Center Parcs Whinfell

[BettyYeti1]

Fancied a trip to the Lake District and wondering about CP Whinfell. Is it worth going there and using as a base for a few days? Would be outwith school holidays. Want to explore some of the lakes and surrounding areas. So would plan to be out and about most of the day and then come back to CP for tea and maybe swim in the evening (seeing as it's included in the price!)

Is it worth it if not going to do many of the activities onsite? Do they even let you leave? 😂

You’d be better off staying at the daffodil hotel or one like the inn on the lake

Whinfell is lovely if money is no object

You could consider Hoseasons Keswick reach lodge for probably half the price - equally nice but without the facilities

Looking for somewhere child-friendly, and the CP pool looks great, but just don't like the idea of being stuck there for a week, not being able to enjoy the surrounding area!

We also plan to visit family nearby. Just unsure if CP is worth it if going to be off-site most of the week. Though it appears nothing is included apart from the pool anyway!

If you want to do lakes I wouldn’t stay at CP. North Lakes Hotel Penrith has a pool or it when I lived close by a few years ago, as does the Daffodil and right on the lake

These hotels look lovely, but always find self catering easier than hotels with kids in tow!

Try Fallbarrow instead, you can walk into Bowness from the park and get on a boat or bus within a few minutes. Lovely lodges right on Lake Windermere.

Or if you want Northern Lakes, close to Penrith is Hillcroft Park, Pooley Bridge, right on the edge of Ullswater

@BettyYeti1 Depends on the price for your days etc I’d say 😊 Also, keep in mind that you can’t have your car at your lodge so every time you want to leave site you’re carrying whatever you’re taking with you while walk to the car park 😊 so may be worth paying the bit extra to pick your lodge 😊

Thanks. How far away from the car park are the furthest away lodges? Are we talking a 10 minute walk or longer?

I love Whinfell centre Parcs but wouldn’t consider it if you want to go off site every day. For a start depending on where your lodge is you could be walking a long way to and from the car park! I would look at some staying somewhere such as the North Lakes hotel and spa which has a pool, or in some other form of self catering accommodation with a pool that you are not paying so much for just because of the centre Parcs name

Could be a good 20-30 mins if you’re at the opposite side of the parc

Yeah, good point. Any other nice local self catering with pool attached?

Ah okay, I see. Could be a long trail every day, in the rain (from memory, it always rains in Cumbria!)

@BettyYeti1 Definitely not 10 mins - I’d say it could be up to about 30 mins? Maybe slightly longer if there are young children.
Here is the site map (if it’ll allow me to post it!) - they say each square is around a 3 minute walk

Oh brilliant, thank you!

So I'm guessing most folk who go there just leave the car in the car park and don't touch it again until check out?

@BettyYeti1 yeah that’s definitely the most common setup 😊 you can drive to lodge to unload, then it needs to be returned to the car park. Then on checkout day you walk to collect your car and can drive to your lodge to pack up 😊 check in/check out days are mon & fri 😊

Not sure I'd like that feeling of being trapped in! 😳😆

If you've been recently, what are the best value for money activities?

Can just imagine everyone trooping back in a line to the car park to collect the cars! The queues to get out the car park on Mondays and Fridays must be epic too!

We did this twice, many years ago! Once pre dc, we stayed in an apartment and went out during the day and came back for a swim and had dinner onsite. Repeated again while dd was young enough to stay in the apartment in a cot. Both great breaks and as it was term time the price was fine, think it was similar to other apartments/ hotels and we thought the pool was a nice bonus!

Good to know it is do-able, thanks! Suppose just have to put up with the moans from the kids walking to and from the car! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Whinfell isn't really a base to explore the lakes. I'd get an air bnb in Keswick or Ambleside instead. Or even better try Any place (?) on Ullswater).

Anyone who has been recently know how much the bike hire is at CP please?

Yes you can come and go and yes the pool is incredible for kids and adults I wouldn’t say the food is particularly good though we go yearly and always go self catering

We’re actually at Whinfell just now 😂 leaving this morning.
Value for money activities really depends on what you guys enjoy to be honest! This trip we’ve done pottery painting, interactive family ball wall, mini golf, indoor wall climbing, boats on the lake - then bike rides (brought our own), play parks, walks, bbqs etc 😊
There is pretty much any activity you could want from football/tennis etc to archery, den building, quad biking etc.

Cant help with cycle hire prices - it’s currently showing as £30 for adults and £22.50 for kids on my app but I don’t know if that’s quoting me a day price as we leave today or if that’s the standard for the mon-fri that we’ve done.