For the Gower we stay at Oxwich Camping Park. It has a heated outdoor pool and within 5 min walk from shop/pub and beach. Always loads of kids on site.

Sounds like my van 6 months ago, 07 transporter with 160k on the clock. They took ages to find the fault but eventually found it was the EGR valve and an earthing fault. Anyway, all up it was about £1k.

Just checked, cost was £610.

I have never been but a friend of a friend was so impressed when he went on a cricket tour that he built a guesthouse with some of the locals and it opened about a month ago

Home

Just found out I’m camping so unable to make it. Next time…

I may be in as I think I can do those dates.

Stasi prison museum (not the Stasi museum)

As we’re as everything that has been mentioned is the waterfall walk at the top of the Neath Valley in the Beacons. A very impressive walk that ends up with you being able to walk behind/under a Sgwd yr Eira water fall. This is probably my most surprisingly impressive area (if that makes sense)

Make sure you pick a child friendly site and once you do Kids love camping and you, as parents, do not need to do much to keep them entertained. As soon as we arrive at a site, they are off exploring the field or other people’s tents checking out what toys the other kids have.

Last weekend whilst camping down the Gower I was sat outside with a book and a beer and the kids where inside the tent playing lego (always take a box of lego). I went to get another beer and the kids in the tent were not my own! That’s the best part of camping: all very relaxed and everyone on the whole gets on with everyone.

We bought the Coleman 6XL with blackout rooms. It has 4 air frames. I can put it up by myself in 5 mins with 10 mins to peg out, whilst the wife keeps the kids busy. Used it 3 times and so far it’s a huge success. The only issue I can see in the future will be taking to hot countries as the air expands in the frame and can rip apart, but it comes with a puncture repair kit! Some tents have a air regulator, I will have to use common sense and let air out as and when

Morzine. Easyjet to Geneva and its only 75-90min transfer. Try and stay on the the first row of hotels on pleney slope, as they are ski-in ski-out. In the late afternoon all kids play at the back of the hotels sledging, snowman building etc.

I live in the northern Suburbs and love it. I’m 5 min ride from steep techy singletrack and the taff trail is 20 mins cycle to the city centre. We are also only 5min drive from the M4 and A470.

Caveat re Penarth; bottleneck for traffic. We looked at houses in Penarth before moving to where we are now. We were put off by the traffic, e.g. My wife’s colleague moved there but after 18months moved to north Cardiff as he couldn’t deal with the traffic.

Loads going on re sports and events. I think we are v lucky.

Our kids eat well (age 2 and 4) as we have a no snack except fruit policy. In between meals they don’t have any crisps, cakes, chocolate, biscuits, toast, etc. We have lowered the fruit bowl to their height as They are allowed to eat fruit or carrots/cucmebers/peppers at any time. We notice when cousins come round, the cousins almost always bring a bag of snacks which they all devour, they then don’t eat supper, hence starting a cycle of don’t sleep as well, more grumpy in the day etc.

We don’t scowl if they don’t finish their plate and they always have a yougurt before bed.

When we registered our child’s name we followed after a little girl called ALLANFA DAN. You non welsh speakers may think that this is a nice welsh name but it actually translates into FIRE EXIT.

The parents were unsure of a name for their baby until they saw the sign in the hospital, hence naming her Fire Exit….

Another vote for skyscanner

We have used Esprit twice and found them excellent but expensive (kids aged 4 and 2). This year we went child less to Morzine and in our hotel (hotel l’Aubergade) there were loads of kids and found out there was an in house crèche. Had we known we would have taken the kids.

You can also hire a private nanny through the hotel for E80 per day. The hotel is next door to the children’s ski school. I would suggest emailing the hotel with your requirements. We worked out that we would save approx £1000 by doing this rather than Esprit. (l’Aubergade)

Nope…

Empire strikes back
New hope
Rouge one
Return of the Jedi
Force awakens
Revenge of the sith
Episode 2
Episode 1

My contribution; son aged 3 and 8 months on my local trail on Boxing Day (and thanks to this thread I’ve learnt how to post on YouTube).

It’s got to be Cardiff!!

You have steep techy trails rideable from the city centre, plenty of trail centres nearby and big mountain riding in the Brecon Beacons which is 1 hour drive away. The coast is also near. There’s plenty happening and it’s cheap compared to other cities.

The added bonus of Cardiff is that the OP’s girlfriend could have a knowledgable conversation about rugby with anyone, including the merits of Andy Hayden and Frank Oliver. You can also tell her grandad/dad/uncles etc that I live 2 doors down to where ‘The King’ used to live.

Cheers Rick

I used it and find it quite good. Only issue is the idiots who will offer you less than half the asking price. I had someone offer their xBox and 10 games for my car.

I have a 9 seater shuttle. In London I didn’t have to pay congestion charge as it was classed as a bus, but crossing the Severn bridge it was classed as a car. For insurance purposes it’s classed as a car. On the ferry its classed as a car. So….I would say it’s almost always classed as a car until you have a letter from the council who saw you in the bus lane when you can argue that it should be classed as a bus!

I also ordered the purple shorts for £2.99 with free delivery. I’ll be surprised if they’re not crap and last more than 6 months.

My favourite, although not skandi is the French/Flemish series Salamander. Think the Hatton Garden (?) bank robbery with professionals rather than OAPs.

Cwmcarn. You have the 2 xc trails and 2 dh trails. I usually ride up on the xc and come down the dh trails. You also have the option of an uplift for the dh. I enjoy going there as you have the option of the more challenging dh trails.

Adrian…what a man! Brilliant.

40 riding up Snowdon!? What’s the odds that they’re a student group of mixed abilities meaning that they will probably come back down the Llanberis path!? Surely if the mountain rangers (or whatever they’re called) see this group they can stop them?

In South Wales, 5miles north of Cardiff (you have The Garth, Castell Coch, Caerphilly, Rudry, Machen, Wylie, cwmcarn DH (smoother not as steep). My favourites are Garth and Machen. Most have road and fireroads climbs. Easily a couple of days riding,

I just used AlpNav, possibly on Stoner’s recommendation. They were excellent. No messing around with loads of stops and hanging around.

Brown Capri followed by a purple Datsun, and for some reason we a had a private number plate ‘THE 77’ and I vividly remember a Porsche whizzing past us beeping uncontrollably who had the number plate ‘THE 99’

A shortish report following our 4 day trip to Morzine.

We totally lucked out with the weather and had 3 blue sky days of faultless skiing. Plenty of snow though it was quite warm so the slopes by the end of this week will be worn as no new snow is forecast. Managed the Swiss Wall no better or worse than the majority.

Since we only wanted 3 nights B&B, our options for staying was limited. I booked l’Aubergade without knowing anything/reading any review about the hotel or its location in Morzine.

When we pulled up I couldn’t believe our luck, the hotel is Ski in ski out very near the Pleney lift. The bar/lounge has been cleverly designed and reminded us of some bars in Berlin. Very cool. Rooms were basic but clean with a power shower.

Had I done a ounce of research I would’ve known that they can also sort out child care and had an in-house nursery. Next year we’ll take the kids as we will definitely return.

Finally, I think the prices in Morzine have actually fallen since we were last here. We could eat/drink out well for around £50. 2 large glasses of Vin Chaud on the slopes was about £7, cheaper than Cardiff at Christmas! A glass of house wine in the bars was about £3, again cheap. Since we had some cash leftover we bought ourselves 2 new ski jackets and trousers, soft shell French company for around £300.

All in we had an excellent time and only had 30min delay in GVA on the way home!

Cheers Stoner. Will check them out.

I use Best of Wales http://www.bestofwales.co.uk

Just email them your requirements and they will do the rest. They have excellent properties and will definitely come within budget. Also, ask for a discount code to get 5% off.

Don’t bother filling out the requirements form, just email them direct.

We have it in 50msq extension. It’s definitely warm enough but you need a degree in hydrophysics to work out how to get the best out of it, as stated above.

Off to Morzine this weekend, and looks like the weather will be very good. We have been lucky. So, what’s the best restaurant in Morzine?

Brecon Gap, which I did this morning. Or for something slightly different (steep up and down) from The Garth to Cwmcarn via Castell Coch, Caerphilly Mountain, Rudry, Machen and Wyile (and back).

40km Gap loop in the Brecon Beacons this morning. Fantastic ride and makes a change from the single track of the valleys. Loads of snow at the top and we climbed above the clouds. Quite impressive.

If I could be bothered to learn how to put a picture on here I would…

We stayed here: http://www.11holidayhomes.com

Cool owners to add to the amazing accommodation.

A short walk to a traditional village at Los Abrigos and a 5 min drive to the hippy cool town of El Medano.

I had a similar issue, where air leaked out over 24 hours, but read somewhere online to cut a small piece of old tube and put a pin prick in it and push the valve though…and it actually worked. It hasnt deflated since.

Split or Dubrovnik