99 Days out for the family: Pursue the past 79-89

Travel back in time at a range of historical happenings around the country this summer.

From 15-19 August a replica Viking Boat – complete with sailors – will be moored at Lindisfarne Priory, where junior warriors can also hunt for the missing mini gods and goddesses hidden in the grounds (english-heritage.org.uk). And the Vikings of Medieval England will be mounting a weekend raid on Rockingham Castle in Leicestershire on 28-29 August, when kids can visit the living history camp and discover the story of the castle in Viking times (visithiddenengland .com).

Join Middle Ages mayhem at the Medieval Family Fun Weekend at Wallington House & Gardens in Northumberland, children can practise their shot in archery sessions, don chainmail suits and then join the Children's Army to defend Wallington against the Scots (nationaltrust. org.uk /wallington).

Meanwhile, The Mary Rose Museum at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is running family events focusing on the Tudors throughout July and August – activities include taking part in contemporary games and pastimes, to trying on costumes to learning How to Look Good Tudor Style (historicdockyard.co.uk).

Join the Holiday History Club at Cardiff Castle for the chance to take part in themed games, trails and craft sessions from Thursday until 25 August. Each week focuses on a different period, including Roman, Medieval, Tudor, Victorian and the Home Front in the Second World War (cardiffcastle.com).

Merlin gets his very own festival in Carmarthen town centre in Wales on 13 August. Celebrating its ancient links to the Arthurian legend, the Merlin Festival brings the streets alive with colourful stilt-walkers and storytellers and budding magic-makers can learn the tricks of trade at the Wizards Academy (discovercarmarthenshire.com). Or head to the heart of Nottinghamshire's Sherwood Forest, where strolling players, costumed characters and skilled archers will help keep the legend of the man in green tights alive at the annual Robin Hood Festival, from 10-14 August (experiencenottinghamshire.com).

The Saxons are on their way to West Stow – The First English Village – in Suffolk. A group of nobles and their servants, enroute to visit the King in Rendlesham, will be stopping off for a rest from their journey on 6-7 August, allowing families to experience Anglo-Saxon village life in its full colour stedmundsbury.gov.uk). While Blasts from the Past, which takes place from 6-7 August in the grounds of Broadlands Park in Hampshire, is a trip through time, from Ancient Greece and Rome right up to the late 20th century. Historical fashion shows, musical performances, skirmishes and have-a-go activities will bring history to life (broadlandsestates .co.uk). Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire will be revealing what life was like for Victorian servants with Below Stairs Stories, which takes place in the Great Court every day until 29 August (blenheimpalace.com).

Pendennis Castle

Pitch up at Pendennis Castle in Cornwall on 3-4 August and you'll find yourself in the midst of the Grand Medieval Joust. Kids can cheer on their favourite – and get the opportunity to enrol in the knight's training school (english-heritage.org.uk)