Feather Down - Dolphinholme Farm

At Dophinholme Farm, the biggest problem is what to do first. The Forest of Bowland is within striking distance, for family days out at the Bowland Wild Boar Park (35 minutes’ drive) meeting the ostriches, meerkats and wild boar piglets, while older kids may be tempted by the daredevil rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach (45 minutes). If days at the seaside are what’s requested, Cockerham Sands (25 minutes) are often almost deserted, so yo may have them to yourselves. The southern limits of the Lake District National Park (45 minutes) await with all their cycling and hiking options on quiet lanes and woodland tracks. There’s more gorgeous countryside if you head east into the Yorkshire Dales National Park, stopping off to see gigantic stalactites in the subterranean caverns at Ingleborough Cave (55 minutes), and then wearing off some energy climbing up the scenic Ingleton Waterfalls Trail (45 minutes). If you’d rather stay closer to home base, go pony trekking (15 minutes) across the fells, take a picnic and hike up to Abbeystead Dam (10 minutes) or try your hand at coarse fishing for carp and pike (10 minutes).