There are child-friendly Easter egg trails at the main family attractions all over the country. Here at BFB we recommend you pick one where your child can gobble up all that excess chocolate-powered energy. Here’s our pick of the Easter eggs trails and events on offer around the country this weekend.

Egg Rolling

As a mum of two busy boys I love the idea of the egg rolling competition, as long as it’s not one of them tumbling out of control down Devil’s Dyke! To enter you need to bring your own hand-decorated, hard-boiled egg. The egg that rolls the furthest down the Dyke valley wins. There are prizes too for the best decorated egg.
Easter Egg rolling Competition at Devil’s Dyke, West Sussex 5 April, 10.45-12pm

Historic Hunting
For historic hunting outings where you can combine stately glamour, a fine tea and plenty of distractions for the kids, The National Trust has a number of beautiful places to search for eggs.
The beautiful Attingham Park in Shropshire 2-5 April 10am – 4pm has Cadbury Easter egg trails, egg trails over the weekend. Hunt for clues and chocolate around the estate and other fun activites such as face-painting and a huge colouring wall.  Normal admission charges plus £2.50 event charge.

April Fool’s Day

This is not strictly an Easter event but a goodie for the kids. Corfe Castle in Dorset is celebrating the day of jest and jokes. There will be stilt walking and jugglers in the morning and a fools’ school of juggling and circus skills in the afternoon all set in the beautiful and majestic runis of the castle. Normal admission charges apply. April Fool’s jester day 1 April 11.30am – 3.30pm. For more information please call 01929 481294.

Egg Hunting
Join Peter Rabbit and his friends on 31 March for the biggest Easter Egg Hunt in the North.  Over 100 handmade ceramic eggs have been hidden across Cumbria. Find an egg and you win tickets to visit the World of Beatrix Potter. Download a map on the day and get hunting.

Treehouse Towers opens
In London over Easter? Kew Gardens  unveils their new outdoor play area for kids aged 3-11: Treehouse Towers features giant swings, zip wires, scramble nets and slides. A free Easter egg hunt takes place on 4 April, 9.30am to 12.30pm. If it’s raining and you’re in need of a welcome sit-down activity, go see the free puppet show, The Life of A Tree, every day in Climbers & Creepers, their indoor play area for kids (2 -5 April, 9 -12 April and 15 -18 April.) For crafty kids there are free drop-in arts and crafts workshops  and face-painting happening over the Easter weekend and school holidays.

Get lost in Chatsworth
There are Easter events running all weekend and during the school holidays at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. But the real treasure in the Chatsworth’s 450 year old garden is the maze. Get lost and run off steam in the famous labyrinth. As well as the fun of the maze, there’s plenty more on offer for little ones including a small farm with petting sessions, an adventure playground and a lovely Farmyard cafe for a relaxing tea after all the excitement.

(Images by Stuart Cox and David Levenson, The National Trust)

Are you planning days out this Easter? Let us know your best and worst family days out in the comments below. We would love to hear from you.

Gone are the days when festivals were dangerous, edgy experiences. You’re more likely to trip over a Phil and Ted buggy than an acid casualty as today’s family friendly summer festivals. Modern festival going is geared up for families and there’s plenty to keep busy pre-schoolers entertained. If the idea of lounging in a field surrounded by friendly faces with brilliant music, arts and delicious food just a short stroll way sounds good, then get booking now for the summer.

Here’s the BFB guide to the top 5 family festivals of 2010:
(Listed in date order)
Latitude – 15 – 18 July, Henman Park, Suffolk. Latitude is back for its 5th year, mixing pop with poetry and renowned for its kid friendly atmosphere. Tickets on sale from 9 March.
Port Eliot – 23 – 25 July 2010, the festival for literary lovers on a grand stately home in Cornwall. This year they’re planning a huge play area featuring magic and puppet shoes for kids, along with an eclectic mix of music and the arts.
£130 adult, £50 for child 8-15 years
The Big Chill – 5 – 8 August, this iconic multimedia festival, set in the beautiful Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire is a fixed date in many festival-goers summer diary, many of which are now returning with their kids in tow. The Big Chill is a firm family favourite. Tickets not on sale yet
Camp Bestival – 30 July – 1 August, Lulworth Castle, Dorset. Expect to see everything from Calvin Harris to Billy Bragg, the English National Opera, to an insect circus and even Mr Tumble. Camp Bestival’s Castle Stage, Magic Meadow and huge Kids Fields wows both parents and kids with their eclectic, imaginative and inventive line-up. The best festival for young families.  £155 adult, kids 11-17 £77.50
The Green Man - 20, 21, 22 August is a mellow, alternative, folk-ish festival set in a breath-taking setting in the Brecon Beacons. The Green Man has always welcomed families and there’s masses of action for kids, from walking with the Druids, to wishing on magic trees.  £150 adults, children under 12 for free.