Beaches/Families
© Paris Tourist Office |
Holidaymakers’ love affair with sun, sea and sand is as passionate as ever, and Flybe’s easy access to France, Spain and Portugal has kept these destinations top of the list.
Well established on the tourist map, the classic Spanish destinations of Alicante, Malaga and Palma have proved enduringly popular thanks to their great facilities, good weather and brilliant beaches. Beyond the resorts, the real Spain is still very much alive and kicking. Flights to Almay open the way into characteristic Andalusia and flights to Murcia jet you on your way to some of Spain’s most handsome towns and breathtaking rural retreats too.Just beyond, Portugal beckons with the glorious beaches of The Algarve easily accessed through Faro - itself also well endowed with swathes of golden sands.
For seaside towns with character and charm, the French coastline is hard to beat. Fly to Brest and Brittany’s ceaselessly dramatic coastline is hugely popular, especially with families, because it offers the chance to combine superb beaches, bays and ports with time at ruined castles and historic sites. La Rochelle, a little further south, is set in 450km of coastline and is a great base for families who want to combine the seaside with lots of fun and interesting things to do. Bordeaux gives easy access to the endless white sand beaches of the Atlantic Ocean.
If it’s interesting rock pools and pretty coastal villages you seek, check out Ireland’s coastline too, best accessed through Shannon. The pace is slow, the living is easy and the seaside resorts have safe bathing, cliff walks and the all the charm and gentle pace of yesteryear.
Head to an island and you’re never far from the sea: on Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man stunning scenery, sandy beaches and pristine countryside come as standard. Whether it’s quaint holiday towns and villages, historic sites or a trip into the countryside, you crave these characteristic sunny British islands have it all.
The British mainland also has its share of excellent coastlines to explore. Fly to Exeter for the sun- blessed Cornish coast, or to Norwich for the famed Norfolk Broads and timeless seaside towns full of charm. Or head north to check out the rugged wilderness beauty of the Scottish Highlands’ coast – with beaches that are largely empty and breathtakingly pretty – accessed via Aberdeen. From Southampton the road is open to beaches galore, with many set beside tiny villages and grand castles.
All beached out? Then take a day trip to a purpose-built theme park or attraction and the kids are guaranteed some full-on fun. Or head inland for the fresh air and rolling landscapes of national parks and countryside areas.
In the Algarve, west of Faro, is Zoomarine – with spectacular water shows and the chance to interact with dolphins. In Spain, don’t miss Terra Mitica, near Alicante, while France boasts Parc Asterix, just outside of Paris.
Back in the UK, head to Birmingham for the chocolate wonderland experience that is on offer at Cadbury World. Alternatively, Cairngorms National Park (accessed from Aberdeen) is Britain’s biggest national park. Out of Glasgow the tranquil beauty of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is just a short but stunning trip away. Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, has no less than six country parks immediately on its doorstep plus stunning coastal and hill walking areas.
Southampton is surrounded by some of the UK’s prettiest landscapes – wooded valleys, ruined abbeys and animal parks, or you can catch a ferry to the Isle of Wight. From Belfast, some of Europe’s most beautiful scenery is accessible – the Causeway Coast, glens and the famed Carrickfergus Castle. Head off the beaten track from Leeds and you’re in the Yorkshire Dales and the Peak National Park. Or from Exeter point yourself in the direction of Dartmoor.
Set out exploring from Shannon and there are dolphin watching trips up the estuary, Kilkee Waterworld for flumes and gushers, and Lahinch Seaworld for a close encounter with sharks, starfish, rays and conger eels.
If you prefer your wildlife neatly contained, zoos are always an educational and fun day out with kids. London Zoo is of world renown and Edinburgh Zoo is the second largest in Britain with over 1000 species. Jersey has a zoo dedicated to conservation issues while on the Isle of Man you can visit a unique wetland habitat that’s home to many endangered species.
Castles, turrets and towers never fail to impress a child and kids can have their fun while the adults get a fix of culture at any one of France’s myriad impressive chateaux. There is the majestic white Basse du Chateau, near Chambery, the fairytale Chateau de Monbazillac, south of Bergerac, and in fact something spellbinding and magical almost anywhere you choose to go.
Even classical, historic destinations such as Salzburg and Berne, offer plenty for children. The castles, fortresses and fairytale-look of the places appeal to children while Salzburg also has a zoo, water gardens, falconry centre and miniature railway through the mines for added entertainment. Berne has a dedicated Children’s Museum, horse drawn carriage rides and a tour inside the workings of the Zytglogge Clock Tower, which is both educative and great fun.