MY first family holiday in Cumbria in 1979 was to a pretty caravan site on the banks on the River Lowther, where red squirrels skipped across the rooftops in the hunt for nibbles.

We visited at least once a year when I was a teenager and my affection for this stunning corner of the country grew. These days we try to get up the Lakes' at least once every couple of years and this time around we stayed at Haven Holidays' Lakeland park at Flookburgh, just along Morecambe Bay from the quaint seaside resort of Grange over Sands.

Flat as a pancake, the site is ideal for cycling, jogging, walking and kids' scooter-ing. There's a nature trail and new nine hole golf course while caravan owners benefit from an exclusive health suite with gym.

The indoor pool is a big draw, and most mornings we'd look out of the window to see groups of youngsters passing by with rolled up towels under their arms.

Daily kids' clubs offer activities for energetic nippers and, when the sun goes down, the enthusiastic Funstars are back in action with shows, laughs and bingo in the Showbar.

The place was packed for Haven's Got Talent, which featured dancers, a Dennis the Menace impersonator and a cute five-year-old belting out Consider Yourself from Oliver complete with Cockney accent.

Our home for four nights was a Prestige two-bedroomed caravan with plenty of storage space, TV and DVD player, large shower and well-equipped kitchen. The heating was much appreciated on a couple of chilly Northern nights.

Lakeland is well placed for many family attractions in the Southern Lakes. Bowness on Windermere is around half an hour's drive away - our route took us past the Cartmel Sticky Pudding factory (yum!) and the impressive Holker Hall and Gardens.

A must see in Bowness is The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction (www.hop-skip-jump.com), which charts the life and work of the much-loved author through a series of charming, almost huggable, displays. The Tailor of Gloucester tearoom downstairs is worth popping into, especially for the soups of the day and wide range of cakes on offer. Well, we were on holiday...

We also visited the Aquarium of the Lakes (www.aquariumofthelakes.co.uk), at the bottom end of Windermere - England's largest lake. Five-year-old Nicholas was particularly fond of the playful otters and an aloof caiman.

Further afield is the bustling town of Keswick, home of the Cumberland Pencil Museum (www.pencilmuseum.co.uk). Adults and kids alike tackled quizzes (the prize was two rather smart metallic pencils) and marvelled at the World War Two pencils hiding a tiny map and compass.

Our last day was spent in brilliant sunshine at the Brockhole National Park Centre (www.lake-district.gov.uk), which has an adventure playground you'll struggle to drag the kids away from, and popular National Trust beauty spot Tarn Hows. Plenty of people were picnicking by the tarns but peace and solitude are easy to find if you follow the well-marked paths. We'll be back...

=Lakeland Holiday Park is one of 35 Haven Holidays Parks. They offer a choice of self-catering accommodation available from the luxurious prestige range through to the more economical standard holiday homes.

Prices include entertainment and use of the facilities on the park.

A short break in superior' accommodation in early July starts at £249 for a family of up to six - but check the website for the latest special offers and early booking deals.

For full details, special offers and immediate bookings visit www.haven.com, call 0871 230 1900 or phone the park direct on 01539 558 556.

If you'd like to own your own holiday home at Lakeland check out www.havenholidayhomes.co.uk or call 0871 230 1299.