Much has been made of the term ‘staycation’ to describe the recession-fuelled trend for families to take holidays in Britain and save money.

It’s a phrase which jars with some, but it does seem to adequately describe the phenomenon.

As well as the financial aspects, there are plenty of other advantages of staying in Britain for a break – reduced travel time for one.

Another is simply the fact that there are so many wonderful places to visit within these shores, and plenty lie just a short distance from Greater Manchester.

We enjoyed a relaxing and fun short break at Ribby Hall Village, a holiday and conference complex at Wrea Green near Blackpool.

It’s just an hour’s drive from home but a world away from the hustle and bustle of Manchester.

As soon as you pass the entry barrier, you can sense a holiday feel to the place as the leisurely pace of life becomes apparent.

We stayed for three nights over a weekend and spent the vast majority of our time on the village complex, venturing out only on the Sunday for a spot of shopping in Blackpool.

There is plenty to do at Ribby Hall, and we began by exploring the grounds after checking into our lovely Poppy cottage (three bedrooms plus a mattress in the lounge meant it could accommodate all seven of us).

We generally prefer self-catering trips as they provide more flexibility in terms of meals and times for dining (as well as cost savings) and the Poppy provided spacious accommodation for the Feddy family and our uninvited but welcome guests – the Ribby Hall family of ducks.

The Jasmine is one of a number of cottages at Ribby Hall and there are pine lodges for hire at the site too. A new Georgian-style property can host up to 14 guests.

Accommodation is spread across delightfully named areas such as Salmon’s Leap, The Laurels, Breamwood and The Willows.

After unpacking, it was time to explore and we began by letting the youngest children let off steam at the outdoor adventure playground.

We took a stroll to the village shops to stock up on essentials and were impressed by the quality and range of cafes, restaurants and bars at Ribby Hall.

There is something to suit most tastes, from casual dining to a more formal restaurant. The hub for us was the leisure centre, with pools, gym, table tennis and badminton courts. We spent much of our time in and around the main pool area, well-equipped with a chute, whirlpool, steam room and sauna, while there is an adult-only pool for lane swimming.

The leisure complex also has a bar and a Starbucks to unwind in after a workout or dip in the pool.

On our first full day, we took a leisurely stroll around the grounds, taking in the hotel, equestrian centre, conference facilities (including a tree house) and island zone where there is mini-golf, a climbing wall, boating and cycle hire facilities.

Ribby Hall has recently been given five-star holiday village status by Visit Britain and has gained a reputation as a place for action-packed as well as relaxing breaks with tennis, golf, crown green bowls and fishing among the activities and attractions.

It spans more than 100 acres and attracts a million visitors a year from all over the country to its holiday and privately-owned cottages, hotel, business and conference centre and banqueting facilities. More new facilities are expected to open at the complex during the course of this year. Ribby Hall, which opened in 1995, remains family-owned and employs a total of 250 staff.

Its business and conference centre attracts over 25,000 delegates and visitors for meetings, interviews, conferences and teambuilding days while the site also hosts weddings, charity and other events.

The combination of on-site facilities and Ribby Hall’s location make it a compelling choice for a short break.

FACTFILE

• Kevin Feddy and his family stayed for three nights in a Poppy Cottage at Ribby Hall Village near Blackpool.
• Prices for a three night stay start at £11 per person per night. Bookings at Ribby Hall can be made for a three-night weekend stay, four nights or a week.
• For more information or to make a reservation, contact 0800 085 1717 or visit ribbyhall.co.uk

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