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FFeeling pressured to spend heavily lapland UK tickets? or on a family weekend center parkAs a mom of a toddler desperate to make every Christmas day unforgettable, I know that feeling. However, after spending a weekend at The Mole Resort, a family-friendly rural retreat in Devon, I realized that festive trips don’t need to cost a fortune to feel magical.
I suspected that a self-catered lodge would cost less than £150 per night for a family of four Will be able to deliver. However after this we passed through the charming forest of Umberleigh, North devonFilled with colorful lights, and greeted with delicious, buttery mince pies at the reception, I was already in the Christmas spirit.
Our two storey self catering facility The lodge, which felt like a high-end treehouse, overlooked what my son called “deep dark forest,” part of The Mole’s 125-acre grounds.
There was a spacious queen room, as well as another room with twin beds and enough space for a cot, which The Mole can provide. For Christmas, the rooms are decorated with a fake snow-covered tree, with gifts underneath for you to open. They also have all the amenities they need for nesting, including lots of cozy blankets.
During our two-night stay, we enjoyed the evening sipping wine in our private hot tub, before relaxing to watch a Christmas movie on Sky on the big-screen TV. The free WiFi is impressive, so you can count on it baby monitor While you’re soaking in the hot tub or while the little ones are sleeping.
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We enjoyed the delivery of takeaway tapas and locally sourced breakfast hampers to our lodge from “The Hub” – and managed to find extra essentials in the farm shop, which can also save your bacon if you’ve forgotten someone’s Christmas gift as there are plenty of gift options. If you like to cook, there are DIY roast dinner kits available.
There is also the option to make dinner reservations at the elegant The Cellars restaurant in the retreat’s 18th-century manor house, which is a short walk from the lodge. The menu offers nostalgic, seasonal favorites such as its famous Shepherd’s Pie, as well as beef dripping fish and chips, and sticky toffee pudding. Don’t leave without enjoying an espresso martini or Devon-brewed ale from the charming country-style bar.
Waking up in the morning to the views of the untouched countryside is enough to enhance your stay.
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The highlight of the weekend was taking our two year old to meet Father Christmas at the Frosted Festive Event (£25 per child and £12.50 per adult, Running from 15 November to 28 December).
The tickets offered great value for money, with everything from making reindeer food (edible for children) to decorating a gingerbread man, writing letters to Father Christmas, creating Christmas tree decorations and, of course, meeting the man himself – all included in the price.
How much comfort the employees found in the magic of the experience. My son had a dedicated time slot to meet Santa – but he could converse with her as long as he wanted, and was also presented with two small gifts.
Everyone is welcome to enjoy the “Winter Wonderland” area of the festival program for two hours; Exploring activities, relaxing on a bean bag while watching Christmas cartoons, or listening to the elves tell magical stories.
Parents can enjoy a cup of mulled wine and mince pies, while younger children can enjoy hot chocolate with all the trimmings and giant snowman cookies.
To continue the Christmas magic, we enjoyed a delightful festive afternoon tea of Devonshire cuisine in the charming Manor House. The cozy lounge, complete with blazing fire, is full of character, its Victorian-style furniture making you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.
We thoroughly enjoyed the hearty sandwiches and fresh Devonshire scones. Each cake was moreish – which was lucky because there were so many to taste – from the creamy, caramel choux buns to the rich Black Forest Yule Log.
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For kids who are “too nice” for Santa, The Mole Resort has plenty of optional activities for all ages, including archery, axe-throwing, Nerf warfare, and bushcraft adventures taking place on its expansive grounds. We tried our hand at some pottery painting During our stay the Hub’s craft room made a Christmas gift of our baby’s hand and fingerprints – which we will always treasure.
There’s the option to visit The Milky Way Adventure Park or RHS Gardens Rosemoor nearby, but between enjoying the 20-metre indoor swimming pool, forest walks and the on-site games room, we were too busy to leave the resort.
Many guests of The Mole Resort return every festive season, and even choose to spend their Christmas Day here – and I can understand why. The lodge felt homey and private, surrounded by lush views of the untouched North Devon countryside, Yet everything we needed was at our doorstep.
I’ve already booked a lodge for next Christmas – but I’d be surprised if we didn’t go early in the summer to experience the outdoor pool.
how to do it
Lodges and Cottages Mole Resort Can host small and large families of up to eight people, and the Manor House rooms can sleep up to three. A hotel room with bed and breakfast for two people starts from £134 in December, and a lodge with two beds for two adults and two children starts from £120 per night. All accommodations are dog friendly.
frosted celebration The event can be booked in advance from £12.50 for a morning or afternoon time slot, and you can book a festive afternoon tea on arrival from £32.50 per person. There are over 40 activities available that can be booked from your room via WhatsApp.
The Frosted Festivities program is now fully booked, but lodge stays are available throughout Christmas and New Year.
Lena and family were hosted by The Mole Resort.