WITH the school holidays in full flow, Ireland’s leading ferry company Stena Line is on hand with a series of day trips to give parents a bit of help with entertaining the family.

New for this year, Stena Line has launched a day trip by car to Port Meirion one of Wales' premier visitor attractions from only €38* per person return by car from Dublin Port to Holyhead. With free parking, complimentary guided tours, audio visual show, six cafes and restaurants, a handful of shops, gardens and beaches, Port Meirion provides the perfect day out for all the family. Surrounding the village are 70 acres of exotic woodlands with easy to follow woodland trails and coastal walks. Port Meirion is open every day of the year from 9.30am to 7.30pm.

Greenwood Forest Park, situated in the foothills of majestic Snowdonia, is a family adventure park like no other. From only €38* per person return by car, all the rides and activities at this unique eco-attraction have been designed for fun with a difference. From the famous Green Dragon – the world’s first people-powered rollercoaster – to the therapeutic BareFoot Trail, GreenWood is an all-weather experience that families will never forget. With magicians and pirates, face painting and craft making, who knows what fun will be found at the end of the next leafy trail?

Step back in time and journey to the heart of the Welsh mountains as a Victorian miner onboard the Miners’ Tramway and Deep Mine Tour with a day trip to Llechwedd State Caverns from only €41* per person return by car.

Customers travelling from Rosslare to Fishguard can enjoy an action packed day trip to Oakwood Theme Park from only €35* per person return by car. This fantastic fare includes return travel, free car parking and entry into the theme park, available daily until 4 Sept’11.. Also, back by popular demand is Oakwood by coach from €49 per adult & €45 per child, operating on Wednesdays & Fridays from 3 to 26 Aug only. For the ultimate hair-raising experience, Speed: No Limits is not for the faint hearted with 2000 feet of steel roller coaster built for steel and fun whilst Megafobia is the ultimate coaster challenge with 900 metres of terror track and a heart stopping 25m first drop! For the younger visitor, the Lost Kingdom is a softplay terrain providing lots of fun with jumping, swinging, scrabbling, and climbing.

Enjoy an action-packed day of karting, painting, robot wars and water walking from only €35* per person return by car at Heatherton World of Activities or a trip to Folly Farm from only €29* per person return by car. Folly Farm offers six fantastic zones to visit - the Jolly Farm, a spectacular Zoo, an enormous vintage Funfair, indoor and outdoor Adventure Play and Folly Wood Country Park.

Stena Line’s communications manager Eamonn Hewitt, says the ferry company understands the strains parents are under during the summer holidays.

“The summer holidays are a busy time for parents and having to keep the children entertained for two months can end up very expensive, not to mention stressful. So to help we’ve put together this great selection of day trips from only €29* per person return which will allow parents to treat the family to a day out in Britain helping to keep the children entertained without breaking the bank.”

For further information or to book, click on www.stenaline.ie/days, call Stena Line on 01 204 77 77, visit your local Stena Line office or travel agent.

* Price based on a car plus 4 people travelling Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.