We've attempted to compile a list of places to take the kids this Summer within 10 miles of Haslemere. Please feel free to add some suggestions, but hopefully this will give you some ideas to keep the little dears occupied in the holidays.
Farnham Castle Keep: There are guided tours on Wednesday afternoons. The keep is now administered by English Heritage and is open to the public during the summer from April to September and closed in Winter. And while you are there...
Farnham Park: A 320 acre medieval deer park close to Farnham Castle and the town. It has an impressive tree avenue of over 1km long and is partly managed for wildlife and partly for amenity.
Frensham Common Cottage: a long, low, brick built cottage built at the turn of the century, sitting in a large garden and backing onto Frensham Common.
Winkworth Aboretum: A National Trust site most famous for it's autumn colour. Winkworth boasts two lakes and a boat-house; a hillside woodland; an award-winning collection containing over 1,000 different shrubs and trees - many of which are rare; and wildlife in abundance.
Go Ape at Alice Holt: Think you, your friends and family can handle 3 hours of tree top adventure? Are you wild enough to climb 30ft up a rope ladder, Tarzan swing into a giant rope net then zip wire through trees, crawl through tunnels and tackle high wire rope bridges? If the answer’s yes, you’re ready to Go Ape at Alice Holt! Website
Oakhurst Cottage: Belonging to the National Trust this cottage is restored and furnished as a simple labourer's dwelling. It contains fascinating artefacts reflecting four centuries of continual occupation.
Birdworld: 26 acres of beautiful parkland and landscaped gardens where you can enjoy birds from around the world. Penguin feeding, safari rides, Heron Theatre are just a few of the attractions on offer. You can also experience animal handling at the 'Jenny Wren Farm' and see the alligators and tropical marine fish in 'Underwater World'. Lots of things to see and do for all the family. Website
Team-Sport Indoor Karting: The specially designed track and facilities at the Camberley track are amongst the best in the country. For more information on the track, news, photos and more visit their website.
The Ceramics Cafe: design your own ceramics at the Ceramics Care in Farnham. Very reasonabley priced and the results are available for collection within 2-4 days. See the website for full information.
Busbridge Lakes is a grade 2 Heritage garden renowned for its follies, grottos and magnificent specimen trees. The parkland of 16 hectares with 3 lakes, nature trails and wooded hillside with much flora and fauna is the back ground for one of the largest collections of wild waterfowl in the country. There are over a 130 species of swans, geese and ducks, many endangered, as well as rare pheasants, cranes and other exotic birds.
The Rural Life Centre is a country life museum run by a charitable trust. Covering ten acres of field, woodland and barns, it comprises a large number of implements and devices marking over 150 years of farming. Many aspects of village and rural life are also displayed in realistic individual settings.
The Godalming Packetboat Company: Travel the Victorian Way along this unspoilt waterway in Surrey as generation of boatmen before you. Your journey on the narrow boat "IONA" pulled by one of their heavy horses, traverses river and canal and passes through a lock. It is difficult to imaging a more delightful way to discover the National Trust owned River Wey Navigations.