It’s great to learn that the very family-friendly Woolley Grange Hotel in Bradford on Avon is opening again from 4 July, offering a perfect location for a family break-away. (Main photo Nell Mallia)
The Wiltshire-based hotel is also launching its first ever Woolley Country Festival which runs throughout the summer, exclusively for hotel guests. This includes a selection of socially distanced family experiences, including making garden pesto with the chef, creating pretty flower crowns in the gardens, learning how to willow weave, designing and drinking mocktails, soft archery, toasting marshmallows in the copse, yoga classes, gardening with the talented garden team and get to know the local wildlife in the Twilight Bat Walk led by Megan, Head Gardener and Ecologist.
There’s also the Family Challenge in the grounds, including the chance to try welly wanging, wheelbarrow racing, the fiendish obstacle course and hula-hooping. Families record their times on the leader boards and at the end of the week a prize is awarded.
For a more leisurely activity, guests can follow the Woolley Sheep Trail and get to know the 14 acre of country garden. There’s also a programme of arts and crafts family fun in the Woolley Bears Den and den building in the grounds. For those with young children, there are individual family areas in the grounds with teepees for the children to play in whilst mum and dad relax in deckchairs with a drink and a book. Bliss!
Head Chef Jethro Lawrence returns offering fantastic food in the restaurant (recommended guest spacing and operating procedures in place). There’s a new and delicious lunchtime picnic menu, or a cream tea if preferred. Just pick up your blanket and pre-ordered picnic basket from the hotel and go find the perfect picnic spot in the gardens.
When the lights dip low parents can enjoy a relaxing cocktail on the terrace as gentle guitar music drifts across the gardens, fire pits are lit and woollen blankets are brought out to ward off the evening chill. Crowds? Certainly not. Queues for the loos? No. Enjoy this country festival with a difference.
And it this isn’t enough, there’s Elemis treatments (with carefully reformulated safety procedures) available in the Spa, plus adult and family yoga and a new sensory room which is ideal for families with very young or autistic children.
If you fancy taking a day out, a family safari at Longleat is ideal, plus there’s the chance to get paddling, with Canadian Canoes available for hire from the Lock Inn in Bradford on Avon. They take up to a family of four and cost £25 for a two-hour paddle.
Add in paddle boarding, guided kayak tours, local walks and history trails and so much more, and there really is plenty to enjoy.
Simon Maguire, Managing Director, Luxury Family Hotels, comments, “We know these last few months have been tough for parents and their children and their first holiday post- lockdown needs to be one that is enjoyable, stress-free and enables parents to have some much needed me-time and also quality time as a family. Each one of our unique hotels is located in picturesque places in the UK and has acres of space for families to enjoy and, importantly, gives parents a much-needed break from normal life”.
“We used our excellent contacts and local knowledge to create these special experiences families can have while on holiday at Woolley Grange. Whatever they choose is up to them. The key thing we want to do is make sure that after a stay with us they leave feeling relaxed, recharged and with memories to last a lifetime.”
For bookings, please telephone +44 (0) 1225 864705 or visit luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk.