The end of May Bank Holiday marks the start of half term, and a chance for the kids to get outdoors. We may have had a dry spell, but there's rain due, so donning warm wellies for puddle jumping will be top of the list (we hope)!

Here are a few other ideas that will work - whether it's rain or shine...

 Go and explore a forest - Forestry England has lots of ideas - Have a look at this link   

Get to grips with GEOCASHING - if you've not tried it before, it's a live treasure hunt game you can play anywhere - but you  need a GPS enabled device to play - and you will need to download an app.

It costs nothing to....

Play hopscotch - when we were kids, a piece of chalk and a stone would keep us active for ages - a bit of a hop, skip and a jump - so it's exercise too.  We also learned that it's a good way to encourage children to take turns!

Build an obstacle course - our Jack Russells love an obstacle course around the living room, but it's better outdoors. Get the kids to create one for your pets - or even better one for them to run round.

Be a cloud watcher - have you ever looked up and been able to see the outline of an animal, or a flower, or a person.... its a great way to feed the imagination - but of it's raining - wear a mac and your wellies!

Let's Dance. When it rains - get your brollies and go dancing in the rain - we could do with a rain dance right now. Put on some music and really enjoy getting wet - and if your wellies get wet too - here are tips to dry out wet wellies.

Recycle bottles for bowling - imagine that, you can fill drinking bottles with a little something and then get a ball to play outdoor blowing if its nice - or in the house if it's not. 

Listen out... imagine taking time to stand still in a wood and listen out for birds you can them learn to identify by their sound. There are so may different bird calls, you may be surprised how many different one you hear. Why not create a worksheet to record the birds you hear and see if you can spot them too.

We thought we'd look at the top, middle, and bottom of the country for holiday fun, so we're looking at Scotland, The Lake District and Cornwall this time. 

Lot's to do in..... Scotland

How cool is Cornwall? 

It's not just about the beach, though that is fab. It's also a great place to explore further. From gardens to Via Ferrata adventures - find out more here 

See the Lake District by bus  

Take a trip on a bus through the Lakes - just £3/journey  Buses are a great way of seeing the Lakes and it's only £3 per single fare –that means you can get on at Penrith, travel along Ullswater, down into the central Lakes, go for a welly wander in Windermere and come back again for just £3 each way.  Have a look at the Stagecoach routes and offers here.

Go wild in the woods and forests of Grizedale and Whinlatter  - Click here for Whinlatter, and if you are in the south of the county - Click here for Grizedale

Love a trip to the lemurs? We often call in to see the Lemurs, Mandrills, Meerkats and Red Pandas at The Lake District Wildlife Park 

And if it rains, try something indoors: 

Keswick Climbing Wall - quite safe and kids love it - Click here to climb a wall.

 Do you love Squirrel Nutkin and Mrs Tiggywinkle? Then hop skip and jump to The World of Beatrix Potter

 Go under the ocean and explore at The Lakes Aquarium in Windermere