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This summer, I learnt to......

Last summer I went with my children to try out the latest hotel in Powder Byrne’s collection. The Hotel Formentor is on the north west tip of Mallorca, dominating the pine clad slopes above a lovely crescent shaped beach. You reach it via some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe. It was my third trip to Mallorca and the first time I understood what the fuss was about.

The hotel is old school. It has large rooms in which grand duchesses might once have sipped tea or drunk cocktails but are now rather forlornly empty. The service is friendly but with a charming element of the Basil Fawlty to it. The rooms are comfortable without being huge or modern. It has a fabulous terrace that looks out over the gently manicured gardens and pool and down to the charming beach. We bumped into another family who have been coming every summer since their children were small. Their faces fell when I mentioned I was going to write about it. It is one of those resort hotels that doesn’t feel like it has been discovered.

We had the most blissful four days. The children were enrolled on the Powder Byrne Scallywags programme. There has been an explosion in the last ten years of family-friendly hotels and operators offering ‘kids’ facilities’ or kids’ clubs, but as my children have got older I am looking for more than just a fun way to occupy them for a couple of hours. Although a multi-activity programme, involving craft activities, swimming and a trip to a water park, the tennis element of each day was part of a new initiative with the LTA and taken seriously. I watched a couple of lessons and the progress they made was marked.

In the afternoons my eldest, aged 11, learnt to windsurf. As I lay on the beach reading my book, he gradually mastered pulling up the sail and managed a wobbly traverse of the bay. When we got back home, he began a campaign to get Dad out to Mallorca for next summer so he can show him his new-found skill.

Double rooms from £1,705 per adult per week b&b during the summer holidays www.powderbyrne.com Tel: 020 8246 65300.

There are a number of specialist operators where the whole holiday is about learning a new skill. Some of our favourites are listed on our website but what I wanted to suggest here are rather ‘add ons’ to a non-specialist summer break, where your children (and you if you are so inclined!) can get the sense of achievement of having mastered something new.

GOLF

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Lee Westwood is opening his first overseas junior golf academy this summer at the La Manga Club resort in Spain. The academy will run between 1-5 and 8-12 August and children
will take part in a dedicated programme – designed by Westwood – covering all aspects of the game with prizes and gifts for all attendees. The academies will run for two hours per day and will be open to boys and girls in two different age groups: 7–11 and and 12-16 years.
STAY: A family of four can spend a week in the five-star Hotel La Manga Club Principe Felipe for €2,439, including two free activities – a choice of golf, selected spa treatments or junior club sessions – per adult.

www.lamangaclub.com
Tel: 00 34 968 17 5577

CRICKET

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The Barbados Tourist Authority runs the Barbados Sports Camp throughout August. There are two cricket weeks: 2–5 August with Gladstone Small and 8–13 August with Dean Headley. Ages 9–17. And it’s FREE! Book online via www.barbados-sports-camp.com

STAY: Tots Too recommend Cobbler’s Cove, which has familyfriendly rooms, suites and villas set on one of Barbados' quiestest beaches. Complimentary watersports, tennis, supervised arts and crafts are included. From £4800 for a family of four.

www.totstoo.com
Tel: 020 7284 3344

FOOTBALL AND RUGBY

Following on from the success of its popular Chelsea soccer school, the Forte Village Resort, Sardinia will this year also be running a Rugby Academy for four weeks over the summer hosted by rugby legends Will Greenwood, Austin Healey, Jason Leonard and Jason Robinson. Greenwood and Austin run weeks from 16 July to 30 August and Leonard and Robinson are in residence from 20 August to 3 September.

Designed for children aged 5–16, coaching will take place on a full sized pitch, with participants being kitted out in full rugby gear. Entrance to the Rugby Academy for the 5 day course is €500 per child.
www.fortevillageresort.com

The football academy is also running and is open to boys and girls aged 4-13 who will be trained by some of Chelsea's world class coaches.

STAY: Independent Italian specialist Classic Collection offers 7 nights at Forte Village Il Villagio from £7567 for a family of four, half board inc flights and t/fers.
www.classic-collection.co.uk

Tel:0800 294 9315

RIDING

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The Priory Bay Hotel in the Isle of Wight has Sally’s Riding Stables right next to it. Over the summer months there are 24 horses and ponies in residence to suit all levels. Riding takes place in the mornings (between 9am and 12pm) and is bookable by the hour. Tuition, hacks and beach rides on the private beach below the hotel are all available for children of 4+. £25 per hour for 1:1 lessons. Block book in advance and you can take advantage of reduced rates. Pony days (9.30am–3.30pm, £55) including a lesson, ride out and stable management session are available on certain dates.

Sally’s Riding Tel:01983 870260

STAY: Sailing, clay pigeon shooting, golf available from the hotel too. Or just laze around the pool or on the beach or explore the island. Hotel rooms from £200 per night high season or there is are self catering cottages in the grounds sleeping up to 9 (£2525 high season). www.priorybay.co.uk

Tel; 01983 613146

SAILING

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If your children want to go further than a complimentary kids’ club, Mark Warner offer RYA approved courses. An RYA Stage 1–2 course (ages 6–13) involves 10 hours of tuition spread over the week, introducing younger sailors to the basics and the fun of sailing; Stages 3–4 (ages 8+) teaches sailing techniques including launch, mooring and recovery manoeuvres in crewed boats and recovering man overboard. Certificates awarded at the end of the course. £45.

STAY: The Mark Warner resort at Lakitira, Kos, Greece is made up of whitewashed villa apartments dotted round the hotel. It is watersport heaven. There is also an award-winning tennis centre. Prices from £695 per person including flights, transfers, accommodation,
breakfast, dinner, childcare 2-17 years (4mths– 2 years is chargeable), basic sailing, windsurfing and tennis.

www.markwarner.co.uk
Tel: 0844 884 3801

SWIMMING

Glynn Barton Cottages in Cornwall have had huge success with the swimming programme they run in their indoor pool. They offer group classes off-season that are included in the weekly rental but their expert teachers from Kernow Splashers are on hand in the summer months to if you want to arrange private lessons. There are three different levels: Toddler and baby (12 weeks–3 years) pre-school and ages 5–10, each one with badges and awards to stimulate and reward the child.

STAY: Cottages cost from £1621 for a two bedroom cottage and from £2084 for a three bedroom cottage during the summer holidays. www.glynnbarton.co.uk Tel: 01208 821 104

SURFING

The O’Neill Surf School at Watergate Bay in Cornwall has Cornwall’s only dedicated children’s surf school. They run 90 minute kids-only lessons for ages 6–12 daily from 20 July–31 August. £15 per session, all equipment incl.

www.oneillsurfacademy.co.uk
Tel: 01841 520052.

STAY: The Watergate Bay Hotel is directly on the beach. Their gorgeous family suites include a king size bedroom, bathroom and separate bunk room for children. Most will sleep up to five people but some will suit a family of six. From £300 b&b during the summer holidays. The Extreme Academy, attached to the hotel, runs surfing and kite surfing lessons, together with .

www.watergatebay.co.uk
Tel: 01637 860543

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