Bowleaze Cove is one of my happy places, it’s just impossible to be miserable there!

We’ve only ever visited on a hot summers day and it’s generally buzzing with locals and happy holiday makers.  We normally start in the Spar over the road to grab some drinks and this time we also bought a bottle of ketchup to accompany our dinner and some cupcakes and treats for after.

Near the car park you’ll find a shop selling everything from gifts to beach essentials and next door there’s a fish and chip shop take away, an ice cream parlour and a restaurant which is linked to the chip shop so you can have a sit down meal inside if you prefer.  We have eaten in the restaurant before which was very nice but as the sun was shining we opted for food from the take away.  Everything we ordered was really nice and the kids burger and chips kids meal was woofed down in minutes.

The beach is pebbly so I’d highly recommend water shoes or good sandals that you don’t mind getting wet, neither of which my kids had as we weren’t planning to visit after a day in Weymouth.  They still had great fun though in the little river and shallow pool which runs down towards the sea and probably changes in size depending on the weather.

At Bowleaze Cove you’ll also find Fantasy Island Fun Park which has rides suitable for younger children and these include tea cups, trampolines, helter skelter, crazy car ride, small ferris wheel, carousel and flying dumbo.  For the older kids they’ll enjoy the bumper cars and the ghost train!  They also have a fab soft play which our children have enjoyed in the past, especially the awesome slides.

If the children enjoy playing games then the arcade should keep them entertained for a long time.  We’d never previously noticed the eatery to the side of the arcade and they sell reasonably priced ice creams and sweet treats.  Upstairs you’ll find the Sunset Café which has a varied menu or have a drink outside in the Beach Bar which has incredible views of the sea.  Fantasy Island also run birthday parties and fun seasonal events like a Santa’s Grotto.

Good to know:

• Wristband prices are £6.99 for 1.5 hours (3 yrs and under) and £15.99 for 3 hours (over 3 yrs).*  This includes use of rides and the soft play.  Please note, wristbands do not include the bumper cars or ghost train.  For soft play entry only, prices are £3.99 for 1 hour (over 3 yrs) and £5.99 for 2 hours (over 3 years).  You are also able to buy tokens if you don’t have a lot of time and 1 token is £1, 12 tokens is £10 and 25 tokens is £20.

• There’s a large car park at Bowleaze Cove with prices being much cheaper than Weymouth Town.  There is also on street parking however please do check that there are no restrictions.

• Buses run regularly from Weymouth to Bowleaze Cove.

• The location of public toilets is still a mystery to me but as we were dining there we were told it would be ok to use the downstairs restaurant toilets.  Sunset Café and the Beach Bar have toilets for customers too.

For more information on the fun park and to buy tickets, please visit Fantasy Island Fun Park.

*Prices and details were correct at the time of writing in August 2024.

We’ve been to The Alpine Adventure Park at Snowtrax many times before, the kids never get bored and it’s great value for money considering you can stay as long as you like.

Since we went on a very hot day it wasn’t busy at all and myself and a friend managed to get a table right in the middle of the park so the kids could see us easily and run back every time they need a drink or rest.  The park is under big tall trees and the majority is in the shade which was much needed in this current heatwave.

They have an obstacle course all around the park with forts and slides, balance beams, a zip line, trampolines, swings, climbing walls and a huge pirate ship with a twirly slide going from the top to the bottom.

There’s also a kiosk which sells drinks and ice creams, and toilets are within the park too.  If you need a meal or baby change facilities then you just need to walk up the hill to Snowtrax and you’ll find everything else there including the ski slope where the family can go skiing or snowboarding or there’s ringos and tubing which our kids have loved in the past.

We ended up spending nearly 5 hours there with the kids just playing and chatting with their friends.  Us mums had packed a picnic and drinks so we only need to pay for the entrance and ice creams which are reasonably priced compared to other places we’ve been to recently.  It’s such a great place to take the kids and one of the best things for me is that it’s completely fenced so you know the little darlings can’t escape haha.

Prices for a child in the adventure park is £5.75* however this is cheaper if you are already booked to do an activity like the ringos.  Under 2’s go free.  Adults cost £3.25 and this turns into a voucher which can be redeemed against drinks or ice creams.

My only advice if taking younger children is to be close by and to note that the pirate ship has very steep steps inside.  Please also avoid taking any glass into the park and I’d recommend trainers are best worn for kids.

For more information including activity prices and kids parties, please visit Snowtrax.

*Prices and specific details were correct at the time of writing in August 2024.