Short breaks close to home

For pony-mad youngsters there’s a saving of £150 on one-week Pony Trekking & Riding holidays beginning 1 August at three PGL adventure centres – Boreatton Park (Shropshire), Little Canada (Isle of Wight) and Caythorpe Court (Lincolnshire).

Aimed at beginners, the holiday includes six half-days of riding instruction and time for bonding with their four-legged-friend on essential tasks such as grooming. The other six half-days are spent enjoying a huge range of on-site multi activities, from abseiling to kayaking.

The new price is £390 per child for age ranges seven-to-10 and 10-to-13 years at Boreatton Park and Little Canada, plus seven-to-10s at Caythorpe Court. As well as riding and activities, also included is full-board residential accommodation and a full programme of evening entertainment. For more information visit pgl.co.uk.

Family owned narrowboat company Kate Boats is celebrating its 25th anniversary by adding to its 20-boat fleet with the launch of Jemima, a five-star boat sleeping up to six in style. In a departure from tradition, Jemima is painted silver rather than in the traditional canal colours of red, green and black. She is 58 feet long and equipped with a high-tech galley, a large shower cubicle and even an electric lavatory!

Seven nights’ hire of Jemima this August costs from £1292, with a week in September from £964. This includes all the fuel needed to explore along the Grand Union and other canals for a week, plus energy for heating, light and cooking, bedding, free parking at Kate Boats’ base, initial instruction, canal licence and buoyancy aids. For more information and bookings, visit katecanalboats.co.uk.

For couples seeking a tranquil break during August, Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire has availability – and some special offers - on a selection of bolt-holes in this peaceful corner of South Wales.

For example, Hen Bwthyn is a traditional cottage – with inglenook, beamed ceilings and slate floors - quietly situated in the village of Mathry near the beaches at Abercastle and Abermawr. For weeks commencing 1, 15 and 22 August, the price is reduced from £666 to £600.

Other properties for two available include 2 Gaddarn Reach, a first-floor apartment overlooking the marina in Brunel Quay with balcony for watching the world pass by - £473 in August, or Church Cottage, a barn conversion in the village of Hayscastle with farm walks from the door and St Bride’s Bay a 10-minute drive - £562 in August.

For more information and bookings, visit Coastalcottages.co.uk.