Thinking of a family holiday? Co Mayo is undiscovered country

Summer time and the living is easy, and easier still if you can raid the piggy bank and head off for some well earned rest and relaxation.

If you’ve got children, you’ll be looking for breaks that are big on fun and big on value too. The good news is that there are great options to choose from. They won’t break the piggy bank either, just temporarily lighten his load.

Mayo is an adventure playground, with everything from snorkelling, kayaking and island hopping to walking, cycling and pony trekking on offer.

Stay at the four star Hotel Westport (hotelwestport.ie) to make the most of all of it, and get ease of access to the great new adventure rides being unveiled this summer at its Pirate Adventure Park, on the historic Westport House estate.

As well as family favourites such as the Cannonball Run Slide, Pirate Queen Swinging Ship and Pirates Plunge log flume, there are eight new experiences this year.

These include a Jump Around ride, a mini Ferris wheel and a new Vortex virtual tunnel experience. Children can pan for gems from Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley’s lost treasure chest, hook a duck for prizes or simply wander the new 3.5km walking trail through the park – just the right distance for little legs.

There’s a great new self-guided audio tour to enlighten as you go, telling the story of the characters who have lived and worked there over the centuries. If the weather’s inclement, the mini play village in the coach house is a lifesaver.

As well as the hotel, there’s also the option to bring a tent and stay at the estate’s Camping and Caravan park, a three-star camping ground in the farmyard of the historic house. Check out Gracy’s Pizzeria & Bistro, so you don’t have to cook if you don’t want to.

Of course Hotel Westport is just next door if you prefer even more pampering, with fun club, 20m pool, crazy golf and table tennis for the children. Hotel guests can also enjoy the 400 acres of Westport House estate, its sister property, to ramble.

Opt for a fine dining experience at the hotel’s Islands restaurant and don’t miss the Victorian afternoon tea in the formal surrounds of the drawing room at Westport House – pre-booking essential. While the children are busy at the hotel’s kids club there’s always time for a treatment or three at its Senses Spa. Four-night family stays are available for € 750.

For added value, if you stay either in the hotel or the camping park you get a discount of 25 per cent off a day ticket to the Pirate Adventure Park, or Westport House, plus free entry the next day. Stay a while and hire bikes to cycle the Great Western Greenway, make an attempt on Croagh Patrick, or just enjoy the local beaches.

Staying in magical Mayo, another great option is to book one of the luxury self catering lodges at Mount Falcon Estate (mountfalcon.com), near Ballina.

It has three types of lodge on offer – Courtyard, Lakeside and Woodland – each of which can sleep up to six.

It’s a great base from which to tour the county, including the Céide Fields archaeological site and visitor centre but Mount Falcon has actually got so much to do on site that you might well find yourself not leaving the resort at all.

Activities here include clay pigeon shooting (for adults), falconry, archery and swimming, which make it a great option for those with teenagers. There are also three championship golf courses within an hour’s drive, plus on-site bike hire, a swimming pool and gym. A five-night family stay costs from € 1,100.

Alternatively, opt for stunning Sligo, a fantastic spot for swimming, surfing and stand-up paddle boarding. For another great family option, stay at the Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure Club (sligoparkhotel.com), a family-owned hotel just outside Sligo town which is perfectly positioned for touring some of the wilder parts of the Wild Atlantic Way.

The hotel is set on lovely landscaped gardens, with spectacular views from its bedrooms and a new-look health and leisure club that includes swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and plunge pool.

Located in the heart of Yeats’ Country, the children could not but be impressed by the surrounding countryside – from soaring Benbulben to the dramatic coastlines.

During the summer months there is plenty to keep them occupied including fun activities organised in the pool – including a fun float water slide and games – plus movie nights, an obstacle course and its very own fairy trail.

Half the pleasure of a nice hotel is that of not having to cook and there are plenty of dining options here too. These include Jack B's Bar, the Garden Terrace, and its award-winning Hazelwood Restaurant. Summer family Escape deals at the Sligo Park Hotel include three-night family packages from €459.

Bella Italia

Italy is famously family friendly so if it's abroad you're headed, Topflight (topflight.ie) has great deals to some cracking Italian resorts.

Bella Italia is a buzzing four-star campsite offering hotel, mobile home and bungalow options. It’s right on Lake Garda so has beach swimming, pedalo boats and water sports in addition to all the fun amenities on site. These include swimming pools, playgrounds, sporting pitches and restaurants. It’s also handy for Gardaland, a great theme park just up the road. Prices start from € 669 per person, based on four sharing, in early summer.

For a quieter option that might suit those with older teenagers, check out self-catering accommodation at Hotel Villa Maria, near Desenzano, also on Lake Garda. It has quad rooms and villas that can sleep six, in lovely surroundings just five minutes’ walk from the lake, and 2km from the town of Desenzano, on the southern shore of Lake Garda. Prices here start from € 774 per person, based on four sharing, again in early summer.

Or head inland to the wonderful Camping Village Norcenni, set among the rolling hills and hilltop villages of Tuscany. A large campsite with stunning views out over forested hills, it has a little train to bring residents between its two water complexes. It also has tennis courts, playgrounds and plenty of lovely restaurants, pizzarias, ice cream parlours and creperies.