Family fun in the forest
11:26am Saturday 9th May 2009 in Leisure
OUR three-year-old boy tore around the wooden lodge with boundless energy while our little girl, she’s 10 months old, dozed in the corner. My wife and I . . . we lounged on the sofa and did, well, nothing. And it was absolute bliss.
We were on a mid-week break at Whinfell Forest, a Center Parcs holiday village near Penrith in the north lakes, and were taking the opportunity to catch up on some much-needed family time.
With demanding careers and a chaotic home-life, we find the simple things in life are often pushed aside. So we made a vow to spend as much time together during our mini break. That meant meandering walks, every meal — however loud and uncivilised — at the same time (and same table), as many activities as we could cram in, and plenty of time in the swimming pool.
Did we manage it? Yes, and every moment is now a treasured memory.
Center Parcs is built with families in mind. Lodges — and I’ll get to our ultra-chic pad later — are spaced out among tree-lined roads and footpaths.
They vary in design, layout (and price), ranging from basic bases for the no-frills traveller to luxury pads for those who like the finer things in life.
Each has its own kitchen and dining area and the number of bedrooms varies. We were staying in one of the newly refurbished executive lodges.
It was the most opulent log cabin I have ever set foot in. In fact it was more like a house. It had three bedrooms, each with en-suite, flat screen TV, double bed and spacious wardrobes; a modern sitting-come-dining area and a good sized galley kitchen with every mod-con the discerning chef could wish for.
The beauty of Center Parcs is this — you can spend as much or as little money as you want, and still have a good time.
We opted for a mix of eating in and sampling some of the food on offer at the “village centre”.
This is a huge glass building which has everything, from its own supermarket to an American Grill, a top-notch Indian and a restaurant serving up French cuisine.
Here’s the best bit; this place is so family friendly that screaming kids at the table and less-than-glamourous clothes are not likely to prompt disapproving looks from others. In fact more often than not, it is a sympathetic glance shot over from a neighbouring table as people in the same boat feel your pain.
Good as the food is, Center Parcs is not just about eating.
There are a number of bars dotted across the vast site, plenty of shops for a little retail therapy and a huge swimming pool, with fast-paced flumes, children's sections and tropical temperatures. Here’s the good news — this bit is free.
If it is something else that takes your fancy, the chances are you will have to dig a little deeper — and the choice is endless.
From tree-top adventure courses to swimming pool scuba diving, falconry, archery and fishing, there really is something for just about everyone.
Despair-not however if you are a creature who prefers gentle relaxation, for the perfect opportunity to unwind presents itself in the shape of the Aqua Sana.
We left our little ones in the care of family — although there are creche facilities for children three months and older at the Ofsted approved Time Out Club — for a day spa escape.
It was pure relaxation.
The spa has a unique 14-feature set-up, which includes special rooms, including a Greek Herbal Bath, Indian Blossom Steam Room, Japanese Zen Garden and Turkish Hammam.
There is also a range of treatments; massages, facials and the like, on offer too.
Whinfell Forest is a holiday park for any time of the year. Christmas is a particularly special time of year to go, as the park becomes a winter wonderland with fairy-lit trees, spectacular festive scenes, a Santa’s Grotto and donkey rides to see the man himself.
Whenever you visit, however, you can be assured this park for all seasons will not disappoint.
