Wednesday, 29 December 2021

What do you need to Create a Winning Garden?

{Collaborative content} A beautiful garden can provide the perfect complement for your property. However, achieving this can also be a lot easier said than done. After all, you want to make sure that your garden thrives all year long, and this can take a lot of hard work and understanding. There is so much to consider, from which plants will thrive in a particular soil type, to whether to add a water feature or a garden shed. Should you add in ground flagpole lighting to light up and show off your flag? How about a patio or some decking as a seating area? You want to make sure that your garden thrives all year long, and this can take a lot of hard work and understanding. If you dive right in with little thought, you are only going to end up being frustrated because your flowers will die or they won’t even grow to begin with. Considering that, in this blog post, we are going to take a look at the ingredients that are necessary in order to create a winning garden.





  • Spend some time learning about plants, flowers, and trees - There is only one place to start when it comes to all of the ingredients that are required to creating a beautiful and thriving garden, and this is by educating yourself. From Perennial Ryegrass to stunning White Roses, there are lots of different types of flowers that can be planted in your garden. However, not all of them are going to thrive in your garden’s condition. Some plants prefer sun, whereas others like shade. Some thrive in the autumn, others like the spring. You then have to consider the type of soil in your garden, amongst many other components. Without the right education, it is simply impossible to create a thriving and stunning garden space. 


  • A good and reliable garden centre is a must - Once you have spent some time getting the education you need to create a beautiful garden space, you then need to make sure that you have a reliable and high-quality garden centre that you can rely on in your local area. You can do some digging online to see what sort of garden centres are based in nearby locations. Once you have found some options, it makes sense to go and check them out in person so you can see the range of products they have for sale. 

  • Look for inspiration and ideas - Aside from the two ingredients that we have mentioned so far, you also need to look for inspiration and ideas so that you can create a magical garden. The good news is that there plenty of different platforms, like Instagram and Pinterest, where you can find great garden images that you can use for your own inspiration. You do not need to copy them in their entirety but you can use these images to give you some ideas and suggestions of your own that are bound to make a big difference. 


As you can see, there are a number of key components that are going to be required if you are to creare a beautiful and thriving garden. It is not as easy as going to a garden centre and simply picking the plants that look the nicest. Instead, you need to understand what you are doing with the space in order to create an area that looks great and will remain healthy throughout the year.


Thursday, 16 December 2021

4 Simple Changes to Protect Weak Joints.

{Collaborative Content} Looking after your joints is so important as you get older. You're not a teenager forever and as we age, our joints are more prone to damage. If you have especially weak joints, you might find that they are painful when exercising and you're more likely to get injuries from general wear and tear.


Image From Pixabay CCO License


The good news is, there are some simple things you can do to support weak joints and avoid any injuries.

Build Muscle

One of the best things you can do for your joints is to build muscle. Muscle helps to support and protect joints, so the more muscle you have, the better. Strength training is a great way to build muscle, and it's also a great way to keep your bones healthy.


If you want to build muscle more effectively, you need to pay attention to your diet. Make sure you're eating plenty of protein, as this helps to build muscle. You might also want to consider taking supplements, like whey protein, to help you meet your daily protein needs. You can also try supplements like CJC-1295 W/O DAC, which encourage your body to produce more growth hormones. When you sleep, the growth hormones get to work and rebuild your muscle, so you recover faster and build more muscle overall, giving your joints the support that they need.

Maintain A Healthy Weight

If you're carrying too much weight, it's going to put a lot of stress on your joints. This is especially true if you have a lot of excess body fat. Losing weight can help to take some of the pressure off your joints and make them less painful.


When it comes to losing weight, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, try to eat a healthy diet that is low in processed foods and high in fruits and vegetables. Secondly, make sure you're getting enough exercise. Exercise helps you burn calories and lose weight, but it's also good for your joints. Choose exercises that are low impact, like swimming or cycling, to minimize the stress on your joints.

Eat Anti-Inflammatory Foods

One of the best ways to support your joints is to eat anti-inflammatory foods. These are foods that reduce inflammation in your body, which reduces pain and protects your joints.


There are many different foods that help to fight inflammation, but some of the best include avocados, blueberries, cherries, kale, tomatoes, and walnuts.


You might also want to try taking supplements like fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids. These can significantly reduce the level of inflammation in your body without adding any calories or fat at all!

Get Plenty Of Rest

Another important thing for protecting your joints is getting enough rest. When you sleep, repairs get done throughout your entire body including your muscles and joints. If you're not getting a lot of sleep, your body doesn't get the chance to fully recover and you're more likely to get injured.


When you've got an injury or pain from too much exercise, it's important to rest it properly. Avoid doing anything that causes pain and apply ice packs if your joints are swollen or hot. Then try to get plenty of rest until the swelling goes down and you feel better.


If you have weak joints, make sure you follow these simple tips and tricks to avoid injuries and long term damage.


Sunday, 5 December 2021

How to get Prepared for Christmas Earlier than Usual.

{Collaborative} If you often find that you are not quite ready for Christmas as soon as you would like to be, then that might be something that you want to change as best as you can. The truth is that it shouldn’t be all that hard to do, but there are so many things that can end up getting in the way that it can take some effort and work to do it right. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the things you might want to do in order to get prepared for Christmas a little earlier than usual, so you can sit back and enjoy the rest of December much more easily.


Image Credit - CCO Licence

Work Out A Budget


One of the first things you might want to do is to work out a budget that you can follow for the entire Christmas period. As long as you have a budget to work to, you’ll find that it is much easier to know what to expect - and it will reduce and remove much of the stress around finances that people often feel at this time of the year. That budget should therefore be strict enough to make a difference, but not so strict that you can’t do all the Christmas things you want to do. Get that balance right, and all is well.



Order Your Food & Drink


If you want to avoid having to rush around the shops just before Christmas for your food and beverages, then the good news is that you don’t actually have to do that. You can simply order your food and drink online early and get it sent to you. Of course, there might be one or two things that you want to make sure you are buying fresh, but most things you can do online still to make it easier. And there is definitely a joy in buying your wine online before the day itself!



Clear Out The Clutter


This one is especially important if you are planning on hosting Christmas at your home. You need to make sure that you are cleaning out the clutter as best as you can, so that you can feel so much more prepared in your home for the entire Christmas period. If you can do this early on, you are going to find it is so much less stressful and more enjoyable to have Christmas in your home, so that is something that you will definitely want to consider at least.


Image Credit - CCO Licence

Get Those Presents


Having the presents done is one of the biggest things you can do to make the Christmas period a lot easier, so it’s worth putting aside some time to make sure that you are doing this. You don’t have to go overboard, just make sure that you have bought one thoughtful item for each person that matters to you. That way, you are going to feel that you are doing right by them - and in a good time to feel ready for the big day.


Tuesday, 2 November 2021

What to do if you Experience Ankle Pain.

{Collaborative Content} Ankle pain is one of the most common pains a person can experience. Like a bad back, it can happen at any time from the smallest injury. Hence, if you ever suffer from ankle pain, here is what to do.


Image by lookyourself from Pixabay 


Find help

Finding help to assess the area and offer treatment is the best answer. You might discover that you have damaged your ankle or simply need a rest day. Either way, getting professional help from a podiatrist will ensure that you can fix the pain and live more comfortably.


Finding a podiatrist near me is simple if you ask for recommendations from your friends and family. They can lead you in the direction of local podiatrists so that you can get your pain seen and improved. 


Apply ice

When you experience pain in your ankle, you will likely notice inflammation around the area. Swelling is normal. It means that your body knows to protect the area. Whether you have damaged anything inside the ankle or not, it is useful to apply ice. 


This will reduce inflammation and make walking a little easier.


Compression

To further reduce and maintain the inflammation, it is a good idea to compress the affected area. 


It is useful to wear an ankle strap to keep the ankle in position and comfortable when you need to walk on it.


Elevate the foot

On the topic of inflammation, it can easily be kept at bay if you elevate the affected foot. Elevating it higher than your heart will ensure to reduce the swelling and make the area less painful. Sometimes, excess inflammation can heighten the pain. 


When possible, make sure to rest and elevate your foot until the inflammation and pain have subsided. 


Pain relief

To ease and manage the pain, pain relief is the best option. If the pain is persistent, pain relief will reduce the pain and make it more manageable throughout the day.


Over-the-counter mediation is available for anyone of age, which can start to work in less than half an hour. In no time you can feel more comfortable and manage the pain in your ankle. You may also wish to look into a natural option for pain relief - Maeng Da is one of the powerful variants of kratom that, when taken in a higher dose, can have great pain-relieving properties. If the pain continues and doesn’t improve, then stronger medication might be necessary.


Protective footwear

When you are wearing your compression bandage or sock, it is also a good idea to wear protective footwear. This will be any footwear that fits snugly around the ankle. Like a compression sock, it will keep the area protected and comfortable. 


The best options are hi-top trainers or boots. Anything with a thick and comfortable barrier around the area will ensure that it can avoid further injury and excessive movement. 


Combining these tips, you will be able to manage your pain and reduce the inflammation of your affected ankle. Your first stop should be medical help, in case there is something seriously damaged inside. If you avoid seeking a medical assessment, you could make the issue much worse and more painful. After this, they will offer you the right treatment methods to fix your ankle and eliminate the pain.


Thursday, 21 October 2021

Signs you Need a Rest Day.

(Unsplash CC0)


{Collaborative Content} Life is busy. In fact, sometimes life can be TOO busy. You will know this yourself if you're forever running around after the needs of your boss or family, and if your social calendar is packed to the brim with appointments. 


The problem with busyness of course is that you won't have sufficient time to rest. This can create problems, especially when considering the following. So if any of what we have to say relates to you, perhaps now is the time to say "enough is enough" to yourself and the people around you, and to schedule yourself a rest day. 



Signs You Need A Rest Day



#1: Your patience is wearing thin


The more tired you get, the less patience you will have, as you won't have the energy to cope with the various demands that you have to deal with. As a consequence, you might start to 'lose it' with the people around you, such as your partner, your children, or the people you work with. You will feel bad when you snap and get angry with others, and they will feel bad, especially if you say something hurtful. 


#2: Your body hurts


If you're regularly suffering from aches and pains, it's probably because your body is always on the go. Soreness can be relieved via medication from your doctor and CBD patches but what you really need to do is slow down. Your body will appreciate it if you do, as a day of rest and relaxation will give it time to heal and any soreness will start to go away. But if you keep pushing yourself, you could make things worse. Ill health will cause you to stop but it's advisable to take a break before it gets to that point. 


#3: You're relying on stimulants


If your energy is starting to flag you might be prone to such energy-boosting stimulants as sugar, caffeine, and energy drinks. These will certainly perk you up, for a while at least, but your body will start to experience the negative short and long-term effects if you become reliant on these. There are better ways to regain energy. Drinking water is far more effective than something sugary, for example, and it's a guaranteed way to boost your health too. However, taking time out to rest is by far the best way to refresh and energise your mind and body. 


#4: You're making a lot of mistakes


We all make mistakes so you can be forgiven for one or two a day. But if you're always getting things wrong, be that at home or at work, it might be because of your tiredness and low energy. Fatigue can make it hard for you to concentrate and retain information. So, if your boss isn't happy with you, if you find yourself putting your phone in the fridge, and if you have missed your children's school recitals this week, it might be because you need to take a mental break!


So, do you need to take a rest day? If you have related to these signs, then the answer has to be a resounding YES!! Today then, start saying 'no' more often to any demands that come your way and schedule in a day when you can relax, rest, and even catch up on sleep. Make this a regular habit, especially when the signs we have mentioned rear their heads again


Wednesday, 22 September 2021

Top Tips for Taking Care of Loved Ones as they Get Older.

*Collaborative Content* As we get older, it’s only natural that we may need a little more care and support than in our earlier years. However, whether you are caring for a grandparent, parent or even a neighbour - looking after an older adult can be a very difficult task- as a result, you may find that you have little time to take care of yourself or keep up to date with your daily duties. 


Photo by Eduardo Barrios on Unsplash


With that in mind, here are some top tips for taking care of a loved one as they get older. 

Set reminders. 

Whether your loved one needs to take daily medication or attends regular visits with the doctor - you must stay up to date with their schedule so you are aware of the times when they may require a little more support than usual. This is especially important if you are the person responsible for taking them to and from appointments.  However, it can be hard to balance somebody else’s schedule alongside your own, which could result in missed appointments. As such, you may benefit from setting reminders on your phone! This way, you can give your loved one a quick call or text to remind them about upcoming events. 

Ask them what they need from you.

When taking care of others, it can be hard to know if we are doing a good job or if we are doing enough. While your loved one will appreciate any form of support, the easiest way you can put these worries to bed is by simply asking them what they need from you. Then, you can tailor your care and support accordingly. For example, if they are feeling lonely, you can arrange to visit more often. 

Discuss additional support methods.

At some point in time, your loved one may require full-time support that you cannot provide. When this occurs, you should not feel guilty - as this is a natural part of ageing, and you may not have the resources at hand to give them the quality care they need. However, this does mean that you should do plenty of research ahead of time so that they receive the right kind of care. For example, while live-in carers are always an option, your loved one may be more suited to staying within a care home facility, as this often gives them more opportunities to socialise. 

Take care of yourself too. 

While you may be more than happy to dedicate most of your time to caring for your loved one, it’s important that you don't forget to take care of yourself either. After all, if you continue to neglect your own needs, you’ll struggle to provide them with adequate care and support in the first place. As such, you should ensure that you set aside some time in your schedule that you can dedicate to yourself. For example, you may want to put together a daily self-care routine. After all, self-care can help you to feel happy, healthy and focused. Furthermore, you should also ensure that the caring responsibilities are shared out among other family members where possible - so that you feel a little less guilty about taking the necessary time for yourself. 


Monday, 13 September 2021

5 Ways Massages Can Help Improve your Body's Health.


Photo by Raphael Lovaski on Unsplash

{Collaborative Content} Massages have a long history of being a form of therapy, and they can be a great way to relax and reduce stress. However, massage therapy is not just about physical relaxation. It is also about relieving pain and promoting emotional well-being.

There are many benefits of massages include easing pain in the body and alleviating stress. In some cases, massage therapists also provide treatments for people who have arthritis, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia. In the modern-day, massages are seen as ways for you to rest and relax.

Finding the Best place for Thai massage can yield not only a place that will allow you to escape the hectic life of every day but provides you with a way that can help your body repair itself. Here are a few ways massages help improve your body's health.

Relieves Stress

Massage has been proven to reduce stress levels. It consists of multiple techniques to relax the body and mind. It is an act of executing direct contact with the body, working with the movements of breath, touch, and warmth. Massages make your body feel weightless by releasing tension in your muscles, joints, ligaments, and other tissues.

They also increase circulation, which can help to bring more oxygen to your brain as well as other parts of the body, which could potentially improve mental health as well as reduce fatigue.

Helps Circulation

Massages that are made to increase blood circulation contain strokes, friction, and pressure. They work by relaxing muscles and improving blood flow. This allows the body to make better use of oxygen from your lungs for better oxygenation of tissues, cells, and organs - especially those in the brain.

Can Help with joint mobility and flexibility

Massages work by releasing endorphins - your body's natural pain-relieving hormones. This will help you to relax and fall asleep more easily. It also helps to increase the blood flow in your body, which can help with joint mobility. There is evidence that massage can help with the treatment of pain in multiple ways. It is also said that the healing process can be speeded up when massaging muscles is done before exercise or work out by some experts.

Reduce tensions in your muscles

When you have tension in your muscles, it is common for you to experience pain in areas of your body. Massages are believed to help with this by stimulating the muscles' nerve endings, which releases tension. They are also an easy way of reducing stress because when our muscles are relaxed, our brain is less likely to be overloaded with stress hormones. You may seek out a deep tissue massage in Brentwood, CA, or a local alternative to help with muscle discomfort and allow you to move freely and enjoy everyday activities. 

Can Help with Relaxation

Massage therapy is beneficial for promoting relaxation and reducing stress because of its ability to address physical, mental, social, and spiritual health in one treatment. With the growing demand for massage therapists in the workplace, many organizations are providing access to massages on-site or in their wellness programs to help ensure that their employees relax at work and reduce stress. Fortunately, these programmes are quickly becoming the norm for many companies.

Thursday, 9 September 2021

Is it Necessary to Vet your Dentist Before Booking and Appointment?


Man in Blue and White Floral Button Up Shirt Holding White Plastic Pack

Image Credit 

{Collaborative Content} The decision to choose a dentist is an important one, especially for the entire family. Although you may get tempted to book an appointment online or over the phone without doing any research, it's not advisable. 

You do need to vet your dentist before scheduling an appointment, as this will ensure you are working with someone who is both qualified and trustworthy. At some point, you will be trusting your dentist with the health of your mouth, so it's essential to find someone reliable.

To Ease Your Mind and Worries

It would help if you always did your research. You can look up reviews on Google or Yelp, and if they have a website, you need to check that out as well. Whatever dentist you decide to go with, make sure it's someone who is board certified for the work they will be doing. 

Board certification means there was a thorough examination, and it means the dentist passed with flying colours. You also want to make sure they have a good reputation in your area. If you can find out if they belong to any professional associations, that's great too because memberships are usually given only after an intensive screening process. 

To Ascertain the Quality of Services

To ascertain the quality of services, you need to vet the dentist before booking an appointment. If there is a question regarding the quality of service, how would you ensure that your experience will match what you expect? 

Time is money, and you should not be wasting it. Therefore, it makes sense to find out what your dentist can do for you, what they cannot do during the first meeting. This will enable you to choose the best dentist for you. They should also be using high quality dental equipment preferably from a reliable dental practice equipment supplier.

To Do Your Due Diligence

Start by doing some research on the dentist you are considering. There is a wealth of information available about them online. This means looking up reviews, seeing if they have any disciplinary action taken against them, finding out who their past patients are and what they had to say about their experience with that particular dental office or clinic. 

You can also ask your friends, family or co-workers who they recommend. However, this may seem like a lot of work to do at first glance; in the long run, you will be glad that you put so much effort into vetting the dentist before booking an appointment with them. 

It is Your Right as a Patient

It is your right as a patient to vet the dentist before booking an appointment. If you don't, then it is very probable that your dental health will suffer in the long run. This doesn't mean that you need to spend hours and days researching dentists online, but it does involve some detective work on your part. 

First, make sure to ask your family dentist if they have any recommendations. Most of the time, they will be able to point you in the right direction without too much effort on their part. 

It is your right to be able to vet the dentist before booking an appointment. The more preparation goes into finding the best specialist, the better off both patients will be in getting high-quality dental care.


Monday, 23 August 2021

A Great British Getaway to Sherwood Pines.

We've not long returned from a week away. Far from our usual holiday which we'd have which would be to the South of France to a beautiful gite with glorious surroundings and a private pool. Things were too uncertain..... ridiculous really to think that we're still in this situation surrounding covid and travel uncertainty.  We have flights booked for later in the year to NYC and even that now remains uncertain which is incredibly frustrating.  Instead, we booked a Forest Lodge break not far from us in Sherwood Pines, Nottingham. Bit of a random one but there was lots to do around the area and we needed to get something booked prior to prices being even more inflated than they are! I was able to get Bluelight discount buy I can't lie the price of almost 2k (before discount) for 1 week is eye wateringly expensive and on par what we'd spend for 2 weeks abroad, but I digress, it is what it is and it was nice to be away. 




Forest Lodges is nestled in Sherwood Pines which is Sherwood Forest. Within acres of forest lies a selection of lodges (Golden Oak - slightly bigger, Silver Birch and some tree houses) all placed with plenty of space in between and providing lots of privacy and not overlooked by others. We stayed in a Silver Birch which was 1 double (with en suite) and 2 twin beds, separate bathroom, it had a lovely big sofa and chair, large wooden table and plenty of kitchen essentials. Hot tubs are standard in all the lodges, all be it ours possibly had seen better days but a very welcome touch and the children were delighted despite us having our own at home! We had a lovely spot (we had paid a little extra to choose our lodge so we knew we wouldn't be overlooked). There is a strict noise policy in place too which is worth mentioning that they ask that after 10pm noise is kept to a minimum out of respect for nature and the residents.  We had zero issue with noises, it was incredibly peaceful. The first night wasn't ideal however since Elarna woke at 2:30am for the toilet and then continued to wake for every hour and then at around 5am she woke Alfie up so I then declared the day had started and threw open the curtains and sat on the decking and watched the sun rise while the kids had a quiet splash in the hot tub! As much as I was shattered watching the sun come up was pretty special. 


The trouble with holidaying in the UK is you feel like you've got to do something every day, or at least we did as otherwise we felt like we should have stayed at home. This not only ramped the cost up but was also pretty tiring! Below is a brief round up of things we did so if you're in the area from our most enjoyable to the least so if you're looking for inspiration maybe this will help, I will include links where possible. all these things we paid for.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park (Doncaster) Just a short drive away from Sherwood Pines is this fantastic wildlife park, we had a great day here but be prepared for a ton of walking as it is huge! Not really any indoor areas, the enclosures for the animals are massive which is great to see. Tickets are pre bookable for timed entry, it felt very covid secure and we spent several hours walking around. We went in at 10am and left at around 3ish. There are lots of picnic areas and loads of bins for rubbish, there are some nice play areas for the children also. Huge car park which is free and there is a restaurant called Evolution before you enter which is Jurassic themed, would suggest pre booking as we did if you fancy it. Great day out, really enjoyed it. 



Rufford Abbey (Ollerton) This is a great place to visit if you're looking for less expense. £4.00 to park for the whole day if you want and I think you could quite easily. Dogs on leads are allowed and we saw lots of families with picnics and garden games/footballs which is great. There is so much to keep everyone occupied, sculptures, walking trails, a lovely lake which you can hire a row boat or pedalo and a fantastic mill car splash which is basically a ford that the children can stand either side of and make loads of noise or heckling as the cars approach to see if they will speed up through it and make a huge splash and get the kids wet! This made my day seeing the kids faces light up, after everything we've been through in the last year this was just such a simple thing making everyone smile. There is also tea shops available, a little garden centre, an ice cream parlour and a little gift shop selling a variety of things. Highly recommend for a day out with the kids! Lovely place. 





White Post Farm (Farnsfield) £45.00 for family admission for all day. This is a lovely little farm that's been running for around 30 years, gets great reviews on Trip Advisor so thought this would be a nice place to visit for my 2 kids that love animals. It's much bigger than I imagined with lots of animals to see including a ton of goats, small animals that you can pet such as rabbits, guinea pigs, Llamas (or maybe Alpacas, I can't remember!) and other small furries. There is also a reptile room with snakes, spiders etc etc, although I felt this area was a little tired looking and could do with a bit of a refresh however my reptile obsessed son thought it was great. There is a brilliant outside play area and also a slide inside the barn with a small soft play (however the soft play is currently closed). You can pay extra for animal encounters, goat yoga (yes you read that right), tractor rides and also for bags of food to feed the animals. I would say we spent a good 4 hours here, we took a picnic and there was lots of places to sit and eat. Overall a nice little trip out.






City of Caves (Centre of Nottingham) Around £26.00 for family admission, pre booking recommended. This is a fascinating trip underground to see the UK's largest network of caves. These caves are truly fascinating! We loved that you scan the QR code and have an audio guide while going around. There is just enough information provided to keep you interested, it's a perfect amount of time and a real insight into the caves beneath the Broadmarsh shopping centre. Truly fascinating!



Sherwood Forest Free to enter other than paying for car parking. No trip to Nottingham would be complete without heading to Sherwood Forest and walking to see The Major Oak which is an Oak Tree of around 800 - 1100 years old! It's a huge thing, for some reason I was expecting it to be bigger but it is pretty impressive all the same! There are lots of walking trails to do and a large play area. On a dry and fine day you could easily spend a whole day here exploring, we however had what I would call 'typical' British weather, dry and warm one minute and absolutely hammering it down another. There was a little event going when we visited with a few stalls such as face painting, charity stalls, local jams etc and further into the forest suitably themed dressed up people with lots of information about how people would have lived back in Robin Hood days! Overall definitely worth a trip, it would have been a shame to not visit. 



Robin Hood Experience £20.00 family of 4, no pre booking required. This is just down by the castle, I had been as a child but had no memory of it. I would say don't go with high expectations! It is absolutely fine for the kids, I found out a bit amusing, it is quite child like inside, a 3 storey house just basically telling the story of Robin Hood and you enter in each room for a bit more info, the whole house is done out in theme with plastic mannequins, I mean it's ok and for £20.00 it isn't too bad. The whole thing just needs a bit of a spruce up I would say, my husband and I agreed it was far better than than the castle!



These are the places that we visited while we were there over a week, we crammed a fair amount in, it felt tiring but also so much to see around the area and there is more! I also want to mention that we also visited Nottingham Castle, well what a waste of money this was, £35 for a family of 4 and with little to do once inside, apparently it's had a £31 million update and I can only assume this was spent on making a glorified art gallery and on the kids play area, which was the best thing about it. So if you go and are expecting a castle it isn't that so I would avoid and spend money else where such as the Justice Courts where I wish we had gone instead! We also wanted to go to Cresswell Crags but pre booking for tours is essential, something which we didn't know when we arrived and paid for our car parking! No signs or website access to say this is what is needed and the woman behind the till was fairly abrupt when telling us there was no availability and that tours get booked up days in advance. It looks good though so we would like to return and we will book in advance!

Overall we did have a lovely week, anytime away is nice and I truly appreciate that but it didn't quite hit the same as being abroad I have to be honest. We definitely didn't feel particularly rested when we returned either! However if you're looking for a nice week away with lots of things to doo I can highly recommend Nottinghamshire, there is lots to see and do. Any questions please do send me a message and happy holidays.