Adding zip to staycations wins praise for Cumbria holiday park

Families have given the thumbs-up to a Lake District holiday park which took a £150,000 gamble on creating a series of high-octane experiences for children.

Skelwith Fold in Ambleside made the investment earlier this year when it commissioned a new play zone designed to bring out the inner Bear Grylls of younger guests.

It includes a raft of adventure challenges such as zip wires, climbing nets and towers, and multi-level structures on which kids can clamber, crawl and balance.

The park’s action agenda also features a newly-created geocaching trail, an all-weather games pitch, and exploration paths laid out around the park’s 130 acres of woodland.

Skelwith Fold director Henry Wild said the idea of investing a six-figure sum on do-it-yourself outdoor fun was largely in response to comments made by visiting families:

“Mums and dads often say how much their children enjoy tiring themselves out in the fresh air, and that their staycation holiday was so unlike the experience of going abroad,” he said.

“I think many now realise that that youngsters like to get their thrills from being active, and not sitting under sunshades in the sweltering heat with nothing to do.

“That’s why we decided to create a raft of different active play opportunities, many of which involve problem-solving and decision-making skills, and encourage socialising.

“So many recent studies show that health and wellbeing are massively improved from being out in nature, so it’s grown-ups as well as youngsters who benefit from this type of holiday.

“I think that staycations are providing a wake-up call for many parents who now recognise what their kids have been missing from overseas holidays,” added Henry.

All of the activities are provided at no cost to holiday guests, and staff can also advise about nearby off-park adventures such as wild swimming, ghyll scrambling, and sail boarding.

Skelwith Fold offers luxury glamping pods, safari tents, holiday homes to own, and touring pitches for touring caravans and motorhomes. There is more information at www.skelwith.com