We all dream of sun-drenched days lasting all summer long, but the reality is that the summer holidays can sometimes prove challenging and rain can occasionally stop play. We’ve compiled a guide to a huge range of places and activities - close to home and further afield - that don’t need suncream or wellies as well as a wide variety of ideas for days when the sun does have his hat on.

■ Summer Film School - Part of Rural Media’s Shoot Out project, Film School returns again this summer holidays offering fantastic opportunities for budding young filmmakers in Herefordshire.

Bigger and better than ever, film school runs from July 26 to August 6, excluding weekends, offering 13-19-year-olds the chance to take part in master classes run by professional script writers, film directors and editors. Film School costs just £75. No experience is needed – just lots of enthusiasm!

To find out more about Shoot Out log onto www.shootout.org.uk or to book a Film School place, call 01432 344039 or email info@shootout.org.uk

■ Glazy Dayz Pottery Cafe/Manic Ceramics in West Street/Green Frog Pottery in Barnards Green, Malvern

For great wet weather entertainment, head for one of the area’s pottery cafes and spend a couple of happy hours with a paintbrush in hand creating a unique piece of pottery – from piggy banks to plates and tiles to teapots. Glazydays Pottery Cafe, Ledbury (Wednesday to Saturday), 01531 636018 or glazydayz.co.uk; Manic Ceramics, West Street, 01432 277712; Green Frog Pottery, Barnards Green, Malvern, 01684 561778 or greenfrogpottery.co.uk

■ Eastnor Castle

The Little Snail Nature Trail July 18 - July 20 Enjoy a walk around the grounds of Eastnor, following a fun children's nature trail devised by the Herefordshire Nature Trust.

Friday, July 23 - The Tempest: The return of The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the nation’s most acclaimed touring theatre company who will perform Shakespeare’s magical last play The Tempest, combining love, comedy and magic in equal measure, on the terrace overlooking the lake. Evening performance at 7.30pm.

(Gates open at 6.30pm) Adults: £18.00; Children (5-15): £10.00 Pre-booking essential on 01531 633160. Please bring your own picnics, low backed chairs, rugs and umbrellas - no gazebos.

Sunday 25 to Thursday 29 July The Flying Potter - devise your own clay creation on a journey of discovery around the castle grounds. This is a new and interactive project by Eastnor's Flying Potter. 'Discovery Pots' will be set at different locations within the grounds and visitors will be enticed to make their own clay creation inspired by their surroundings. These objects will be collected and fired at the studio and exhibited at a later stage. 11.00am - 4.00pm

Sunday 1 to Thursday 5 August Exotic animals of Tropical Inc.

Tropical Inc are back by popular demand for their summer roadshow. Come along to meet and handle snakes, spiders, skunks and many more. 11.00am - 4.00pm Sunday 8 to Thursday 12 Creative arts and crafts with carnival arts Creative model, banners and mask making themed to James and the Giant Peach. 11.00am - 4.00pm Sunday 15 August Sunday 15th Aug - James and the Giant Peach Family open-air theatre, pre-booking essential on 01531 633160.

Performance starts 3pm (Gates open 2pm).

Adult £12 Child £8 Family (2+2) £32 Sunday 15 to Thursday 19 August Wild Play Campfire cookery, den building, bug hunting and messy play with mud, sand and slime! With the Herefordshire Nature Trust and Wild Play Rangers. 11.00am - 4.00pm Monday 23 to Thursday 26 August Wizard Wonky Week. A week of fun, games, magic and balloons with Wizard Wonky. 11.00am - 4.00pm Grounds Only Admission: Adult £5.50 Senior £4.50 Child (5-15yrs) £3.50 Family (2+3) £14.50 Sunday Monday 29/30 August Family treasure hunt. Hunt for the clues, which will take you around the castle and grounds. Fun for all the family.

■ Learn to cook Sign up for a hands-on practical cookery workshop at Eckington Manor Cookery School. Children’s cookery sessions (10-12) run on July 28, July 29, August 11, August 24. Sessions for teenagers (13-16) will feature varied cookery skills, some knife skills as well as hygiene and kitchen rules. July 28, July 29, August 11, August 24,.

Student cookery, oneday course for students who’ve already left for college or university and those who are about to, July 21, July 31, August 19, 10am to 2pm. Details and booking: 01386 751600 or eckingtonmanorcookeryschool.co.uk

■ Ludlow Assembly Rooms

Saturday, July 24, 12 noon tp 4pm Youth Festival Another fun-packed day at the Wheeler Road skate park, featuring a multitude of FREE entertainment for young people and families, There’ll be stunning dance with a football theme, skateboard competitions, face painting, non-stop music and much, much more. Look out for the Youth Festival leaflet.

Thursday, August 5, 2.30 to 4pm Sun, sea and sand A wild and wacky look at some of the creatures of the deep, with games and craft activities. Age 6+ (or younger if accompanied by an adult). £2.50 each.

Monday, August 9 to Friday, August 13, 10am to 3pm Please book by 7 August Youth Theatre Summer School An old map has been found in a Ludlow attic and it may lead to buried treasure! Join ReAct leader Cathie Woodbury for a week of pirates, treasure and mystery as we start with an old map and create a play in a week.  Learn stage fighting and costuming techniques. Please come appropriately dressed. Lunches, snacks and drinks available from our café. For ages 8+ £90 (discounts may be arranged for families with multiple participants)

■ Courtyard summer workshops Make Your Own Puppet: You Pull the Strings!

Working with our Education Officer Kate (who is really just a big kid herself) you will be working on your own individual puppet. From string marionettes to finger puppets, the only limit for this class is your own imagination!

Please bring a packed lunch and comfortable clothing that can get messy. Ages 7 - 14/ Monday 26 & Tuesday 27 July 10am – 3pm. £25 for both days Harry Potter’s Spell-binding Workshop For Muggles, Half Bloods and Pure Bloods alike, this workshop will bring out your magic side!

Are you a friendly Hufflepuff or a sneaky Slytherin? A wise Ravenclaw or a brave Gryffindor?

Prepare yourself for a 3-day extravaganza of magic making, spell binding, and wizard crafting fun. We might even try a spot of Apparition if we can! Please bring a packed lunch and comfortable clothing that can get messy. Ages 7 – 14 Wednesday 28 to Friday 30 July. 10am – 3pm. £35 for all three days.

■ Courtyard Summer School Play in a Week: Courtyard Cluedo Was it Mrs Peacock in the Studio Theatre with a props table, or Colonel Mustard in the Foyer with a sugar-glass bottle? Working together for a week, you will be creating your very own spooky murder mystery set at The Courtyard, culminating in performance for family and friends. Just hope you’re not sitting too close to the murderer! Please bring a packed lunch each day. Ages 9 - 14 Monday 23 August – Friday 27 August. 10am – 3pm. £55 for the week.

■ The Globe at Hay Thursday 29th July, 10am-12pm Kids at the Globe: Theatre Workshop with the New World Transitional Collective (NWTC) Join NWTC's space specialists for a morning workshop, of script devising, image making and acting. A fun and practical session offering new techniques to make theatre, culminating in your very own Space Performance! An exciting and inspiring summer treat Details : 01497 821762 or globeathay.co.uk

■ Techniquest An exciting array of more than 160 hands-on exhibits at Wales’ popular interactive science centre.

Keep the family entertained for hours with puzzles and activities including: Test your reaction times, launch a hot air balloon, fire a rocket and loads more.

INFO: techniquest.org.

FROM Hereford: 59 miles, 1hr 25min. PRICE: Adult £7, child £5, family (2+3) £23.

■ Explore At Bristol Move water uphill, put your mind and body to the test or create your own show on Play TV. More than 30 new exhibits offer the chance to be awed by cosmic rays, get in a spin at the turbulent orb, or try to control a loop of string with a mind of its own then tour the night sky in the planetarium.

Details: at.bristol.org.uk.

Adult, £11.90, child £7.70, family (2+2) £34.

■ Follow a Treasure Trail Pick up your trail booklet at your local Tourist Information Centre and discover a fun, healthy and (even in the holidays) education way to get out and about. Choose from a murder mystery trail in Hay, Hereford, Ledbury, Leominster or Ross, or look for lost treasure in Weobley, with plenty of others close at home and further afield to choose from. Take the whole family for a great day out. At just £5 per trail, you’ll enjoy a real value-for-money day out with cash to spare for ice-creams.

Details: treasuretrails.co.uk, local Tourist Information Centres, and selected retail outlets, youth hostels and B&Bs.