We went on Holiday at half term to Haven Littlesea Holiday Camp in Weymouth. It was our first time to this particular camp, but not our first time to a Haven Park. We really loved it and will definitely go back there, probably next year. I know these type of holiday camps are not everyone’s cup of tea, but they suit us just fine. We love caravans and we love holiday camps which have everything on site.
We were so lucky with the weather, it rained when we arrived and it rained on the way home but in between the weather was lovely and warm and mostly sunny.
The first day we stayed on site and settled into our caravan which was lovely and clean and had everything we needed. We spent the evening in the arcade and having a chip shop supper.
Day two we went into Weymouth. We had a little trouble because Star was determined that she wasn’t going and it took us over an hour to persuade her. I still don’t know exactly what her problem was but she was incredibly anxious. Once we were in the car and on the way she wasn’t so bad, until she thought we were lost and then she got worked up again. We know not to talk about being lost or not knowing where to go as it distresses her so much, and we were lost but trying to remain calm about it. Luckily the journey was pretty easy and it was only because of road works and a diversion that we lost our way, but we were soon back on track and old Tom Tom was very helpful.
When we arrived they wanted to go on the beach. This was not what I had planned, I thought we could walk along the sea front and visit some shops and leave the beach until another day. I was over ruled though and in the first shop buckets and spades where purchased and we headed straight to the beach.
I can’t go on the beach in my wheelchair but I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had beach wheelchairs for free use. I didn’t feel comfortable about using one so I just sat on the promenade where they were lots of deckchairs. Dad and kids played on the sand in front of me, and went down to the sea to paddle. I could see them all the time.
While on the beach we also got to watch a Punch and Judy Show, which was good fun if a little un PC. Boo particularly enjoyed the show and sat right at the front.
After a couple of hours on the beach we were all hungry so we went to a cafe to have a late lunch. Of course, with no planning I had no changes of clothes or towels and the kids were in a mess, so it was lucky there were plenty of cafes with tables outside.
Day three we planned our day at the beach in Weymouth better, taking a picnic, spare clothes and towels. We were on the beach at around 11am and stayed there until around 3pm. As well as playing in the sand and sea the kids also had a jump on the beach trampolines.
On the evening we had a lovely meal at the pub restaurant and the kids played in the playground while waiting for the food. It was all very nice.
The kids loved the arcade so wanted to go there all the time, it couldn’t be avoided because it was central to everything else, if you wanted to go to the entertainment club, the swimming pool or the restaurant we had to go through the arcade. We found that by making a budget of how much we could spend when we went there helped.
The swimming pool was fantastic. There was two indoor pools and one outdoor. The girls went to a pool party which was for the over eights so the Little Man couldn’t go. Dad went with them and they had lots of fun while I had some quality time with my Little Man.
The kids and Dad also had a swim in the outdoor pool and I was shown how to get by the poolside in my wheelchair which was really nice. I am not confident that I could actually cope in the water just yet, but it was nice to watch my family having so much fun…..Then, as they were getting out of the pool to go to the other one and have a go at the water walkers, a disaster almost happened.
It happened so fast I cannot believe that it was real. The Little Man was first out of the outside pool and ran immediately into the big pool. He was too fast for me and I couldn’t get into the big pool area with wheelchair. I called to Dad but before he’d even got out of the water I watched as my little man dived head first into the deep end of the pool! He can’t swim, in fact he’s never been to a pool before so I imagine he had no idea what he was doing. Thankfully a life guard was walking past as he fell in and he immediately scooped him out again unharmed. I think he definitely needed a lesson in pool safety and I’m horrified we hadn’t talked to him before. But we were lucky, he was safe and unharmed, and it hasn’t put him off swimming.
The water walkers were great fun, the kids had so much fun in them. The girls have tried them before but Boo didn’t like them because they were too hot inside. This time, however, they all enjoyed them very much.
There were things we didn’t manage to do in Weymouth while there, I think mostly because we spent so much time on the beach. If the weather had not been so nice then we probably would have spent more time visiting other places. We have already decided that next year we are going to extend our holiday in Weymouth so we can fit more things in.
Our Other Holidays in Dorset:
This sounds like a perfect holiday for you all, accessible for you and fun for the kids. My heart was in my mouth reading the falling in disaster, we have had moments like this too, so scary. Well done that lifeguard for being on hand and your little man for not letting it put him off the water. The beaches look great fun. We are at Weymouth for the first time in a few weeks just for a couple of days, I'm looking forward to exploring.
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
Ahh! It looks like you had a wonderful holiday!
Oh gosh! Your little man…..So scary! I am so glad he was OK x
Haven sound like a really good place to stay. I haven't been in one yet but hopefully one day. Weymouth sound like a great place for the kids to explore and play. I'd love to have a go on the trampoline too! haha! Sorry to hear about your little man accident. That must have been terrifying. I'm so glad he is okay now. Great that the girls enjoyed the water walker too – looks fun! #CountryKids
As soon as I saw this post I knew it was weymouth. I have been every year of my life, sometimes 2-3 times a year and im now 30! So been ALOT and its my most favourite place. The beach is great, and there are ramps to get down onto it to which would make it accsessable for you. Im not a big sand fan so I would be joining you on the prom too!
So glad to see punch and judy is still there. He was talking of shutting it down because people were watching it an d refusing to pay. Which is ridiculous because he has to rent to place the show on the beach. It isn't actually provided by weymouth council like some people seem to think. Its the best punch and judy show out there though and its been on the beech there for decades, always in the same spot.
There is so much more to do. There is a lake thats around the back of all the hotels you can see, which has tons of swans and boats. Also a play area for kids there that has toys and things and you can sit outside with them having a drink and catching some sun. I took lil last year and its great. Then the harbour is beautiful, I totally recommend grabbing some fish and chips and sitting on the harbour. Round the corner from there is a big building thats got a HUGE vintage/brik brak store and you find all sore of wonders in it. Always good for a walk around. Then the Northe Gardens near that are so relaxing and look out over the sea. THEN if you like hisory there is the Northe Fort which has a mouse trail for the kids where you can count the mice as you go round.
So much to do and hope you get to go back. Im heading there in 13 days time with Lily and my parents. CANT WAIT x #CountryKids
Ohh yay for wonderful lifeguards, so glad they could help your little one. They just don't have any fear when they small, do they? Wonderful you had a great hoiday, we went to that park about 10 years back and had a lovely time too. Mich x #CountryKids
Enjoy Weymouth, it is a lovely place and I'm sure we will go back again. x
It was lovely, and it's more scary thinking about the little man in the pool now than it was then, it happened so quickly that I was just grateful he was ok at the time. x
Haven camps have always been our favourite x
We can't wait to go back, it was lovely. The Punch and Judy man said he was leaving for a month because he had a paid job somewhere else. x
It's great to read that you had a good break and there were people about to help you access areas. Our break away led us to consider water safety too. Pleased to read that he was instantly scooped out of the water. #CountryKids
I have never heard of beach wheelchairs before, what a great idea I think its something that all beaches should do. Punch and Judy and beach trampolines remind me so much of my own childhood by the beach. We stayed in a caravan park over the half term too and we are now inspired to do it more often although ours didn't have those water walkers! #CountryKids
Looks like there's lots to do and so glad your little one was ok and it hasn't put him off the water #CountryKids