Pigs, chickens, balloons and birdies
Meet lambs, pigs and chickens at Farmer Gow’s. Walk the trails at The Nature Discovery Centre or zorb your way around Unique Outdoors. Bring your wellies to walk the Ridgeway from the doorstep, ride the skies with Adventure Balloons, pepper clay pigeons at Max Events, or shoot a birdie or two at Ogbourne Downs Golf Club.
Country Kids
Give your kids memories they’ll never forget with the Kennet Horse Boat Company. Choose from the slow drift of the motor barge or the horse-drawn barge and give them an early lesson in escaping the madness of modern-day living. Or let off steam at Northcroft and Goldwell Parks, complete with zip slide and BMX track.
Head to The Living Rainforest to soak up the sights, sounds and smells of a lush tropical rainforest with three glasshouses that are home to over 850 rainforest plants and animals. Drive petrol karts on the indoor track at Swindon Karting Formula 1, or hit the high ropes at Jungle Parc.
For the Grown Ups
Plenty on site to occupy kids big and small. Bring your mucky boots and mountain bikes and walk or ride the Ridgeway or the Red Barn Walk from the doorstep. Or book some garden fun in the shape of clay-pigeon shooting, zorbing, a silent disco, chocolate making, pilates or yoga. Archery and air rifles are also popular with Barbury.
Head to Newbury for the horse racing, or ride your own from Little Hidden Farm. Splatter your pals at Hotshots Paintball, taste some wine at Thrifty Fifty, or nurture your mind, body and soul at Natura Spa. Or call up the pamper pros and get pedicures and manicures on site with Glo Pamper.
Head to Max Events in Oxford for rage buggies, hovercraft, clay-pigeon shooting, quad-biking, archery and paintball. Slow the pace and cast your rod over the nine spring-fed lakes of Westlake Fly-fishing School. Or watch out for Thames country houses, river rowers and market towns on a hot-air ride with Adventure Balloons.
Shoot 18 – or 19 – holes at classic golf courses such as the West Berkshire or Ogbourne Downs. Venture up the White Horse Hill at Uffington with its panoramic views over the rolling valleys. See Highclere Castle, better known as Downton Abbey. Or just potter the antique shops and independent boutiques of Hungerford.
