Just back from Centreparcs Whinfell Forest

[Dottydot]

Quick report back 'cos there tend to be regular 'what's Centreparcs like?' threads...

Had a brilliant time and v impressed with the size of our house - huge 4 bedroom thing (which we packed 7 people into!). Just beautiful surroundings and ds's were in heaven swimming every day - ds1 (6) isn't confident in the water but by day 5 was managing to swim with armbands and put his head in the water

Ds2 (4) plunged in and turned into a little dolphin

Seeing ds2 on a horse for the first time was a lovely soppy-Mummy moment and ds1 got to do big boy things like archery and fencing.

Anyway, I know Centreparcs is sometimes seen as a bit chavtastic, but we've come back exhausted, grubby and v. happy

oooh fab, we are going to longleat in july and hoping we have as good a time as you did. thanks for the report!

Glad you had a good time

may I ask, did you spend a fortune on all those activities? I am v tempted by Centre Parcs but fear I would end up spending a lot of money!

Glad it's not just me - we went to Longleat earlier this year and had a fab time, and I'm not in the slightest bit chavvy

I'm a proper lentil weaver sometimes (well, in high heels and lipstick...) and I've loved CP everytime I've been there (3 times). Food is shocking but the set up is great for kids and pushchairs etc... Who cares if it's Butlins-by-the-Wood , it works...?!

We went recently and loved it (our 3rd time). We spent v little extra but our DC are 41/2, 3 and 1. So they are generally happy swimming/cycling/walks in wood/orienteering/parks/chasing squirrels/digging in sand on the beachy bit/watching other people do the rope courses.

I think their prices for some activities are way OTT.

we're off to the Nottingham one on monday

why is food shocking? you mean in the restaurants?

there's meant to be a shop on site, how useful is it?

I disagree about the food.

The shop is well priced and has everything you would need.

the restaurants are lovely. we went to the italian restaurant at Oasis and it was fab!

If you are going then do take things like washing up liquid and hand soap and wash up stuff as there is literally nothing there. and a couple of loo rolls.

and a torch....definitely as it is really dark at night and not always lit well.

The last time we went I paid for horse trips for both and they loved it but that was the only extra.

The little supermarket was ok - good range and not as expensive as we thought it would be. Agree that the 'family' restaurants are a bit grim - poor quality and expensive, but we found the more 'adulty' ones, e.g Strada and the tapas one quite good. Tbh, we went with another family, so took a lot of food with us, some prepared evening meals, and the adults took it in turns to have an evening out!!

Dotty, we just had a great time at Elveden, the one in Suffolk, as well. We last did Whinfell before it became CP, and as ds was only 8 months old it wasn't the wisest choice with hindsight. This time we loved it. Agree totally about the daily swimming being for fun and really building confidence. Ds could barely swim this time last year tbh and after a week in France courtesy of MN, and then this week too - he came down the rapids with me. Dd, also four, had her first go at pony riding and thrashed us at bowling.
Peasholme, we had a short tennis court for 7.50 per hour each day, plus 5.00 daily for ping-pong. I blew 26.00 on the Spa (worth every last penny), special deal as dd was at an excellent "party" in the kids' club (15.00) and dh and ds were fishing (free but you have to have the appropriate annual angling permit and your own kit of course).
So, about 120.00 for a family of four for lots of fun over three full days. Bargainous IMO.

thats what we're going to do, will have my dd (nearly 2) and my sister's ds (nearly 6mths)

Food choice is not that great but frankly the Cafe Rouge/Starbucks/Bella Italia options on offer at Elveden were so much better than the dreadful food we remembered from Old Whinfell that we were pathetically grateful. Our only dinner out was fine - same menus as Cafe Rouge everywhere, steak cooked to order, really nice staff and efficient service.
We brought our own poncetastic vegetables/fruit/organic meat and dairy supplies and self-catered for much of the stay. You don't have to eat in the restaurants if they are not your bag.

Ds and dd adored rustling about in the undergrowth at dusk with glowsticks - well worth packing
Also take nature guides. I nearly fried my brain trying to establish which were moorhens and which were coots, and all the different types of geese