Forest holidays

[noideaoffuturenow]

Hi, has anyone done a forest holiday? We'd be travelling from NI with DD 13 & DS 11 ...possibly bringing 2 dogs (if eldest 2 DD come). Have looked at the Scottish & English destinations...
Also considering a CentreParc-have never done anything like this so interested in opinions/comparisons.

Did one and it was great. Booked another and it was awful - no early check in available, no refund, got into the cabin and loads of things were broken, like the blinds were locked open, one window didn't shut, hot tub wasn't at temp for first 40 hours.

But the icing on the cake - literally - was the fact every single sofa cushion had been jizzed on and the cleaners had just turned them over so the 'damp' side wasn't visible. Reception did nothing, I think we got £50 off our next stay but we've not been brave enough to ever go back.

We went to Sandy balls in the New Forest, which has no actual forest but scrubland with ponies on it.. what about the one in Fermanagh? The beds were well worn but otherwise all good..

I would look at Hoeseasons for more ‘lodge’ options
we stayed in one last week in Devon and it was fabulous and £££££ cheaper than Forest holidays

we had a hot tub lodge, dog friendly, park had indoor & outdoor pools, spa, restaurant & pub, shop

Thank you all...Princess....which park? SlieveMikish (love the name); do you mean Castle Archdale?

@noideaoffuturenow it was Finlake Resort & we loved it so much we would consider buying one

We have been to the forestry commission sites in Cornwall and near Rhos on wye and loved both. Definitely get a more expensive one if you can. We loved the cornwall one, so peaceful and lodge was lovely especially the ones with a hot tub. Not been for awhile as it got very expensive. When we first went 15 years ago we paid £99 for a weekend!

We went to Delamere Forest, Forest holiday and loved it! Thought it was much better than centre Parcs, felt luxurious. The hot tub was maintained daily, super clean and the activities available were great. I can’t comment on the food as we didn’t eat at the lodge but I loved it and I’m booking again for next year!

I've stayed in them a few times with "the girls". There's very little in the way of activities on site as you'd get at Centre Parcs, so you need to make your own entertainment or go off-site. But we've always found them clean and comfortable and the sites are quiet. They're not cheap though, you might be better off just renting a cottage.
I think your kids might be a bit too old to make centre parcs worth the cost.

We stayed in the one at Crompton, North Yorkshire a few years ago and the cabin was lovely and the site of eaceful.

Friends also recently recommended Delamere Forest

Also stayed at Cropton some while ago though now. Had one with a jacuzzi. Great location for the North Yorkshire Moors. Pickering with Moors railway station is a nice little town. Easy drive to the coast - Scarborough (good for dolphin spotting), Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay all very different. Only 20 mins to Castle Howard. East coast is much drier than NI!
I don't like Centre Parcs.

We did one in Scotland. Lodge nicer than center parcs, clean and well maintained. Not much happening on site though - could buy an evening meal from very limited menu in a pretty retreat building with a nice park, but aside from that we explored and walked. Our 2yo and spaniel loved it!