What on earth can you do with those teenagers on a large family holiday?

Teenagers.

Delightful company.

Until you suggest a wholesome family activity at 9am.

Then apparently you've ruined their life.

But taking teenagers on a multi-generational family holiday can actually be brilliant — particularly when you have something you rarely have at home.

Space.

They don't need entertaining every minute

One of the advantages of a big house holiday is that nobody has to occupy the same room all day.

The adults can talk.

Younger children can play.

Grandparents can find somewhere comfortable.

And teenagers can disappear for a while without actually disappearing very far.

Give them Wi-Fi, somewhere to sit and access to alarming quantities of food and they're remarkably self-sufficient.

Teenagers at High Cloud Farm

Then tempt them out when something genuinely interesting is happening.

Choose experiences worth leaving the sofa for

Fortunately, the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley have plenty of ammunition.

Cycling through the forest.

Canoeing on the Wye.

Exploring caves.

Outdoor adventures.

Castles with properly gruesome history.

Places worth photographing.

Towns to explore.

And, naturally, anywhere involving good food.

Don't insist they love everything.

Give them choices.

They may even surprise you.

Let cousins reconnect

This is one of the loveliest things about a big family getaway.

Cousins who normally meet for a few hours suddenly have days together.

Older teenagers entertain younger ones.

Having fun at River Wye Lodge

They watch films, play games, raid the kitchen and develop jokes none of the adults understand.

Meanwhile, the adults get time together too.

Everybody wins.

Don't force the family fun

You don't need matching jumpers and a compulsory 8am itinerary to create memories.

Often the moments teenagers remember are the accidental ones.

The ridiculous game after dinner.

The midnight kitchen raid.

The walk they complained about and secretly enjoyed.

Grandad telling a story they'd never heard before.

Brining the family together at a BHHL house

Or simply having enough time together for everyone to stop trying quite so hard.

That's what a multi-generational holiday can give you.

Not constant organised family fun.

Just a house full of people, enough space to escape one another occasionally…

…and plenty of reasons to come back together.

Book yours now:

Big House Holiday Lets:
www.bhhl.co.uk
enquiries@bhhl.co.uk
01600 732 050