Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire
Accept no imposters - this is the UK's premier safari park. Lions, giraffes, meerkats, it's got them all. If you prefer your wildlife less wild, there's also a butterfly garden and a petting zoo, which offers daily parrot shows. What's not to like? What can I do there?
Apart from cruising the park in your car, there's plenty to do. Tour the splendid Elizabethan mansion, get lost in the maze, try a motion simulator and ride the miniature railway. The kids can even wander around Postman Pat's village. More info: www.longleat.co.uk
Where to stay: Find a local Haven Holiday Park
Siberian Husky rides in Norfolk
Forstal Siberian Husky Rides, near Thetford, has a collection of fabulous Siberian huskies. They are friendly, intelligent and highly athletic - but you're not allowed to take one home! What can I do there? Arrange a husky ride, lasting an hour or so (it doesn't have to have snowed, they do it in wheelie vehicles too) run by a team of between six and ten dogs. Call 01842 878 246 for costs. The rides normally take place in the early morning, so stay the night before at The Glebe B&B at Elveden (glebecountryhouse.co.uk). More info: www.huskyrides.co.uk
Where to stay: Find a local Haven Holiday Park
National Birds of Prey Centre, Gloucestershire
Where to stay: Find a local Haven Holiday Park
Horse riding in the Brecon Beacons, Wales
Tregoyd Riding Centre has lots of beautiful, glossy horses for you to ride, here in the glorious Black Mountains, part of the Brecon Beacons national park, one of the UK's loveliest horse-riding areas. What can I do there?
As well as being up close and personal with the horses, on a ride you might spot some of the wildlife of the Black Mountains, including kestrels, red kites, rabbits and hares. A full-day ride costs £45, and private lessons start at £14 for half an hour. There's b&b accommodation at Tregoyd Farm for £30pp. More info: www.tregoydriding.co.uk
Where to stay: Find a local Haven Holiday Park
Whale watching in the Hebrides, Scotland
The Hebrides is home to a fantastic variety of sea life, with minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks and, occasionally, killer whales visiting. Then there are all those seabirds, and don't forget the cute seal pups! What can I do there?
Sea Life Surveys, based at Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, will take you out on Alpha Beta, their well-equipped 45-foot boat, to try and spot these wonderful creatures up close. You can even listen to them, courtesy of the underwater hydrophone. Half-day cruises cost £45, and longer packages are available. More info: www.sealifesurveys.com
Where to stay: Find a local Haven Holiday Park
Llama trekking in Northamptonshire
In the middle of the countryside, eight miles from Towcester, Catanger Llamas has a herd of these splendid South American beasts. What can I do there?
Let's make it clear: you don't actually ride the llamas - they're not really up to the job. They will, however, carry your rucksack as you go off on a guided trek along the bridleways, farm tracks and country lanes. A 'half-day experience', including a 4.5-mile trek, with two llamas for two people, costs £85. Kids aged between eight and 12, accompanied by an adult, go for free. More info: www.llamatrekking.co.uk
Where to stay: Find a local Haven Holiday Park
Red squirrels, Sefton Coast, Lancashire
What will I see?The red squirrel is something of a celebrity these days, and rarely spotted, but they're a common sight in the pine woods, up on this lovely coast north of Liverpool. What can I do there?
Stroll in the pine woods and meet these playful creatures on the two-mile Formby Red Squirrel Walk. They are not shy, and will often scamper up quite close. Afterward, discover the newly modelled Sefton Coastal Footpath along the unspoilt stretch of coastline, famous for its dunes. Audio guides are available from the entrance kiosk. More info: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Where to stay: Find a local Haven Holiday Park
Deep Sea World, Fife, Scotland
A 4.5 million-litre, 112 metre-long acrylic tunnel lets you walk an 'underwater safari', right past the biggest gathering of sharks in Europe, as well as 2,000 other fish including rays and crabs. There are also seal pools, and various watery simulations such as a mini-Amazon, all here beneath the famous Forth Bridge. What can I do there?
Swim with sharks! Kids aged eight to 15 can do the PADI Bubblemaker course (£35). Non-qualified adults can do the 'discover scuba experience' with a two hour shark dive, costing £155. There are also courses for qualified divers. More info: www.deepseaworld.com
Where to stay: Find a local Haven Holiday Park
British Wildlife Centre, Surrey
Never mind all your sharks and llamas and the rest of it, here you can see more than 40 different British animals, all of them in large, attractive enclosures. There are adders, barn owls, weasels, wood mice, fallow deer, stoats, water voles and much more. It's a real-life natural history lesson. What can I do there?
Wander the outdoor areas, discover the barn and hedgerow areas, and observe badgers in their sett. The centre is north of East Grinstead and is open weekends and bank holidays March-October, and daily in the school holidays. More info: www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk
Where to stay: Find a local Haven Holiday Park
Seabirds at South Stack Cliffs, Anglesey, Wales
All the classic seabirds: guillemots, razorbills and puffins. This is a cliff-side nesting colony and Ellins Tower, the RSPB visitor centre, is open from Easter to September. What can I do there?
In summer the heathland explodes into colour, and you can watch all these seabirds raising their young, with binoculars and telescopes kindly provided. In the visitor centre there are also live TV pictures of the nests, to give you an even closer view. It's a fascinating glimpse into the birds' world. More info: www.rspb.org.uk
Where to stay: Find a local Haven Holiday Park Images courtesy of www.britainonview.com / Ian Shaw
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