Disconnecting from it all in Worcestershire at the perfect half-term hideaway
There are several gambles with an outdoorsy UK weekender with kids and friends with kids. 1. Will you fit everything you need for just a couple of nights away in the car? 2. What will you do in the event of wet weather? And 3. will the sat nav deliver you safely or steer you into a nearby farm/field/fjord?
As we set off for a Tenbury mini-break with friends, we managed to win at number one with a two-car approach - having decided ‘getting away from it all’ meant ‘getting away with it all’ – and amazingly the sat nav dropped us at the end of a promising-looking drive. We took a punt on it being the right one, and having climbed a long bumpy lane with some trepidation, were rewarded with the sight of a beautiful manor house which appeared, sitting amongst a selection of farm outbuildings, a renovated timber framed barn and approximately 75 acres of apple and pear orchards. The Hatch Cabin, our home for the weekend, was nestled discretely close to the main house, looking down the valley onto fields and woodland beyond with an almost otherworldly vibe. We were in the right place!
We found Robin, The Hatch’s friendly owner, strimming nearby. He immediately showed us around, regaling us with stories about our temporary home – and he should know, it’s been in his family some 65 years. The three boys (aged nine, nine and seven) were immediately transfixed, and Robin was the primary target for their endless chatting throughout our stay, something he absorbed with endless good humour and amazing patience.
A small gate opened up onto a covered decked area with a firepit and picnic bench and the first of the accomodation’s two buildings, housing a well-stocked kitchen with breakfast bar and stools and a good-sized shower room. A short gravel path led to the larger cabin with sofa, four bunkbeds and a double bed and another veranda.
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Having unloaded and settled in, our three small people went off for a roam around the grounds and let off steam running up and down the hills. It was a relaxed taste of independence underlined by our confidence that their loud voices and rowdy games wouldn’t disturb the neighbours, and they excitedly shared their discoveries on their return: a huge wildlife pond, tennis courts and Bernard, the resident turkey.
The hot weather cried out for an evening on the decking over a meal, so we kicked back, drank in our surroundings (and maybe just a little gin) and contemplated what we might do the next day – having arrived completely unprepared and unaware of what the area had to offer.
Luckily, Robin came to the rescue, and pointed us in the direction of the Wyre Forest just up the road. His recommendation of a good pub on the way for some food was the clincher. We made last-minute bookings for tree top adventures with Go Ape, and set off on the 10-minute car ride the next day. We idled the afternoon away in the playground, walking round the forest as the kids scaled treetop bridges and dizzying zip wires. With the weather still very hot, it was with happy hearts that we returned back to our cosy cabin for a barbecue.
Sunday was a pre-booked visit to nearby West Midlands Safari Park in Bewdley. It was a hugely successful, full day out. Afterwards, we finally managed to make it to The Foresters Inn for tea, after which the long spell of fab weather finally broke and gave way to heavy rain so we hunkered down for our last evening happy with a book and – with Wi-Fi and phone reception nonexistent – the kids watching DVD on the portable DVD players we had fortunately seen fit to take.
But when you’re getting away from it all in the great outdoors, why not include getting away from the incessant requests for screen time? Just remember, that getting away with it all does, of course, mean packing it all up again…
The Hatch sleeps 6, from £82 per night; canopyandstars.co.uk/thehatch
