by Anna Selby

We are sadly disadvantaged in this country by having the fewest public holidays in Europe. So it's no wonder then that most of us love to make the most of half-terms and bank holidays to escape for a long weekend. For such a short time, no one wants to travel too far or face a major feat of organisation looking for child-friendly hotels and appealing local activities to suit all ages. And with the unpredictable British weather to take into account, finding fun that won't get rained off is quite a conundrum.

Bearing all this in mind, eight-year-old Christian and I decided to try the Oasis holiday village in the beautiful countryside of Cumbria. There were a number of obvious attractions. There was a wide range of activities to suit us both, a choice of restaurants but also a fully equipped kitchen, lots of sparkling fresh air and wildlife for our jaded city souls and plenty to do inside even if it rained solidly for three days.

I didn't want to drive such a long way for such a short time and, when you get to Oasis, cars are banned anyway inside its 400 acres except for unloading your belongings on arrival. Instead, we took the train from London Euston to Penrith, had lunch, read books and gazed for the last hour of the three and a half hour journey at the spectacular scenery. Oasis is just a short taxi ride away from the station.

You don't, in fact, need to take too many belongings with you as the apartments and lodges come fully equipped and with lots of finishing touches - a cafetiere for proper coffee, an ironing board, satellite television, a dishwasher and a spa bath amongst them. You can choose from a one-bedroom apartment (delux apartments overlook the lake) to a lodge with up to four bedrooms in natural woodland.

The natural setting is a delight for city kids - Christian was lost in wonder at the huge fungi growing all over the woods and was thrilled to spot a red squirrel, having only seen grey ones in London. Because it is traffic free, Oasis is a safe place for children to get around under their own steam. So Christian hired a mountain bike and was soon negotiating his own way from the lake - for a morning of Swallows and Amazons learning windsurfing, sailing and kayaking - over to the Country Club sports centre to meet me after my fencing lesson. We then went together on the Mini-Beast Hunt with the ranger to discover the creepie-crawlies on the woodland floor.

Walking through the wood, while Christian and the other children were peering under sticks and stones, we came across a group of red and white spotted toadstools about which the ranger was a mine of information. Their hallucinogenic properties were prized by the Lapps who preferred to take them after they had first been processed through their reindeers. By the time the hallucinogenic urine was ready, it was winter, the snow was banked up against the doors, and the only way for the distiller of this extraordinary concoction to deliver it to his customers was by going down the hole in the roof that passed for a chimney. And here, the ranger assured us, was the origin of the preferred means of entry for Father Christmas.

In the centre of the holiday village is its star attraction - World of Water, and that was where we were going to spend the afternoon. This is a breathtaking series of interconnecting pools and water rides under a high glass canopy where the light and warmth ensure a summery atmosphere whatever the weather outside. There is one pool dedicated to serious swimmers but most people are there for the fun - water curtains, waves, spa pools, rapids inside and out, and the Falling Rapids ride. There is a café next to the children's pools so you don't need to leave all day if your children get hooked - and it's almost inevitable that they will.

We finally tore ourselves away in time for dinner - you can stay until 9pm - but we had a pressing engagement at the Hard Rock Café. Our food was excellent - fajitas for me, double hot dog for Christian, all in mammoth servings - but what makes the Hard Rock special is, of course, the atmosphere. The walls are lined with costumes worn by Madonna and Prince and the music videos are non-stop rock'n'roll from every era. "Look," he said. "It's Elvis the king." How could he know that, I wondered. "Wow, it was made in 1960. Not even Grandma was alive then."

The next morning while Christian went to the Funky Foxes children's club - games, art, cooking and a nature walk - I decided to go for some serious pampering. The new spa at Oasis has steam rooms, saunas, a hydrotherapy suite, aromatherapy, massage and the first rasul in the UK - an ancient Arab treatment combining organic mud with a herbal steam bath. I had a dry flotation therapy, in which wrapped in restorative mud and blankets, I floated on a deliciously relaxing warm water bed. This was followed by a luxury facial, using the excellent E'Spa range of beauty products. Fully restored, I collected Christian for the next round of activities. We tried ice skating, mini-golf, Le Mans Scalextric, American pool and took in a family show. With more time, we could have tried archery, scuba diving, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, volleyball, riding, quadbiking, fishing, rock climbing or a balloon ride - the possibilities really are endless.

Younger children, too, have plenty of activities, play areas and clubs and the youngest (from three months) can be cared for in the kindergarten while you practise your backhand. From eight years upwards, children can go to the World of Water on their own and, riding their bikes through the woods, most of them will probably be experiencing an unparalleled sense of freedom.

Oasis bookings: 08705 086 000. Depending on the season, prices start at £199 for a family of four having a four-night midweek break.

Anna and Christian travelled from London to Penrith on Virgin Trains. For information and bookings, call 0845 7222 333 (open 8am to 10pm) or visit www.virgin.com.