Dorset - Sandford Park Day 2 - Durdle Door

Day2 of our glamping holiday in Dorset and it only seemed appropriate to visit the spectacular Durdle Door as the weather was beautiful. Durdle Door is absolutely mind blowing with spectacular geography and crystal clear waters that surround. It is incredible that there are places like this in the UK - makes you wonder why you pay all that money to go abroad.

It's a pretty steep rocky walk from the car park down to the Durdle Door viewing area and when you are carrying all the beach stuff plus a SUP it becomes even more challenging. Tina had to take the climb back up slow and steady due to her asthma which left me carrying even more. So a good workout.

It was really worthwhile taking the paddle board though as it enables you to go right out and through the Durdle Door for safely than risking the under currents whilst swimming. In fact me and Holly paddle boarded from the far side, all the way around the back and then through Durdle Door.

Anyway for this blog it is better to just jump straight in to the pictures as words cannot really describe just how gorgeous Durdle Door is.

Before heading out to Durdle Door it was nice to see the 3 kids playing badminton nicely together.

As you walk down towards Durdle Door you are greeted with a stunning looking beach and crystal clear waters.

Who would believe tat this is in the UK?

Stopping for a quick family picture on the walk down to Durdle Door.

More scenery.

Then Durdle Door itself comes in to view - breath taking.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Good to see Josh smiling for the pictures again!

Holly and Tina at the Durdle Door viewing point.

This bay opposite Durdle Door was perfectly flat for paddle boarding.

But when you went around the back the sea got a bit more choppy.

Me and H paddle boarded all the way around and through the back of Durdle Door.

Holly rode the front of the paddle board.

Brandon enjoying some SUP time on the lovely jade coloured waters.

Not brave enough to stand up with the waves. Normally they paddle board on nice smooth rives, not the sea.

Brandon heading out to Durdle Door whilst Joshua snorkel's for fish.

Brandon makes it out to the famous arch.

It was nice and quiet first thing in the morning but soon got very busy on the beach.

Some unusual rock formations visible in the clear waters.

Joshua looking for platforms to do some cliff diving.

No shoes, no problem. Josh still manages to find rocks to jump off of.

Holly being towed by the SUP on a body board.

Josh and H enjoying some time in the sea.

Beautiful views from the SUP.

Such crystal clear water.

Now that's how paddle boarding should look.

Can you spot a Josh in the scenery?

All 5 of us at Durdle Door.

Oh they both look so happy when the camera comes out.

Looking back towards Durdle Door as we walk out to Lulworth Cove.

View looking down on Lulworth Cove.

Dorset - Sandford Park Day 1

So for the second year running our holiday to Bulgaria has been cancelled and instead we opted for the safer staycation option and booked a glamping tent in Sandford, Dorset. The kids all enjoyed last years glamping so much that they were really keen and excited to do a similar UK holiday this year. So we ended up in Parkdean in Sanford, Wareham in Dorset which was only about a 3-4 hour drive from home.

Once we had arrived we quickly got unpacked and settled before heading out to explore the surroundings. As it was too early for dinner we decided to enjoy a game of Jurassic and Pirate crazy golf which as you can see from the pictures, got a bit silly towards the end.

After a long day of travelling we took the easy option to eat in the Parkdean restuarant which actually turned out to be a mistake and ruined the start of our holiday. Whether it was staff shortages or stock shortages is anybody's guess, but it took over an hour and forty minutes for Holly's dinner to arrive!!! Mine, Tina's and Brandon's arrived shortly after, but Joshua probably had another 10 minutes before his turned up. Absolutely appaulling service and this was the one and only time we used the on-site restuarant.

So once we had finally eaten we headed back to our glamping tent to get a good nights sleep before our first full day. Holly slept in one room with Tina in the double bed, the boys both had single beds in another room, and that left me in the main living area on the sofa bed!

2021 Staycation - Dorset hear we come.

The road with our glamping tents was appropriately named Durdle Door.

And this was our glamping tent for the next 2 weeks.

A nice outdoor deck area where we sat playing Uno most evening whilst enjoying a drink or two.

The kitchen area.

The living and dining area.

Our own shower room and toilet.

Holly and Tina's room.

Looking back out of the tent from the living area.

Time to head out and explore.

A common theme with this years holiday photo's with Joshua having his head down and not smiling.

At least these two can muster up a smile whilst on holiday.

This is Holly in front of a picture of Durdle Door which we planned to visit on Day 2.

An afternoon of crazy golf starting to the Jurassic course.

As always Holly insists on going first every time!

Brandon is getting very competitive at crazy golf now, I had my work cut out trying to peg him.

Me and H riding a dinosaur.

Joshua lines up to sink one.

That's a very scary monster, oh and a picture of a dinosaur.

Not sure that ball is close enough to warrant wind assist.

Things started getting silly - taking snooker shots off a dino head using a putter handle!

Holly negotiating a tricky rock hole.

I think that one is off the green!

Then on to the Pirates course. Miserable Josh wouldn't join in with the one legged pirate pose.

They must have known I was playing as they had a crate of run ready for me.

Being silly again!

I spy with my little eye..........

He looks a long way away.

We found the gold. If only this could be used in the bloody arcades - would save me a fortune.

R.I.P Joshua and Brandon King.

Well that's the Pirates done, now time for some dinner.

Pulling ourselves across the water at the final hole.

Me and H pulling the raft across.

Holly Passes her Stage 4 Swimming and gets her Blue Hat

Super proud of Holly. At swimming last night she was awarded her stage 4 certificate and her 20m length certificate and now moves up to blue hat. Her back stroke is looking technically flawless at the moment, but her breast stroke and front crawl still need a bit more work so I didn't think she was quite ready yet. It is funny though because driving to swimming last night she was telling me that she thinks she will get her blue hat tonight - she was right!

Holly with her certificates and blue hate - well done.

Brentwood Outdoor Karting

To try and keep the boys entertained throughout the school holidays we always try and book up some go-karting for them. For a change we thought it would be good for them to try out the outdoor karting track at Brentwood for the first time. Of course with outdoor karting you have to hope that you pick a good day weather wise as raining just makes it miserable and slippery. Luckily today we got it spot on with the weather.

Brentwood prides itself on being one of the most challenging tracks in the country and is 825m long but more impressively 8m wide so loads of opportunity to overtake. The other big advantage of Brentwood is that both boys can go in the adult 270cc go-karts which are much quicker than anything they have previously driven with the ability to hit 65mph along the back straight!.

Brandon showed his prowess today. He started at the back of the grid and although there was only 3 other drivers it only took him 5 laps to work his way to the front of the pack and then he didn't look back, winning the race and even lapping everyone except Josh.

The impressive 825m long outdoor track at Brentwood.

Momentarily Joshua was leading Brandon, but only for about 5 laps.

Accelerating off down the back straight.

Joshua swinging out on one of the hairpins.

Brandon absolutely dominant and winning easily.

Good action shot of Josh who ended up finishing in second place.

Hang Loose Bluewater Zip Wire Experience

A few months ago I booked up for me and the boys to tryout the new Hang Loose zip wire which opened only a few months back. We had to postpone once already due to a clash of events and thus we was really looking forward to finally getting to try it out. Holly wasn't so fortunate as you need to be over 8 years old and over 35kg, so she could only stand by and watch this time around.

The zip wire doesn't look that impressive from the ground, but when you get up there it is a different story. 70m meters up in the air, 700 meters long (the longest in the country) and hitting speeds of 60 mph in a superman position!

Once you are at the top of a tower they hook you up and you lay on a motorised table device. Once the table drops away you are just hanging there looking straight down at the lake below. At this point the good thing is you don't have to make a conscious effort to jump off or initiate the zip wire in anyway. they simply hit a button and up to 4 people set-off at once.

The zip wire is amazing but over way to quickly. Before you know it you are on the landing deck with your eyes streaming from the speed. Totally thrilling. Brandon was a little scared once up the top and probably didn't enjoy it as much as me and Josh did.

Joshua and Brandon all kitted up and nervously waiting.

The nervous wait for the mini bus to take us up to the tower.

Me and the boys all ready for our zip wire experience.

These are the motorised tables that you launch from at the top of the tower.

And this is the view as you plummet down over the lake and to the landing zone 700m away!