Midland Vibes

Halloween is hands down my children's favourite festival, so the chance to begin the festivities extra early was beyond exciting for the two of them. Tattershall Lakes is a destination many friends have spoken about over the years, but one we had never quite got around to exploring. With its promise of family fun, a quirky lodge and a whole host of Halloween-themed activities, it was finally time to see what all the fuss was about – and it most certainly did not disappoint.

We stayed in a funky Tribeca lodge, complete with our very own hot tub, which immediately made our weekend feel that little bit more special. The decor was fun and full of character, but it was the quirky children's bedroom, with its bunk beds built into the walls, that really stole the show. Calum has since decided that his own bedroom needs a makeover, so I suspect we may have inadvertently created ourselves another project! The grown-up double bedroom was equally impressive, with plenty of space, two televisions and a very comfortable bed. A rather lovely home from home, with the added bonus of a hot tub!

Arriving on Friday, we decided against rushing straight into exploring everything the park had to offer and instead made ourselves comfortable in our lodge, enjoying its amenities and settling into holiday mode. Sometimes, a little downtime at the start of a break is exactly what is needed, particularly when you have two excited children counting down to a weekend of Halloween fun.

Feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep, we were up early on Saturday and headed out to explore the play areas, of which there are a couple to choose from, before making our way to activity number one: Halloween tie-dye! Aimed at children but with all of us getting involved, this took me straight back to my teenage years and had both Calum and Skye thoroughly engaged in the creative process. Although they had to wait over 24 hours to see the finished results, both were thrilled with the experience – and, of course, the end result made the wait worthwhile. A lovely activity to kick-start our Halloween adventures, with a little creativity thrown into the mix.

Lunch in the Spitfire Bar, a dabble in the arcade and another visit to the covered play area bridged the gap until it was time for our Trick or Treat Trail. Aimed more towards a younger audience, Calum was a little reluctant to join in with the chanting of the Boo Crew, while Skye was totally captivated by the experience. Thankfully, the promise of sweets proved a worthy reward for both, and it was lovely to see Skye so caught up in the Halloween spirit. The early start to the festivities was clearly working its magic!

Despite the chillier weather, both children were keen to enjoy a break in the Lido, proving that a drop in temperature was certainly not going to put them off. A return to the lodge for a hot tub warm-up and some tea followed, before we headed out once more to sample the early evening entertainment. This was a lot of fun and rounded off a busy day nicely, giving us a chance to enjoy a little more of the atmosphere before heading back for a well-earned night's sleep.

Sunday morning arrived all too quickly, and after packing up, we made one final visit to the arcade and play area before heading home. While our stay was relatively short, we certainly managed to fit plenty in, with a good balance of organised activities, playtime and downtime in our rather lovely lodge.

Away Resorts and Tattershall Lakes definitely impressed, and it was easy to see why the park receives so many return visitors. The setting is stunning, the accommodation was fun and comfortable, and the roster of activities offered plenty to keep the children entertained throughout our stay. The 31 Days of Halloween experience was a brilliant way to get into the seasonal spirit early, particularly for little ones who simply cannot wait for the big day itself.

Our only mistake, according to the children, was not bringing their fishing gear! Having spotted the fishing lake, both Calum and Skye decided that they would have loved an hour or two trying their luck. I suspect that will need to be added to the itinerary should we return – and, judging by how much we enjoyed our first visit, a return trip is certainly not out of the question.

Our stay in a Tribeca Lodge at Tattershall Lakes cost £410 excluding activities. For more details visit the Away Resorts site.