Inside the off-grid British farm perfect for a family staycation from fossil hunting to alpacas
THE kids will really dig fossil hunting, seal spotting and making a splash in this off-grid Dorset farm, says Art Director Laura Cunningham.
Here’s how a safari tent adventure will turn into the ultimate family staycation triumph.
THE PAD
When I break the news to my workaholic husband Barney and our kids Ellis, 10, Nate, eight, and six-year-old Violet, that we’ll be without electricity and Wi-Fi for four days, I’m met with horrified faces.
But Feather Down’s East Shilvinghampton Farm offers a wholesome family escape that means screens are fast forgotten.
The spacious safari tents have proper beds, a wood-burning stove and a well-equipped kitchen, and the kids spend hours feeding the goats and climbing trees – even walking the alpacas with farmer’s son Henry, £20 per animal.
Toasting marshmallows on the campfire and cooking pizzas, £12 each, in the communal pizza oven also creates magical memories.
EXPLORE
Worth the 45-minute drive is Dorset Adventure Park and its giant 200m inflatable water course.
Adults will have just as much fun as kids, who won’t tire of launching you off the flipbag!
Tickets cost £22 each (Dorsetadventurepark.com).
We love feeding monkey nuts to the cute otters and watching penguins waddle around at nearby Sea Life Weymouth, before a round of pirate mini golf.
Combo tickets cost £27 for adults, £24 for kids (Visitsealife.com/weymouth).
And be sure to follow Weymouth’s Fossil Trail, from Alexandra Gardens to Hope Square, to hunt down fossil sculptures and learn more about the prehistoric creatures this coastline is famous for.
It easily fills an hour for us (Weareweymouth.co.uk).
At the beach itself you may be as lucky as us and spot a seal basking on the shoreline.
And if you fancy hanging out with 250 rescued primates, from gibbons to orangutans, in 65 acres of parkland, hit Monkey World.
Adult tickets cost £18, over-threes £12 (Monkeyworld.org).
REFUEL
Follow the queue of people along Weymouth’s waterfront to Rossi’s Ices.
They’re freshly made throughout the day, and we devour the hazelnut ripple and cherry flavours, £2.50 per scoop (Rossisweymouth.com).
Meanwhile, at Watch House Cafe in Bridport, we tuck into delicious crab focaccia with fennel salad and aioli, £14.50, while overlooking picturesque West Bay, AKA the cliffs made famous by Broadchurch (Watchhousecafe.co.uk).
And when hitting the golden sands of Hive beach, don’t miss the crispy chilli and lime squid, £19.50, at Hive Beach Cafe (Hivebeachcafe.co.uk).
Closer to the campsite, The Sunray pub in Osmington has a great outdoor play area and dishes including duroc pork loin served with bubble and squeak cake, scrumpy apple compote and garden sage jus, £23.75, while the kids’ sticky toffee pudding, £4, doesn’t disappoint either (Sunrayosmington.com).
BOOK IT
Safari tent stays for six at East Shilvinghampton Farm cost from £399 for four nights (Featherdown.co.uk).