We’ve all been feeling a bit under the weather recently. The boys are just over colds, but now Chris and I have them too and we are feeling a bit sorry for ourselves. On Sunday I had a little bit longer in bed and then we swapped over, so Chris went back to bed for a bit too. This meant we only had the afternoon to do something with the boys. We decided to go to Briarland’s as A) It’s just 20 minutes away and B) We were kindly gifted season tickets so it would be free.
I packed the bag with plenty of food (the boys are ALWAYS hungry at the moment), waterproofs and off we went.
When we got there O wanted to head straight for the Cosy Coupe car area, he loves driving them around and A is quite happy there for a little while too. But today he found that there were two new pedal tractors with trailers and he excitedly jumped on one.
O has never managed to pedal anything properly and was very pleased with himself (after a little guidance from daddy) to manage to pedal the tractor. So he spent the next 2.5 hours (solidly!!) pedalling round and round the area for the little cars, practising his new skill.
A was happy to play in the cars for a bit, but he also wanted to explore a bit more of the park. So I left daddy watching O (and playing with our shiny new camera, do you like the photos?!) and went to the jumping pillows with tiny.
The jumping pillows are exactly what it sounds like, a large inflated pillow to jump on. A had great fun playing on it until he spotted some chickens nearby and so we put our wellies back on and went for a look.
You can buy packet of food to feed the animals, but most the food trays are so full of food when we go that we haven’t bothered.
A was quite excited to see chickens and ducks, but especially seemed to like the turkey inside the little house.
We also went for a wander past a mini slide and visited the sheep, a pony and donkey. A was suitably impressed.
There is also a non-working tractor that kids can sit in, which A quite liked. While he was sitting in it I spotted a Red Kite and managed to get a, somewhat fuzzy, picture.
We went back to see if O wanted to go on the tractor and trailer ride, but he wasn’t interested and decided to stay on the pedal tractor. So A went off with daddy to queue for the trailer ride. Unfortunately when they were about to get on the trailer A started to panic and wanted me. So I took him on the trailer ride instead and daddy watched O again.
Our half hour ride took us around to the crop fields where we found out the difference between hay and straw, saw twin calves and back to the start again. I thought that O would have moved onto something else by then as last time we visited he loved the go-karts, the maze and the slides. But no, still on the pedal tractor.
Daddy took A off to play on the slide and look at the animals getting fed, while I stayed with O and finally, finally convinced him to go on something else. He went to play on the go-karts with daddy. By the time A and I caught up with them (10 minutes or so) he was on his way back to the tractor again!
Well, after another 10 minutes there we headed back inside to use the toilets and skirt past the cafe and gift shop back to the car. We fortunately managed to convince them that there wasn’t time to play indoors in the play area. There is also a great pick your own strawberry area under the polytunnels, we spotted lots of bright red strawberry’s hanging as we went past on the tractor, but didn’t have any spare cash to pick them.
There are lots of things to do at Briarlands Farm, although we didn’t manage to do very much this time! Certainly a great day out for those with kids if you’re ever in the Stirlingshire area.
J
Elizabeth (Wander Mum) says
What a brilliant place to go! My daughter still hasn’t perfected the art of pedalling a tricycle (she’s 3) so I’m not surprised he wanted to stay on it. Well done! Love the sound of the pillows. Sounds like a fab trip out. Thanks for hosting #whatevertheweather
Becky (@educatingR) says
Sounds like you got loads done in just an afternoon and the boys look like they had fun. Thanks for sharing with #whatevertheweather
Alyson says
Ah my boys would have loved that when they were tiny. They grow so fast, my eldest is asking me how to deal with his teenaged spots already! Make the most of every second with them. Which I can see you are doing. But the good news is, tweens are so much fun!
Ting at My Travel Monkey says
Briarlands Farm looks like an excellent family day out – there’s something about tractors and animals that really excite the kids. I can’t believe O stayed pedalling round for that long! He must have been exhausted! #Whatevertheweather
Kate, Baby Routes says
I think the verdict of this is that you need to invest in a peddle tractor! Funny how they get fixated on things like that – they are fun though. Looks like a good day out and lots still to do. #whatevertheweather
Emma's Mamma says
What a great place with so much to do! Sound like you had a lovely day out! #Whatevertheweather
Unhinged Mummy (aka Janine Woods) says
Sounds great! My son would love this. Sadly it’s not in our area but my son loves anything to do with transport.
#whatevertheweather
La` says
Wow looks so much fun 🙂 Thank you for hosting, I love our adventures so I will link again soon! x
Sarah says
Your boys look so happy on the tractors, you cant beat a day out on a farm 🙂 Thanks for hosting #whatevertheweather
Lauren says
Sounds like a fun day out. I’m doing my best not to wish my baby’s life away (it’s going too quickly already!) but reading all these great blogs full of amazing places to visit when he gets a little older is making me very excited about the future. I bet as soon as he starts toddling around I’ll be wishing he was a baby again!
Sara | mumturnedmom says
What a great place! So much to do 🙂 My guys love to feed the animals and ride-ons are always a huge hit, especially with my little girl. Thanks for hosting x
Laura @ Life with Baby Kicks says
What a fab day out for you all! I love farms but would have got all antsy if the toddler doesn’t come see everything exciting with me! Must let go! well done O on cracking pedalling!
Let kids be kids says
That looks like a lovely farm and day out. It’s lovely watching children master a new skill and he was clearly pleased with himself. Well done!
Laura says
Wow, this place looks like my toddler’s idea of heaven (and your lie in plan sounds like mine and Hubby’s!) I’ll def add this to our places to visit plan! 🙂 #whatevertheweather
Babyfoote says
We had a similar situation this afternoon whereby James didn’t want to play on anything other than the roundabout in the playground. Unfortunately he made himself ill with all the spinning! At least O couldn’t do that!
LittleOandme says
This looks like a lovely little place to visit. Lovely photos, I love the one of O on the tractor, he looks so chuffed! We had a day at the farm last week (my post I linked up) and they are so fab to take toddlers! Thanks so much for hosting #whatevertheweather
Becky xx
Sophie @ Mum, M & More says
This looks like a fab afternoon. Anywhere that keeps them entertained and wears them out is a ht with me! 🙂 #whatevertheweather
Su says
Looks like a great day out for the kids. Funny how, O want to cling on to something once he established how to. I think it is great! Wish we have something like this near us here. There seem to be so many things going on. Looks like you all had a great day out. #whatevertheweather
Sherry says
Sounds like a great place to go, so sorry to hear that you were a little under the weather, hope you’ve all made a super speedy recovery x #whatevertheweather
Sabrina (The Mummy Stylist) says
Oh my god, this place looks amazings, cars AND tractors AND animals. Tyler would be in heaven haha! If we ever are in the area, will keep this in mind 🙂 #whatevertheweather Sabrina xx
Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One says
That’s totally our sort of day out – well done on the pedalling – Monkey only got to grips with that this year and he’s 5! #Whatevertheweather
Nia says
Looks like a great day out, very handy for you being so close! Tractors are always a win with little ones aren’t they?! Looks like you all had a good day, hope you’re over the nasty summer colds now 🙂 #whatevertheweather
Mudpie Fridays says
Looks like there are loads of things to do, how great to have an annual pass. I really like the little rides on 🙂 #Whatevertheweather xx
Patricia Costello says
The jumping pillows sound like a lot of fun! What a clever idea. Looks like you had a fantastic time, despite feeling a bit under the weather. Hope everyone’s feeling better now? x #whatevertheweather
Erin @ Nourishing My Scholar says
I just love the determined look on his face as he “drives!” Brilliant! Thanks for sharing #WhateverTheWeather
Chloe says
This sounds like such a fun family day out! We’ve had this horrible summer flu thing too. I’m glad you managed to get some much needed sleep. It really knocks you for six doesn’t it. Especially when you have children to get up for. Your pictures of them on the pedal cars/tractors are adorable! It’s so cute the O wanted to stay there most of the time. This sounds like a great little farm. I love it when they offer lots of different activities to do and have different areas to explore. I definitely wouldn’t mind having a go on the jumping pillows. What a unique idea!
Yay to loads of linkers again this week! x
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks Chloe! The pillows are fun, you just need to be careful not to bounce the kids off! Ha ha! Yes O can do the same thing for a very, very long time if he enjoys it! Glad there were two of us to go and do other things too. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks Erin! He was very determined to keep going on it, hopefully that passes over to his bike when we get it! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you! They are fun, just need to watch you don’t bounce too high and knock the kids off! Yes, feeling much better now thank you. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks, it really is a great place to visit! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Over the colds now, thank you! Tractors are a big hit with most the kids who go to Farm parks! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Good to hear of others who take a bit longer to pedal, O is 4 next month, not sure he will manage to pedal his bike for his birthday, but maybe later in the year or next! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha, yes, it’s got everything! Let me know if you ever head up To Scotland! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
It was fab, feeling much better now too. 🙂 xx
Jenny Eaves says
Kids are funny like that aren’t they! Glad he can finally pedal the tractors, we used to avoid that sort of thing before, due to tantrums when he couldn’t do it! He was very pleased with himself. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Farms are great places to take kids, we certainly love our nearby ones! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Oh no! Hope he was feeling himself a short while later?! It’s hard when they find one thing and stubbornly want to do it all the time! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Very pleased with himself! Thanks karen! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
It’s the only way to get extra sleep these days isn’t it?! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha, I gave up on that long ago, loving having a second child who wants to see everything, or at least lets me pick him up and move him to something new. Don’t know what I’m going to do when they both want to do different things the entire time! x
Jenny Eaves says
Feeding animals and ride-ons are great fun! Thank you! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Oh yes, I felt the same way, all the stages are great and fun for different reasons. It’s hard to just enjoy the stage there at though! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you, looking forward to seeing more of your adventures! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
I’m sure there must be somthing similar in your area? Google farm parks and see what comes up! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
We definitely did, thank you! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha, if only we had the money and space, for 2, as littley would be adamant he should have one too! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Tell me about it! I was ready to fall asleep! Tractors are brilliant aren’t they! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Oh no, I dread them getting to the teens, glad to hear tweens are fun too though! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
We had a great time, Thank you! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
She’ll get there, O is 4 next month and took forever to get the hang of it! 🙂 x
Cathy (MummyTravels) says
What a great place for kids! Toddlers really do persevere don’t they, although I’m impressed at hours of pedalling… Thanks for linking up to #mondayescapes
Jenny Eaves says
They definitely do! 🙂 x