Wet, wild & wonderful in Blackpool

Pack in thrills, fun & plenty of class in the family’s favourite holiday destination.

I really should know better by now. Children are not to be trusted and can be downright mischievous. So why did I let them convince me to join them on a “slow, fun” wooden rollercoaster?

I had entertained them with my screams the year before to such an extent they now demand an annual trip to Blackpool for their own amusement. And, of course, Pleasure Beach is a must with 125 rides and attractions catering for all ages.

This time I had worked out a strategy to ensure Sam, 14, and Lucy, 13, didn’t get the better of me stick to known rides I could cope with or suggest scary ones there was no chance they would want to go on. Thankfully, I managed to give the 235ft Big One the tallest in the UK a wide berth although, worryingly, Sam is becoming increasingly keen on the idea.

Wallace & Gromit’s Thrill-o-Matic is however a cracking idea! It’s fun, brilliantly conceived and truly brings the colourful world of these national treasures to life slowly!

The latter could not be said of the Wild Mouse ride that Lucy innocently asked me to go on with her. It looks a bit like a ghost train and from the entrance I couldn’t see any fast ups and downs. Suffice to say I was completely conned and utterly terrified despite having my eyes firmly shut as soon as it jerked round the first corner and began to climb. A gleeful Lucy is still laughing and was grounded for the rest of the holidays! Belatedly, I found out that Wild Mouse is known as one of the most intense roller coaster experiences in existence!

However, I was given a heads up that I would get wet on the £15 million Valhalla indoor water ride. I think they meant drenched but it was a laugh and we dried quickly in the scorching sunshine.

Being a super-trouper it was fitting the day was rounded off with the smash hit musical Mamma Mia! at Blackpool’s famous Opera House in the stunning Winter Gardens. It’s a belter of a show and, like almost everything else in Blackpool, it has a feel-good factor that leaves you grinning from ear to ear. It runs until September 14 (call the box office on 0844 856 1111).

A trip to Blackpool Tower is a must although the glass skywalk is optional! Don’t worry, there is solid ground to stand on all around the top of the tower and the views on a clear day are amazing. This time we also enjoyed the Blackpool Tower Circus. It’s a brilliant show that mixes fun with acrobats and high-wire stunts. Don’t miss it.

The laughs continued with a stroll along the Comedy Carpet directly below the Blackpool Tower. Think Hollywood Walk of Fame but with gags and catchphrases from our best loved British comedians and writers. It forms an impressive part of the Tower Festival Headland, a new events space which can host up to 20,000 people.

The promenade itself has been given a stunning £80m transformation with sculptures, new headlands and Spanish Steps leading down to the sea. The world famous Blackpool illuminations stretch almost six miles, cost £2.4m to stage and attract 3.5 million visitors every year. Switch-on is from August 29 to November 9 with a sneak preview on August 26. Go in September and you could also catch the World Fireworks Championships.

There are also amazing indoor illuminations. Visit the stunning Winter Gardens to see Illuminasia, superb walk-through attractions blending the tradition of Chinese lantern craft with modern technology to create larger than life silk sculptures.

Of course, you can’t go to the beachfront without having a swim. But if you are like me and find the water too cold, try the Sandcastle Waterpark. Europe’s largest, it offers 84 degree tropical heat inside! With its 18 slides and attractions this is the perfect wet weather attraction for the family. They will love it.

With all the hectic sightseeing and entertainment overload, we were delighted to escape to our base in the fabulous five-star Ribby Hall Village just 10 minutes away in the heart of 100 acres of Lancashire countryside. It offers luxury self-catering accommodation, excellent facilities and three, four and seven-night breaks all year round at reasonable prices. I would highly recommend it. The standard is a cut above the norm and surpassed all our expectations.

Our accommodation was a modern furnished three-bedroom cottage with a well-equipped kitchen in a comfortable lounge/dining area. Such is the choice of restaurants, though, including gastro dining at the Restaurant and Cocktail Bar at reasonable prices, we ate out every night except for a pizza treat from the on-site Papa John’s.

There is night-time entertainment at the other restaurant, the Bar and Grill, and again it offers great value for money. During the day enjoy tea and treats in the Farm Shop or grab a coffee at Starbucks. There is also plenty to do on-site and I took the opportunity to hone my short game on the par three golf course only to suffer the humiliation of being beaten by my novice wife.

However, I did get the chance to be cool with a family Segway experience. It was great fun and thankfully I quickly mastered it and was whizzing about the woodland trail even managing backwards downhill much to the surprise of the kids.

The trail also offers gentle walks and biking where you can discover wood carvings, a pond dipping platform and a mini beast mansion to keep the children interested. You can also take a wee boat round the adventure island that hosts a climbing wall, bike hire and archery.

For the energetic, there is a large, state-of-the-art gym which has just had a £1m investment, plus an adult 25m swimming pool with steam room and hot tub, tennis courts and an all-weather sports pitch.

There is so much to do for the family, including an activity plan each day catering for all ages, so don’t feel guilty earmarking time for just being on-site and relaxing.

After all my ups and downs on rollercoasters it was a bonus to be able to safely leave the kids to do their own thing, leaving my wife Janie and I to get up to some mischief of our own but don’t tell the kids!

Fact file

The Blackpool Resort Pass is just the ticket for great value family fun. It offers the best of the resort at discounted prices with two options The Resort Pass+ includes access to nine attractions (Blackpool Pleasure Beach; Tower Eye & 4D Experience; Sea Life; Nickelodeon Land, The Tower Dungeon, Madame Tussauds, Blackpool Zoo, Sandcastle Waterpark and Blackpool Model Village & Gardens) and the Original Resort Pass, covering the first six attractions.

Prices are £78.50 and £52.50 respectively, valid for one visit to each over a seven-day period.

The Tower Circus can be added to each pass as well as three or seven-day travel passes. For more info, go to blackpoolresortpass.com or visitblackpool.com

Ribby Hall Village is open 365 days a year and prices start from £12 per person per night. For more info, visit ribbyhall.co.uk or call 0800 107 0336.