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You are here: Home / ADVENTURE / Half term adventure part 2: The Isle of Wight with Blue Chip Holidays

Half term adventure part 2: The Isle of Wight with Blue Chip Holidays

February 29, 2016 by Molly 2 Comments

The Hermitage IoW

Have you ever been on holiday and had literally no idea what to expect, only to arrive and have a really delicious feeling of anticipation, as you realise you DID make the right decision? Well, that’s EXACTLY what the first day of our holiday to the Isle of Wight with Blue Chip Holidays was like over half term.

It was the first time the husband had even met Not Another Mummy Blog’s Alison Perry and her family, who we were staying with, so it could all have been a bit of a disaster. Thankfully, we knew within minutes of meeting up on the ferry that this wasn’t going to be the case.

We were staying at the rather grand Hermitage near Ventnor, on the southern tip of the island. Set in remote countryside (it’s the remotest country house on the island, apparently) overlooking breathtaking scenery across the rolling grounds, this ten bedroom house somehow manages to be both cosy, inviting AND luxuriously spacious. It’s perfect for a multiple family holiday where you don’t necessarily want to be in each other’s faces 24 hours a day.

The Hermitage entrance

Within minutes of arriving, the house was full of laughter as Frog joined Alison’s five year old in checking out every single room (and testing every bed) in the house. The open plan kitchen / dining room provided an ideal base for everyone to drift in and out of, and the fact it adjoined a well stocked playroom went down very well with my toddler.

Kitchen at The Hermitage IoW

This became the place we would all congregate in the morning for a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea. I loved sitting here as the sun came up in the morning, watching the red squirrels (yes, really!) dart across the extensive lawns outside. It’s amazing how quickly you can feel at home in a place.

Kitchen Hermitage

There were some lovely personal touches to The Hermitage which, for me, really made the Blue Chip Holidays offering stand out. For example, there were fresh flowers on display, along with a welcome hamper including wine and delicious local cheese. I know from experience that you don’t always get this welcome every time you visit a holiday property.

Playroom The Hermitage

Once we’d unpacked the cars it was a case of exploring the house, which was so big you could get lost in it. This is the type of place I’d imagine a very happy week could be spent with extended family or a few families looking to share the cost of a holiday together.

As well as the kitchen and playroom, there’s a cosy living room (with TV, natch), a large drawing room with French doors opening onto a terrace area, a games room and gym, as well as an upstairs reading area and ten (did I mention TEN?!) bedrooms. In fact, it’s so big our five year olds got an entire wing of the house to themselves. Frog even tested out various beds throughout the week (as did the NLM in a game of musical beds one night!). You can see a full tour of the house over at Roost TV, if nosing around big gorgeous properties is your thing.

Drawing roomThe Hermitage entrance hall

The games room was stacked with plenty of games, as well as a big TV, table tennis and pool tables. From here you could access a gym and separate shower room, although we kept this locked due to little people running around (little people and heavy weights don’t mix).

The games room was loved by young and old alike. The girls spent hours in here making up dance routines and playing gymnastics, while the adults enjoyed a few table tennis tournaments fuelled by prosecco and gin. Everyone was happy!

The Hermitage games room

Perhaps the biggest draw to this property though is the outside space. Like inside, you’re spoilt for choice. You can sit on the terrace and drink in the views, run across the lawn, wander around the edge of the gardens and look at all the flowers, or (as our girls chose to do) play in the house’s very own outdoor play area.

Outdoor play area Hermitage

On the second day of the holiday Baby Girl broke out in chicken pox, which meant one of us had to stay behind with her every day. If you’re going to get chicken pox though, THIS is the place to get it. The house and gardens were so big that bubs didn’t get cabin fever. In fact, she cried when it was time to go home!

Outdoor play area The Hermitage

We were very lucky with the weather and spent lots of time outdoors. One day me and Alison took Baby Girl for a walk down the lane leading up to the house. The blue skies, birdsong and idyllic scenery was like something out of a Disney film – or Country File. Either way, it was rather perfect.

Isle of Wight Blue Chip HolidaysThe Hermitage Isle of Wight

We managed to get that elusive balance between relaxation and planned activities throughout the week, largely thanks to the Blue Chip Holidays Experience we opted for. This is a concierge service that works in much the same way as a hotel concierge does. You let Blue Chip Holidays know what kind of things you like to do and they put together an itinery for you, complete with sorting out table and ticket bookings.

It means you don’t have that last-minute stress of looking up activities and can spend your time actually enjoying the holiday instead of researching ways to keep the kids occupied. Again, this would be a big bonus on a multiple family trip where you have lots of different needs to cater for.

Beach huts Shanklin

During the week we went to an evening festival in the woods, explored the local seaside town of Shanklin (where me and Alison indulged our love of Instagram-friendly beach huts), ate at the fantastic Cow Co. at Tapnell Farm and Frog and Alison’s little girl went to Isle Jump – an indoor trampoline park on the island – with the dads.

Me and Alison

In between all of this there were plenty of moments to unwind with a cup of tea and a magazine, do some colouring, play in the play area or just run around the house playing hide and seek – and that was just the grown-ups.

The Hermitage on the Isle of Wight

On our last evening the Blue Chip Experience gave us a treat that I’ve never experienced before: a private chef coming to the house to cook us a three course meal. It was so fancy, I felt like an actual movie star! We ate crab and prawn salad, the most mouth-watering chicken wrapped in parma ham I’ve ever tasted, with profiteroles for pudding. It was one of those evenings I know I won’t forget in a hurry.

Thanks Blue Chip Holidays for a fantastic week. And thanks Alison and gang for fantastic company.

You can read Alison’s review here and watch her video here. Check out Roost TV for home tours and read more about why we loved The Cow Co at Tapnell Farm on Roost.

We were guests of Blue Chip Holidays for the purpose of this review. For more information about how I work with brands see my Work With Me page.

Blue Chip Holidays offer 7 nights at The Hermitage in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight from £2,635 on a self catering basis, based on a 6th June 2016 arrival. Blue Chip Experience can organise a number of activities and unique experiences for guests who book a Blue Chip Holidays property including but not limited to those activities mentioned in this review. www.bluechipholidays.co.uk / 0333 3317 913.
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Family Mini Break to Isle of Wight

Filed Under: ADVENTURE Tagged With: Family holidays, family travel, half term activities, Isle of Wight

« Our half term adventure part 1: The Grand Harbour Hotel with Holiday Extras
What “being kind to yourself” really means as a mum »

Comments

  1. Pamela | Life With Munchers says

    February 29, 2016 at 10:27 pm

    Woah…that house is quite simply stunning! My jaw is firmly on the floor x

    Reply

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  1. INFLUENCER OUTREACH PART TWO – Blue Chip Holidays with Mother’s Always Right and Not Another Mummy Blog | #DMWF Dubai says:
    September 15, 2016 at 12:08 pm

    […] we came home we both each posted a review on our blogs, (you can read them here and here), made YouTube videos of our trips and continued to talk about the trip across social […]

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Hello and welcome! I'm Molly Forbes - podcaster, presenter and blogger with a passion for positivity, confidence and body image chat. Regularly writing and vlogging about empowering female issues from a motherhood angle, I also cover lifestyle and fashion topics for like-minded mums who want to rediscover themselves after having children. Thanks for stopping by! Read More…

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Back in January I was on the brilliant @school.for Back in January I was on the brilliant @school.for.mothers.podcast - we talked diet culture around kids and practical things we, as parents, carers and teachers, can do to dismantle some of the messages and create body happy environments for children to thrive in. Here’s a little snippet and you can listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts ❤️ 
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Reminder: my book, Body Happy Kids is out 1st April and available to order now!
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[Video description: a pink square with blue audio wave and closer captioned text of a clip from an episode on diet culture and kids with Molly on the School for Mothers podcast.]
I am not “bossing” it. Or “slaying”. Or “hustling”. Or “smashing” it. I’m not even juggling or spinning plates or doing any of the other words we use as a glossy, marketable, Instagram friendly way to package up burnout culture, under the guise of “empowering” women (💪🤢). 
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What I have been doing, though, is working too hard. Call a spade a spade. I’ve been working too hard, neglecting my health, my relationships, my life away from my laptop. I cannot be everything to everyone AND work at the level I’ve been working at BECAUSE I AM A HUMAN BEING. And you are too. We are not robots.
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I care deeply about all my work, and things aren’t always this intense, but I wanted to sprinkle some reality into the Gram because I am so over this lie that *any* type of success or achievement doesn’t come at a cost, or involve many failures in the background, or require many other people to help make things happen. 
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I guess what I’m saying is, let’s be real about all that, as well as showing the achievements. I’m bloody proud of my book. And I’m so excited to launch the social enterprise @bodyhappyorg properly next month. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, and that there isn’t a price. 
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And with that, I’m taking the weekend off. See you on the other side 🥰🥰🥰
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[Image description: Molly sits in her office with her hands covering her mouth. On the back of one hand is written “Not bossing it”. She is wearing a pink boiler suit with a black and white top underneath. She has pink leopard print earrings on and her hair is tied back.]
This was taken at the start of half term, when the This was taken at the start of half term, when the kids were still enthusiastic about going for a walk. 1,705 walks around the same bit of countryside later... not so much 😬 
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If you’re struggling to get your kids motivated to move their body at the moment, go gentle. You’re not alone. Bad weather coupled with boredom coupled with the lure of screens is a heady recipe for lethargy - and that’s just me! 
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Seriously though, remember: all movement is valid. Even if it’s just a ten minute @cosmickids sesh or a little kitchen disco, it all counts. And if it comes from a place of enjoyment and fun, kids (and adults!) are going to be far more likely to want to get involved.
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What joyful movement activities are your kids enjoying right now (if any?!)?
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[Image description: Molly and her two daughters are standing in a field. They’re wearing colourful wellies, holding hands and smiling.]
I founded a social enterprise 😵 . Introducing: I founded a social enterprise 😵
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Introducing: @bodyhappyorg 🎉
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We are a Community Interest Company dedicated to promoting positive body image in children. We help adults help the kids in their care be friends with their bodies 🥰. 
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Through workshops and classes, digital and physical resources (both free and paid) we help parents, carers, teachers, youth leaders - and any adults who are ever around children - create body happy settings for kids to thrive in. 
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We launch officially next month with a beautiful new website and lots of resources which we’ll continually be adding to. In the meantime give us a follow at @bodyhappyorg - we start posting from today and our page has been designed as a free resource on its own! 
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I’m privileged to work alongside an incredible team of people on this. Shout-out to the original dream team @chelseacoxstrategist @amysnellingpt @effinitupfaye @lottie_storey @bodyconfidencecards_db @rachel_hobnobs & @aceandping 💕 LOVE YOU ALL! 💕
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[Image description: A blue square with yellow and white text which reads “the body happy org”. This is the logo for The Body Happy Organisation CIC]
Proof that I did wear clothes other than a tea-sta Proof that I did wear clothes other than a tea-stained hoodie and tracksuit bottoms at least once in the past month 😐
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[Image description: Molly is wearing pink dungarees with yellow buttons over a black rollneck long-sleeved top. She has a monochrome striped hairband on and her hair is pink. She is also wearing earrings with boobs on them. She looks very pleased, both with her earrings, the pink hair and the fact she’s not wearing sleepwear, for a change.]
A new report from the Education Policy Institute h A new report from the Education Policy Institute has concluded an obvious gender divide in the well-being of young adults. If you’d like to read more check out this article by Eleanor Peake in @newstatesman (I’ve linked to it in my Stories).
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Every week I get messages from parents and teachers concerned about the impact of social media on their kids’ body image. And of course, I couldn’t write a book about body image in kids and teens without covering social media - there’s a whole chapter in Body Happy Kids dedicated to the subject. 
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The thing is, social media isn’t going anywhere. And just like it can be a force for anxiety, shame and general angst it can be a force for good too. The trick is in knowing how to use it positively (and in holding the platforms to account for not moderating the spread of harmful viral trends and online abuse, and creating algorithms that deliberately create division and harm mental health... but that’s a story for another day). 
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But how can we expect our kids to have a handle on it when we, as adults, don’t ourselves? 
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I don’t believe the answer is to ban social media, but I don’t think kids should be given unfettered access to it either. 
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They need help navigating this stuff, learning about boundaries, developing media literacy skills so they can think critically about the content they’re consuming (just like many adults).
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And we also need to explore how we might be inadvertently contributing to the problem, perpetuating appearance ideals and creating a culture where kids learn it’s ok to body shame under the guise of health and to value each other based on the way they look.
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As ever, it’s complicated. I’d love to know what you think? What are some of the boundaries you have around social media in your house - both for yourself and your kids?
#BodyHappyKids 
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