How to keep the children occupied during a wet half term

It's half term for many this week and it leads into Easter which means there are a lot of children with not a lot to do. This is prime time for getting away from it all and our holiday cottages are busier than ever. Given the weather so far hasn't been great, there are probably a few families out there looking for things to keep children occupied indoors.

Here are just a few. All are simple but effective ways of keeping kids entertained whether you're in a holiday cottage or at home. They go to show that it isn't all about games consoles and expensive computers. Old school games can still be fun too.

We hope they help!

Reading together

Parents reading to and with their children is something we should all do more of. It sparks their imagination, gets them interested in books and makes learning interesting. It's also a great bonding experience. Considering it's a very simple pastime that can keep children occupied for hours, everyone should try it.

Let's pretend

If your children are still of an age where they can build a den or have a tea party with their invisible friends, why not encourage it? It's a healthy way to let children explore their imagination and have a little fun without making a fuss, a mess or causing mayhem.

Make stuff

Making things will be easier at home than in a holiday cottage, but it is possible anywhere. Make cakes, paper hats, marshmallow and cocktail stick molecules or whatever, but get your hands dirty with the children, teach them something and play.

Take pictures

If you have a digital camera, why not let your children loose with it? As long as it comes back in one piece, taking pictures is a fascinating insight to how their mind works. It's also very creative and very "grown up" which adds to its attraction for the child. If they take anything particularly good you can promise to have it printed when you get home.

Sink or float

Sink or float is a simple game that can be quite fun if you turn it into a friendly competition. Take a bowl of water and some random objects and bet with your kids whether each object will float or not.

Those are just five of hundreds of indoor activities you can try while the weather is bad this half term and over Easter. Whether you're staying in one of our holiday cottages or at home, they will work wonders!

The Best Spring Walks in the UK 2015 part 2

Continuing on from our blog post on Tuesday, we're continuing our series on the Best Spring Walks in the UK 2015. Last time we covered the Pennine Way, Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Millennium Coastal Path, Cotswold Way and the South West Coast Path. This time we're exploring more fantastic spring walks across the country.

Thames Path, Berkshire

The Thames Path crosses Wiltshire, Berkshire and London from the source of the Thames river in Cirencester into the capital. It takes in some of the best parts of the centre of England such as Henley, Windsor and Oxford and ends up in the centre of London. It's an interesting path that takes in the calm and serenity of the countryside before depositing you in the hustle and bustle of the city.

Hadrian's Wall Path, Cumbria

Hadrian's Wall is one of our most famous historical landmarks. Designed and built by the Romans to keep the Picts out of England, the remains of the wall still remains. Stretching from Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria to Wallsend in Tyne and Wear, this is an excellent walk that traverses the width of the country.

Farndale, North Yorkshire

Farndale is another very popular walk that sees thousands of visitors each year. Famous for its daffodils and in the centre of the North York Moors, there's nothing not to like about this walk. Spring is a particularly good time for this walk as all those daffodils are in full bloom.

Wyre Forest, Shropshire

The Wyre Forest isn't as long as the Penine Way or as picturesque as the South West Coast Path but in spring it is amazing. This ancient woodland comes to life in an awesome way with thousands of daffodils, bluebells and celandines all coming into bloom while the rest of this forest begins turning green. It's a great place to spend time on a shorter walk.

Norfolk Coast Path, Norfolk

We have mentioned the Norfolk Coast Path before as it is one of the few truly great walks in East Anglia. The walk takes in come of the best eastern beaches we have, some lovely sandy cliffs and even a nature reserve. If you like your walking calm and tranquil, this is one to try.

Like those walks in Tuesday's post, we have holiday cottages within easy reach of all of these locations. What better way to spend Easter or a spring day than exploring one of these walks and then coming home to a warm, comfortable holiday cottage and putting your feet up?

Use the map on the site to choose your location. There's a whole country to explore and holidaycottages.net can help!