Ten wonderful touring routes for families

<p> The kids will love this drive because it sounds spooky, but really isn&rsquo;t! The scenic route takes in some of Lancashire&rsquo;s most stunning countryside and the beautiful <a href="http://www.forestofbowland.com/" target="_blank">Forest of Bowland</a>. En-route you also get to visit two castles: one of the smallest in the country,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/acs/sites/museums/venues/clitheroe/index.asp?siteid=4185&amp;pageid=17672&amp;e=e" target="_blank">Clitheroe</a>, and one of the most imposing, Lancaster. Clitheroe (12pm-4pm; closed Wed and Thurs)&nbsp;has a good museum giving an overview of local history, including the witches. There are 'discovery backpacks' for very small children and fun interactive features, such as dressing up stops, brass rubbing and nature quiz. Next, keep towards <a href="http://www.visitlancashire.com/explore/pendle-hill" target="_blank">Pendle Hill</a> (witch country!). <a href="http://www.lancastercastle.com/" target="_blank">Lancaster Castle</a> (10am-5pm), at the other end of the trail, was until recently a prison and is still a working court so a guided tour is a must to see the court room, judges chamber and hear from the expert (and entertaining) guides about the history of the castle, some of which is quite gruesome - perfect for kids who love horrible histories!</p>

<p> Enjoy Cornwall by starting in the picturesque town of Fowey on the Fowey Estuary. Take the A3082 and then the Luxulyan Road to <a href="http://www.edenproject.com/" target="_blank">Eden Project</a> (winter: weekdays 10:30am-4pm; Fridays/Saturdays 10am-9pm; Sundays 10am-6pm) and see the large biomes appear at the bottom of the valley as you approach. Here the whole family can explore the world's largest rainforest in captivity, with steamy jungles and waterfalls. From November until March, you can put your skates on and hit the ice rink. Next, drive 10 miles to the <a href="http://heligan.com/" target="_blank">Lost Gardens of Heligan</a> (winter: daily; 10am-5pm) using the B3273 and explore the 200 acres of gardens, jungle and pleasure grounds. Extend your day by continuing to the picturesque fishing town of Mevagissey, where you can sample the local seafood before walking the easy-going five-mile Pentewan trail from the beach at Pentewan to the village of London Apprentice and back - something for active teens.</p>

<p> Drive Wales' stunning Pembrokeshire Coast from Tenby to St David&rsquo;s. Some of the UK&rsquo;s best coastline and brilliant attractions for all ages can be found here, such as&nbsp; <a href="http://www.manorhousewildlifepark.co.uk/home" target="_blank">Manor House Wildlife Park</a> (weekends only from December; 10am-5pm) near Tenby, <a href="http://pembroke-castle.co.uk/pages/home" target="_blank">Pembroke Castle</a> (daily; 10am-4pm), Whitesands Beach and <a href="http://www.ramseyisland.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ramsey Island</a>, where you can go on a boat trip to see the seals from St Justinian&rsquo;s near St David&rsquo;s (winter sailings subject to weather). Be sure to explore the tiny city of St David&rsquo;s with its spectacular coastal scenery, wildlife and art galleries.</p>

<p> One of the best ways to explore the Northumberland coast is by driving to the different castles, beaches and seaside towns. Start at Morpeth on the B1337 and head north-east towards the coast at Druridge Bay (a great place to spot wildlife with the kids), along the picturesque Coquet River for a majestic view of <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/warkworth-castle-and-hermitage/" target="_blank">Warkworth Castle</a> and on to the small fishing harbour of Craster - famous for its kippers. Next up the coast is the Seahouses fishing port where you can leave the car and go on a <a href="http://farneislandstours.co.uk/farneislands.html" target="_blank">boat trip</a> to the Farne Islands to see thousands of seals and their pups (weekends; 10:30am, October to March - weather dependant). Finally <a href="http://www.bamburghcastle.com/index.php" target="_blank">Bamburgh Castle</a> (open weekends during winter: 11am to 4.30pm) shouldn't be missed. The castle has something for everyone and was recently named one of Britain's best views. You can end your day here as the castle is especially beautiful at dusk.</p>

<p> Make the most of the breathtaking scenery from Blaenavon to Llandeilo when you travel by car. Start in Blaenavon and go down a real coal mine at the <a href="http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/bigpit/" target="_blank">Big Pit Museum</a> (daily; 9:30am-5pm). Smaller children will love the <a href="http://www.cantref.com/family-day-out-in-South-Wales" target="_blank">Cantref Adventure Farm</a> (weekends: 10:30am-5pm; December: various times) near Brecon, with its pet handling and pony rides. Then catch a ride on the <a href="http://www.breconmountainrailway.co.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Brecon Mountain Railway</a>, before feeding red kites at the <a href="http://www.redkiteswales.co.uk/" target="_blank">Red Kite Feeding Centre</a> (daily; feeding from 2pm during winter) in Llanddeusant and finish at <a href="http://www.carregcennencastle.com/Index.htm" target="_blank">Carreg Cennen Castle</a> (daily; 9:30am-4pm) near Llandeilo.</p>

<p> For this pretty journey from Cheltenham to Stratford-upon-Avon, take the minor B-road, rather than the faster but busier A46. Start in Cheltenham - spend the morning meeting farm animals at <a href="http://cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cotswold Park Farm</a> (daily until 24 December; 10am-4pm) or the <a href="http://www.theoldnewinn.co.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Old New Inn Model</a> village (daily; 10am-4pm). Take the scenic B4632 through the chocolate box Cotswolds villages. Stop in Broadway, one of the prettiest villages, and then at <a href="http://www.sudeleycastle.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sudeley Castle</a> (Sundays until 16 December; 11am-3pm) which was the home of Henry VIII's wife Katherine Parr. Once in Stratford, take the kids to explore <a href="http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit-the-houses.html" target="_blank">Shakespeare&rsquo;s Houses</a> (daily; 10am-4pm) and to discover the horrible history of Tudor life at <a href="http://www.falstaffexperience.co.uk/page.php?linkid=1" target="_blank">Falstaff&rsquo;s Experience</a> (daily; 10:30am-5:30pm).</p>

<p> The Kingdom of Fife in Scotland is perfect for a family drive and full of surprises for kids who like adventures. This route takes in beautiful countryside, mixing short bursts of driving with fun family activities. Start the day at the beach on the West Sands at St Andrews, with almost two miles of golden sand for a leisurely stroll or running around. Next, hop in the car and drive through the heart of Fife in the direction of Cupar. Follow the A91 out of St Andrews and this 25-minute drive will take you through gentle hills and farmland. Stop at <a href="http://www.tsdc.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Scottish Deer Centre</a> (daily; winter 10am-4:30pm) where 14 species of deer from all over the world can be found, before ending the day at <a href="http://www.camboestate.com/" target="_blank">Cambo Estate</a>. Its wooded area is carpeted by thousands of snowdrops from 4 February to 17 March 2013.</p>

<p> The Lake District is perfect for enjoying from the car - especially when the heavens open! Start in Keswick and take the scenic road via Ullswater and Kirkstone Pass. The entire journey will take approximately an hour but there are many great stop offs and photo opportunities along the way. <a href="http://www.puzzlingplace.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Puzzling Place</a> (winter: 11am-5pm; closed Mondays) is the perfect place to start. The quirky museum is all about the optical illusion and really boggles your brain! There are 3D holograms, an 'anti-gravity room' and an 'Ames' room which the children can have fun with looking big and small. At Ullswater, stretch your legs and take the steamer on the lake or visit the nearby Alpaca Centre (daily; 10am-5pm), to see the adorable animals. End your day with a visit to the <a href="http://www.hop-skip-jump.com/" target="_blank">World of Beatrix Potter</a> (winter: 10am-4:30pm) in Windermere - a must for book-loving children.</p>

<p> For an amazing time in Somerset, drive to Cheddar Gorge, the largest gorge in Britain and a natural wonder. Located close to the M5, Cheddar Gorge was formed during the Ice Age by melt-water floods that occurred over the last 1.2 million years. There are 27 cliffs that make up the gorge and 350 climbing routes if you're looking for an adventure. Stop at the <a href="http://www.cheddargorge.co.uk/explore" target="_blank">Cheddar Caves </a>(daily; 10:30am-5pm) to discover their breathtaking splendour. The <a href="http://www.cheddargorge.co.uk/explore/museum-of-prehistory/" target="_blank">Museum of Prehistory</a> (daily; 10:30am-5pm) tells the amazing story of how people survived the 40,000-year Ice Age and is home to the Cheddar Man, Britain's oldest complete skeleton. The drive along the 14-mile B3135 through Cheddar Gorge is one of Britain's greatest driving roads. There are some challenging sections and total concentration is a must, making this route and its attractions one that is best for older children.</p>

<p> This lovely touring route links Windsor and Henley-on-Thames, roughly following the River Thames and incorporating Windsor Great Park and The Chilterns. Start by driving through the impressive <a href="http://www.windsor.gov.uk/things-to-do/windsor-great-park-p236491" target="_blank">Windsor Great Park</a> (A332) before continuing through Windsor, down the High Street and past the Castle (B3022). Turn left to <a href="http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/parks_alexandra_gardens.htm" target="_blank">Alexandra Gardens</a> (A48) for a stop, where there is ice skating from December to January (daily; 9:30am-10pm). Head towards the old village of Cookham (A4094) and on to Winter Hill (Quarry Wood Road) - a great place for kite-flying and running around. Then on to Henley for a visit to the <a href="http://rrm.co.uk/" target="_blank">River &amp; Rowing Museum</a> (winter: 10am-5pm). There are plenty of excellent pubs in Henley and nearby Marlow for dinner before you make your way home.</p>