Smitty12

Hey - We are taking a 3-4 week trip to England and Scotland this summer - with 4 kids (ages 4, 8, 11 and 14). Any suggestions for an itinerary? We're up for renting a car and/or taking the train - or a combo! We would love to spend some time on a working farm - suggestions?

BigRuss

Hey yourself.

Are you Americans? Better look into the customs and immigration consequences of working on a farm outside the United States. When entering the US, Customs asks whether you've been to farmland wherever you just visited. I'm thinking working on a defunct farm would prove uninteresting.

Other than going to England and Scotland, what interests you about the area(s) and what types of hobbits are they - #X girls, #Y boys?

You'll need a sizable vehicle for 6, and that could really cost both in rental fees and gas because UK petrol is $8+/gallon.

Smitty12

Yes - Americans. Thanks for the feedback. London of course, Cotswold, Loch Nes, Stratford-upon-Avon... The kids (3 boys and 1 girl) are interested in history, we love to hike and bike and animals, of course! The beach would be nice too for a bit. Trying to decide if we do a lot of day trips from London (what we can) and then hop on the road for a bit. We can take the train to Scotland.

joto

Try the Scottish Borders. Plenty of working farms, some with accomodation, castles, sea shore not too far away and small towns for shopping. The Borders area is about 50-60 miles south of Edinburgh. You can make trips into England to see Hadrian's Wall, Linsdisfarne (Holy Island), Bamburgh Castle, Alnwick Castle.

travelingaunta

On the farm visit - this was my experience - when you tell customs you've been on a working farm or pasture land, they will ask some follow up questions to find out how close you got to the animals. In my case, we walked over pasture lands that were also public rights of way - so Customs "disinfected" our shoes. They also warned us to stay away from farms, zoos or other places housing animals for at least 5 days. You might get more or different questions if you actually work on the farm. But they are worried about hoof & mouth disease, and might be less worried if you're not going to encounter animals here in the US.

indy_dad

Hi Smitty. We are ex-pats in the UK and have managed to take a few holidays. You can check out my blog for some ideas. We really like the scenic parts (Lake District, North Wales, Scotland Highlands). We weren't as impressed with the "beach" though.

Here are some ideas:

Scotland
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06...highlands.html
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/edinburgh.html

Lake District
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05...t-weekend.html

North Wales
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08...s-round-2.html
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/north-wales.html

London
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11...ndparents.html
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/london.html

Bath & Stonehenge
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08...tonehenge.html

Liverpool
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10...liverpool.html

Cornwall (coast)
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/cornwall.html

Kenilworth and Coventry
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04...-coventry.html

Alnwick & York
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05...r-weekend.html

Lots more on the Peak District as well if you poke around.

That should keep you busy. Good luck.

Smitty12

Thanks everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!

Morgana

I read your post that you want to stay on a working farm rather than work on it? Throughout the country you'll find numerous farms that do a B&B (often very reasonably priced) and include a tour of the farm and animals.
I think some day trips from London might be a good idea, and then head off to Scotland. If you take the train from London to Scotland then maybe stop off for a night or two in York? It's a beautiful city with much to see and do and you won't need a car to get round.
You might find these links helpful.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowFor...oad_Trips.html
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-...Day.Trips.html

albionbythesea

Since you are looking for family activities and will also be in London, I recommend looking at this list http://londonunveiled.com/category/family-activities/ for some different ideas - included in this list is Freightliners Farm (a city farm in London) that your younger kids may enjoy visiting. Mudchute Farm is another city farm that is similar.

When you go into the country there is an organization - Farm Stay - that lists B&Bs or similar that are on farms. www.farmstay.co.uk This is probably the resource you are seeking.

Ozarksbill

Looks like the Freys have given you some destination ideas. Nice picts. Years ago we toured with Backroads Touring Company in a minivan so the driver was also guide. And we stayed in farmhouse inns or rural B&Bs which did include several working farms (see Morgana). Meals were at the inns or pubs along the way, so simple fare. Don't know if this or other such travel is possible nowadays in UK.

But I must admire your pluck traveling with the four youngsters. My first suggestion is to think carefully about what you can really hope to accomplish in travel, i.e., limit your "adult" sight seeing ambitions in favor of just entertaining. Kids do get cranky and bored...and the little one might just want to splash in a fountain and the others just sit and read or whatever.

Will be interested in follow ups.

Bill in Boston

Dickie_G

First of all where are flying into and out of?