Expensive but we enjoy it. We’ve been to Sherwood (twice) and Longleat (once) and plan on going to Roscommon when that opens in Ireland.
We mostly self cater, doing a grocery shop en route for nice, easy to prepare things. We generally had one meal a day “out” - one pancake house breakfast, dinner a couple of times in foresters lodge, and lunch or dinner somewhere other days. And some days a coffe/cake stop or ice cream break, (or last time, DH and I got to drink wine at the lakeside bar while dd sailed!).
Activities are expensive, but again we budget for about one a day. One evening we go bowling. Some days we rent boats/kayaks. Other days dd goes on an activity led by CP staff (occasionally with one/both of us too). If I’m organized, I might get a massage or facial in the spa one day - twice I’ve failed and once managed it (very busy).
We rent bikes, as they’re too awkward on the ferry (we have taken them before but the rent is worth it to us - no worries if we stop somewhere else for an extra few days).
And we spend a lot of time outdoors - walking and cycling - and in the pool. So for us, it’s a great holiday. Bring rain gear and it doesn’t matter if it pours.
Chalets are fine, for chalets. Relatively comfortable, plenty hot water, kitchen fine for holiday cooking, has a dishwasher. There is a tv/dvd player.
And it’s where dd started getting independent, going to the parc market in the mornings, for daily croissants and any small messages needed - which was fab for building her confidence (she was 10 at that stage).
Longleat was nice but hilly and spread out. Sherwood has a great raft ride in the pool. We liked both and would go back to both.