first location in the Yorkshire Dales on his family farm back in 2006.
Now, Natural Retreats operates 18 destinations across Europe and the USA, each offering extraordinary experiences, activities and accommodation. Highlights include John O'Groats, North Highlands, Scotland, Trewhiddle, South Cornwall, England, Tsaina Lodge in Alaska and South Fork Lodge, Idaho, USA.
-ENDS-
For further press information on Natural Retreats please contact Grifco on 020 7385 7090 or email Charlie Fox Charlie@grifcopr.com, Nicole Lovett Nicole@grifcopr.com or Jess Heslop Jess@grifcopr.com
