Stand up paddleboarding is an activity growing fast in popularity. Whether this is due to the coronavirus (stand up paddleboarding is a good social distancing activity) or something else, we are not really sure, but we’ve certainly seen a lot more people out and about doing just this. Have you ever been stand up paddle boarding?
What is stand up paddleboarding?
Stand up paddle boarding (or SUP) is like surfing but isn’t. Instead of using waves to propel yourself like in surfing, you use a paddle to push yourself along still waters or waves. You can paddleboard on a lake, a river, or the ocean. You can stand up on the board, or kneel if you prefer.
It originated in Hawaii and has been around for hundreds of years, though the modern version dates from around the year 1900.
Photo by Matt Zhou on Unsplash
Is stand up paddle boarding difficult?
Stand up paddleboarding is very accessible as an activity. It doesn’t require the skill of surfing, and is easier to get into than kayaking. It’s suitable for people of all ages and it can be taught in a few hours, unlike surfing where you often need multiple lessons for a sustained period of time to really pick it up.
Stand up paddleboarding is basically standing or kneeling on a board while using a paddle to propel yourself. It’s all about balance and momentum – like cycling. There’s not much else to it. Learn to balance yourself. Learn to move from a kneeling position to a standing position. Get the hang of paddling and turning your board in a different direction. It’s all about practice.
Here’s a great video from Tin Box Traveller
What stand up paddle board to buy
Getting the right sized paddleboard is important. Longer and wider boards provide better stability but might be difficult to paddle, especially if you’re short and lightweight yourself. Wider boards are good for increased stability in moving water – such as rapids.
Bigger boards are more difficult to store but inflatable SUPs are available and these provide good stability too.
The HandiRack, our universal inflatable roof bars, are a great way of transporting your SUP.
What to wear when stand up paddle boarding is kind of important but there’s not really specialist SUP wear – it’s the same stuff you’d wear if you were surfing. A wet suit is good but then swim-shorts and t-shirts are fine too. The plan isn’t to spend too much time in the water anyway!
You should wear a floatation device, especially if you are not a strong swimmer. Children should certainly wear one.
If it’s a cold day (or even if it’s not) you might also want to wear thermals. The water can be cold even if the sun is shining.
On your feet, water shoes are a good option. Bare feet are fine, until you fall in and need to walk on the bottom of the riverbed.
If it’s a hot day, then don’t forget your sunscreen and shades.
It’s also important that you get a board leash – like in surfing – so your board stays close to you if you fall in the water.
Where to go stand up paddle boarding
There are lots of places around the UK to go stand up paddleboarding, but like kayaking, you might need a license to access some waterways. While some stretches of water are public access, many are under the control of the Canal & River Trust, the Environment Agency, the Broads Authority and a number of other waterway authorities.
The CAMBA Kart, our innovative board and paddlesports trolley makes getting your SUP to the waters edge much easier.
CAMBA Kart Paddlesports Trolley
Is stand up paddleboarding safe?
Stand up paddleboarding is as safe as it can be for an activity that is physical and done on water, which can be unpredictable. It’s important that you, as with other watersports, respect the water and take notice of the safety advice from your instructor.
We know what it’s like when you’re yearning to get out and enjoy the great outdoors but circumstances mean you’re stuck at home for now. Whether it’s a global pandemic, lack of funds, or work commitments keeping you from going too far, there are activities you can do which will help satisfy your craving for adventure (for now, anyway).
Here are 9 outdoor and adventure activities you can do at home.
Build a climbing wall
A climbing wall for you or the children can be done outside or even inside if you have enough wall space. While you probably don’t have the space for a full climbing rig, you can set something up for a spot of bouldering. Take a look at https://thecreatedhome.com/diy-climbing-wall to see how you could set something up indoors. Outdoors, you will need a solid wall or some sizeable pieces of wood and some climbing studs. You can buy these online, for example at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Climbing-Holds
A climbing wall can be a considerable expense but it also makes a good project which will help you while away a few hours. A well-built climbing wall can last a very long time too, so this is definitely an investment in both time and money.
Do some back garden camping
A firm at-home favourite is back garden camping. There’s nothing like sleeping under canvas and in your garden is still a good way of getting your body clock in sync with nature. The downside is that you don’t really get a change of scenery, but on the upside, you get a toilet nearby and you know who’s used it! You can also get away with not having to take lots of equipment and supplies with you and you will never have the problem of not having taken suitable clothing.
Cooking on an open camp fire or even using your regular gas camping kitchen is a change from your home’s kitchen. Food always tastes different when it’s cooked on a camping stove and it always reminds me of being outdoors and on holiday. Back garden cooking is always good preparation for cooking when camping if you’ve not done it before.
What can you make?
Well how about hot dogs or burgers, and s’mores for dessert? I like making fried chicken wraps and one pot meals like vegetable curry are always a winner.
If you really want to get into the festival spirit then why not hold your own backyard festival? As well as the tent you can also put on some music, play your own, and do some crafting too. Face painting and festival hair always make my children ridiculously excited. What would you do at your own personal festival?
Indoor cycling is a great way to exercise when you can’t get out and about but isn’t it boring when they only thing you have to look it is the wall? We can’t all afford a Peloton to take part in classes with others but what about using your own TV and the videos that others have kindly made? Check out this YouTube account for some brilliant cycling videos – can you imagine pedalling along to these? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVbBtdw-_SCqGDs6-_awaDg
In terms of the equipment you will need – if you don’t have an exercise bike, then you could adapt your own bikes to use indoors. You will need ramps or stands – either bought or make your own. This one looks interesting if you can’t get hold of a ready-made one …… http://tidybrownwren.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-make-your-own-exercise-bike-for.html
If you can get out and about into your neighbourhood, then how about creating an orienteering challenge? Get a street map of your local area or make your own using Google Maps.
This is a good way of introducing using a compass too. You can make the map and route as easy or as complicated as you like.
Nature spotting
There might not be anything more exciting than mini beasts in your garden but some back garden wildlife spotting is a good warm up for the real thing. There’s lots to spot in your garden such as earthworms, ladybirds, spiders, and all manner of domestic birds like pigeons, sparrows, and robins.
Building a den is a great activity for indoor or out but a proper bivouac is the best! Made from branches, building a bivouac feels like a real survival activity. Have you ever made one?
Probably our most famous product is the HandiRack inflatable roof rack – have you got one? They are a great way of adding extra carrying capacity to your car. They fit all types of car – well, the ones that have a roof – they are much cheaper than standard roof bars, and they fold down very small when not in use – what’s not to love?
The HandiRack roof bars are available in either black or limited edition Camo print for those adventures where you want to blend into the great outdoors. These universal roof bars are great for carrying a canoe or kayak, or for teaming up with our HandiHoldall to add extra room for a camping trip, or moving home, or for all that extra shopping.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about our most popular item.
HandiRack Inflatable Roof Bars
How to fit HandiRack inflatable roof bars
One question we are asked frequently is…… are HandiRack inflatable roof bars easy to fit? The answer is yes. It’s not that you don’t need to make an effort here because you do have to do something yourself to get them on your car, but we provide full instructions and really, there’s not much to think about.
In short, you need to unroll and lay the bars out in position on your car, strap them on, and then inflate. It is really simple but can take a little getting used to. We recommend that you work out how to fit them in advance of your trip – there’s nothing like trying to do something unfamiliar when you’re on a schedule!
Check out these videos to help you to understand how easy fitting the HandiRack is……..
How to use HandiRack inflatable roof rack
We have seen the HandiRack being used for a variety of jobs. Kayaks and surfboards, garden benches, for a house move, to the official HandiHoldall for extra carrying capacity, and everything in between.
The HandiHoldall, a soft roof box, is designed to work the HandiRack. If you buy a HandiHoldall at the same time as the HandiRack, you can get a special bundle deal. HandiHoldalls are available in a variety of sizes from 175 litres to 400 litres. Please check out our website at https://www.handiworld.com/soft-roof-boxes-roof-bars/.
HandiRack Reviews
We’re really pleased with the reviews continuing to come in for the HandiRack carrier. As much as we have faith in our universal roof bars, it’s always extra reassuring to see that customers are happy and that the products have stood up to the real-world tests thrown at them!
This review from Mel is for the HandiRack inflatable roof rack and our HandiHoldall – a great combination which efficiently adds carrying capacity at relatively low cost and requires minimal storage.
Thanks to Tiffany for sending us this pic of the HandiRack on top of her Fiat 500. They show that our universal roof bars can indeed fit on a smaller 3-door car!
Whether you’re thinking of buying a HandiRack for camping, for carrying something oversized like a canoe or kayak or a garden bench, or when moving home, we are happy that the inflatable HandiRack is a good value solution, especially if you’re not only on a budget but also have to be frugal with your storage requirements – the HandiRack is a lot easier to store than a regular set of roof bars, and the complementary HandiHoldall easier than a hard shell roof box!
If you’d like to buy both the HandiRack inflatable roof bars and a HandiHoldall soft roof box then check out our bundle deals – they will save you money! If you have any further questions about any of the items in our store, then please do get in touch.
The HandiHoldall is a flexible roof bag designed to fit our patented inflatable roof bars, the HandiRack. Available in three sizes, the HandiHoldall is a good way of adding carrying capacity to your car for a camping trip, or moving home at low cost. Because the HandiHoldall folds up again when not in use, it’s ideal if you don’t have enough storage space at home for a roof box.
How to fit the HandiHoldall
The HandiHoldall is very easy to fit. It is designed to work perfectly with the HandiRack and we highly recommend the HandiHoldall as your roof bag if you own a HandiRack; while other roof bags may fit the HandiRack, none do as well as the official HandiHoldall. If you buy the HandiRack and HandiHoldall together, we do a special discounted bundle deal. Please ask if you have any questions.
You can also use the HandiHoldall on a regular set of roof bars using our roof bar fitting kit, which comes included with every HandiHoldall.
Each product comes complete with fitting instructions; watch our video for an idea of how to fit the HandiHoldall and the HandiRack.
Want to see a HandiHoldall in action on a regular roof rack? Check our Erin’s video of her family camping trip and a look at how the roof bar fitting kit works. Thanks to Erin at Yorkshire Tots for taking the time to give the HandiHoldall a thorough testing.
Is the HandiHoldall waterproof?
The HandiHoldall 400 litre and the 175 litre are completely waterproof. They are built to keep out the water. Have a look of this video of them being tested!
The HandiHoldall 330 litres is weather resistant. We advise putting waterproof items into the HandiHoldall and using inner bags where possible. The 330 litre HandiHoldall can fit 2 x 95l or 2 x 135l HandiDuffel bags inside, and we have a bundle deal available – check out https://www.handiworld.com/handiholdall-330-litres-category/ for more details.
HandiHoldall reviews
We’re really pleased with the reviews continuing to come in for the HandiHoldall. As much as we have faith in our products, it’s always extra reassuring to see that customers are happy and that the products have stood up to the real-world tests thrown at them!
See this review at Trustpilot – https://www.trustpilot.com/users/574d830c0000ff000a24e8b3
We’ve also had this review in for the HandiHoldall and the HandiRack direct from a happy customer. Thank you to Sharon for the feedback and for the pic of them both working together on her car.
“I am just writing to say how impressed I am with the HandiRack and HandHoldall package.
The first thing that impressed me was the incredibly quick delivery.
We used the HandiRack and HandiHoldall to travel up to Yorkshire and it was brilliant. We stopped once to check it and it hadn’t moved an inch and nothing was flapping about.
Once we got to Yorkshire we put the rack on my sister’s car and used it to transport a sofa bought in a charity shop, saving us the £25 delivery charge. I think we entertained the locals getting the sofa onto the roof but once up there and strapped down with the tie downs we had an uneventful journey.
My sister thinks it is a great idea and I will be recommending it to everyone.”
So there we have it; the HandiHoldall is a great way of adding carrying capacity to your car when you don’t have any room at home to store a regular roof box. If you have any questions about bundle deals, fitting, or anything else, please do get in touch.
We love camping! It’s a great way of engaging more with the outdoors and (usually) a way of holidaying that bit cheaper. But isn’t there a lot of ‘stuff’? One of the best things about camping is that you can make it as basic or as luxurious as you wish. We all have our own personal preferences, and these may change from camping trip to camping trip too. Are you a ‘glamper’ or more of a bare-essentials type of camper?
What camping equipment do I need?
Camping isn’t necessarily a cheap endeavour. Yes it’s good fun and you’ll save money on hotels in the future, but camping equipment can get very expensive. Buying second-hand or end-of-line stock is a good idea for saving money; you can pick up some real bargains such as tents that have only been used once by new campers who decided camping wasn’t for them after all. Look out on local social media selling pages, Gumtree, and local small ads.
While we would advocate starting small and building up your supplies, it’s a nicer experience all round if you have the essentials to hand on a trip. Scrimping on camping gear can be a false economy if it means your holiday is more fraught than fun.
So what exactly do you need for a camping holiday with your family?
Here we have a camping equipment list. Some of it is essential, and some of it not so essential. Pick and choose what you feel you need and once you’re happy with your selection, keep the list somewhere safe for next time. While a camping equipment list is not compulsory, we have found that we have forgotten to take something every time and have ended up in a shop or on the scrounge with fellow campers not long after arrival. A list comes in very handy to stop us forgetting the same things over and over.
Camping equipment list
Please feel free to print out this list, scribble on it, add your own kit, keep it for next time. Hope you find it useful.
To download a PDF version of the checklist, please click here.
The basics:-
Enough clothing for how ever many days you are staying
warm clothing
waterproof coat
swimming costume
pyjamas
daily outfits
spare socks
more spare socks
undies!
Wellies
Spare pair of shoes for the tent and around the campsite, such as flip flops or sandals
Bedding and a pillow
A mat, air-bed (and pump), SIM (self-inflating mattress), or camp bed.
A tent (unless you intend to ‘sleep under the stars’)
A groundsheet / footprint
A mallet and tent pegs
A torch – with spare batteries if you need them
Cooking equipment:-
Unless you’re going to be eating at the local pub every breakfast, lunch, and dinner time (we’re not judging, we’ve done that too!) then you will need to take some basic kitchen equipment.
Cool box and cool packs
Something to cook on – hob, gas stove, teppanyaki grill for example
Lighter – or box of matches
2 x saucepans
1 x frying pan
spatula
cooking/serving spoons
vegetable peeler
potato masher
chopping board and knives
strainer/colander
kitchen roll and disinfectant spray
cutlery
plates
bowls
cups / mugs
tin opener
bottle opener / corkscrew
plastic washing up bowl and drainer
washing up liquid
dishcloth and tea-towels
Health and hygiene:-
A wash bag with soap, flannel, toothbrush and toothpaste
A first aid kit with antiseptic cream and sticking plasters as a minimum, a pair of scissors, tweezers, and nail clippers
baby wipes
A hairbrush
A dustpan and brush for sweeping out the tent
Loo roll
Hand towels
Large towels for swimming / showering
Shower gel
Shampoo
Wash powder / laundry detergent
bin bags / plastic bags for dirty washing
clothes pegs
clothes line / hanger
Around the tent:-
Porch / awning with pegs
Floor mats / tent carpet
Dining table and chairs
Armchairs
Storage cupboards
Bin bags for litter
Water carrier
Toys and games, books, pens and pencils
Electrical equipment:-
Some people prefer to go off-grid while others are up to the eyeballs in electrical equipment. There are no right and wrongs here!
EHU cable
Fairy lights
Device charging leads
Power pack
Electric fridge/cool box
Kettle
Toaster
TV
DVD player
Radiator / heater
And how do you carry all of this camping gear in your car?
Check out the inflatable HandiRack and HandiHoldall soft roof box.
What camping food to take?
If you’re planning on cooking your own meals on your camping trip then you are definitely going to need some food. Some campsites have very good supermarkets on site where you can get hold of everything you need at a reasonable price. Others not so much. Our car is usually so full of camping gear that getting a week’s worth of food in there too just isn’t possible, nor is it a good idea to keep a week’s worth of food at a time, especially if you’ve only got a camping fridge to store it all. We usually go to a nearby supermarket once the tent is pitched and get enough food to get us through the first couple of days.
Planning meals is best. You really only should buy the exact ingredients you will cook and eat. There’s not much point in buying food out of habit, finding you’ve no way of keeping it viable, and then it going to waste. Planning is key!
The sort of meals that we cook while camping are…..
Chicken wraps
Hot dogs and salad
Mince and pasta
Burgers and salad
All-day breakfast
Stir-fry
We cook meals which need a small number of pans, or can be cooked on the grill. Roast chicken and all the trimmings would be lovely, but roasting a chicken when camping is a big ask! We do know people who take a slow cooker and leave things cooking in the tent while out for the day. We’ve not done this yet – it’s too much of a risk with the electrics which aren’t always 100% reliable.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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/.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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!
Father’s Day is on the horizon – have you organised anything to show the father figure in your life how much they mean to you?
Father’s Day is a great excuse to get around to buying those items that he’s too careful/thrifty/tight to let you buy the rest of the year. “From the kids” is a wonderful guilt-free way of being able to justify buying “him” that box set or gadget you secretly (or not) want for yourself. Come on, we’ve all done it!
First of all….
When is Father’s Day in the UK?
In 2019, Father’s Day is on Sunday, 16th June In 2020, Father’s Day is on Sunday 21st June In 2021, Father’s Day is on Sunday 20th June
What to buy your dad on Father’s Day
If your dad is the outdoors and adventuring type, we have three great suggestions for items from our store that would be ideal for Father’s Day. Isn’t it handy that Father’s Day is right at the beginning of the summer?
The HandiRack
Our first recommendation is the HandiRack. This is a huge seller at all times of the year but especially in early summer when more of us start thinking about those camping trips (or taking the kids and their seemingly endless kit back to university in the autumn).
The HandiRack is an inflatable roof rack which fits most any car (please get in touch with us with your car make and model if you want to be certain). It deflates for easy storage and is a lot cheaper than a fixed roof rack. If you’re struggling to fit roof bars to your car and need to increase your carrying capacity, then the HandiRack could be a great option.
The HandiRack is also good for transporting watersports equipment such as Kayaks and surfboards, gardening equipment, and even the odd bench!
The HandiRack is available in black and limited edition Camo print. You can also buy them as part of a bundle deal with the HandiHoldall, which comes in various sizes/capacities.
You can see our HandiHoldall 175 litres with a huge range of other bits and bobs for the discerning (and well prepared) adventurer over on Bushwacker Man’s YouTube channel. Can you spot anything that would make a great gift for your dad?
The HandiMoova is a great piece of kit if your dad spends a lot of time lugging stuff about. They are good for getting kit across uneven ground, such as sand, gravel, up and down stairs, or across a muddy festival field. They make a fantastic addition to the garden, or for transporting more important “essentials”!
With the HandiWorld Car Boot Organiser you will give him less reason to moan. The organiser has lots of space to store “stuff” but folds down when not needed. It measures 57 x 37 x 32 cm and has a handy built-in red warning triangle, just incase!
With this, your dad can go back to just moaning about the house being lit up like a Christmas tree (or Blackpool) and the price of petrol.
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.”
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!”
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!”
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.
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?
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.
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!
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.”
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.
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.
They are significantly cheaper to buy.
They can be deflated and stored when not in use which saves on maintenance and running costs
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.
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.
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 rackbundle 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!
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© The Forestry Commission
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