Football coaching session – tick. Beach cricket and rounders – tick. Football tournament – tick.

My nine-year-old son Nicholas threw himself into nearly five hours of sport in one day at Butlins Minehead – and when you add crazy golf, brisk walks along the prom, fun bike rides and catching practice with his dad Chris the other four days weren’t much different.

Our action-packed stay was blessed with the best weather of summer 2012 so you can hardly blame us for wanting to spend so much time soaking up the sun.

As soon as we checked into our well-equipped gold apartment, Nicholas was scouring the chunky entertainment guide for details of the week’s sporting sessions.

Every now and then we did sit down from time to time though to take in the excellent Festival live music show in the resort’s large Centre Stage venue and Carnival des Animales, performed by Butlins’ flexible friends Circolombia.

We refuelled in the resort’s new Quayside premier dining restaurant, which offers an impressive buffet choice at both breakfast and dinner time. In the morning, as well as the ubiquitous full English, there’s a selection of fresh fruit, cereals and pastries plus Nicholas’s favourite, pancakes. Later in the day, options include traditional favourites such as fish ‘n’ chips alongside stir fries, a carvery and plenty of yummy puds. As well as offering a non-stop programme of family entertainment, the Minehead resort also looks good with landscaped grounds, copious colourful floral baskets and quiet spots to read a book. Lively or lazy days, the choice is yours.

The clean, sandy beach is two minutes’ walk away and the Somerset town is also blessed with a charming harbour and outstanding views from North Hill. Dunster Castle, an impressive National Trust property with beautiful hillside gardens, and Exmoor are both within easy reach.

Butlins’ summer sale covers all three resorts, Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness. Three nights start from £60 per person per break, four nights from £100pp per break and seven nights from £165pp per break.

Prices are based on a family of four sharing a silver self-catering apartment and include accommodation, all live entertainment and access to multi-sports courts, Splash Waterworld and the funfair. To book, call 0845 070 4730 or visit www.butlins.com