UK Family Breaks: Moonfleet Manor, Dorset

The manager was dressed casually and this put me at ease straightaway. We’d had a 3½-hour car journey down to just outside Weymouth in Dorset and the kids were bursting with excitement at the prospect of a weekend at Moonfleet Manor one of the five hotels owned by the group Luxury Family Hotels.

As soon as we arrived we were whisked off to The Den, where the kids enjoyed a high-tea buffet with gorgeous dishes such as homemade meatballs, fish and chips, smooth chocolate mousse and fruit salad, served by the lovely ladies from the crèche, with whom our kids formed an instant bond. We also found ourselves with a very welcome glass of wine and a beer in our hands.

The Den is next to the indoor play area, a fabulous space (probably half a football pitch in size) with a raised bar at one end with a seating area where parents can relax and watch their children play. There's a trampoline, table tennis, big chess, big Connect 4, ride-on toys, scooters and a secluded area for computer games, xBox, Playstation and Dreamcast. For us this was great for early evening. I imagine it's also very useful in wet weather, though we were fortunate enough not to have any. 

As well as the indoor area there is an outside play area, an indoor pool, lots of lovely coastal walks and bountiful sea air, which all together mean it is difficult for the kids not to sleep well. Unusually, it was the people without children who seemed to stand out, rather than those with screaming toddlers. 

I wondered why it had taken me to long to come here. It all seemed so simple: you go to a lovely hotel, spend quality time with your kids or put your young ones into the crèche and catch up on that much- needed sleep or enjoy an Indian stone massage (highly recommended). Later sittings in the restaurant with its very good food are kid-free, which was quite a treat (reception runs a baby-listening service).

The hotel itself seemed a little tired in places, and the architecture seemed to lurch from one century to another. But somehow this just added to the charm and character of Moonfleet Manor, plus it meant that we were less worried about the children hurtling around and making a mess. I was truly impressed by the staff and their friendly, relaxed manner, from the manager to the chambermaid, although the stars for us were the crèche nannies, who went out of their way to settle both the children and us!

I'd highly recommend Moonfleet Manor to families (and their dogs - several  families we met had brought theirs). Beautiful sea views, lovely surroundings, wonderful food, great staff, happy children, less stressed parents – who could ask for more?