We visited Old Hall Farm by chance on a bright but breezy
day. We had originally had other plans, but unfortunately Grandad was feeling
unwell and so we had a quick glance through some leaflets we had picked up on
the local area, and decided to give this place a try. My children all love farm
animals, and in fact dream of having their own little farm one day, and so with
it being less than half an hour away from where we were staying in the Lake
District (White Cross Bay) we decided to have a day out there instead of our
original plan.
It was relatively easy to find with the Sat Nav, and it was
also signposted from the main road, though the signs state 'Working Farm' as
opposed to the actual name of the attraction. Once off the main road, there is
a short distance to travel along country lanes, before the farm and the car
park can be easily spotted.
On entry into the car park, we were greeted by a man who was
sat at the entrance and directed us where to park. Once out of the car, the
gentleman was very friendly and said that he hoped we had a lovely day. This
was a nice welcome to have, and we made our way to the main entrance.
First impressions were that it seemed really quiet and
relatively small. However, appearances can be deceiving, and whilst not the
largest farm we have ever visited, there was certainly plenty to see and do.
I felt that the admission price was very reasonable at £24
for a family ticket for 2 adults and 3 children, as it usually costs me that
just to take my children to the local play centre for an hour, so I was more
than happy with the price we paid for entry. The lady working in the shop was
very polite and told us where everything was, and there was a board just as you
entered that had timings on for events throughout the day.
As we entered, we noticed a crowd around a beautiful Clydesdale horse, and everyone was stood
listening attentively to the staff member who was explaining all about the
lives of working horses, the equipment they wear to plough the fields and how
they are cared for. This is where this farm became very different to others we
have visited, as Old Hall Farm actively encourages everyone to get involved,
both children and adults, and you can literally participate in everything to do
with the working life of the farm. My two sons were delighted to have the
opportunity to groom the horse, and when one of the ladies leading the talk
noticed that my 3 year old wanted to join in, she went and fetched some small
steps so that he could climb up and brush the horses mane. He absolutely loved
this!
Unfortunately I cannot remember the names of both the ladies
that led the activities and talks throughout the day, but they were both very
passionate about what they do, as well as being extremely informative. It was
great to be able to ask questions and receive knowledgeable answers, and their
enthusiasm and general cheeriness made the day an absolute delight.
All the visitors were then invited to help in the field to
gather manure! Who would want to do that right? Well, believe me there were
plenty of volunteers, as all the budding little farmers raised their hands,
keen to participate. The horse was kitted out, and a large trailer attached,
everyone gathered a spade and then followed the horse down to the field, where
manure was eagerly thrown into the back of the trailer before being returned to
the yard.
Once we were back in the main yard, we decided to explore
and have a look at the vast array of old farming machinery displayed there. A lovely added touch in each of the sheds was a tv display that played information on farm life, and the way the
equipment was used. Some of the equipment was in pristine condition, and others
not so much, but it was very interesting to learn how farming used to be done,
prior to the introduction of all the machinery and gadgets that are available
to use now.
After this, we had a wander around the sheds, and met some
lovely animals. There were chickens roaming, some huge pigs, and shetland
ponies to name a few, aswel as a beautiful donkey.
Once we had met some animals, we decided to go to the play
barn, we washed our hands, bought some ice cream and sat in the undercover seating.
The play barn is literally towers of hay, with a big rope swing in the middle.
The hay bales have all been securely fastened, and range from various heights
with a mix of tunnels, steps and walkways around the barn. This is simple play
at its finest, no fancy gimmicks, just hay and lots of it, and do you know
what, the kids LOVED it! They spent a good hour in here after eating their ice
cream, before moving outside where Riley chose to play on the mini tractors,
and Emma and Ben went on the larger go karts.
After a play, we returned to the main yard area, where the
Shetland Ponies had been brought outside along with the donkey, and it was nice
to have the opportunity to get up close with the animals. There is the opportunity
to feed the cows, sheep and ducks, and there is also the chance to try your hand at
making butter using traditional methods. Before we knew it, several hours had
passed, and yet we were still enjoying ourselves and finding new things to see
and do.
The shop where you both enter and leave the attraction, was
stocked with some lovely gifts that were also a reasonable price. My children
had been given pocket money that morning that was burning a hole in their
pockets, and they usually end up buying rubbish, but Riley managed to purchase
a lovely large set of farm animals for only £4 and a small plastic tractor for
£1.99. Both were really nice toys, and I was especially pleased with the farm
animal set as they were a really nice size as well as good quality and offered
great value for money.
Food can be purchased from the shop, and again these were
reasonable prices, and sandwiches, crisps etc were available. There was also a
small tea room area, however we did not venture in there, so I am unsure as to what
menu is available, but there was sufficient dining facilities to have your
lunch there. However, if you fancied something more filling, I noticed that
there was a pub offering cooked meals just a short walk down the road.