IF keeping the kids busy over the summer is burning a hole in your pocket, there's a low cost fun family activity that could top up your bank account instead of emptying it. Called Treasure Tails, there more are than 1,200 scattered across the UK. Usually costing £9.
99 for the guidebook, I managed to do it for less after finding secondhand booklet from a charity shop for a couple of quid. The idea behind the Treasure Trails is to follow the booklet or a digital version on your phone looking for interesting details on landmarks in your chosen spot and answering the clues until you solve the final puzzle. The trails can be found everywhere from cities like Manchester to tiny villages and coastal towns like Bude , so there's something for everyone, whether you're away for a summer staycay or not.
It's also fab for all ages as everyone can get stuck in and solve the clues together, so definitely a winner if you're spending time with grandparents over the summer . Read more on UK holidays We took on the trail around Barrow-upon-Soar, a picturesque canal-side village just outside Loughborough in Leicestershire. It's a place we've visited loads of times before as we have friends who live there, but following the directions took us down new paths and roads, taking a long look at buildings and monuments that would have blended into the background if we weren't hunting for clues as we walked along.
Interspersed with the treasure hunt clues were little nuggets of information about sites of interest along the route, including a bit about the Barrow Kipper, the local nickname for a plesiosaur skeleton discovered here in 1851. There were plenty of places along the way to stop for a rest or a snack, and we even passed a playground halfway round, so you could easily make a day of it if you take it at a steady saunter and factor in plenty of pauses. Most read in Family Our trail suggested that it could be completed in an hour and a half, but we weren't in any rush, so could just take our time searching for clues and following the directions.
You can also text for extra clues if you get stuck. We got a bit lost at one point as some building works were obscuring the entrance point to a path we needed to take, but we figured it out once we retraced our steps and realised what had happened. The only downside to using a second-hand guide was that it had an older version of the trail, so was not always easy as obviously things like pub names or street signs can change over time and some of the clues are reliant on these.
If you come armed with local knowledge, you might be okay, but using an up-to-date version of your chosen challenge will be easier. The paper version can be sent in the post for £11.99, while the digital version to download straightaway on your phone is £9.
99. You can even win prizes for completing them. Treasure Trail HQ receives about 2,500 entries on average per month for the £100 prize draw, with the winner chosen randomly at the beginning of the following month from all the correct answers submitted.
I would guess that the likelihood of winning would be higher in the winter when fewer people take part in outdoor activities so it might be worth waiting to submit your answer. We bumped into another family taking part in a free fossil trail around the village, with a leaflet they had found at the parish council office. So check out if there's any local freebies if you don't want to fork out or you can double up your Tesco Clubcard points for a voucher to spend on the Treasure Trails website.
These tried and tested trails have entertained more than 3million people for 20 years, so you can't really go wrong if you're on the hunt for family fun in the fresh air. READ MORE SUN STORIES IF you've got plans to go on holiday with your little ones this summer, here's some advice to take on board. Plan Ahead: Book accommodations with family-friendly amenities.
Research kid-friendly attractions and activities. Make travel arrangements that accommodate your children’s schedules. Pack Smart: Create a packing checklist to ensure you don't forget essentials.
Pack a mix of familiar and new toys to keep kids entertained. Bring snacks, extra clothes, and emergency supplies in your carry-on. Travel Comfort: Use neck pillows and blankets for a more comfortable journey.
Download movies, games, and music on tablets or phones. Schedule travel during nap times or overnight to maximise sleep. Stay Organized: Use packing cubes to keep clothes and items sorted.
Keep important documents, like passports and tickets, in a dedicated folder. Utilise apps for itinerary management and navigation. Engage and Entertain: Plan interactive activities like scavenger hunts or travel journals.
Explore local parks, playgrounds, and kid-friendly museums. Involve kids in trip planning to get them excited and engaged. Maintain Routine: Stick to regular meal and sleep times as much as possible.
Bring along comfort items, like favorite blankets or stuffed animals. Allow for downtime to avoid overstimulation. Stay Flexible: Be prepared to adjust plans based on your children’s needs and moods.
Embrace the unexpected and make the most of impromptu moments. Keep a positive attitude to set the tone for a fun and memorable trip. These hacks can help make your holiday with kids smoother, more enjoyable, and will ensure that you return home with wonderful memories! It makes a change to find summer holiday activities that can fill your wallet rather than empty it, although with thousands of entries into the prize draw each month, you'd have to be really lucky to be the winner.
It's a great way to spend time in the fresh air and get a different perspective on a place that you know very well or explore somewhere you've never been before..
