Winning tip: puffin-watching in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland<\/p>\n
Last April, I based myself in Oban and took my teenagers puffin-watching at Lunga, off Mull, in the Treshnish Isles, with an organised tour (Staffa Tours<\/a>) by ferry and foot. It was a real delight. The guides were brilliant and helpful, especially with my mobility issues, and we were surprised and amazed at how tame and friendly the puffins were \u2013 allowing us to get great views of their faces from as near as 5ft or so. Next spring, we are going again as this is the best time to see them arriving in their thousands. ProfileReaders’ tips: send a tip for a chance to win a \u00a3200 voucher for a Coolstays breakShow<\/p>\n Guardian Travel readers’ tips<\/p>\n Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers’ tips homepage<\/a><\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Thank you for your feedback.<\/p>\n Stunning architecture in the heart of Surrey\u2018A National Trust gem\u2019 \u2026 Homewood, architect Patrick Gwynne\u2019s 1930s villa with a woodland garden, in Esher. Photograph: BritPics\/Alamy<\/p>\n Grade I-listed Claremont Landscape Garden<\/a> near Esher is great to visit in spring. But time your trip there right and you can also visit a National Trust gem just half a mile away: the Homewood<\/a>, architect Patrick Gwynne\u2019s 1930s modernist villa and accompanying woodland garden (for pre-booked guided tours only on specific Fridays and Saturdays, April-October). The house itself is stunning, with light pouring through the sitting room\u2019s floor to ceiling windows, but on a sunny spring day the garden, complete with rhododendron tunnel, bamboo thicket, water gardens and stepping stones, proves a tranquil spot in which to linger and view the Le Corbusier-inspired abode. Sheffield\u2019s Tudor turretThe Turret House at Sheffield Manor Lodge. Photograph: Phil Wolstenholme\/Alamy<\/p>\n One of our favourite days out as a family in spring is to explore the beautiful Sheffield Manor Lodge<\/a>. There is a wealth of history to explore in the Turret \u2013 my young daughter loves telling everyone who\u2019ll listen that Mary, Queen of Scots was detained here. There are also children\u2019s trails, outdoor games and craft sessions \u2013 we\u2019ve made stained glass kites, learned about a frog\u2019s life cycle, had Easter egg hunts and completed outdoor yoga trails. On a warm spring afternoon, it is a stunning place \u2013 with a lavender maze, apothecary gardens, wildflower meadows and the amazing rhubarb shed cafe. Artistic treasure hunt on the North York MoorsHanging Stones by Andy Goldsworthy in Rosedale. Photograph: Julian Broad\/Ross Foundation<\/p>\n This magical mystery tour combines fresh air, beautiful, wild landscapes and art. The project is called Hanging Stones<\/a> by Andy Goldsworthy, and it\u2019s set in Rosedale. Several buildings that were in varying states of disrepair have been rebuilt as artworks and are connected by a six-mile walk encompassing Northdale, near Rosedale Abbey<\/a>. You have to book a slot to find out where the key is, which you will pick up, together with a map, to get started. It\u2019s the treasure hunt style that will get even the youngest in the group excited about the walk, allowing the adults to do something they wouldn\u2019t otherwise dream of doing with children: admiring art and going for a decent walk. The cost is \u00a310 per adult, while students and under-18s go free. Dazzling azaleas in GloucestershireSpringtime at Westonbirt Arboretum. Photograph: PA Images\/Alamy<\/p>\n I always take my family to Westonbirt Arboretum<\/a> near Tetbury in spring to celebrate the beautiful spectacle of nature exploding into a kaleidoscope of colour and life. The Arboretum is a breathtaking place, especially under a sunny sky. The well-marked paths mean you can easily wander through its 245 hectares (600 acres) and enjoy the fresh air filled with the delicate scent of blooming cherry blossoms. With more than 15,000 specimens and 2,500 species of trees and shrubs from across the globe, it serves as a stunningly beautiful living gallery. In spring, the arboretum dazzles with azaleas and rhododendrons bursting into brilliant shades of white, red and pink. My teenagers especially enjoy exploring the treetop walkway and quiet woodland trails \u2013 and a treat of tea and cake at the well-positioned cafe at the end of it all. Wild garlic and lily ponds in Pembrokeshire\u2018You might spot an otter or a heron\u2019 \u2026 at Bosherston Lakes. Photograph: Edward Dyer\/Alamy<\/p>\n For a springtime lift, head to Bosherston Lakes<\/a> set in three limestone valleys with spectacular displays of lilies. Start in ancient woodlands, where there\u2019s a shimmering, scented carpet of white wild garlic. It feels like a fairytale. Emerge at the serene lily ponds, where you might spot an otter or a heron, then follow the path to Broad Haven South<\/a>. The moment you hit the dunes and see the beach open up is one of the finest coastal views in the UK. Finish with tea and cake at the nearby Stackpole Walled Gardens<\/a>; it\u2019s run by Mencap, so your pit stop supports a fantastic cause while you soak up the Pembrokeshire sunshine. Kites fluttering in the Chiltern skies\u2018Really joyful\u2019 \u2026 A kite festival at Dunstable Downs in Bedfordshire. Photograph: PA Images\/Alamy<\/p>\n My favourite UK spring activity is flying kites with my family in the Dunstable Downs<\/a>. The open hills and steady breeze make it the perfect spot to let our kites dance in the sky. There\u2019s something really joyful about watching the colours flutter along with other kite-flyers. After some fun, we spread out a picnic blanket and enjoy homemade treats while soaking up the sunshine and taking in the beautiful views. It\u2019s such a simple but special way to spend a bright spring day together outdoors. A memorable walk in the Cotswolds\u2018The perfect example of an idyllic Cotswolds village\u2019 \u2013 Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire. Photograph: Ivan Okyere-Boakye Photography\/Alamy<\/p>\n The circular walk <\/a>from Bourton-on-the Water to the Upper and Lower Slaughters provides a buffet of springtime goodness, from trees in blossom and daffodils to wildflowers and nesting swans. Oh, and don\u2019t worry, the Slaughters aren\u2019t as morbid as they sound. They take their name from the Old English word slohtre, meaning \u201cmuddy place\u201d, suggesting suitable footwear is needed. While Bourton-on-the-Water remains a tourist hotspot \u2013 the perfect example of an idyllic Cotswolds village \u2013 the walk towards the Slaughters via the Windrush Way<\/a> and the Gloucestershire Way<\/a> makes for a calming amble soundtracked by rivers and birdsong. Luscious blooms and afternoon tea in DevonKillerton National Trust house and garden. Photograph: Peter\/Alamy<\/p>\n
April<\/p>\n
David M<\/p>\n
Susan<\/p>\n
Annelore<\/p>\n
Nicoletta<\/p>\n
Lucy Coast<\/p>\n
Victoria<\/p>\n
Maxine Harris<\/p>\n