Easter Sunday basket crammed with things to do

Bonnet parade, dog or stunt show, countryside rambles.

An Easter Sunday 'pic n mix' includes a charity Easter egg hunt at Highclere Castle, breathtaking motorcycle stunt show at Newbury showground, fete and dog show in the Wantage direction - or simply head into the glorious west Berkshire countryside for a ramble.

At Highclere Castle today between 10am and 4pm, find an Easter bonnet parade, birds of prey – and a chance to meet Elsa from Frozen – among the attractions at this year’s Easter egg hunt, in aid of Naomi House Children's Hospice and Jacksplace, Sutton Scotney.

A free chocolate egg for each child will be given out to those taking part in the egg hunt around the castle grounds and garden and the Countess of Carnarvon will judge winners of an Easter bonnet parade.

Children can meet Elsa and Spiderman, and there’s action-packed fun with a battlefield assault course, a giant rock wall and a zipwire - alongside a children’s petting farm with piglets, lambs, goats and ducklings, as well as a falconry display, a vintage car show and mini shopping village.

Face painting, inflatable rides, fun games and tasty treats and sweets are also lined up.

The Easter egg hunt is from 10am to 4pm – cost is £5 per person (under twos free). No dogs permitted, except registered guide dogs.

This morning, between 10am and 1pm, dog and animal lovers should head over to Trindledown Farm on the Wantage Road, for The National Animal Welfare Trust's Easter fete and dog show.

Alternatively, a breath of fresh air can be found this morning on West Berkshire Ramblers weekend walks, with two to choose from.

Meet at 10am at Snelsmore Common for a four mile walk via Bussock Wood, Kites Abbey and Snelsmore Farm.

Alternatively meet at 9.30am at the car park south of the straight road from Upper Bucklebury to Chapel Row, for a 9.1 mile walk via Bucklebury and Stanford Dingley.

At Newbury Showground this afternoon, and from 2pm (gates open), a spectacular, daredevil motorcycle stunt show pulls up, incorporating fire and pyrotechnics.

Scott May's fast moving, Daredevil Stuntshow's fearless feats are performed over a giant ramp system, jumping over motorbikes and cars.

More 'daring-do' at the the action packed show includes an off-road type buggy set to 'fly' over 20 feet in the air, over vans, lorries and monster trucks.

Monster trucks include The Bandit and ThunderTrax and the Wheelie Cool Bus was last year added to the show, currently touring the UK.

Wheelies performed in the 15 tonne Wheelie Cool Bus take throttle and brake control skills to the limit, as the huge vehicle powers across the arena.

"We are sure that all the kids in the audience would love to ride to school on a bus like this one, once they see the incredible balance wheelie it performs," said organisers.

Gates open 2pm, show starts 3pm, at Newbury Showground, Priors Ct, Hermitage, RG18 9QZ. Tickets £12 adults (aged 15 and over), £6 children, under three's free.

Tickets only available on the gate and cash only, **one hour before the show starts.

For pictures/reports of today's Easter egg hunt at Highclere Castle, and stunt show at Newbury Showground - pick up a copy of the Newbury Weekly News on Thursday (April 9)