How to spend Easter (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

How to spend Easter

Make the most of the long weekend to get out and about with the family. CHARLOTTE PRACY offers some ideas on how to spend the Easter break.

The children have already been off school for a week and may be getting bored at home, but there are plenty of events on during the Easter weekend to keep them entertained.

Castle Combe's Easter Monday Race Day. A day of motor racing, open to all the family, the event will attract many motor racing stars, most prestigious perhaps being Jackie Oliver, the ex BRM and McLaren Grand Prix driver.

Other stars will include ex Formula 3 and Touring Car racer Ian Flux in the Special Gt race, making a one off drive in Radical's new turbocharged SR3.

For the second year running Rowan Atkinson will be there and will take part in the Aston Martin Owner's Club race.

Opening Monday at 8.30am for qualifying events, racing begins at 12.15pm. Admission, £12 for adults, £6 for OAPs, free for under 15s. For more information, telephone 01249 782417 or log on at www.castlecoombecircuit.co.uk

Easter activities at Steam. Special Easter quizzes will run at Swindon's museum of the Great Western Railway until April 18. On April 17 visitors will have the chance to meet former Great Western Railway workers, as they bring the steam age to life with stories and practical demonstrations. Admission costs £5.95 for adults and £3.80 for children. For more information call 01793 466626.

WWT Slimbridge's Early Easter Chicks. If you fancy seeing some real life Easter chicks you can visit Slimbridge nature reserve in Gloucestershire.

The event runs until Saturday, April 18 and offers the chance to see ducklings, goslings and cygnets.

This year, two black swan cygnets (native to Australia), a brood of mallard ducklings and the first cygnets of Hawaiian Geese have been born at the wetlands. Many more are expected from the 19 nests dotted around the centre.

Other activities available over the Easter holidays include wildlife gardening tips, activity trails, crafts, competitions and seed planting which children can take home and watch grow.

Open 9.30am to 5pm. Admission is adults £6.75, senior citizens £5.50, children £4, family ticket £17.50. For details call 01453 890333 or log on to www.wwt.org.uk/visit/slimbridge

Easter Eggstravaganza at Old Wardour and Old Sarum. Explore the ancient site of Old Sarum, Salisbury, in an Easter trail or search the ruins of Old Wardour, Tisbury in an Easter egg hunt. Children can hunt for eight Easter eggs, hidden at both sites, winning a prize at the end of their search.

The Easter events are available on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Both sites are open from 10am to 5pm. Admission is £2.80 for adults, £1.40 for children and £2.10 concessions, but free for anyone dressed as an Easter bunny! For details on Old Sarum Castle visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/oldsarum or telephone 01722 335398. For details on Old Wardour Castle visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/oldwardour or telephone 01747 870487.

National Trust Easter Trails. The National Trust is holding a host of events across the region.

For children, two particular places of interest will be Avebury Manor and Garden and Mompesson House in Salisbury, where tomorrow there is an Easter trail in which children can follow the clues around the grounds to find the Easter egg prize.

Avebury Manor and Gardens are open from 11am to 4pm, and admission is £2.90 for adults, £1.40 for children, with a 50p charge for the trail.

Mompesson House is open from 11am to 4.30pm, and is £4 for adults, £2 for children, 80p for the garden only, and 75p to follow the trail. For further information telephone 01672 539250 (Avebury Manor and gardens) or 01722 420980 (Mompesson) or log on to www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Cotswold River Cruises. From today until Monday daily, Cotswold River Cruises will be departing at noon from Halfpenny Bridge, Lech-lade. Cruises last for an hour and include a commentary. On Easter Sunday an additional cruise is available, departing at 2.30pm, cruising to Buscot. This takes a leisurely two hours and includes a cream tea. All one hour cruises cost £3.50 for adults and £1.75 for children, while it is £8.90 inclusive for the two-hour cruise. For all bookings and enquiries telephone 01793 574499. Further information can also be obtained from www.rivercruises.co.uk

The Return of the Vikings. From tomorrow until Monday, The National Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks will be providing an opportunity to learn about the Vikings. Regia Anglorum, is a society devoted to providing life-like experiences of early medieval history. This is an opportunity to have all your Viking questions answered. Open daily from 10am to 5pm, last admission at 4pm. Admission is £5 for adults, and £4 for children and OAPs with family tickets from £12 to £16. For details telephone 01452 318200 or log on to www.nwm.org.uk

Swindon and Cricklade Railway Easter Special. The railway at Blunsdon Station is holding a hot cross bun diesel special today and tomorrow from 11am to 4pm. Tickets are £3.50 for adults and £2.50 for children and include a train ride and a hot cross bun. Easter Bunny steam trains run on Sunday and Monday, for £3.50 for adults and £3 for children, and include an Easter egg.

Fyfield Down Walk. There will be a guided four-mile walk on Easter Sunday afternoon around Fyfield Down near Marlborough.

The ramblers group meets at the car park above Manton at 2pm, and has invited anyone who would like to go on the walk to join them with strong shoes, a picnic, and a waterproof if the weather looks uncertain.

To find the car park drive west on the A4 out of Marlborough and turn right at Manton, signed Manton House and Hollow. Drive up the narrow road for about a mile until a pair of white notices saying Private Road, and turn left and immediately right into the car park. Anyone who would like a lift can meet at the corner of the old Marlborough Road and Lambourn Avenue at 1.30pm. To find out more call walk leader Pat Crabb on 01793 740450. The walk is free.

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