Lorne Spicer visits four great Family Destinations in the UK, click on the link below to take you to the one you would like to know more about:

Pembrokeshire

Leigh on Sea

Brockenhurst

Windermere

Lorne Spicer on … Pembrokeshire

Bargain-hunting expert Lorne Spicer from BBC’s Cash in the Attic, Car Booty and Beat the Bailiff tells us why Pembrokeshire is perfect for a budget family break.

“One of my favourite holidays ever was spending time on a working farm in Wales as a six year old. My abiding memory is spending the whole time looking for gold! We visited the Festiniog Railway, slate mines and working farms, but the only thing I was interested in was gold. As it happens I found a gold nugget at one of the slate mines which my dad said was “Fool’s Gold” – frankly I didn’t really care – gold was gold. These days the working goldmine at Dolaucothi is still well worth a visit and you can have a go at panning gold for yourself.

“I love the moment the train pulls into Pembroke station as all those memories come flooding back. I have a real fondness for rail travel because my holiday starts the moment I board the train and my son, Daniel, is entertained all the way to our destination, giving me a chance to unwind.  If you can be flexible and book in advance, it’s also one of the cheapest ways to travel - I always use www.bestvaluefares.co.uk and my Family & Friends Railcard when planning journeys to make my money go further.

“When I choose my holiday destination, I always like to have a convenient base from which to travel by train for my day trips out and about. Pembroke is a charming historic town boasting of course the stunning Pembroke Castle www.pembroke-castle.co.uk, which happens to be one of the cheapest castles to visit in the country. Tickets for a family of four cost just £12 and dogs on leads are welcome and you can bring your own picnic and you can take part in free brass rubbing so you can create your own souvenir rather than having to buy one.

“One of my favourite trips from Pembroke is to Kilgetty where Folly Farm is situated. Marketed as a working farm for children, I love it for the vintage funfair which includes Golden Gallopers, Waltzers and a Big Wheel. Now that’s what I call reliving your childhood!  While there, and providing it’s the right time of year, pay a visit to Avondale Glass too. It was founded in 1976 by Vicenzo Speranza, an Italian who was trained in the classic Italian glassmaking traditions. Today you can watch the glassmakers at work and buy individual items as gifts. It costs a small fortune to commission an artist to undertake a piece of work for you on a one-off basis but here you have wonderful company that is producing these daily. I recommend you stock up on beautiful birthday and Christmas presents. www.avondaleglass.co.uk

“Over the years I have written a lot about the different crafts and antiques produced by Wales - from art to pottery, Welsh quilts to Welsh Loving Spoons and it’s great to see that such traditions are still alive and well. Make sure you make time to pop into the Pembroke Antiques Centre, Market Emporium and The Chapel Antiques and Crafts centre to see for yourself.

“Any trip to Pembroke wouldn’t be complete without taking in some of its stunning scenery. Pembrokeshire is famed for its Coastal Path, which is one of Britain’s top 15 walking trails. You can walk the entire length or there are 130 shorter routes you can choose from, which are no mean feat in themselves. There is even a bus for when you start to feel tired, as well as villages to stop at along the way. The Coastal Path covers steep limestone cliffs, red sandstone bays, volcanic headlands and flooded glacial valleys, giving the family plenty of sights to take in.  Everyone gets plenty of fresh air and exercise and the best bit of all - it’s all free.”

HOW TO GET THERE

Travel by train from London Paddington to Pembroke from just £15.00 one way. Log onto www.bestvaluefares.co.uk and use the Cheapest Fare Finder tool to find the best price for your journey.

• From Manchester Piccadilly by train from just £16.00 one way
• From Swansea by train from just £17.00 return
• From Leeds by train from just £28.00 one way

Lorne Spicer on … Leigh-On-Sea

Bargain-hunting expert Lorne Spicer from BBC’s Cash in the Attic, Car Booty and Beat the Bailiff tells us why Leigh-on-Sea is perfect for a budget family break.

“The only regret I have is that I didn’t move to Leigh on Sea years ago…it’s so good for the soul!  Situated just as the Thames estuary widens out to meet the English Channel, it has everything and is enough to revive the spirits of travellers and commuters alike.

“It’s so quick to get there by train and the journey is great value for money, particularly as www.bestvaluefares.co.uk helps you find the cheapest tickets. If you have a Family & Friends Railcard you can make even bigger savings or if you are travelling in a group from London, or from over 1,000 National Rail stations in the South East of England, to Leigh-on-Sea, three or four people can travel for the price of two with GroupSave. I love train travel because it’s always a great pleasure in itself.  Not only can families enjoy their holiday from the start but the journey itself is an experience. I love coming out of Fenchurch Street and the dusty built up city landscapes through West Ham and Barking followed by the towns of Essex…then the world opens up and you’re alone to take in the widening view of fields and pastureland.  A glimpse of the marina at Old Leigh shows boats new and old jostling for position whether the tide is in or out…to the left can be seen the ruins of Hadleigh Castle - high on the hill, it’s a haunting sight and now owned by the National Trust is free to visit.  There’s a Salvation Army animal farm located there for children to enjoy and it’s an invigorating walk to or from Hadleigh Castle to Leigh. 

“As you come out of Leigh station you can walk straight across the road through Leigh Marina dockyards and along past the cockle and fish sheds to Old Leigh.  Originally a small fishing village, it not only has its original charm with fishermen’s houses and pubs but is now home to a thriving community of local artists and potters whose work can be perused at the Gallery. Obviously, I am going to recommend the cockles and eels served from the cockle sheds. This is a really cheap snack and if you pop into the fishing boat co-operative sheds you can pick up the freshest fish for dinner at the cheapest prices. Then there’s Rossi ice cream, arguably the best in the world, made locally in Southend - believe me, you have not lived until you have tasted Rossi’s!

“The breeze that comes across the estuary and its location means that you can get every type of weather in a single day or even a single hour but there are plenty of places to shelter and rickety old tea rooms which do brilliant omelettes at fantastically cheap prices.

“A simple walk up the hill from old Leigh Town brings you out at the church which has a graveyard full of witches and fishermen. Here you are launched into Primrose Hill on Sea! Hardly any typical high street shops exist in Leigh Broadway as most are owned and run by individual business owners. The charity shops are always well stocked with bargains and then there’s my favourites Cats Pyjamas and Echo, which are both designer second hand shops where the ladies who lunch drop off delightful designer goods which can be snapped up at a fraction of the retail price. Then there’s Spinx with all sorts of antiques and collectables, from genuine pieces through to more modern items. There are so many places to pop in for lunch, coffee, afternoon tea and dinner that I can’t cite them all…but most have lunch time specials which are well worth checking out, particularly as they concentrate on local produce, so check out The Estuary, The Coffee Lounge, Hippos and Stop The World.

“You can walk or get the train for just £2.10 one way from Leigh all the way to the tip of the estuary at Shoeburyness. Quite simply, you can spend days just passing time in the estuary at Shoeburyness.  A walk to Two Tree Island, which is protected by the RSPB, is scattered with huts from which all sorts of birds can be spotted.  In the winter, Brent Geese are around having left Siberia and they are a wonderful sight.

“One of the best things about  Leigh is that there is always something going on and very few of the activities ever need to be paid for, from the Leigh Regatta to the Leigh Fishing Festival in the summer, to Carol Singing and Leigh Christmas Lights - the locally run events welcome all and no one is ever a stranger. It’s just perfect for those who want to experience a real old-fashioned community and the smell of the salty sea air without breaking the bank!”

Sources: www.leigh-on-sea.com and www.oldleigh.com

HOW TO GET THERE

Travel from London Fenchurch Street to Leigh-on-Sea by train for just £10.10 return at the weekend or £13.40 off-peak during the week.

With GroupSave three or four people can travel off-peak for the price of two, that’s just £5.05 each return at the weekend. If you’re travelling from further afield log onto www.bestvaluefares.co.uk and use the Cheapest Fare Finder tool to find the best price for your journey.

• From Birmingham New Street by train from just £11.50 one way.
• From Leeds by train from just £15.50 one way.
• From Bristol Parkway by train from just £12.00 one way.
• From Manchester Piccadilly by train from just £16.00 one way.

Lorne Spicer on … Brockenhurst

Bargain-hunting expert Lorne Spicer from BBC’s Cash in the Attic, Car Booty and Beat the Bailiff tells us why Brockenhurst is perfect for a budget family break.

“I adore old railways and whenever I can, I love to visit Brockenhurst Station in the New Forest. It’s really easy to get there from London Waterloo, Woking or Basingstoke and great value, especially if you book in advance – you can find the cheapest fares through www.bestvaluefares.co.uk and get some real bargains if you have a Family & Friends Railcard. Plus, if you’re travelling in a group from London, or from over 1,000 National Rail stations in the South East of England, three or four people can travel for the price of two with GroupSave.

“From Brockenhurst you can hop onto the Lymington Branch Line, which runs from Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier and costs just £3.00 - what could be better than combining the countryside with the sea! It’s a six mile meander through the country and is a route first established more than 150 years ago.  It’s relaxing for adults and thrilling for children – my son Daniel absolutely adores a trip on a train, particularly when the destination is a surprise. It’s part of the reason I’m such a fan of train travel generally – it means adults can unwind while the children are entertained, taking the stress out of the journey.

“The New Forest has a long history of mystery. We especially love the New Forest ponies that can be found all over the area, where else can you come across ponies or any other animal that is just free to roam in this day and age - it’s just wonderful to see them. Brockenhurst boasts regular visits from ponies and donkeys as if that were completely normal, the creatures seem to frequent the village in the same way that people do and no one bats an eyelid.

“I also love to walk and cycle once in Brockenhurst. If you truly want to experience the best this area has to offer then you have to get out there and become part of it. There are lots of established bicycle routes and I confess to loving a trip on my bike, which I always take with me. A firm favourite is the hoop trip from Brockenhurst to Burley. It’s known as one of the most picturesque routes, covering marsh, heath and forest. For me, the arrival at Burley is so welcome because of Castleman’s Restaurant at the Station House. The Station House has long since closed but it retains all the features of a railway station – so much so that if a train did pass through I wouldn’t be surprised. The food at Castleman’s is a delight and it’s very reasonable, which is good because I am always starving by the time I arrive. On the first Sunday in every month there’s also a little farmers’ market tucked behind the Queen’s Head Pub so you can stock up on supplies. If you miss this then just three miles from Brockenhurst is Warborne Organic Farm.

“There are so many guest houses and camping sites in Brockenhurst that it’s possible of course to simply move each day to a slightly new area and a new site or location, although I prefer to stay put and have a base from which to explore. There’s no doubt that adults and children alike can get the most out of this wonderful place by camping. It’s great to watch the children gain confidence as they adjust to the different noises, sights and smells of the country compared to the city.

“Nearby is the fabulous National Motor Museum. Not only is this grand stately home with grounds a wonderful place to see a whole host of legendary cars,  it’s also a venue for all sorts of events at different times of year - Halloween, Bonfire Night, Christmas, festivals, there is always something going on.

HOW TO GET THERE

Travel from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst by train from just £9 one way.  Log onto www.bestvaluefares.co.uk and use the Cheapest Fare Finder tool to find the best price for your journey. 

• From Birmingham New Street by train from just £ 16.50 one way.
• From Manchester Piccadilly by train from just £23.50 one way.
• From Bristol by train from just £28.00 one way.

Lorne Spicer on … Windermere

Bargain-hunting expert Lorne Spicer from BBC’s Cash in the Attic, Car Booty and Beat the Bailiff tells us why the Lake District’s Windermere is perfect for a budget family break.

“Windermere is just wonderful for those who want to take a step back in time. The railway station is an ideal place to pause when you arrive to take in not only the surroundings but also the quaint railway cottages. These were built for railway executives in 1849 and designed by the celebrated architect, Augustin Pugin. One of the fireplaces is a copy of his famous one in the Palace of Westminster.

“Visiting Windermere does evoke romantic memories of when life seemed more relaxing. So that I’m in the right frame of mind when I arrive, I always take the train.  It means I can start my break straight away and my son is always excited to see the countryside whizzing past the window, giving me a chance to unwind.  There are also some great bargains to be had and if you can be flexible and book in advance you can take advantage of one of the 800,000 cheap Advance tickets sold each week. Check out the Cheapest Fare Finder on www.bestvaluefares.co.uk.  I always use my Family & Friends Railcard to make my holiday spending budget go much further.

“One of the first things I do whenever I arrive is buy the local newspaper. This is such a pleasure and immediately gives you a sense of the community, what’s going on and what’s coming up. Boot sales, antiques fairs, farmers’ markets, table top sales, community events are always listed and immediately I start planning my itinerary. It’s amazing how things sell at different prices depending on where you are in the country and it has always been my deep hope to find a true piece of Arts & Crafts at one of the local boot sales…a dream that has yet to be fulfilled I should add.

“One place for a good potter is Windermere and Ambleside Wine Stores. Personally, I’m not a drinker but I love it here, so for those who appreciate a tipple it must be seventh heaven.  Bracing walks and mixed weather usually means I could easily do with a “warm up”. This shop, which also has a very good online site, has all sorts of whiskey including some specials and limited editions (www.maltlounge.co.uk).  There is also a craft shop nearby, which is great for finding the materials you need for creative projects.

“Lake Windermere, of course, offers plenty of great value activities. The scenery is stunning and you can hire rowing boats and explore the lake for yourselves.  If you prefer to keep your feet on dry land, there are bikes for hire which you can use to cycle along the shoreline – it’s an exhilarating experience and the further you pedal, the further away the real world seems to be.

“When I go to the lake, I make a day of it and we take a picnic with us.  Not only do you save money on eating out but there is nothing quite like relaxing in the open air surrounded by nature. The afternoon is the perfect time to follow one of the woodland trails and let the children run about in the adventure playground.

“I always find it really uplifting that so many things are going on outside cities and this area is great proof of that. Virtually every weekend something is happening that’s worth a visit, from the Windermere Air Show to sheepdog trials. All these different events make for great family days out without breaking the bank. One of the best sites to check out what is happening where is www.wordsworthcountry.com/events.”

HOW TO GET THERE

Log onto www.bestvaluefares.co.uk and use the Cheapest Fare Finder tool to find the best price for your journey.

• From Edinburgh to Windermere by train from just £10.00 one way.
• From Leeds to Windermere by train from just £11.50 one way.
• From Bristol Temple Meads to Windermere by train from just £25.50 one way.
• From Birmingham to Windermere by train from just £23.50 one way.