Family-friendly
CENTER PARCS LONGFORD FOREST
An offshoot of the well-established Center Parcs resorts in the UK, Ireland’s first offering is set amid 400 acres of woodland in Longford. Boasting 466 lodges and 30 apartments, accommodating up to 2,500 guests, the Longford Forest resort is smaller than its UK cousins (Whinfell Forest caters for up to 4,668 guests), but boasts the same main attractions, namely the 3,500m2 Subtropical Swimming Paradise (heated to 29.5°C all year round), above, watersports lake, impressive aerial adventure and zipline, Aqua Sana spa and car-free grounds. THE DIGS We stayed in an Executive three-bed lodge, which came very generously equipped with three bathrooms, four TVs, a full kitchen and a very comfortable five-star hotel finish. BE SURE TO Surrender to the experience. As purpose-built kid-friendly fun goes, it definitely doesn’t get much better than this. The list of activities on offer is truly mind-boggling – from Bollywood dancing to boating – but one of the bits I enjoyed best on our visit was the fun we had, the five of us cycling home in the still-light, late-summer evening after dinner. Weaving all over the road, between the sky-high trees, it really felt quite special. DON’T MISS Our eight-year-old Alanna’s favourite moment was the barbecue we enjoyed out the back of our lodge on the second night (the resort supermarket sells oversized disposable barbecue kits and everything you need for an al fresco cookout); Patrick’s highlight was the Cyclone water ride, while Andrew can’t wait to go back to do the zipline over the lake. I might have to pick the spa – easily one of the best in Ireland. TAKE HOME The truly novel experience of 72 hours of family time without a single argument over screens; they had no interest. THE DETAILS Accommodation options and prices vary a lot but start from €299 for a four-night midweek break in a two-bed Woodland Lodge. Lodge rates increase significantly during school holidays. Access to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise is free and unlimited. Bikes are pretty essential and start at €27.50 each to hire, but you can bring your own. All other activities are priced individually, starting from €5.50 for a guided woodland walk to €32 for the aerial tree adventure and lake zipline, centerparcs.ie. Lizzie Gore-Grimes
HODSON BAY
Located on the lake in Athlone, this fourstar has loads to offer families, including Ireland’s largest inflatable waterpark, until September 29. But if you miss it, the generous family rooms, pool, kids’ club, games room and warm hospitality led by GM Daniel Cross will more than make up
for it, hodsonbayhotel.com.
FOTA ISLAND
RESORT
With easy access to Fota Wildlife Park and the fantastic new adventure park, Fota Island Resort’s beautiful Fuchsia Woods lodges offer a seriously stylish
self-catering staycation in Cork. Guests have free pool access and can enjoy all the amenities at the five-star hotel, including walking trails, dining
options and the spa, fotaisland.ie.
AMBER SPRINGS
This four-star Gorey gem offers superb family suites (a bedroom within a bedroom), petting farm, mini golf, playroom, cinema, karting and more. For teens, there’s a VR room and hangout den, while parents will love the spa and steak house serving their own beef, ambersprings.ie.