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Original poster

To ask about "Forest holidays"

27 replies

Mammyloveswine · 19/06/2018 00:17

So we've stayed at center parcs for our last two holidays, it has been perfect for us having a toddler and baby but now I'm back to work we need cheaper holidays as limited to school holidays!

Anyway, i stumbled across forest holidays and it looks a similar set up to center parcs but without the pool... however there is the added bonus of a hot tub!

It is also half the price of center parcs.. however I've never known anyone go before!

So if anyone has done a forest holiday I would be grateful if you could share your experiences, especially if anyone has done center parcs too, for comparison!

OP posts:
French2019 · 19/06/2018 00:43

We did this a few years ago, have done Centerparcs previously as well. The log cabin was really lovely and the setting was nice. My only comment would be that there was much less to do than at CP, and there wasn't really anywhere to eat out on site, except for a tiny shop/cafe with a very limited menu and very limited opening hours. If you're happy to self cater or go off site, then I guess that wouldn't be an issue, but I just wanted to be able to walk to a half-way decent restaurant where I could have a glass of wine.

Jinglesplodge · 19/06/2018 05:16

We love them: in fact we've just got back from a Forest Holiday. You definitely do need to self cater or plan to leave the site in search of the odd dinner if you fancy eating out. We get a supermarket shop delivered, which saves traveling with a car full of food!

There are ranger activities in the forest, which are great for older children and adults. Other than that, you'll want to pick a site with plenty of options for days out nearby and use it as a base. You couldn't spend your whole break in the forest, I don't think.

speakout · 19/06/2018 05:20

I agree with the others- I have been serveral forest holidays , great if you are into hillwalking/rambling/fishing/wildlife spotting but not many activities for younger kids.

And yes re catering. Some of these places are quite remote, sparse facilities on site, you may have a bit of a drive to nearest shop or restaurant.

ASqueakingInTheShrubbery · 19/06/2018 05:22

We went to the Gloucestershire one last year. It's the on-site entertainment and activities that we find off putting about Center Parcs, so this was ideal, the woodland location without the bits we didn't want. The chalet was adequately equipped but not ever so clean. The staff were friendly and helpful. We heard wild boar snuffling and grunting outside our bedroom window on the night, but didn't manage to see them. We're planning on going to another FH location next year.

Original poster
Mammyloveswine · 19/06/2018 08:45

Toddler could spend all.day running around the forest! Is there a lot of forest to explore? We found center parcs too populated to go on a proper walk iyswim. We're thinking of one of the Yorkshire locations as have family nearby plus there are national trust places quite close! Only worry is if the weather is rubbish... at least CP has the pool!

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 19/06/2018 08:49

We've been to a couple a few years ago. Unlike centre parks you're not expected to never leave. We went out to local pubs for meals. Really enjoyed it and preferred it to cp tbh.

Nan0second · 19/06/2018 08:50

Darwin forest is amazing and has a lovely pool and a soft play. We are going for the second time soon. We do like to self cater though and prefer to leave our accommodation /Park rather than be fenced in. Plus preschoolers are fairly easily entertained and don’t need slides etc like older kids :)

louiseaaa · 19/06/2018 08:53

Been twice - both kids were teenagers but we really enjoyed it. We stayed in the Forest of Dean and we walked to symonds yat rock and other walks around about. The boys loved the hot tub and we had plenty of board games. We loved it. We'd previously been camping when the kids were smalls in the same area so we knew the area well

louiseaaa · 19/06/2018 08:53

Also all the info about self-catering - we usually schedule a food delivery when we are on holiday

DorotheaHomeAlone · 19/06/2018 08:55

I think you might be in the wrong age stage for this. We loved forest holidays when we had a baby. Chucked her in the sling for long walks, flat was spacious for crawling about, easy to clean and hot tub great for when she was asleep. But now we have a two and three year old it just wouldn’t work. Not enough entertainment. I think you’ll really miss the pool and won’t be able to fully appreciate the woodland. We’ll probably dinthem again in five years when kids can cycle/walk a bit further.

Spudlet · 19/06/2018 08:56

There's one very near to us, we take the dog for a walk and accidentally fall into the coffee shop quite often. It seems really relaxed and friendly, and if our local one is representative, there is plenty of space for charging around. No pool or softplay or anything like that (although we do have those things wihin driving distance, if you left the site).

BorisHair · 19/06/2018 08:58

They are lovely but a very different holiday to Center Parcs. We use them as a base - plenty of walking and visiting places, eat out at lunchtime and then back for an easy dinner and a hot tub!

As a middle ground you could also look at some of the Hoseasons parks. Their 'go active' parks are very good and if you avoid the big sites there are some great places with nice lodges, hot tubs and often a pool and restaurant.

throwcushions · 19/06/2018 08:59

To those who have been - what is the woodland like? Is it a plantation like CP? I really dislike how sterile the forests at CP seem.

agabimou · 19/06/2018 09:00

We did and loved it, would recommend. But we didn't have children in our party it was 4 adults

LapsedHumanist · 19/06/2018 09:02

I can see why you’d be looking for a change from doing Centre Parc’s OP.

lonelyorchid · 19/06/2018 09:06

I went to one of the Yorkshire ones, Keldy I think it was. We went with our 4 and 1 one year old at the time. We all loved it. Was very relaxing.

Keldy has a licensed restaurant on site, we never ate there but had a few drinks in the beer garden. We just took lots of things for the kids to do. There's a park too that the kids loved.

We used it as a base to go to Scarborough beach, Flamingoland and York.

The kids loved the hot tub and we had a bbq on the decking a few nights. It's very close to Pickering for picking up bits and pieces and the supermarket.

We were very lucky with the weather though.

It's one of our favourite holidays. We're doing Haven this year which I'm dreading but quietly hopeful!

macaronip1e · 19/06/2018 09:06

I’ve been to a few - including (both) Yorkshire ones. Plenty of woodland to walk around in, and a stream running through part of the land. Really lovely. We’re been with babies through to 5 year old, and found plenty to do nearby as well as space to run about. To the question from someone about it being a plantation - no, they are quite sympathetically built into the natural woodland.

PonderLand · 19/06/2018 09:09

We went to Keldy with our 2 year old a few months ago. We all had a really good time, we used it as a base and travelled to Whitby and Pickering, then back for toddler naps, lunch and hot tub. We've never been to centre parcs so I can't compare it. I think it depends how easy your toddler is to entertain. They do have things for kids, like teddies bear picnic, and a mini rangers session. Also there is an option to hire bikes and child seats etc.

Spudlet · 19/06/2018 09:11

The one near to us is Forestry Commission land, so quite a few mature evergreen patches, but they are being gradually felled and replanted with more diverse species. There are also plenty of mature deciduous trees, and some more open heath-type areas. There are paths which range from big wide drives to little twisty ones, and you can go wading through the undergrowth if you want to. It's managed, but not manicured - I've often had to manhandle the pram over fallen trees! There are no way-marked walks at our local one, beyond a fitness trail with bits of exercise equipment.

There is plenty of wildlife - deer of several species are common, squirrels, birds, lots of insects. Mating toads are a common sight at the righ time of year too. It's open to the public, so there are always lots of dog walkers like me, horse riders use it, mountain bikers etc, and sometimes there is forestry work going on.

SharkSave · 19/06/2018 09:20

We did one pre-children and it was lovely. We went to the forest of dean which again is forestry commission so 'real' woods! Grin However, I think it might be too lacking in facilities for toddler ages.
As a PP mentioned, Darwin forest is fab and your DC would be the perfect age. On site pool, soft play, playground and nice walks round the woods. It's been one of our favourite holidays so far and are hoping to go again later in the year.

BorisHair · 19/06/2018 09:33

Agree with Darwin Forest - one of my favourite places.

SusieFlo · 27/06/2018 16:37

We've booked a mini forest holiday for August - 4 nights in a Golden Oak cabin in Blackwood Forest in Hampshire. We're taking two kids - a nature-loving 7 yr old, and a little one who's just turned 3.

With my rose-tinted specs on I'm envisaging lots of woodland walks and den building and BBQs and enjoying the hot tub. We've also hired bikes with a toddler seat attachment so we can explore the woods a little further afield. We may also break it up with day trips to nearby places (e.g. Marwell zoo and local NT properties).

I like the idea of getting a food delivery. Those of you who've done that before - did you manage to get it delivered directly to your cabin?

Bloodybridget · 27/06/2018 16:53

DP and I went with her DD and DGS, then aged 11, two years ago. Forest of Dean, we all loved it. The cabin was much nicer than I'd expected, hot tub brilliant (special unbreakable glasses provided for in-tub wine drinking), it was nice to walk or cycle around the site, and all the delights of the area to be explored. Between us we did kayaking, Go Ape, rock climbing, archery and a ranger-guided night walk. Also did the family quiz at the Hub.

Curious2468 · 27/06/2018 18:04

We love forest holidays. Be aware under 5s shouldn’t be in the hot tub so that might restrict how much use you get out of it. The cabins are lovely and the sites are really peaceful. You can go all week and not actually see any other guests!

DragonsAndCakes · 27/06/2018 18:05

Are you near Derbyshire? There’s a similar thing with a small indoor pool. Darwin woodland lodges I think.

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