February half term is time to explore and a time to be an adventurer all across the UK. Nature is at its best right now with spring lambs and new life in full flow, so it’s such a wonderful time to get out and experience everything the great outdoors has to offer.
We know it can be hard to keep your young ones entertained, especially on dreary days, but these are the days that memories are made.

The UK is fit to bursting with new and exciting outdoor adventures that are perfect for your half term break, and we’ve found our 3 favourite places and activities designed especially to keep the whole family entertained no matter where it takes you.

Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum, Devon
13 – 21 February

Visitors to Arlington Court in Devon will be able to enjoy a whole host of free activities this half term, and although the ground can be soggy and wet, or even frozen solid, the spring bulbs still manage to fight their way out of the earth to show their colourful display.

Exploring
To get visitors to explore the grounds as spring awakens, a free Early Spring Trail will take you through the gardens and grounds as you look out for all the early signs of spring. Also worth checking out are the woodland play areas which take in some of the more historic sites on the grounds such as the old lake, the resting place of the last owner of Arlington, Miss Rosalie Chichester.

Get mucky
On Wednesday 17th February join the free den building and fire lighting day with the rangers from 11am-3pm. What a fantastic chance for your family to work together to create a shelter from natural materials and try their hand at lighting fires in unusual ways. Ranger Tina Luxton said, “During this day we like to offer families the opportunity to engage with the environment in new ways, to learn new skills and try out natural alternatives to modern ways of doing things.”
There’s a chance it could be boggy and very muddy underfoot, so we suggest wellies and old clothes for this one!

Pip Pip
For budding gardeners, on Thursday 18th February the Arlington Court Garden Team will be running a free ‘pips to plants’ event from 1.30pm-3pm for all ages. Find out about some of the unusual pips and seeds that you can grow, and even take on home to grow yourself.

Arlington Court will be open daily from 11am-4pm from 13-21 February. All the above mentioned events are free, but admission charges will apply.

Bengingbrough Hall, Gallery and Gardens, North Yorkshire
13 - 21 February

Set in the Vale of York, within easy reach of Harrogate and Leeds, Beningbrough Hall is the perfect location for works from the National Portrait Gallery. Inside the Italian-inspired house you’ll find the interactive galleries. Beningbrough's series of interlocking gardens each offer their own distinct seasonal interest – from wildlife havens to colourful herbaceous borders – and are inspirational all year. There are walks through park and woodlands and beside the river with stunning views of the hall, as well as outdoor activities and natural play opportunities for families.

Ha Ha!
Find out exactly what a ‘ha ha’ is and then create your own 3D flower in the family craft workshop for the 'Ha ha Walk’ - which has been described as a ‘bulb planting bonanza’! Leave a flowering legacy by helping to plant 300,000 spring bulbs to celebrate the 300th year since Beningbrough hall was built.
This is happening every day throughout half term from 11am-3pm.

Georgian geocaching
If you’ve never geocached before - where on earth have you been? This old school version of the popular online treasure hunt doesn’t require GPS units or smartphones. Find the co-ordinates and follow the Georgian inspired clues to discover the treasure chest on this brand new trail for February half term.

50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾
The National Trust have put together a special list especially for kids of 50 things to do before they’re 11 ¾. The inspired strategy came about as a bid to get children off the sofa and in to the great outdoors. The list includes activities such as climb a tree, discover what’s in a pond and go star gazing. 
See how many you can tick off before the end of half term! Find the full list here.