Forest holidays feedback

[Ilikewinter]

Hi,
Am looking for a short break in February 2023 for DH 50th birthday and it needs to be dog friendly!.
Im down to either Centre Parcs or Forest Holidays as I cant find anywhere else open in February, plus I dont fancy a caravan in the cold.
Has anyone been to on a Forest Holiday and can give some feedback please?
Or other recommendations would be gratefull - it cant be a hotel as winterpup cant be in our bedroom!.
Im in North west so Cornwall is out as we dont want to travel that far in February just for a few days....just incase we get snow

[Ilikewinter]

If I book it, it will be to the one at Delamere forest, I know its quite new so hoping the the comments about tired looking accommodation wont apply there just yet!

[Nw22]

We have been 3 times.
First time to Sherwood Forest in a 2 bed golden oak, booked very last minute during a brief gap in 2020 when they were open and we could leave our region. It was very peaceful and the cabin seemed quite recently updated. The walls were lovely.
We went again to Sherwood Forest in the same cabin type at the end of 2021 but with our dog. Cabin was very dog friendly and he enjoyed the walks. It was again very peaceful.
Then in February we stayed with friends in a treehouse at Forest of Dean and it wasn’t very good. The treehouse was a nice design but was starting to look tired. There were w lot of very loud people staying so it didn’t feel like the peaceful Forest. I wouldn’t return to that site.

[Pl242]

We went to Sherwood Forest one in summer 2020. Had a golden oak lodge. Had none of the issues others have described but perhaps we were just lucky. I thought the lodges themselves were very nice and really enjoyed the hot tub. Lodges are spaced out so you have privacy. Lovely to walk into the forest. We went as a young family but can see it being a relaxing break too.

[EssexLioness]

We went with Forest Holidays last year to the New Forest. It was pretty pricey and I think they have increased their prices since then too. However, we had an absolutely amazing time, the accommodation was very comfortable and relaxing. I think we had a golden oak lodge, not sure but we had log burner and jacuzzi. We saw deer every day and they came pretty close to the lodge, lovely sitting with the patio doors open, having a coffee, listening to the birds and spotting deer. We had a lovely relaxing break and would definitely go back.
Also we found their customer service to be excellent. We originally had to change our dates due to covid: my husband is a GP and we were worried in the beginning that he wouldn’t get the time off work as things were quite frantic. So I emailed and explained the situation and they sorted out a later date for us, no fuss and wrote a lovely reply back basically saying thank you to DH for his work during the pandemic.

[EwwSprouts]

Somewhere like this? £300 for 4 nights in Nov. (Feb booking not yet open.)
www.yorkshireholidaycottages.co.uk/yorkshire-coast/whitby-cottages/squirrels-acres?fromdate=2022-11-05&maximumpets=%3E1&nights=4&guests=3

[squirrelnutkins1]

We've been twice and enjoyed and have another break booked.

[emmathedilemma]

I’ve always been quite impressed with forest holidays but it’s about 3-4 years since we last went. It’s expensive though and I’ve only been as part of a friends group so splitting the cost several ways made it more affordable. If you don’t need the facilities at centre parcs then I would definitely rule it out. You can probably get nicer accommodation and locations from a self catering cottage than either CP or FH.

[Ilikewinter]

@Newuname199987
Ooh they look lovely, thanks for that!

[converseandjeans]

Try Landal - we've been to one in Germany which was great. They have uk locations.


https://www.landal.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAjw8sCRBhA6EiwA6IF4UgOZcVXOkOW9j-hPuAgWvtwD08o21e9sfj78shRYXuAFZcs0Rf1MhoCkTAQAvDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[justaweeone]

There's this but not sure what accommodation is heated

https://www.thompsonhallretreat.co.uk/accommodation/

[Newuname199987]

Try here in the Peak District
darwinforest.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2MqMoNPG9gIVi7HtCh1WYAj1EAAYAiAAEgJ9IfD_BwE
We’ve been several times, lovely lodges some with a hot tub, dog friendly and high standard of furnishings. Lovely area near Chatsworth and Bakewell, lots of walks nearby. We’re back for 5th time in May. They are open all year and have a sister park near Ashbourne as well.

[justaweeone]

My daughter used to work at the one in Norfolk during university holidays
She said I wouldn't be impressed 😂🙈

[WingingItEveryDay7]

@Fernandina

Funny, isn't it? If I went on a log cabin holiday in the middle of a forest, the last thing I'd want to listen to all evening would be a hundred hot tubs all buzzing and bubbling away...

I'd rather listen to owls.

Can't comment on centre parks but where we went the cabins are well spaced apart that you don't hear others bubbling. I love floating and watching the stars through the trees. You can hear plenty of wildlife too 😁

[Fernandina]

Funny, isn't it? If I went on a log cabin holiday in the middle of a forest, the last thing I'd want to listen to all evening would be a hundred hot tubs all buzzing and bubbling away...

I'd rather listen to owls.

[WingingItEveryDay7]

We've used Forest Holidays a couple of times now and love it! We went to the Forest of Dean both times. Lots of walks and places to visit in the local area and laying in the hot tub in the middle of the forest, especially at night, is heaven to us 😁

[EddieVeddersfoxymop]

We've been a few times and always come home a bit "meh".

Had a stay at Strathyre last year and thought the cabins looked pretty shabby. The sofas as the single most uncomfortable thing I've ever parked myself on. They were threadbare and grubby. Annoyingly the forest retreat was fully booked for food - both to sit in and also for cabin delivery. The WiFi was flipping expensive and didn't work and 4g was non existent.
That being said, the hot tub was ready for us but bizarrely this time bubbled like it has bubble bath in it and made my husband's skin peel. So he sat beside it and brought me wine
I don't think we'd book again to be honest, the price is so high now for what you get.

[Roselilly36]

My advice would be to book silver birch grade, unless you would like the wood burner as possibly in Feb & bbq. The private hot tubs are lovely.

[CottonSock]

I priced it up and it just seems so expensive for what you get.

[Ilikewinter]

Ah its good to hear some positive reviews! ....we had a Caribbean cruise booked but have cancelled it so this replacement trip has a lot to live up to 😎 😂

[FourTeaFallOut]

I've been to Sherwood and Cropton with Forest Holidays and had a great time at both in Silver Birch cabins. The accommodation was perfect, no problems there.

[AdditionalCharacter]

I've been to three different locations and never had an issue. The cabins and furniture are a little dated, but the jacuzzi is great and we've always had a cabin that looks out into a forest. It's a great holiday if you like a calm setting with very little mixing with other holiday makers

[stairway]

I’ve been on a caravan holiday in February and it was really warm inside. The pool was freezing 🥶 though.

[superram]

We’ve been 3 times and had a ball. I’ve never noticed the sofas are low. Always very clean and hot tub always hot. I also like the space between cabins and the forest. I am anti-social so wouldn’t want to use the communal pool at centre parks or pay for organised fun. We get a golden oak so we have a log burner and toast marshmallows. The take away pizza was horrible but we usually just bbq. I’d give it a go.

[maz82]

I have just come back from having my hen do in sherwood forest. It was so nice. The sofas were low and you literally sink into them but they weren't that bad. The bed was so comfy! We had 2 golden oak lodges and both had hot tubs ready as soon as we got there on the Friday. We also ordered food from their in cabin service which was really nice. Overall out of 14 of us everyone said they wanted to go back with their partners or friends!

[HalfShrunkMoreToGo]

We went to Sherwood a couple of years ago and are booked again for June this year. We really liked it, location is beautiful, cabin nicely furnished and clean, hot tub well maintained and the staff onsite were all really friendly and helpful. We ordered in from the on-site restaurant one night then the other days we either cooked or ate out in the area. Really close to a decent sized Tesco so handy for stocking up on supplies. Favourite thing was the Deer who come right up to the cabin, DD loved sitting on the deck area watching for them.