insideKENT Magazine Issue 78 - September 2018 | Page 97
restored and housing not only a trumpet and
music notes in its basket, but the main wash
basin and hordes of locally produced bath
products – fabulous!
As well as offering a comfortable home from
home, Widbrook boasts cosy lounges with
open fires and board games, brilliant
farmhouse-style breakfasts and British
farmhouse classic-with-a-gastro-twist
cuisine, beautifully presented, utilising herbs
and produce from the gardens, courtesy of
head chef Sandor Szucs and his team. And if
that was not enough, it has its very own gin
bar! Hallelujah, the family-short-break gods
had answered our prayers with a collection
of over 120 craft and award-winning gins, and
no less than 14 tonics. What a way to end
the day.
Aside from offering a comfortable abode, The
Widbrook Grange is also the perfect base for
exploring the county.
Up bright and early, in a way that those with
two small people can only appreciate, but
thankfully sated after a huge and hearty
breakfast of fresh farm eggs, local bacon,
cereals and hot butter-smothered toast, we
hit the road.
Just 45 minutes later we found ourselves at
one of the most historically significant and
awe-inspiring sites in the UK: Stonehenge.
Having visited Avebury before I have to say I
was slightly worried about meandering around
a historic site with such young children, but
I couldn’t have been more impressed! Not just
by the sunshine providing the perfect
backdrop to the prehistoric stones towering
in all their glory, but also to the modern and
cleverly designed visitors centre, ample toilets,
baby-change areas, café and gift shop, but
also by the free shuttle bus transfers perfect
for resting little legs enroute to and from the
stones. The family audio tour was another
great touch, which kept my inquisitive young
daughter (and us!) entertained and educated
for nearly an hour!
Stones seen, ice creams eaten, and it was back
on the road, but only for the 20-manageable-
minute journey to the medieval city of
Salisbury, with its stunning cathedral, home
to the Magna Carta, peaceful waterway walks
and historic houses – perfect for whiling away
an afternoon.
We returned via the local town of Bradford on
Avon where we wandered alongside the river
and stopped for an early dinner at one of the
many local restaurants before that countryside
air worked its magic as nightfell.
Rising with the sun does have some
advantages (yes I’m trying to convince myself!)
as we were able to pop over for a quick dip in
the quiet indoor heated pool before venturing
just 30 minutes away to the wonder that is
Longleat.
Two pairs of little eyes grew wide as we drove
up the winding approach to the impressively
beautiful Longleat House and grounds. And
so began a wonderful day of animals, play and
history, and it was simply brilliant!
From the self-drive safari with its helpful play-
as-you-drive information CD, taking in
giraffes, zebras, wolves, lions, tigers and our
own cheeky monkeys (giggling at the
notorious rhesus macaques riding on the other
cars, pulling off windscreen wipers and
generally making mischief); to the penguin
walk-through, animal feeding, talking parrots,
play areas and miniature train; to the absolute
wonder of the main Longleat house, with its
artworks and stunning furnishings; to the
magnificent grounds with giant statues – both
the little ones and our own inner child had
the most fabulous day; that would have made
the journey to Wiltshire worth it on its own!
Full of wonderful memories, fabulous
experiences and some much needed quality
time together, the (somewhat reluctant)
journey home suddenly seemed much more
manageable.
“Are we there yet?, I’m hungry!,
Mmmmmmuuuuuuuuum, the baby smells….
bad!”
Oh well…it was good whilst it lasted!
Widbrook Grange Hotel
Bradford on Avon
Wiltshire
BA15 1UH
01225 864 750
[email protected]
www.widbrookgrange.co.uk
widbrookgrange
widbrookgrange
widbrook.grange
Stonehenge
www.english-heritage.org.uk/
visit/places/stonehenge/
Longleat
www.longleat.co.uk/
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