Author - handiwor

The long six weeks of the summer holidays can take some filling. When you’re used to bashing around all day between school, work, and after-school clubs, the relative calm of the summer holidays can be a weird feeling. Yes us adults probably still have to work through them and we spend the time juggling work with entertaining the children – will you stay sane until September?

Here are some ideas we’ve put together of things you can do with your children to while away the time and ensure that the time spent is more quality than quarrelsome.

What have you got planned with your kids this summer?

Arts and crafts for kids

Kids love arts and crafts. Arts and craft activities teach children dexterity skills, creativity, and patience. Crafting means they get to make something that is unique and special to them, and can provide great memories. Have a look at some of these wonderful arts and crafts activities for children.

1. Make a mini raft and float it on a stream – this is a great suggestion from Louise at Thimble & Twig – check out: how to make a mini raft.

2. Grab some stones and make some story stones to share while camping. Thanks to Kate of Crafts on Sea for this idea – check it out at www.craftsonsea.co.uk/diy-camping-story-stones/.

3. Go on a nature walk and make some journey sticks – these are a great way of engaging your children with their surroundings – have a look at Catherine’s suggestion at: growingfamily.co.uk/craft/nature-craft-journey-stick.

4. How about making some clay faces tree sculptures? Lots of fun for a day out in the woods or the garden. Thanks to Ella for these – they look fab! typicalmummy.co.uk/festivals/clayfacestreesculptures.

5. Make ‘potions’ and ‘perfumes’ – why do kids like messing and making potions so much? I don’t know. But I do know that they do love it – here’s Charlotte with how they do it teamsteinblog.com/2019/05/21/how-to-make-rose-petal-perfume-and-potions.

6. Head to the beach and do some beach art. Here are some great ideas for child-friendly beach art from The Artful Parent.

Mini adventures to have with the kids

Adventures with kids don’t have to be spectacular. There are some great adventures to be had right on your doorstep. Whether this is at your local beach, park, or woods, there is some fun to be found in every little trip. Check out these ideas for getting out and about with your mini adventurers.

7. Go on a footprint hunt and make casts. This is a brilliant outdoor and craft activity in one – thanks to Kerry for the suggestion – check out: blissfuldomestication.com/going-footprint-hunt-make-plaster-casts-animal-footprints/.

8. Go blackberry picking. Blackberries are usually ripe in the UK from late July onwards but can last until October, depending on the weather. They can be found both in the countryside and urban areas – look alongside railway lines (be careful!) and in industrial areas. Wash them before using in case of pollutants and use them in a crumble or combine with cooking apples to make your own blackberry jelly – here’s a recipe for blackberry jelly which might help.

Photo by Nine Köpfer on Unsplash

9. Go on a nature hunt. Print out a nature trail checklist and go out and see how many things you can spot.

10. Go Geocaching – Geocaching is a fantastic free activity where you go to find ‘geocaches’ that others have placed. You need an app from www.geocaching.com/play and a sense of adventure. Some geocaches are small, and some are larger and contain prizes – take a couple of little items to swap, and always take a pen to sign the log. Find out more about geocaching with children at: mumof2point5.com/blog/geocaching-the-free-worldwide-treasure-hunt-you-didnt-know-existed/.

11. Go rockpooling – have you done this? You can find all sorts of weird and wonderful sealife by rockpooling – Here are Cerys’s top tips for good rockpooling rainydaymum.co.uk/rock-pooling/.

12. Go on a bike ride. Check out the Sustrans website for suggestions for family-friendly cycling routes around the UK.

13. Do a Treasure Trail – check out www.treasuretrails.co.uk – get yourself a treasure trail for your local town, crack the clues to solve the puzzle, and find out about places in your town you didn’t know existed. This is an activity that takes a few hours and can be done in one go, or in parts until it’s finished.

14. Make a kite and fly it – making your own kite and taking it to your local playing field or beach to test it out is a craft activity and adventure activity in one. Here’s a great article on how to make your own kite.

15. Take a dog for a walk. If you don’t have a dog, check out www.borrowmydoggy.com/ where you can access other peoples’ dogs who need walking. All the fun of your own dog, with much fewer of the hassles!

16. Have a family photography competition. A family photography competition will get your children engaging with their surroundings. You can do this at home, in the garden, in your local area, or even when on holiday in a new place. Here’s Michelle with how they did one when on a day trip to the seaside. www.mummyfromtheheart.com/2017/10/how-to-create-family-photography.html.

17. Learn to kayak. Kayaking is a great activity for the summer. Have you got a lake near you to have a practice? Don’t forget your life jacket.

With our range of inflatable kayaks, owning a kayak just got a whole lot easier. Check out the INTEX Challenger K2 Kayak – it’s a good one for a pair to go out adventuring together.

Rainy Day activities for children

Well it is the UK after all, so here are some ideas for things to do with kids on a rainy day. Fingers crossed the rain doesn’t last long!

18. Build a den or blanket fort. I don’t know a child anywhere that doesn’t love to do this, even on a sunny day when they could be in the garden!

19. Have a movie night. Pretend you’re at the cinema by cranking up the TV and getting out those DVDs for a movie marathon. Why not make your own popcorn? Try charlotteslivelykitchen.com/sweet-popcorn/.

20. Take on a reading challenge. Does your local library have a summer holiday reading challenge? It’s a great way of getting children to consume books and lots of them.

If your local library isn’t taking part then check out summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/ for more information on how to join in The Reading Agency’s 2019 reading challenge.

21. Research your family tree. Get your children finding out more about their extended family and ancestors and creating a family tree to share with others. This is also a good way of making the time to visit family members you don’t see as often as you should. Have you researched your family tree?

22. Make a scrapbook. Get all those clippings and photos you’ve been storing away in ‘that’ drawer and start a scrapbook. It can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Here is a good post about starting a scrapbook and the sort of content you can include – www.metrokids.com/MetroKids/April-2011/Start-Scrapbooking/.

Things to do in the garden with kids

If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, private or shared, then there’s a whole host of things you can do with your children – or they can do themselves while you supervise not too far away! I bet you did some of these things yourself as a child too.

23. Make LEGO cable cars. You can do these indoors down the stairs but it’s much more fun outdoors. Run the cable from an upstairs window and launch the cable cars down to the bottom of your garden.

24. ‘Paint’ a wall – sometimes all it takes to keep kids entertained is a bucket of water and a brush. If you have a willing wall in your garden, letting your kids pretend to paint it is a seriously good activity, especially on a warm day. Thanks to Beth for this suggestion – see how it works at twinderelmo.co.uk/water-painting-the-ordinary-moments/.

25. Do some gardening. Whether you want to teach your children the value of home-grown fruit and vegetables or the benefits of a bit of weeding, gardening will certainly keep little hands and minds occupied. Don’t know where to start? Here’s a post on how to start gardening with children from Claire of The Ladybird’s Adventures.

26. Step the garden skills up a level by creating a wildlife pond. A pond that wildlife will appreciate for drinking and cooling off doesn’t need to be big. Here’s how Mark made his:

27. Sensory play – the garden is the perfect place for multi-sensory play. Use a variety of toys and substances to get your child’s senses working hard. Here’s what Chantele did on a dinosaur theme twoheartsoneroof.com/2019/05/dinosaur-themed-sensory-play-set-up-for-toddlers/.

28. Make a solar oven. This is a great STEM activity that teaches your children all about solar energy. Emma from Science Sparks tells us more www.science-sparks.com/make-easy-solar-oven.

29. Hold a pool party. I know we don’t get the weather in the UK to justify us all having a swimming pool in our back gardens all year round but we do often get enough for a few days a year, and if it’s a heated spa pool, then it’s even more feasible. Create a pool party atmosphere with some fairy lights, some tunes, and mocktails with umbrellas.Check out the Intex PureSpa range of hot tubs available on our online store.

Photo by Toni Cuenca on Unsplash

30. Wash the teddies – this is a surprisingly fun activity. Not only can you watch the teddies going round and round in the washing machine (it’s better than daytime telly!) then you can hang them on the line in the sunshine.

31. Wash the car. Who’d have thought messing about with water would be so much fun? Keep them entertained for longer (and use less water) by using buckets and sponges rather than a hose pipe. Here is a good guide to how to wash your car.

32. Make a weather station and learn how to use it. You can measure rainfall, temperature, and wind speed and direction. Keep track daily and use the data to talk about weather patterns. You never know, you might nurture a future famous meteorologist! Read: How to build a weather station.

33. Do some chalk pavement art. Making a little mess and creating something colourful – what’s not to love?

34. Have a back garden camp out. You don’t need to go far to get your camping fix. Pop your tent up in the garden and sleep in there overnight. It’s cheaper than a camping holiday and the toilets are always nearer and as you like them!

Things to do in the community

The summer holidays are a great time to get your kids more involved in their local community. Here are some good ideas for getting out and about and meeting more people and engaging more with their local area.

35. Why not start your own community mini-library? Give your used books a second lease of life by letting others borrow them? Here’s how Maggy of Red Ted Art started their own mini library www.redtedart.com/how-to-start-a-little-library/.

36. Take part in a ParkRun. ParkRun is a free weekly event that takes part across the UK. It’s a timed 5k run and many are open to juniors too. Check out Erin’s post about taking part in Parkrun as a family.

37. Look out for kindness rocks. Have you got a kindness rocks league in your area? If not, start one! But what is it? Here’s more on the Kindness Rocks craze kidsdaysoutreviews.co.uk/kindness-rocks-craze/.

38. Learn to fish. Do you have a fishing lake local to you? I suspect you do. Fishing is a fantastic activity for teaching patience and the art of pondering and doing little else. Here’s what you need to know on where you can and can’t fish canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/fishing/places-to-fish/where-can-i-fish-for-free.

Our HandiMoova is a great piece of kit for getting fishing equipment moved over uneven surfaces. What have you moved on your HandiMoova?

39. Learn to play tennis. With Wimbledon now over, have your kids decided that tennis it to be their next big thing? Look out for summer schools at your local tennis club – they can be very good value and a good option for childcare. Tennis for Kids is a scheme run by the LTA which is great value as a starter package for kids aged from 4 to 11.

40. Organise a community picnic. Get your kids’ friends and their families together and organise a community picnic. All you need is to spread the word of a time and place and see who joins in.

41. Start a community walking group. Use social media to see if other families want to join in your walks and you’ll soon find you have a group of friends to walk with. Take it in turns to share your favourite walk or find new ones.

Days out for kids

If all else fails, a change of scenery is never a bad idea! There are hundreds of options for family days out all around the UK which can entertain children of all ages. Which of these have you been on and would you recommend?

42. Eureka Museum, Halifax. This is a mainly indoor attraction aimed at younger chidren. It teaches STEM topics such as the human body in a child-friendly way. It gets busy though, especially on rainy days. Their annual pass is very good value.

43. The Science Museum, London. This is a FREE museum which is excellent. It has a range of exhibits for all ages, including an impressive transport collection, and a good selection of temporary exhibitions and events.

44. The Science and Industry Museum, Manchester. This is another good one for science and transport geeks. Again, it’s totally free.

45. Natural History Museum, London. Next door to the Science Museum. This is a great day out for fans of animals and dinosaurs.

46. National Railway Museum, York. A must-do for all fans of trains. This is a seriously huge collection of trains and railway paraphernalia. Again, it’s totally free and a handily short walk from York train station.

47. Ride a steam train – there are lots of options for this across the UK. If you’re Yorkshire way, have a look at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway – www.nymr.co.uk/ – which runs from Pickering to Whitby via Goathland station (which was Hogsmeade station in the Harry Potter films). Which is your favourite steam train route?

Image by Sally Wynn from Pixabay

48. Visit a castle – There are around 1500 castle sites in England alone. Which is your favourite? How about visiting Sudeley Castle and Gardens in Gloucestershire? Or maybe Eastnor Castle in Worcestershire?

49. A day out (or even a weekend) at a music festival will keep your children occupied and then some. Festivals which are family-friendly are everywhere – how about the Just So Festival as recommended by Emma of Dirt, Diggers, and Dinosaurs?

50. Visit a birds of prey centre. How fascinating are birds of prey? We love them. Victoria of Free Time With The Kids recommends the Hawk Conservancy Trust in Hampshire. Have you seen birds of prey in action?

51. Visit a country park. There are soooooooo many country parks around the UK, most of which are free and child-friendly. Raimonda recommends Plean Country Park in Scotland for a visit or three over the summer.

52. Go Gruffalo hunting with the Forestry Commission. The Gruffalo and friends have numerous trails in Forestry Commission locations all around the country. You can follow his trail and find the main man himself, or take part in activity trails with Zog or Superworm – see the Forestry Commission website for how to find your nearest trail.

© The Forestry Commission

53. Visit a stately home. Go all Downton Abbey and visit your local stately home and gardens. Some allow access inside the main house, while others are for external gazing only. They are a fab place for a picnic and many have annual passes so you can get extra value from your visit. Which is your favourite stately home?

54. Go to a zoo. So many to choose from here. Which zoos have you visited that you would recommend. We like the ones with a safari drive too, such as Longleat, Woburn and Knowsley. Great for some monkey fun and actually ok for a rainy day too.

55. Visit a theme park. This is one for breaking the budget but we try to go to at least one theme park every summer break. We like Alton Towers but also the smaller ones such as Twinlakes in Nottinghamshire. Paulton’s Park is surprisingly good too – which would you recommend?

56. Go airplane spotting. If you live near a busy airport, then plane spotting is a good way to while away a couple of hours. Take care as some airports don’t like you getting too close, while others have rules about photography. Some airports, such as Manchester have specific zones for plane spotters which are free to use (parking fees apply if you arrive by car). Check our your local airport’s website for more information.

57. Pony Trekking! Have you ever been pony trekking? I’m not sure our garden is big enough for a whole pony so hiring one out for the morning to get our pony fix is the best. Prices vary across the UK and depending on party numbers, but you can get an hour on a pony for around £10 to £20 per person.

Photo by Jeannie Harris on Unsplash

58. See a movie outdoors. Outdoor movies are becoming hugely popular. Drive-ins are all well and good but how many of us have a convertible? Venues for outdoor cinema include campsites, town squares, and even on boats on the Thames – check out this list of places to see a movie outdoors this Summer in London www.timeout.com/london/film/outdoor-cinema-in-london.

59. Visit a maize maze – my children love maize mazes. August is the ideal time to be visiting one as the maize is nice and tall and provides an extra challenge. Again, loads to choose from. Have you been to any you would recommend to others?

Whatever you get up to with your family this summer, we hope you have a good one!

We’re often asked about our recommendations for campsites for families in the UK, and sometimes in Europe. Now, we do have our favourites but we’re not you, and what suits us might not be the best campsite for you. So, we decided to ask some of the UK’s top parent bloggers for their recommended family campsites. Read on for a run-down of some family campsites which could be worth a look. Could one of these become your favourite?

Why camping is good for families

Yes we are biased but we know that camping is good for families. We love it! We’ve had our families camping from the children being very small and we can see how each trip has helped them to develop as individuals, and helped us to grow as a family.

Camping teaches skills such as everyone helping out. I think the first time one of our children had washed up was when camping. They also don’t seem averse to sweeping up debris, and taking the rubbish out when camping. Who knew?

Our family have learned that we can have fun without relying on electronic devices. The children have learned that can have as much fun with a pack of cards as with a Playstation. They have learned the art of stargazing, and making new friends down the camp play area. They can deal with new sleeping arrangements without making a fuss, and appreciate the art/science of being organised.

Camping is great for larger families especially; hotels don’t tend to cater for more than the standard 2 adults + 2 children. Larger hotel suites can carry an eye-watering price tag. Camping is much more wallet-friendly and frees up budget to do more fun stuff when on holiday.

What do you love about family camping trips?

The best UK family campsites

So here we are with a run-down of some of the UK’s top parenting bloggers favourite campsites. Could one of these become a firm favourite with you?

Camping in Surrey

Helen and her family enjoyed their trip to Polesden Lacey in Surrey. Though they had a pre-erected bell tent on their trip, you can take your own tent instead if you prefer.

Helen said “It’s in a National Trust site, so the surroundings are beautiful (and safe), and there’s lots to do. They let you have a campfire, and they sell the most amazing ice creams and wood fired pizza. Perfect for families.”

Check it out at: https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk/2017/06/09/travel-embers-camping-tips-picking-right-campsite-family

Camping in the New Forest

Jaymee from The Mum Diaries recommends Holmsley, which is a Camping and Caravanning Club site in the New Forest, Hampshire.

Here they got up close to ponies!

See what else they got up to on their camping trip at: https://themumdiaries.co.uk/camping/holmsley-camping-caravanning-club/

Camping in Gloucestershire

Holly recommends Hogsdown Farm, which is near Dursley, Gloucestershire.

Holly says “We love it because it’s cheap, it’s usually got great availability (if you’re happy to forgo electric hookup) and it’s on the doorstep to some great family days out. We’ve stayed there for as little as £11.50 a night, and it has a playground!”

Read more at: https://www.hollymadelife.com/camping/

Camping in Devon

Joanne from Kids Days Out Reviews recommends River Dart Country Park near Ashburton, Devon.

Joanne says “River Dart has got loads to do on-site, including kayaking and water zorbing, high-ropes, and a fantastic pirate lagoon for the children. Take an inflatable boat!”

Learn more at: https://kidsdaysoutreviews.co.uk/river-dart-country-park-ashburton-devon/

Emma also recommends a Devon campsite – Warcombe Farm, which is near Woolacombe.

She says “It has great facilities (loos and showers), a lovely walk down to the coastal road, and they have allocated pitches and let groups go.”

Learn more at: https://bubbablueandme.com/2018/08/sharing-a-love-of-warcombe-farm-campsite-woolacombe/

Camping in Yorkshire

Erin and crew tried out Masons Campsite near Appletreewick in Yorkshire and loved it. Here’s their trip review https://yorkshiretots.com/family-camping-at-masons-campsite/ (do we spy a HandiHoldall on their car?)

Cat and team tried out Woodhouse Farm Camping in Nidderdale – here’s how they got on https://rockandrollpussycat.co.uk/2017/07/woodhouse-farm-campsite-near-ripon-yorkshire-review/

Camping in Norfolk

Jade recommends Haven’s Wild Duck Park. It’s a campsite in a woodland setting but with a host of usual Haven Holidays facilities, such as the indoor pools and the entertainment led by Bradley Bear and friends.

Read more at: https://mummieswaiting.com/2017/07/haven-wild-duck.html

Jade says “It’s close to the beach, has a nature area, plenty of activities and good pitches.”

Camping in Wales

Emma recommends a site in Wales – Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsula. This one has stunning views, cow neighbours, and nice tea at the shop – what else do you need?

Read more about Emma’s stay at: https://bubbablueandme.com/2017/08/three-cliffs-bay-campsite/

Camping in Scotland

Penny and her family visited Loch Ness and stayed at the Loch Ness Shores – Camping and Caravanning Club Site, where they explored Loch Ness by boat and the shores by foot.

You can read more about their trip at: https://www.parentshaped.co.uk/2016/04/21/loch-ness-shores/

Camping in France

A little further afield, and there’s a lot of love for family campsites in France, specifically in Brittany.

Jo and her family visited Camping du Letty, which is just outside the seaside town of Benodet. It is on a river and very family friendly. It looks like there’s lots to do here!

Read more at: https://www.organisedjo.co.uk/camping-du-letty/

Another Brittany recommendation comes from Katy who visited Mané-Guernehué, which is a Camping and Caravanning Club site near to Auray.

Katy says “It is a beautiful campsite, family friendly, great facilities on site including restaurant, takeaway, waterpark, indoor pool and wellness centre. For the kids there is a trampoline area, bouncy castle, play park and horse riding and kids club. We only planned a stay for three days as part of our road trip but I could have easily stayed longer.”

Read more at: https://otisandus.co.uk/travel/a-road-trip-exploring-brittany-france-the-camping-and-caravanning-club/

Glamping in the UK

If you can’t face camping in a regular tent, how about a spot of Glamping?

Sian and her family recommend Low Wray in the Lake District.

Cathy and her family had a good time at Penhein, on the edge of the Forest of Dean.

Have you got any family-friendly campsites recommendations for us?

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It’s hot tub season! Here at HandiWorld, we love our inflatable hot tubs. They are a great way of passing the time while relaxing on a long, hot summer evening – or even a short autumnal one! Hot tubs and spas have positive health benefits both physically and mentally. They can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and they are a brilliant addition to a home’s leisure kit.

What is putting you off owning an inflatable hot tub?

We find that most people are put off because they are not familiar with how to set one up and maintain it. Actually, it’s very easy once you get to know what you are doing. So here we have some pointers to help you make the decision whether to invest in a hot tub or spa for you and your family.

How much are inflatable hot tubs?

We sell two versions of the INTEX PureSpa hot tub; the INTEX Octagonal Inflatable Hot Tub for 4, and the INTEX Round Inflatable Hot Tub for 6.

INTEX PureSpa Bubble Round 6 Person

The 4 person version is £575.00 and the 6 person is £700.00. This is considerably cheaper than wooden hot tubs which retail from around £2,000.00 and fibre-glass hot tubs which retail from around £3,000.00 and more!

How easy is an inflatable hot tub to set up?

Very easy! There are two main parts; the tub with lid, and the power unit. Once the tub and lid are inflated (often the power unit can do the inflating), you connect the power unit and follow the instructions provided to start it off. You will also need to insert a filter, which are generally supplied with your hot tub.

The water is simply put in from your home’s water supply using a hose pipe. You add chemicals as per the instructions, and leave the water to heat up to the required temperature. Heating usually takes around 12 – 24 hours to heat the water from around 20 degrees up to 40 degrees.

After around 24 hours after the initial chemical insertion, you test the water using your testing strips and you’re good to go!

How long do inflatable hot tubs last?

Like a lot of hot tubs, the life of an inflatable hot tub depends on lots of things, like how often it is used and how you look after it. There are two main components to an inflatable hot tub; the tub itself and the power unit. Each needs to be looked after correctly to ensure a long life. The hot tubs that we sell come with a manufacturers guarantee of 12 months. We expect the hot tubs to last longer than this guarantee.

Do inflatable hot tubs have jets?

Yes. Well ours do anyway! Check before you buy if you specifically want jets, but we definitely know the ones we sell do. Our 4 person one has 120 heated bubble jets, and the 6 person has 140. The jets are worked by selecting the option on the power unit.

INTEX PureSpa Bubble Octagonal 4 Person

Do inflatable hot tubs use a lot of electricity?

An inflatable hot tub uses around £5.00 – £10.00 of electricity per week, depending on a few factors. To reduce energy use, you could turn down the temperature of the hot tub if you know you’re not going to be using it soon. Electricity is used for heating the water, and running the bubble jets.

You should set the power unit to your preferred temperature and let the hot tub do its thing. When you’re done, you simply replace the lid. You don’t need to fiddle with the settings every day. Making sure to put the lid on correctly to preserve the heat after use will mean the power unit uses less energy to get the water back up to the correct temperature each time.

What are the costs of running an inflatable hot tub?

Aside from the electricity, there are other things to take into account. These are:

• Chemicals
• Filters
• Water

What chemicals for inflatable hot tub?

Chemicals – you will need a chemical kit to keep your hot tub’s water well balanced and hygienic. The main chemicals you will use are chlorine granules, PH+ liquid, PH- liquid, and foam reducer. You can buy these in a pack, or individually. As an example, a hot tub chemical starter kit including PH testing strips can be bought from Amazon for about £24.00, which should be more than enough to get you through the hot tub season. You may also be able to pick up these packs from a local store or garden centre.

You will likely need to top up the water with chlorine every day when used. You should dissolve the required amount (about a capful) in water before adding it to the hot tub to avoid clogging the filters with undissolved granules.

Filters – You should clean the filter every couple of uses, and change the filter every 4 – 6 weeks. Price of the filter depends on the size you need but expect to pay anything between £4.00 and £15.00 per filter. Again, these can be sourced fairly easily on Amazon, or your local store.

Water – If you are on a water meter then you need to consider the cost of the water itself. A hot tub can hold around 800 – 1000 litres, and you should change the water around every two weeks. If you find yourself using a lot of chlorine and foam reducer and you can’t see your feet when you sit down, it’s definitely time to get it changed! 1000 litres of water costs around £3.00 – £4.00 depending on your water supplier.

In total, a hot tub shouldn’t cost more than £50.00 – £60.00 a month to run.

How to drain/empty an inflatable hot tub

Emptying your inflatable hot tub is easy. They come with a drain point/plug in the base. You connect up a hose pipe and direct it into a drain. Once most of the water has drained away, it’s easy to prop up the hot tub and tip the remaining water onto your garden. A little water with spa chemicals in won’t do a lot of damage to your lawn and the garden might appreciate some extra water, come the summer.

Can inflatable hot tubs be used in winter?

Yes, an inflatable hot tub can be used in the winter, though you might want to empty it and bring it indoors during particularly frosty seasons. Energy use may increase through the winter as the power until will be working harder to maintain the water temperature, so if you know you won’t be using it in winter months, then you might want to consider putting off hot tub activity until the spring. However, using the hot tub in colder weather is very enjoyable and we can think of worse ways to spend the winter evenings!

INTEX PureSpa Bubble Octagonal 4 Person

Why an inflatable hot tub is better than a fibre glass hot tub

We prefer inflatable hot tubs to fibre glass ones for three main reasons.

1. They are significantly cheaper to buy.
2. They can be deflated and stored when not in use which saves on maintenance and running costs
3. They are nicer to sit in. Inflatable hot tubs are deep with a soft floor which we prefer to the hard base of a fibre glass tub.

Do you have a hot tub? What do you like about it?

Say goodbye to winter and get ready to greet spring. Whilst the temperature is beginning to warm up and lighter evenings are approaching, it is the perfect time to plan excursions. Are you going kayaking? An inflatable kayak could be a good option, but which is the best? Here at HandiWorld, we provide high-quality inflatable Kayaks, and we think they’re all pretty good.

Here’s our guide to what to look for in an inflatable kayak…

So, which inflatable kayak is the best?

We don’t know about the best but we really like the INTEX Challenger Kayak K1 and K2. They’re ideal for both those kayakers who are experienced and those at beginner level.

Although kayaking may seem like a challenging activity to maintain, this inflatable kayak is specially designed to better those who are unexperienced. Buying the right kayak that’s suitable for your level of experience is important because you can learn how to Kayak effectively. Let’s face it, there is no pleasure in struggling! On the other hand, for those who are more advanced, this kayak is well equipped with all the essentials to meet your needs, therefore you don’t have to go through the hassle of buying them separately.

There is a choice of buying either the K1 or the K2. If you like to paddle solo, then the INTEX Challenger K1 Kayak is ideal for you.

Whereas if you prefer to paddle with a friend, then you should choose the INTEX Challenger K2 Kayak.

They both have plenty of room for your legs if like to stretch and move them around. If you get uncomfortable easily from being sat down for some time, don’t worry – this kayak has supportive seats with backrests. The K1 and K2 include 1 x high out-put pump and 1 x 220cm aluminium oar.

Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash

Where to use an inflatable kayak?

The INTEX Challenger Kayak is suitable for lakes and mild rivers.

Unsure on where’s best to go? Why not go kayaking at Anglesey in Wales, Cragside in Northumberland, or even on the West Coast of Scotland? With a breath-taking scenery and plenty to explore, these three destinations are at the top of the list of places to visit in the UK. Looking for other options? Then visit NationalTrust.org. There are plenty more great recommendations of places that’s worth visiting.

If you’re planning on visiting a large area and worried about paddling away from your group, don’t panic. You can easily spot the bright vibrant green that features on the kayak from a long-distance. Even though it seems that you’re a mile away from each other, seeing the colour means that you’re closer than you thought!

How easy is it to use an inflatable kayak?

Inflatable kayaks weigh lightly on top of the water which makes it much easier to direct and control when you’re kayaking towards your target destination. Also, the turning radius is simpler because there is less effort to put in.

If you’re a beginner, the lightness of this kayak will make easy for you to develop your kayaking skills. As for the experienced, you’ll find kayaking in the INTEX Challenger an absolute joy!

If you first-timers are wanting more in-depth information about kayaking, Seeker.com offers plenty of guidance with this article Kayaking for beginners – what you need to know.

How to transport an inflatable kayak?

Transporting an inflatable kayak is very straight forward. If the kayak is uninflated stored in its case, then you can place it in the boot or back of your car. Or, if it’s inflated you can tie it down to a rack on top of your vehicle. Make sure the kayak is laid on a side to avoid complications and help secure it. Haven’t got a roof rack? We have a range of great quality inflatable roof rack bundle offers.

Once you have arrived at your destination, you will then have to transport the kayak through using a kart by hand to travel from your car to the water. Using a kart is a smart way to move your kayak as you’ll avoid damaging it and it’s effortless to move. Not got a kart? No problem! We have the HandiKart kayak trolley.

What are the advantages of inflatable kayaks?

Easier to transport and store

Inflatable kayaks are lighter than fibre-glass kayaks so are much more portable. Room is less of an issue as they don’t use much of it up once deflated. Setting up an inflatable kayak is hassle-free, all you need to do is attach the pump to the air pipe; no fixing pieces together or building is involved.

Better value

If you’re on a budget, buying an inflatable is cost effective as they’re much less expensive compared to fibre-glass kayaks. Although inflatable kayaks are not particularly fragile, they are easy to repair and cheaper if you do happen to have an accident. All you need to do is plaster on the repair patch to the kayak, and you’re ready to paddle again.

When you’re wanting to make the most of your leisure time but are limited on space and budget, an inflatable kayak could be a great investment. Have a look at our range of inflatable boats and kayaks and get out there!

At HandiWorld, we love a good music festival, and the UK has plenty to choose from! There’s not much that matches the atmosphere and feeling of a weekend in a muddy field listening to your favourite bands. We take a look at some of the top UK festivals in 2019 – who are you looking forward to seeing this year?

Photo by David Calderón on Unsplash

Isle of Wight Festival 2019

13 – 16th June 2019

This is a festival popular with families (kids under 12 get in free with accompanying adults) and is a lot more intimate than Glasto or Leeds/Reading. While 2018’s acts included Kasabian, The Killers, and Depeche Mode, there’s no official confirmation of any acts as yet for 2019.

This site https://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/isle-of-wight-festival-2019-lineup-and-tickets.html is good for everything you need to know about attending the Isle of Wight Festival, containing some educated speculation on who the acts might be.

The Isle of Wight itself is a great place to explore, though it does get very busy around festival time.

Photo by James Padolsey on Unsplash

Download 2019

14 – 16th June 2019, Donington Park, East Midlands

Download bills itself as the UK’s premier rock festival and with acts like Slipknot, Slayer and The Smashing Pumpkins already confirmed for 2019, who are we to argue?

Camping is available here though, like most other festivals, you can just grab yourself a day ticket or three. Under 18s are welcome, though no under 5s are permitted. Probably wise!

More info at: https://downloadfestival.co.uk/

Photo credit: James Bridle

Glastonbury 2019

26th – 30th June 2019

Fresh from its ‘fallow year’ in 2018, the UK’s most famous festival is back with aplomb in 2019. This year, headliners are Stormzy and Janelle Monáe, and the lauded Sunday teatime slot will be filled by Kylie. More acts will be announced over the coming weeks, no doubt. Not that there isn’t plenty to do here without seeing a single act on one of Glastonbury’s many stages.

All tickets (around 200,000) were sold out in half an hour, even before the headline acts were announced, which shows how eagerly anticipated the return of this long-running festival has been. Did you manage to bag yourself a ticket? If not, there may be some available come April, though you need to register on the Glastonbury website first.

Photo by Joe Green on Unsplash

Need temporary carrying capacity on your car? Check out our popular HandiRack – available in Slipknot Black (we just call it ‘black’) or Manic Camo – learn more at https://www.handiworld.com/roof-racks-and-bars/.

Latitude Festival 2019

18th – 21st July 2019

Southwold, Suffolk is the location for this very family-friendly festival. Kids of all ages are catered for well with a huge choice of activities and entertainment for little ones, and for those aged 12+ too.

Line-up has yet to be confirmed on this one but tickets are already on sale. Acts in 2018 included a set on the BBC Music Stage from Liam Gallagher, sessions by comedians James Acaster and Harry Hill, and festival faves The Killers.
Lots to do. You could even try lake swimming! Bring your trunks.

More info at: https://www.latitudefestival.com/

Creamfields

22 – 25th August 2019, Cheshire

In a date clash with the huge Leeds and Reading festivals, Creamfields offers something a little different – something for the dance music fans. With a line-up that includes Canadian electro pioneer deadmau5, and electronic supergroup Swedish House Mafia, this is sure to be the festival for technoheads everywhere. Strictly over 18s, there’s a range of camping options to suit all levels of pickiness!

Find out more at: https://www.creamfields.com/

The HandiMoova is convenient for camping, and fantastic for festivals. Buy now at https://www.handiworld.com/all-terrain-trolley/ It’s a brilliant addition to a festival camping kit.

Leeds Festival and Reading Festival

23-25th August – Leeds Festival is at Bramham Park, and Reading Festival is Richfield Avenue, Reading

Since Reading’s first festival in 1989, and sister festival Leeds’ following ten years later in 1999, many amazing acts have graced the stages of either or both. This year, the line-ups include Twenty-One Pilots, The Foo Fighters, and Post Malone. Full schedule to be confirmed, and tickets are still available for one or all of the days.

Photo by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash

Whichever festival you decide to go to this year, we hope you have an amazing time. Fingers crossed for sunshine and for a jam-free journey!

Click on this link to see how many UK festivals are there for you to choose from.

Introducing the KUNGS Winter Range (exclusively at handiworld.com)

Quality ice scrapers and winter accessories for your car

Is the Beast from the East that hit us in March 2018 about to return in the next few weeks? It’s the same old story; some say it is, some say it isn’t, and no-one will really know until nearer the time, if it strikes at all. But if there’s one thing us Brits love, it’s speculating on the weather.

Whether the Beast returns or not, it’s fair to say that the weather will probably get worse over the coming weeks – it usually does! It’s not unusual for it to snow in January and February – indeed in 2018, it was the end of February when the worst of the wintry weather hit the UK, and there was a smaller encore in March. Just because we didn’t have a white Christmas and we seem to have made it into the New Year with reasonably mild weather does not mean we have made it safely to spring just yet.

Whatever the outcome, it’s always best to be prepared for every eventuality. Before the bad weather strikes, you could do these ten things to prepare for winter, for you, your home and for your car.

Photo by Nathan Van Egmond on Unsplash

Tips for Winter Motoring

Our main area of expertise is travel and adventure. While the snow and ice may make your daily travels more of an adventure, when you want to be at work, or doing the school run, it can get a bit tedious and more dangerous. In cases of really bad weather, travel at all can be impossible and the odd snow-day or a day working from home could be for the best!

Photo by Jesse Orrico on Unsplash

For those days where travel is possible but the winter weather is impacting, then good management goes a long way. The Met Office have provided a useful list of vehicle checks to make before a journey, which become more important in times of bad weather. It’s also a good time to check that you have cold weather kit in your car such as a blanket, a shovel, and tyre mats, just in case.

Is it illegal to drive with an icy windscreen?

One question we see being asked is if, as a motorist, you can be prosecuted for not clearing your icy windscreen fully? The short answer is yes you can. While the law isn’t totally clear, it is an offence to cause danger to others. Not demisting your windscreen inside and out, and having snow on your car’s roof which could fly off could potentially cause problems for yourself and others.

Check out this advice from the RAC.

This article has some examples of when motorists haven’t taken care to defrost their cars and have paid the price.

How do I demist my windscreen effectively?

Want some advice on how to demist your car’s windscreen? This article from the RAC is very good and will get you stocking up on shaving foam!

What’s the best ice scraper?

Well, it’s kind of you to ask! While we don’t profess to have tried out every single ice scraper available, we do know that the ones we stock from KUNGS are very, very good. They are designed and manufactured for motorists in Finland, and they know a thing or two about motoring through snow and ice.

Helsinki in the snow, photo by Alexandr Bormotin on Unsplash

KUNGS winter products are designed, tested and manufactured in extreme Finnish winter conditions in their own factory in Kokemäki, Finland. The KUNGS philosophy is to produce the best products in each segment. KUNGS are a growing, family business, and take a great pride of being today the market leader in Northern Europe for car winter accessories.

Have you ever had to drive in Finland? Here are some tips.

We are stockists of KUNGS winter products in the UK. We have four products available, all top quality, and all designed to help you through the wintriest of winters.

1) KUNGS Arctic-IS Ice Scraper

This is an ice-scraper in a glove and we can vouch that it is extremely comfortable and warm. The ice-scraper is ultra-strong, being made from frost-proof polycarbonate, and it includes several features that really add utility to it such as a wiper blade clearing notch. It also comes with a 3-year warranty – you can’t say that about your average pound shop ice-scraper!

Learn more about this brilliant ice-scraper glove by clicking here.

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Do you have an adventurer in your life? Whether your favourite adventurer likes getting out and about in a car or on their trusty bike (or two!), Christmas is a great time to fuel their indulgence for travel and the outdoors. But what do you buy the intrepid adventurer who has everything?

While none of us need more ‘stuff’ in our lives to have to find homes for, gifts which encourage us to get out into the outdoors and enhance our travel experience can only be a good thing. With these gifts you’re giving motivation, inspiration, and the enhanced enjoyment of travel, and while a round-the-world ticket could be an amazing gift for someone, it might need a few more Christmasses before that one can be afforded!

So here’s our guide to realistic but still appreciated travel gifts for Christmas.

Halfords have these very handy Bikehut bike storage tents which are perfect for storing bikes in when on a camping trip. They can store up to three bikes. It’s easy to pitch and has UV protection.

If your adventurer’s choice mode of transport is more four-wheeled than two, how about this car boot organiser? This is a durable storage system with space for all of your adventurer’s treasures (or junk). It also has a built in red warning triangle, which could come in very useful when they get into a tight spot.

Talking of cars, have you seen the winter range from KUNGS? We are one of only a few retailers in the UK selling these top-quality Finnish products – they’ve been developed and tested in Finland, a country that knows a thing or two about motoring through wintry weather. This could be the most money you’ve ever spent on an ice-scraper but with good reason. This gloved ice-scraper is a real boon on cold mornings.

Have a look at the full winter range here >> https://www.handiworld.com/kungs-winter-products/

For the camping lovers, this pop-up emergency camping light could be a key piece of camping kit. This folds down to take up minimal space and can be used as either a lantern or a torch. Don’t forget the batteries!

Last but not least, we LOVE this scratch off map (with flags) from TravelNuts. Scratch off each country as you visit and steadily turn the gold area into a patchwork of colour. How many of these countries is your adventurer planning to visit?Are you well-known for your adventuring? We’d love to know what your loved ones bought you to help along your wanderlust this Christmas.

The summer holidays are creeping up on us now, which means if you’ve got a UK family holiday planned for the long school break then you’re probably starting to get prepared.

As well as packing everything you could possibly need into suitcases, you need to think about how you’re going to prepare your car for the wear and tear long drives can bring with them.

It can be easy to forget that there are certain checks that need doing before setting off on a long journey when the chaos of getting out the door sets in, so allow us to share with you 5 things to remember to do before hitting the road for your UK adventure.

Tyre Pressure

An important check to do before you start packing the car and to continue to do throughout your trip, both checking and adjusting your tyre pressure accordingly will help avoid flat tyres or unexpected disasters.

The AA recommend you check your tyre pressures every couple of weeks when the tyres are cold and we’d recommend doing a check before and after packing up the car to ensure your tyres are safe and ready for the journey ahead.

They also recommend checking for any cracks, cuts or bulges in the tyres when checking the pressure as these are signs of damage and weakness in the tyres and could lead to problems on the road.

Fluid Levels

At the very top of Aviva’s road trip checklist is your fluid levels and we couldn’t agree more with how important it is to check these before you head off.

Brake fluid, engine oil, window washer fluid, antifreeze – check all the fluid levels under the bonnet and top up where required. We’d recommend having spare bottles of the fluids packed away tightly in the boot in case you happen to need them on the go.

Lights

Just because you’re planning your trip to be during the daytime, doesn’t mean you don’t need to give your lights a proper check before setting off.

As well as being something that the police can pull you over for, having a brake light out or a broken headlight is really dangerous when driving, whether it’s a short or long distance trip.

The best way to check all your lights are working is to get a friend or family member to move around the car as you test your brake lights, headlights, fog lights and indicator lights are all working properly and you may want to stock extra bulbs in the car just in case.

Brakes

Whilst you’re checking your brake lights, you want to check your actual brakes too. An essential part of your vehicle and something that needs to be in perfect working order, especially when using a roof box, you need to check your brakes don’t need changing before you head off.

Kwik Fit recommend brake pads are changed when they reach a 3mm thickness or below and describe how you can tell your brakes need attention when you can hear grinding noises when braking, feel the car pulling in a certain direction when braking or the brakes may feel soft of spongey.

If you’re planning a lengthy road trip, it might be worth booking your car into a local garage for a mini service to ensure you’ve done all your checks right and everything is safe and ready to go.

Securely Attach Your Roof Rack and Box

Once you’ve checked your car is in perfect working order, it’s time to prepare it for the load it needs to carry by adding extra secure storage space. Fitted metal roof bars can be expensive and inconvenient when not in use, which is why the HandiRack is ideal for families who love a road trip.

Our inflatable roof rack is small to store and can be fitted to your vehicle in a matter of minutes and is then ready for you to add the HandiHoldall, our 320-litre soft roof box and fill with all your belongings to ensure you’ve got plenty of space to stretch out inside the car.

We hope this little guide has been helpful if you’re trying to get everything in order for your upcoming UK family holiday. If you’re looking to use one of our handy products as part of your travel set up, feel free to drop us an email at info@handiworld.com and one of our team will be happy to help.

Summer is well on its way now which means that day trips to the local beach are just around the corner.

We may not get the warmest of weather here in the UK but when we do get a hot day, our beaches are the place to be and we’re confident that plenty of our customers will be heading towards the coast at some point in the next few months.

Whether it’s an adults-only trip or a family holiday, there are always lots of things you need to have in tow when you head to the beach, so we’re going to be sharing with you all the essentials you can’t forget and our tips for packing everything into the car!

What You Need to Pack