It’s 75 years since Enid Blyton’s Famous Five went to Treasure Island… Here’s where to recreate the magic
Take part in a giant picnic party, explore underground tunnels or go for a bracing sea swim
THIS year marks 75 years since The Famous Five set off for Treasure Island in the first of the hugely-popular Enid Blyton series.
In the story, Julian, Dick, Anne, George and their dog Timmy found a shipwreck of Kirrin Island and went off in search of treasure.
The first book and the following adventures of the gang went on to become some of the most read tales in British history.
The books were the stuff childhood dreams were made of, with plenty of outdoor games.
Racing along underground tunnels, swimming in the sea and climbing trees were all part of the fun.
If you fancy recreating some of the magic this summer, including the famous picnics, there are plenty of ways to recreate the magic in the UK.
Here are VisitEngland’s top tips to enjoy your own wild, outdoor adventures, as summer is fast approaching (lashings of ginger beer optional).
Go for a bracing wild swim
The Famous Five love a sea swim in Treasure Island, when the boys find out that their cousin George is much faster and stronger than them.
There are plenty of spots across England to indulge in a back to nature, chlorine-free swimming experience.
For a gentle introduction for children, try (free) which are part-natural pool filled by Atlantic tides.
Or in Cumbria you can (from £30) where they offer a range of wild swimming experiences in local rivers and lakes.
For a wilder adventure (experienced swimmers only) (free) in Devon is famous for its unusual natural arch, created over centuries by the crashing waves.
Have a tasty picnic
Nothing says The Famous Five more than a hearty picnic, with ham sandwiches, boiled eggs, plum pie and, of course, lashings of ginger beer.
On August 11, which would be Enid Blyton’s birthday, four RHS Gardens - Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Hyde Hall in Essex and Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire - will be holding a giant picnic party to mark the occasion.
It’s all part of a series in partnership with Enid Blyton Entertainment and Hodder Children’s Books.
The scheme aims to bring to life the much-loved values of The Famous Five: friendship, heroism, adventure, outdoors and daring.
Each garden will offer family activities including themed adventure trails, writing workshops, garden displays, immersive theatre, craft workshops and storytelling.
Go searching for smugglers in underground tunnels
A mysterious tunnel is the epitome of a Famous Five adventure.
Recreate the intrigue at (from £8.50 per child and £13.50 per adult for a mine tour), an underground experience deep inside the 2,126 feet high Fleetwith Pike near Keswick, Cumbria.
Following the route of the original mine workings, each guided adventure lasts around two hours and leads groups of up to 12 people led deep underground to explore a secret world of hidden passages and caves.
Alternatively, try (Adults £4, children £1.50), which is a subterranean enclave of winding tunnels decorated with 2000 sq. ft. of mosaics made out of cockle, whelk, mussel and oyster shells.
Follow in the Five’s footsteps in Blyton country
Dorset’s Purbeck Coast plays a starring role in the Famous Five series and has its very own.
Follow in the Five’s footsteps on a trip to , the inspiration for Kirrin Castle (Adults £9.90; children £4.95 or free to National Trust members) by from Swanage (return tickets £12.50 for adults and £7.60 for children), then explore the ruins.
Hop on the boat to – re-imagined as Whispering Island by Blyton – with its lakes, wildlife and heath-land.
There’s now even the chance for there, accessed via a 20-30 minute walk from the boat dock, or by kayaking, sailing or paddling straight to the south shore campsite from the mainland.
Learn the art of bushcraft
Building dens and lighting fires risk becoming a lost art, but there are plenty of ways brush up on your survival skills.
offers a range of off-grid bushcraft, fishing and kayaking experiences near the banks of the River Dart.
With no electricity or running water at camp, it’s proper back-to-nature stuff (two-day self-catered camp from £135 per child and £175 per adult).
In The New Forest National Park, there is also the first permanent wild play site, the , which encourages children to interact with nature through activities like den building and tracing animal tracks.
Watch out for pirates on the ‘Island of Adventure’
Just a short boat ride from the mainland, the Isle of Wight used to be awash with smugglers, spies and pirates.
New at for 2017, visitors can discover an underwater cave and abandoned sunken shipwreck (from £19.50 off peak, kids aged four and under go free).
Or for a true pirate experience, head to (free) on July 2 and help defend the island from pirates.
Get on yer bike
Cycling specialist has launched a new luxury Enid Blyton tour to mark the anniversary.
The family-friendly adventure starts in the village of Studland and, over five days, visits many of the Dorset sights and places that were loved by Blyton and featured in her stories, such as Corfe Castle, Kimmeridge Bay, Lulworth Cove and Stair Hole. Accommodation is at Knoll House Hotel, which was a favoured holiday spot for Enid Blyton in the 1960s.
Prices from £975 per person including breakfast, dinner, accommodation, bike hire and luggage transfers.
For a more spur-of-the-moment cycle, check out the cycling guides or a National trust cycle route.