Travel review: Park offers family fun in heart of Cotswolds

It’s always been a holiday rule – been there, done that, got the T shirt. In other words once I’ve been to a place I’m never that keen to return – not as good as first time, visited all the nearby sites etc

Ok, now l admit l was wrong, second time can be just as good, if not better. Years ago, with three children in tow, we stayed at Hoburne Costwolds, near Cirencester – loved it! Well now they all have children of their own. So these years is it normally just the two of us. However this time we were joined for a few days by our daughter, son-in-law and baby grandson Oscar – and again, we all agreed, it was superb.

Hoburne parks are always a treat with plenty to keep all ages happy. And the caravans are like home from home. Our three-bedroom Platinum Plus had everything you could want. And some of the accommodation now even boast hot tubs.

Plenty to do without even leaving the site – indoor/outdoor swimming pools with flumes and slides, sauna, steam room, gym, tennis, mini golf bars, restaurant and superb evening entertainment. This list just goes on.

The park was in walking distance of the lovely village of South Cerney, which has three pubs – not that I was counting! And it’s a short hop to Cirencester with a wealth of shops and beautiful Cotswold stone buildings.

Most nights we cooked in the ample mobile home kitchen with the option of eating in the park restaurant. But one lovely evening we decided to all walk – a pleasant stroll with the buggy – to try out one of the village pubs.

We dropped lucky with the Eliot Arms and enjoyed a drink in the rear garden before taking our places inside to eat.

There was a large party in that night, but that did not affect the service, friendly and speedy and the sharing dishes were excellent.

So many attractions nearby, of course including the Cotswolds Water Park – literally down the road with a long list of activities including canoeing, climbing, rally driving etc.

Feeling the need for an adrenaline rush, my husband and l headed off to Head4Heights where, eventually after a lot of coaxing, l tried the 30ft leap of faith. I felt a bit dizzy after I climbed up to the top but after a first poor attempt I finally jumped to the ground. Should have landed on my feet but instead my bum. Ouch. Luckily, I am well padded.

The instructors Tom and John were very patient with me and very impressed when my pensioner husband Tony, who was 30ft up, jumped across a 6ft gap to hang off a triangular piece of equipment.

On to the next adrenaline rush and by now the ‘young ones’ had joined us. So we took it in turns to look after baby Oscar and headed to the nearby Gloucestershire Rally School where we all embarked on the 4x4 course. Over steep terrains and sheer drops it was exciting, but very scary as sometimes you were almost upside down as you were driving.

Then on to the cars and the rally track, no brake or clutch just the accelerator and instructor Holly telling us – foot down on the pedal, faster, faster. There was a race at the end with the two men vying for first place. Son-in-law Duncan won the day – l didn’t tell him that l let him win – and topped the podium while daughter Amy won the stunt driver award as she managed to spin the car wildly off the track.

Time to wind down and we found the perfect place to do that – Blenheim Palace stunning and with gardens to die for. We enjoyed the walk round them after touring the house and as usual my husband was last out – stopping for some time in the history exhibition and the room where Winston Churchill was born.

All of us loving animals, the next choice was eagerly anticipated – Cotswolds Wildlife Park and as it was national giraffe day we were treated to the chance to feed carrots to the giraffes. So many different animals and a lovely open site where you can get up close to them.

Back on site and what a small world. In the club at night we were listening to a great duo the Noughty Nineties when one of them mentioned Wolverhampton. None other than Ryan, the son of Jaki Graham.

Last couple of days and now just the two of us we took the chance for a stroll around the enormous water park and to try our hand at canoeing at Cotswold Water Park Hire which was very relaxing.

Finally too soon it was time to head home. Did I find the park repeat a bit too much? No way l loved it – a park you could never tire of with so much close at hand. Superb!

Hoburne Cotswolds is family-friendly and pet-friendly. It is one of eight Hoburne parks, two in Cornwall and Hampshire and others in Devon, Somerset, Cotswolds and Dorset.

The first stage of the newest park, Hoburne St Mabyn in Cornwall, launches this month and will be home to 25 plots, 17 of which are available for ownership. An ownership campaign runs until March 31.

Hoburne Cotswold mid-week breaks in March are available from £109 (based on a three-night break in a Standard 2 on March 18, 2019. To find out more contact the holiday booking team on 01425 687533.