CHRISTMAS
Spend Christmas on Flat Holm island in the Severn Estuary, a stunning setting with its windswept coastline and local wildlife. There are night-time walks, quizzes, games and the chance to help with the island’s conservation work. Five nights cost £200pp, including boat transfer from Cardiff and dormitory accommodation in the farmhouse. Minimum age 4. Details: 02920 353917, flatholmisland.com
FEBRUARY HALF-TERM
Holetown Festival in Barbados is a week-long celebration of the arrival of the Caribbean island’s first British settlers in 1627. It starts on February 14 and includes live music, exhibitions, parades and food-and-drink events. Virgin Holidays (virginholidays.co.uk) has seven-night all-inclusive stays from £1,699 per adult and £1,559 per child, including flights, which includes a 5 per cent online booking discount.
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EASTER
Make it a gourmet activity break in the Netherlands at the Hof van Saksen resort, in Drenthe, which has a Michelin-starred restaurant on site. There are 634 Saxon farmhouse-style cottages, a climbing wall, bike hire, canoeing, golf and a pool. Children’s activities range from raft building to bat safaris. A week in a cottage sleeping four costs from €899 (£817). Details: 00 31 592 245959, hofvansaksen.com
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MAY HALF-TERM
Take a canoe safari on the Zambezi river and camp on desert islands in Zambia. Then spend three nights at a game reserve, where you can view wildlife and do some volunteer work on animal protection projects or at the local school. The ten-day trip with Exodus (0845 8639600, exodus.co.uk) costs from £1,349 per adult and £1,199 per child, including flights and full-board accommodation. Minimum age 11.