Crieff hydro or Centre Parcs? Or somewhere else?

[littlemisssunshine32]

Looking to do a holiday in Feb/March in the UK with a nearly 3 year old and 4 month old for a week or bit less. Found good deal at Crieff Hydro or midweek break at Centre Parcs which are both same price. Anyone done both and have a preference? Which is better in the (likely!) event of having some rainy days? Have a feeling Crieff may be more luxurious and like idea of hotel, but worry could end up spending lots on food (offer is just to all share a room not self catering) as no option to eat in sometimes? Centre Parcs also gives option to stay up in evening while kids sleep, in Crieff think we’d have to do early dinner and go to bed at same time!!

Any other recommendations would be great too! We live in Cheshire, max travel time we’d want to do is about 4 hours.

Thanks xx

We love Crieff, and will be going for the 5th summer running this year. Have only ever been self catering though.

They have childcare on site (Big Country), which is open in the evenings. It is usually included in the price if you book direct. I think they do food packages. What really sold Crieff to me in the first place is the children’s high tea hot buffet they have every day in the late afternoon-early evening. It was £7/Head last summer. The other eating options vary in price - the Hub Diner is burgers/fish and chips etc around £7-10 for a main; the Mikel restaurant is several times that, with other options (Italian, brassiere) in between.

Crieff has a small cinema and soft play on site -both free- for rainy days.

Have never been to CP.

Ive been to both. Depends what your priorities are. In CP you'll have more room but only the pool is free, although there's loads of paid activities. Distances between centre and the lodges can be quite far with young children.

Crieff is great if you want everything on tap, but as you say definitely a hotel rather than a complex.

Great, thanks everyone. Think going to give Crieff a go!

Crieff hydro is doing away with the children's high teas, and now have shorter bookings for big country.

Having said that we love it there.

Good choice with Crieff. My family have been going for generations and it's great.