Whinfell Forest Centre Parcs

[MumofOne2017]

Hey guys,

Totally pointless post but hoping you might be able to help

We're Heading to Whinfell forest on Friday from Manchester with our one year old.

Wondering if anyone had any tips on decent restaurants to stop off at along the way. We can't check in until 3pm

Thanking you in advance

Tebay Services is excellent. It has a play area for kids, a lovely pond outside with ducks, also lovely scenery and a farm shop.
Brockholes at J31 nr Preston has a cracking cafe, play area and nature walk and is much cheaper than any services.
An alternative to Tebay Services, the Silver Yard Cafe Deli is a bright, small, friendly cafe in the pretty village of Orton. It serves scrumptious homemade cakes, regional cheese and meats. Kids get mini versions of the adult stuff. The attached deli is full of Dales and Lakeland produce. A conservation area, it offers great local walks for car-cramped legs – and Orton has a factory/shop that sells handmade chocolate.
We usually get to CP early and use the pool straight away. Just remember to pack swimming stuff in a separate bag near the top of your luggage.

This is excellent just what I needed - thank you

You can arrive and check in earlier than 3pm. You leave your car in the car park and can walk to the Centre and use the restaurants, pool etc. It is only the actual lodge that you don't get access to until 3pm.

You can arrive early at centre parcs and get your wristbands etc and eat there - whenever we go we get there for 10am and go swimming all morning!

You get on site from 10am. We go, park, go swimming, have lunch and a potter around and then take the car over to the lodge at 3. It means you can make 4 full days of it rather than 3. Enjoy!

Tebay services definitely 👍🏻

They used to sell a cake/traybake called a 'chocolate Nancy', I used to get my brother who works in Scotland to call in and get them for me whenever he was on the M6!

Have a fab time don't forget the lube

Thank you you lovely people! I think we may go early and use the pool!

Top tip with a very young baby the upstairs pool was always much quieter and if they still have a nap you can let them have a nap up there and pretend your abroad the outdoor pool again upstairs was also very nice year round.