Credit Johnny Hathaway

Explore Nature’s Best Kept Secrets this Easter at Westonbirt 

Head to Westonbirt, The National Arboretum to discover spring’s tiny details, emerging colours and the quiet stir of wildlife beginning to wake. Celebrate the magic of this special season!

This Easter you can explore two brand-new spring trails to get up close with spring’s hidden world, take a walk among Champion trees, find Witch on the Room on the Broom trail and explore the secret world of flowers through mindful observation and journalling at Westonbirt. The best place to look up and notice, to pause, breathe and listen.

Plan a visit: Forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/spring-westonbirt-arboretum

Imber Open Days, Wiltshire

Open from Good Friday to Easter Monday is the historic St Giles Church in Imber. Evacuated in 1943 and still deserted to this day, the village of Imber provides a unique and memorable experience for visitors each year.

Bradford on Avon Annual Duck Race

Taking place on Easter Bank Holiday Monday is Bradford on Avon’s annual Duck Race. Every year, hundreds flock to the riverside town to take part or simply watch the spectacle that is the Bradford on Avon tradition. The race will begin at 12 noon and throughout the day, there will be plenty of fun games, food and drink to enjoy.

Once Upon an Easter at Longleat

Join many others at Longleat this Easter and enjoy a series of egg-citing activities! From a Mad Hatter's tea party to riverbank rambles with Ratty and Mole, step into a world of storytelling where beloved book characters bring classic tales to life. Every adventure begins with a single step, and in the Longhouse, a yellow brick road takes you on a glowing trail, leading to crafts and immersive storytelling under a giant willow tree. A voyage of discovery awaits every curious mind.

Easter Adventures at Lacock

Have an Easter adventure at Lacock with fun for all the family. Explore the gardens, complete the activities and claim your chocolate egg. Collect your trail sheet from the Easter Gazebo in the Courtyard to help you discover 10 playful, creative and nature inspired activities dotted around the grounds.

Bowood’s Big Spring Adventure, Bowood House & Gardens

Join the fun this Easter with the big egg hunt in the grounds at Bowood House and Gardens. Ten giant eggs are hidden around the grounds on a brand-new trail route. Six of the large eggs each hold a letter; find them all and unscramble the letters to reveal the mystery word. Next, find the remaining four giant eggs, each featuring a riddle. Solve them all, then hop over to Admissions to claim a chocolate treat! It’s the perfect day out for the family!

Easter Trail at Avebury

Join many others at Avebury this spring for an Easter adventure. Explore the historic farmyard and beautiful Avebury Manor Garden as you make your way along the trail and take part in 10 fun, creative, and playful activities for the whole family to claim your Easter egg.

Golden Eagle Egg Hunt at Hawk Conservancy Trust

This Easter, fly on over to the Hawk Conservancy Trust for an egg-citing new trail! A giant Golden Eagle has lost her precious eggs while flying over the Hawk Conservancy Trust. Keep your eagle eyes open and get ready to complete a range of challenges on your quest to hunt down the giant eggs hidden amongst their beautiful birds of prey. Find them all to win a tasty Easter treat!

Easter Fun at River Bourne Community Farm

The popular annual Easter Egg Hunt is back at River Bourne Community Farm! This year, visitors will need to find naughty Eric the Egg who has run away. Search around the farmyard for 10 locations where he may have been and win a fun goodie bag!

Mini Monday, Easter Fun at Salisbury Museum

Hop into the Easter spirit with many others at Salisbury Museum! Little artists can get creative making their own seasonal crafts, including mini baskets, bunny cards and cheerful chicks.

The Easter holidays are packed with family-friendly events across the county so why not plan your visit to Wiltshire now…

Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm

Just outside of Amesbury and a short drive from Salisbury city is Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm! As a Rare Breeds Survival Trust registered Farm, there are plenty of adorable animals to cuddle and feed including the cutest lambs in Spring! Visit from April for your chance to get up close and personal to these energetic babies!

Studley Grange Garden & Leisure Park

Located in the Northern parts of Wiltshire, near Swindon is Studley Grange Garden and Leisure Park. Head to the Farm Park on-site to meet a whole range of animals including little lambs this season! With a chance to feed and cuddle these young animals as well as a trailer ride taking you around the grounds, there’s plenty to enjoy when visiting this Spring!

Church Farm Country Cottages

On the outskirts of the Cotswolds AONB, Church Farm Country Cottages welcomes you to indulge in a quintessential English stay on a working sheep farm this season! Visit in the months of March and April for your chance to get involved in a range of farm activities including lambing tours, sheep herding and farm Olympics. Combining luxury with a true experience of Wiltshire farm life, there’s never a better time to visit than in Spring!

Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Venture to one of Wiltshire’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to spot lambs and sheep in the open countryside this Spring. Cranborne Chase AONB is a nationally protected landscape and the 6^th largest in the country, offering the perfect home to a range of wildlife!

Avebury Stone Circle

One of Wiltshire’s World Heritage Sites offers the perfect landscape for lamb spotting this Spring. Avebury Stone Circle has been set within fields and farms since the Bronze Age and, as a National Trust site, is free to explore all year round. Here, you will be able to find many sheep and their lambs relaxing amongst the ancient stones.

Meet more Animals in Wiltshire

There’s plenty more wildlife to meet in Wiltshire this Spring…

Easter isn't complete without a competitive Easter egg hunt involving all the family. Across Wiltshire you will find family friendly events happening during the Easter break as well as some fantastic places where you can enjoy and Easter Egg Hunt below.. 

The Field Kitchen

On this Easter Egg Hunt follow clues left by a mysterious rabbit and solve the puzzle as quickly as you can! There will be fun-filled day of games and activities for all the family around the lakes and courtyard at Glove Factory Studios. The Field Kitchen also prides itself on using home-grown ingredients and fresh local flavours, so make sure to tuck into one of the seasonal dishes once you are there. 

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REME Museum 

The REME Museum will be hosting their Easter Egg Hunt from the 30 March - 27 April. Find all the vehicles hidden in the Easter egg hunt quiz and there will be prizes for all! The REME Museum has a fantastic collection of vehicles, weaponry, uniforms, medals, tools and equipment all proudly part of the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Corsham Town

The picturesque town of Corsham will be having their very own Easter Egg Hunt. Try and find all the chicks in shop windows and you could be in with the chance of winning an Easter treat. In Corsham you can walk in the footsteps of Ross Poldark (the BBC One series was filmed here) while following the peacocks, Corsham’s noisiest residents, who roam the High Street.

Mompesson House and Lacock Abbey 

The National Trust properties will have their annual Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt. Mompesson House will be hosting theirs from the 19 - 22 April over Easter weekend and Lacock's will beging on the 11 April until Easter Monday. 

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Swindon 

From 12pm until 3pm on Sunday 14 April, you can take part in an Egg-cellent Easter Egg Hunt  at The Redrow's new park develpment in Swindon. You could be in with the chance of winning a hamper filled with delicious South West produce. Plus, all proceeds will be going to Redrow’s chosen charity 'We Hear You' which provides free counselling support to those affected by a diagnosis of cancer or other life-threatening illness.

Bowood Hotel 

Enjoy an à la carte Easter Sunday Lunch followed by an Easter egg hunt for the little ones at Bowood Hotel and Spa. Escape from the every day and relac in this boutique-style hotel, offering luxury accommodation and unrivalled leisure facilities in the heart of Wiltshire. Nestled in the Bowood Estate, the hotel and resort are surrounded by beautiful parkland

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St Giles' Church Imber

Over the Easter weekend St Giles' Chuch in Imber will be opening their doors for the annual Imber Open Days and on Easter Sunday there will be an Easter Egg Hunt at 12 noon. The 13th-century church stands in rolling downland deep inside the military training area of Salisbury Plain. It is all that remains of the ghost village of Imber (now just abandoned houses), which was evacuated for military training purposes in 1943. 

For more information head to our Easter page here. Find out where you can stay and discover the many things you can do in Wiltshire this Easter. 

]]> info@visitwiltshire.co.uk (Visit Wiltshire) http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/blog/read/2019/04/family-easter-egg-hunts-in-wiltshire-b364#comments364 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/blog/read/2019/04/8-things-to-do-over-the-easter-holidays-in-and-around-salisbury-b362 Despite being late this year, Easter is now fast approaching. Salisbury will look as beautiful as ever with the spring flowers in full bloom and no doubt lots of newly-born animals and birds about.

Despite being late this year, Easter is now fast approaching. Salisbury will look as beautiful as ever with the spring flowers in full bloom and no doubt lots of newly-born animals and birds about. 

If you have some time off over the Easter holidays, or perhaps you are just off for the Easter weekend, here are some handy ideas for what you can see and do in the area. 

1.    Join in with Salisbury Cathedral’s Easter Trail

Entitled ‘If Easter could speak’ follow the family-friendly trail around the Cathedral (outside of service times) and find displays and artefacts to help explain all what Easter is about. Suitable for children aged 4+.

2.    Take part in the Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt at Mompesson House

Follow the clues left by bunny around Mompesson House’s garden to complete the trail and claim your delicious Cadbury chocolate treat at the end. £2 per trail sheet. Normal admission charges apply. 

3.    Picnic amongst the flowers

Pack a picnic and head to one of Salisbury’s many parks with a blanket and enjoy a feast amongst the spring blossoms. Queen Elizabeth Gardens is a popular spot with the locals, where the River Avon flows past you. Alternatively, why not pop over to Victoria Gardens or Churchill Gardens where there are also playparks for the little ones to enjoy? Here are our top 10 picnic spots. 

4.    Let off steam at Wilton House’s gardens

The adventure playground awaits! Bounce on the mini trampolines, conquer the long slides and simply have fun exploring on a trip to Wilton House, just three miles from Salisbury city centre. 

5.    Climb into the cockpits at our aviation museum

A great place to visit on any days with good old April showers, Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at Old Sarum is popular with all ages. See aviation restoration take place in front of your eyes, ask the friendly volunteers about the aircraft on display and climb into many of the cockpits. 

6.    Embark on a spring walk around Langford Lakes

This nature reserve, owned and managed by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is a haven for wildlife throughout the year. Visitors can walk a circular route around the reserve and go into various hides to watch for birds and other wildlife. Plus, admission is free. 

7.    Meet some of the new arrivals at the farm

Pop along to the River Bourne Community Farm in Laverstock and meet some of the new arrivals born this spring. Lambs, calves and chicks can possibly be seen (depending on when they are born) and meet the farm’s resident donkeys and goats too. There’s a café on-site here too, perfect for combining some outdoor adventures with a spot of cake!

8.    Sample the seasonal flavours at Roly’s Fudge Pantry

Every season, Roly’s Fudge Pantry on Salisbury’s High Street offers brand-new flavours to try. Think hot-crossed bun flavoured fudge and you’ll get the picture. Pop into the shop to see fudge being made, to sample some for yourself and to pick up a sweet treat for a loved one. 

This is just a flavour of what’s going on in and around Salisbury over the Easter holidays. For comprehensive listings of events and activities check out our what’s on pages. 

If you are looking for a place to stay over Easter then we’d highly recommend booking up as soon as possible as places will be fully booked shortly.

We look forward to seeing you in Salisbury soon!
 

With Easter being a bit later this year, there’s even more time to book a break to Wiltshire. There's plenty of family fun to be had, Easter egg hunts, delicious lunches and action-packed sporting events. Find out what you can get up to here.

Go on an egg trail

Wiltshire has egg trails galore! Cadbury Easter Egg hunts at Mompesson House and Lacock Abbey, Lydiard Park Easter Trail,  and the East Egg-spress at Swindon & Cricklade Railway are all good ones to go to and take the pressure off having one at home!

Enjoy a special lunch for all the family

Some eggstra special places for Easter lunch include, Restaurant Hywel Jones at Lucknam Park, Red Lion Free House East Chisenbury and Whatley Manor The Dining Room.  However all of Wiltshire’s restaurants are fantastic and will have put together an Easter Sunday lunch menu. Keep an eye on our Easter offers to find out where you can grab yourself a bargain!

Spectate at a sporting event

April is definitely the start of many major sporting events in England. The Grand National, Boat Race and London Marathon all mark the start of the season. In Wiltshire we have racetrack days at Castle Combe Circuit and the Devizes to Westminister Canoe Race which are both great events to get involved in over the Easter weekend.

Get artistic

Keep the kids entertained and make some Easter crafts at the Pound Arts Centre. Or for adults create your own tote bag at Easter Tote Bag Printing with Melanie Evans and Easter Guests.

See Wiltshire from above

Celebrate Easter with a wonderful, unique view of Wiltshire from a hot air balloon. April is the start of the season for Aerosaurus Balloons but you also have until October to book a flight so plenty of time! Definitely one for your bucket list.

Go on a guided tour around Bowood House and Gardens

The Capability Gardens Grade 1 Park will be hosting private guided tours allowing you to gain an intimate insight into the history and beauty of the award winning gardens at Bowood House and Gardens.

If you’re looking to make a break out of it head to our accommodation page here. Plus, make sure to share your social posts with us using #timeforwiltshire.

]]> info@visitwiltshire.co.uk (Visit Wiltshire) http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/blog/read/2019/03/have-an-eggcellent-easter-in-wiltshire-b355#comments355 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT