| Pembrokeshire for kids |
| If you have children in tow, you’ll know that they need a lot of entertaining. Thankfully, that is no
problem in Pembrokeshire |
It’s all very well going on
holiday with the children but
sometimes you need a break from each other. At the same time, you need to know that they will enjoy themselves in
safety while you relax for a few hours. That’s where Pembrokeshire has so much to offer. It boasts a
number of theme parks and other attractions where kids can do their own thing while adults sit back and recharge their batteries – or else relive their own childhoods.
1. CHILDREN'S ADVENTURE PLAY CENTRE
Running parallel with the town
wall at Tenby is Lower Frog Street, where a church has been converted into a Children’s Adventure
Play Centre.
The centre is suitable for
youngsters up to 10 years old,
and is a soft-play centre equipped with slides, ball pits, a rope bridge and a bouncy castle. It’s an ideal place for kids when the weather isn’t at its best. And, providing the children are four years old or older, you can even pre-book a one-and-a-half-hour supervised playtime while you nip off to do
a bit of shopping. Otherwise, you can sit upstairs in the parents’ viewing area and have a light snack or watch TV.
2. THE DINOSAUR PARK
You’ll find the park along the B4318, less than four miles from Tenby. The attraction features a mile-long trail through countryside complete with Jurassic Park-type surprises.
There are also many undercover activities: an indoor activity centre equipped with a computer, and a soft-play zone with ball pits, slides, bridges, and so on. For older children, there are pedal trucks, an adventure playground and organised activities to boot.
When they’ve burnt off their excess energy, they can take on
a new supply of fuel at Dino’s Snack Bar, or at the Dinosaur Restaurant.
• Tel 01834 845272. Entry prices: £3.95 adults; £2.95 children age
3–15 (two and under go free); £3.50 senior citizens; £2.95 disabled.
3. OAKWOOD THEME PARK
Oakwood Theme Park, Canaston Bridge, claims to be Pembrokeshire’s largest. It’s clearly signposted on the A4075, two miles south of the junction with the A40 St Clears to Haverfordwest road.
This park, set in 80 acres of
landscaped gardens, has more than 40 rides and attractions, including KidzWorld, an
interactive adventure world with its Wacky Factory play zone; the White Knuckle Zone, with its
900-metre-long Megafobia
roller coaster; Snake River Falls ‘wet’n’wild’ white-water ride;
and Vertigo, a 50-metre-high
ride where you reach speeds
of almost 70 miles per hour in
just one-and-a-half seconds! There’s something for everyone
of every age, here.
With the exception of the Vertigo ride, the price of admission includes all rides and attractions. At the time of writing, a family ticket for two adults and two
children cost £42. Admission
for senior citizens over 60 and
disabled visitors is £7.50.
• Tel 0845 345 5667
4. FOLLY FARM ADVENTURE PARK
Folly Farm is on the A476, about a mile north of the junction with the A477 and the B4316 road to Saundersfoot.
In addition to the usual farm
animals, Folly Farm offers a pet centre, where children have a chance to handle rabbits, guinea pigs and the like (under supervision). There are horses, too, and displays by birds of prey. The latter, held twice a day during summer, feature falcons, hawks and owls. If the
children (or you) are getting worn out, catch a lift around the farm on tractor-drawn trailer.
Another major attraction is the undercover fairground, which claims to be the largest in
Europe and features rides
including a 1922 Golden Galloper, ‘chair-o-planes’, a ghost train and dodgems. New for 2002 is a
children’s zoo and an
illusionist’s show.
• Admission: adults £4.50;
children (aged 3-15 years) £3.50 (no charge for two-year-olds and under); senior citizens £4.
Tel 01834 812731.
Website www.folly-farm.co.uk
5. HEATHERTON COUNTRY SPORTS PARK
The sports park is about five miles from Tenby on the B4318 and
on the same side of the road
(the right) as The Dinosaur Park, and about a mile further on.
Heatherton Country Sports Park is a large complex offering a wide range of activities. It’s open all year and certainly has enough
to interest the whole family. Importantly, admission is free
– you only pay for the activities you take part in. For children aged between six and 13 years,
a charge of £5 allows them to choose five activities from
baseball/softball, archery,
pistol shooting, laser clay-pigeon shooting, junior go-karts, and adventure golf.
Horse riding is available for all ages and all abilities. Parents can lead small children on ponies or take one of three treks available, lasting from one hour to half a day. Charges vary from £11 to £22.
Adults and older children can take part in paintball shooting. Three options are available,
costing from £10 to £37.50 per
person. All necessary clothing,
goggles and paintball gear are
supplied by the park.
For those who prefer a
quieter pastime, the park also offers a two-acre coarse-fishing lake stocked with carp, tench, roach and rudd. Rod, bait and licence are all provided, together with instruction for novices to
the sport.
• Tel 01645 651025
Website www.heatherton.co.uk
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Distance Various,
depending on your choice of venues
Time From half to a
whole day
Start/Finish Moreton Farm Leisure Park
Suitable for All the family
Refreshments
At the various attractions
Tourist Information
Tenby
Tel 01834 842404
Email Click here
Pembroke Visitor Centre
The Commons Road, Pembroke
Tel 01646 622388
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