Center Parks with 2.5 y/o and 9mth - Whinfell or Sherwood?

[DinoNel]

Hello!
We've never been to CP and are thinking of going in March or April, outside school hols.

I gather that the indoor pool is the only thing included in the booking price and that many consider that enough for toddlers. Both DCs should be able to sit on the back of our bikes by then so cycling might be nice, weather permitting.

Are both parcs much of a muchness or is one better than the other for that age group?

Any advice, incl "don't do it", welcome. Thanks.

We really like centre parcs with our 2 young dd's. Been to sherwood and whinfell several times and elvedon once. They are very similar and we now tend to pick sherwood cos its closest. The swimming pool at elvedon is best when you just have small children like yours as the kiddies bit is very much seperate from the rest. But between the other two we prefer pool at whinfell but not enough to justify an extra hours drive. Whinfell looks more scenic as a lot of the lodges are detached and look like log cabins - but whinfell is a lot hillier for the bikes although certainly do able. Its difficult but so similar you can't really make the wrong choice imho

Elvedon sounds good but just too far. Ditto Sherwood an hour closer than Whinfell but I like the sound of the log cabins. How hilly are we talking though, esp w a child on the back?

I think we'll go to WF anyway. Thanks!

Ok, whinfell quite hilly in parts, accomm much better with regard to space in lounge area and bedrooms especially the 2 storey alpine ski lodge looking things (which we used to stay in - they are on Foresters if you look on the map in 3 loops) look on the map www.centerparcs.co.uk/villages/whinfell/map/ download the PDF (bottom right hand corner) then zoom in. Fell View I am sure is up a steep hill.

We stayed in 57 Foresters and the view at the back is fab as it is just over woodland, because of the angle of the villa you don't see much of any other villas (we book that villa each time we go, it's a 3 bed) The villas are double height in the lounge BUT the main bedroom is downstairs and the two other twin rooms are upstairs so it depends how you feel about sleeping on a different floor. And it does have 2 fitted childgates at the top and bottom of the stairs already.

Sherwood, relatively flat. Pool is much bigger and has a separate little area for young children ie ankle deep and warmer.

I have been to CP so many times that the memories blur a bit but yes the pool, cycling round, exploring the woods is all great so don't feel compelled to do any extras. Some extras are great and are worth the money, some are ok.

We hired bikes with trailers which the children can go in from 6 months old so you can put both of yours into one, make your dh/dp lug that behind him, these trailers have a bit at the back for your shopping and can keep your wee ones dry if it rains or as it has happened to us - snows!

All restaurants have child play areas (some better than others) lots of outdoor play areas.

Elveden is by far the best in our opinion because the centre burnt down and was rebuilt taking customer requests into account.

Whinfell's centre is all under cover so good is it is peeing down with rain, sherwood's isn't but it doesn't seem to stop anyone going anywhere or doing anything.

I did whinfell with a 3 yr old toddler and a 7 week old baby in a pram!

Oh and don't feel embarrassed about getting off your bike to push it, loads of people do. It is not fully of athletic people powering round the place!

I have kept price guide so if you want to ask anything specific then do.