I went on a Famous Five-style holiday in the UK
FANCY an adventure holiday that’s straight from the pages of an Enid Blyton, with olden day prices to match?
I stumbled across a secluded Welsh beach only accessible at low tide, overlooked by a former MOD base where families of six can stay for just £7.50 per person – and promptly booked it for my family of five.
Second in Time Out’s list of most underrated European beaches this summer, Skrinkle Haven in Pembrokeshire is cheap as chips to visit.
Family rooms sleeping either four or six at the clifftop hostel starting at just £45 over October half term.
Kids under 10 can eat for £1 at YHA Manorbier with an adult meal, so you could get bed and breakfast overlooking this stunning hideaway haven for just £77 for a family of six.
There’s a self-catering kitchen available to lower meal costs even further if you’re using this as a budget base to explore the Wales Coast Path, which runs in front of the hostel.
A glamping pod for four starts at £40, while camping using your own equipment is £10 per person.
It’s ironic that this beach has remained under the radar, given its past use as a Ministry of Defence site.
The striking hostel exterior remains in keeping with its military roots, while the inside is clean and cosy after a refurb ten years ago.
Clambering down the steep steps from the clifftop to Church Doors Cove, my boys and I were wowed by the incredible rock formation that gives this beach its name.
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If you’re looking for something similar to the famous Durdle Door in Dorset, but without another soul in sight, this spot is for you.
The cove is connected to neighbouring Skrinkle Haven beach by a narrow tunnel through the headland, only passable at low tide.
We took a picnic to enjoy on the deserted golden sands of the bay before exploring caves that would be perfect for smugglers to stash their loot.
It really was like stepping into the pages of an Enid Blyton story, with a crumbling stairway no longer in use at one end of the beach and the narrow tunnel that fills with water at high tide at the other.
Time and tide wait for no man and if you’re cut off by the rising waters, you’ll be stranded here until the next low tide.
Walking three and a half hours east on the coastal path, you’ll find the gorgeous town of Tenby, with its colourful houses and beautiful beaches.
Keep the Famous Five vibe alive by visiting St Catherine’s Fort perched on a rocky outcrop on the beach or taking a boat trip to Caldey Island, home to Cistercian monks and a colony of puffins.
There’s a neolithic burial chamber known as King’s Quoit along the Pembrokeshire coastal path west of the hostel, so you’re surrounded by spots straight out of a Secret Seven story whichever direction you take as you step out of the front door.
If you’re not a fan of hostels and want to stay somewhere a bit more upmarket, there’s some great family options in easy reach of Skrinkle Haven.
Haven’s Kiln Park is just a 10-minute drive away, with caravans sleeping six starting at £129 during October halfterm, while a three-bed lodge is £670.
It’s got its own Blue Flag beach on the doorstep and lots of kids activities, including sessions with a nature ranger.
For luxe lodgings, try Bluestone Resort, within a half hour drive.
Bluestone is the Welsh answer to Center Parcs and has lodges starting at £760 over halfterm.
There’s a huge indoor soft play, outdoor activities and an amphitheatre under the glass Serendome and the Blue Lagoon water park, all included in the price.
We loved our meal at Camp Smokey, a hideaway hut down in a wooded valley that offers alfresco meals and family fun.
So why not give a Welsh staycay a go this October half term?
With secluded beaches, coastal walks and plenty of places to stay, you’ll be spoilt for choice for channelling your inner Enid Blyton.