Our holiday to our beloved Lyme Bay in Dorset during half-term saw us return to many of our favourite places; West Bay, Bridport, Abbotsbury Swannery, Lyme Regis and a recent addition; Pecorama.
Pecorama is a beautiful place set high on the hillside above Beer, on the western side of Lyme Bay in Devon. Commanding wonderful views over the coastline that quite frankly could compete with the views from the Terrace of Infinity in Ravello, the cultivated gardens and play areas are also home to one of the best miniature steam railways we've been on.
We first went there two years ago when The Boy was just two years old and he loved it then, but various parts were of minimal interest then due to his age. This time around however he couldn't get enough of the different garden rooms (including the shell grotto in the moon room), the many play areas and of course the very detailed railway known as the Beer Heights Light Railway.
The key thing is that the railway is not just a track laid down around the gardens; there is a long and winding tunnel, there are stations with platforms and picket fences, bridges, sidings, signal and control boxes with amusing names, and all the employees really take on the roles well. It's a truly magical experience.
Pecorama isn't just about the railway for children though, there is a huge play area (with picnic benches nearby) which facilitates children from toddling to around eight years of age, then there is a pirate ship play area, and an older children play zone with monkey bars, climbing walls and a zip wire. The Boy refuses to ignore age guidelines though, especially if there is a zip wire involved!
And to finish off, no trip to Pecorama would be complete without examining and playing with the interactive exhibition of model railways!
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