Top UK Easter egg hunts for all the family

From castles to Roman Villas and organic farms - the Easter bunny certainly gets around. Easter egg hunts and trails have come a long way and you can find them in the most unusual locations. If you want to combine a family day out with a bit of detective work - simply find your location from some of the most exciting destinations in the UK. So get cracking!

Cornwall

Wildlife Easter Trail
When: Saturday 11 April 2009
Where: Holme Hall, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, DN16 3RE T
Details: Join Woodland Valley Farm for a family trail through the woods, looking for clues and answering questions. Easter egg prize for all who complete the trail. Refreshments for purchase to include hot & cold drinks, biscuits, bacon rolls (using home reared organic bacon) or cheese rolls (using locally produced organic cheese). There will be animals to see along the trail. Activity table for busy hands to make some wildlife related crafts.
Times: 10am - 3pm
Contact: Please book your place by emailing joannawallis@sky.com or by phoning 01726 882943. OS Explorer Map 105, Grid Reference - 908519.
Price: £3.00 adults, £2.50 children

Cumbria

The Great Peter Rabbit Easter Egg Hunt
When: 8 April until all the eggs are found!
Where: Lake District
Details: This is set to be the North of England’s biggest ever Easter egg hunt to celebrate the 100 year anniversary since the final Peter Rabbit tale was written. The eggs will be hidden across more than 6,000 square kilometres of parks and public places but don’t worry, a map will be released on the website on 8 April with clues and riddles to help you find the eggs. There are plenty of amazing prizes including free visits to the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, copies of The Peter Rabbit Easter Egg Hunt book and you might even win a five day family break to Low Wood Hotel on the shores of Lake Windermere.
Times: Whenever suits you!
Contact: 01539 822222, http://www.golakes.co.uk/
Price: Free

North Yorkshire

Easter at Ripley Castle
When: Sat 11 - Mon 13 Apr 2009
Where: Ripley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 3AY
Details:  A fun and exciting Easter egg hunt for all the family in this historic building
Times:  10:00 to 16:00
Contact: 01423 770152, www.ripleycastle.co.uk
Price: £8.00 adults; £7.50 concession; £5.00 children 

Gloucestershire

Easter at Chedworth Roman Villa
When: Friday 10, Saturday 11, Sunday 12 and Monday 13 April 2009
Where: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. GL54 3LJ
Details: The National Trust-maintained remains are one of Britain's largest Romano-British villas, featuring surviving mosaics, bath-houses and latrines. Clues will be scattered around the National Trust's Chedworth Roman Villa, when visitors will be able to follow a special Easter egg trail to win a chocolate prize.
Times: Open from 10am to 5pm, tickets for the trail will cost
Contact: Telephone (01242) 890256
Price: Tickets for the trail will cost £1.50 in additional to normal admission

Northern Ireland

Easter adventure at Creggan Country Park
When: 11 April
Where: Creggan Country Park, Westway, Derry, BT48 9NU
Details: For an action packed Easter egg hunt visit Creggan Country Park Watersports, Outdoor Pursuits and Angling Centre. Explore the fields and weave through the forests throughout the park following the clues. Just in case this doesn’t tire the littleuns out there’s a wide range of activities on offer in including orienteering, sailing and nature trails.
Times: From 1pm
Contact: 02871 36313, www.creggancountrypark.com
Price: £5 per person

Ireland

Easter inside the Aillwee Cave
When: 12–13 April 2009
Where: Aillwee Cave, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, Ireland
Details: If you’re bored of hiding eggs in the garden then a prehistoric cave might make for a more interesting Easter egg hunt location. Search for eggs and explore the lengthy Aillwee cave with a tour through caverns, over bridged chasms, beside waterfalls and beneath weird and wonderful rock formations – chocolate may be the last thing on your child’s mind.
Times: 10am – 5.30pm
Contact: +353 (0)65 7077036, www.aillweecave.ie
Price: Adult £15.80, child £9.30, OAPs/students £13.90, family from £36.30

Isle of Wight

Easter Egg Trail
When: 13 April
Where: The Needles Old Battery, West High Down, Alum Bay, PO39 0JH
Details: Discover the Needles Old Battery, a Victorian coastal defence and secret rocket testing site perched high above the Needles Rocks. Crack the clues around the Battery to find Cadbury’s chocolate eggs – you could use the old look-out tower to help you and to appreciate the views over the Needles if you get a moment’s peace!
Time: 10.30am – 5pm
Contact: 01983 754772, email: needlesoldbattery@nationaltrust.org.uk
Price: Gift Aid Admission (Standard Admission prices in brackets): £4.85 (£4.40), child £2.45 (£2.20), family (2 adults and children 5-17) £12.10 (£11). Groups (£4.10). £1.50 per trail sheet for each child taking part.

Lincolnshire

The Great Pink Pig Easter Egg Hunt
When: Monday 6 April 2009 - Sunday 12 April 2009
Where: Holme Hall, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, DN16 3RE T
Details: Pink Pig Organics will be holding Easter egg hunts along with meeting the lambs, curly coated pigs, bunnies, geese, ducks, goats, guineas and alpacas. There will also be 'hairy chick' making workshops each day from 11-12.
Times: 9.30am-5.30pm Mon-Sat and 10am-4pm on Sunday
Contact: Telephone: 01724 844466, www.pinkpigorganics.co.uk
Price: The day will cost £3 per person 2yrs+

London

Easter at London Wetland Centre
When: Saturday 4th April - Sunday 19th April 2009
Where: WWT London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes, London, W13 9WT                                                                                               Details:  Kids can take part in a series of fun duck related activities over the Easter at the London Wetland Centre, including a workshop to build a flying machine to transport a toy duckling. Children can also make a feather to add to the London Wetland Centre's giant duck model, and also learn more about the growth of ducklings in the egg handling sessions.
Times:  11.30am and 3pm
Contact: 020 8409 4400
Price: FREE

Easter trail at Kenwood
When: Friday 10th April - Monday 13th April 2009
Where: Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, London, NW3 7JR                      Details:  Kids will have a whale of a time spending Easter at Kenwood House, as they scramble around the parkland on the magnificent English Heritage property. With no booking necessary this is the perfect ad hoc event for kids and family. Plus: Brewing magnate, Edward Cecil Guinness, first Earl of Iveagh, bought Kenwood House in 1925. It contains an important collection of paintings, including works by Rembrandt, Turner, Reynolds, Gainsborough and Vermeer.
Times: 11.30am and 3pm
Contact: 020 8348 1286.
Price: The trails costs £1.00 per child

Scotland

1000 eggs at Paxton House
When: 12 April 2009
Where: Paxton House, Berwick upon Tweed, TD15 1SZ
Details: There will no shortage of entertainment or chocolate at Paxton House where 1,000 eggs have been hidden throughout the grounds. There will also be the 14th Great Border Egg roll, egg decorating and Easter mask making. If you get chance for a little culture you can also explore the inside of Paxton house – a stunning 18th century country house on the banks of the River Tweed with 12 period rooms and a gallery with 70 paintings from the National Galleries of Scotland.
Times: House: 11am – 5pm, Garden: 10am – sunset
Contact: 01289 386291, http://www.paxtonhouse.co.uk/
Price: For the grounds only: Adults £4, children £2, family £10. House and grounds: Adults £7, children £3.50, family £18

Easter at Falkirk Wheel
When: Throughout the Easter holidays
Where: The Falkirk Wheel, Lime Road, Tamfourhill, Falkirk, FK1 4RS
Details: Falkirk Wheel is the world’s first and only rotating boat lift – an experience that will delight all children. This Easter there will also be an Easter Treasure Hunt on-site every day with prizes galore. Little ones can also try their hand at egg decorating or on April 12 take a special Easter Egg Express boat trip on the Falkirk Wheel where they can step ashore and roll their eggs back down the hill.
Times: Boat times: 11.10am, 11.50am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.10pm, 2.50pm, 3.50pm, 4.10pm (for Easter Egg Express: 9.50 am, 10.30am, 11.10am)
Contact: Book a place online www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk, or call 08700 500 208
Price: Boat trip: Adults £7.85, children £5 (for Easter Egg Express: £6, children £3)

Sussex

Easter Bunny Trail at Borde Hill Garden
When: Wed 1 to Thurs 30 April 2009
Where: Borde Hill Garden, Balcombe Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1XP
Details:  Discover the hidden Easter Bunnies and get a chocolate egg reward. Throughout April at these beautiful gardens there's a 'word maze' at for 7-12-year-olds and a 'picture maze' for the littluns, and naturally, everyone gets a chocolate egg at the end of it all. Meanwhile, mums and dads can admire the flowering camellias and magnolias.
Times:  11am - 4pm
Contact: Susan Lewis. Tel: 01444 450326, www.bordehill.co.uk
Price: Entry to the Garden, which includes the Easter activities and the Pirates Adventure Playground, is £7.50 per adult, £6.50 Senior Citizens and £4.00 per child. Friend’s of Borde Hill Garden receive free Garden and Playground entry throughout the season 2009, tickets cost £22.00 per adult and £13.00 per child.

Wales

Easter at Dolaucothi Gold Mines
When: 10-13 April 2009
Where: Pumsaint, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire SA19 8US
Details:  There's fun for everyone at Dolaucothi Goldmines this Easter. Hunt for Easter eggs and try your luck at gold panning - anything you find at these ancient gold mines, used since Roman times, is yours to keep! There are also two great family farm walks where you’ll be able to watch the farm’s herd being milked.
Times:  11am - 4pm
Contact: 01558 650177, http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Price: Gift Aid Admission (Standard Admission prices in brackets): £3.40 (£3.09), child £1.70 (£1.54), family (2 adults & 2 children) £8.50 (£7.72). Groups (£3) plus £1.50 for the trail

Easter bunny hunt at Caldicot Castle
When: 1-30 April 2009
Where: Caldicot Castle, Church Road, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, NP26 4HU
Details: Search every crook and cranny of the castle’s medieval walls for Easter bunnies. There are also five acres of gardens and a wooded park to investigate so keeping the family occupied shouldn’t be a problem. There are lots more Easter activities going on throughout the month including an Easter Egg decorating workshop, 14 April, and an Easter Bunny, Chick and Lamb workshop, 16 April.
Times: 11am – 5pm
Contact: 01291 420241, www.caldicotcastle.co.uk
Price: Castle admission: adults £3.75, all concessions £2.50, family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £12, under 5’s free.