Farm Adventure Park
On the A690 near the A19
Houghton le Spring DH5 8JP
0191 5841873
family ticket for 3 adults and 2 children: £26
open February to October with Santa experiences in December
Set on a hill which has panoramic views over to Penshaw monument, West towards Durham and North to Northumberland, Down at the Farm has an enviable, airy position.
Having had a recommendation from a colleague, we set off with Daughter number three and the two bairns aged 9 and 2 and spent a thoroughly enjoyable two and a half hours. The boy had a wide range of climbing frames, quad bikes and two amazing mouse-runs (imagine gerbil or hamster runs scaled up) to scoot through and the little one enjoyed the sandpits and the mini tractors.
Himself and Daughter loved the trip up to the top field to see the cows the best. Jimmy, the enormous pure-bred Hereford bull, has a harem of twenty five cows, including a wide-horned western-type steer. They watch the wide-eyed visitors with their liquid brown eyes and patiently and slowly move out of the way of the visiting trailer several times a day. The little ones adore it and the guide is willing to chat about his bull and cows to their parents. I've got to say this was one of the highlights and you've really got to see the rude size of that bull!
And me? Well, the deer were elegant, the chicks adorable to the touch, the racoons sleeping in a tree surprising... I don't know what I liked best... maybe petting the cute rabbit, who reminded me of an old pet. I do like a friendly rabbit!
And of course there is much more: goats, sheep, a snake or two, a great tortoise, hens and geese...
And a tent in which to finish off your afternoon with tea, coffee biccies and ice cream. Oh bliss!
