Center of excellence
For the perfect mix of action, relaxation and year-round tropical weather look no further than Whinfell Forest resort
Warm, fun-filled and chilled out – the three essential elements I was looking for in a perfect summer break. For Irish families, however, achieving this holiday Holy Grail usually means a long sea and car journey – or expensive flight – to southern Europe and beyond.
So with the unappealing prospect of an arduous drive with three restless children in the back – aged 13, 12 and six – I plumped for a destination much closer to home.
Centerparcs’ Whinfell Forest is set on the edge of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, about two hours’ north of Liverpool where we landed from our ferry.
Passing through the check-in gates, we entered a quiet natural haven which rejuvenated five tired travellers.
From 3.30pm we were allowed to drive into the resort and unpack at our holiday home, a beautiful lodge set in woodland with every modern convenience you could wish for.
All vehicles must return to the car park for the duration of the visit which falls into two blocks – Monday to Thursday, and Friday to Sunday – though guests can stay longer.
TRANQUIL
After this busy changeover, the resort becomes completely cycle and pedestrian friendly, devoid of traffic and creating a tranquil and safe environment where families and youngsters can roam free.
Hiring bikes proved a great way to explore the huge site, especially for our six-year-old daughter who relished the run of the roads every day.
Our first port of call was the village centre and swimming complex where we spent a large part of each day soaking up the warm atmosphere created by what is, essentially, an enormous greenhouse.
Wandering around in shorts and T-shirts, exploring the selection of shops, cafes and restaurants – all set among tropical plants and waterfalls – immediately puts you in a holiday mood whatever the weather outside.
The Subtropical Swimming Paradise was a big hit with the children and was even more impressive in reality than it looked on the website.
A large wave pool – kept at a blissful 29.5C – is at the heart of the complex and is surrounded by a huge selection of spas, flumes and white-water rides.
There’s also an outdoor pool to catch the sun and a safe, shallow area for the little ones.
The changing rooms, showers and toilets were immaculately clean (a big deal for parents) with a easy-to-use locker system operated by wristbands which all guests receive at check-in. These “smart” devices are also the keys to your accommodation and can be registered with up to £300 credit as a handy way to pay for food and drink.
An integral attraction of the Centerparcs’ brand is the impressive range of over 200 indoor and outdoor activities tailored to all ages, from toddlers through to teens and adults.
Keen to try out something new, our teenage daughter, 12-year-old son – and slightly nervous dad – picked the quad bike safari which certainly got the heart pumping.
A little nerve-racking at the start, we were soon navigating bumps, jumps and steep slopes with the help of our excellent gung-ho guides.
My wife and six-year-old chose to try out a kayak from the boathouse. A little more sedate, it proved just as much fun for the little one who literally got a taste of splashing around on the resort’s large central lake. The impressive Sports Plaza, a short walk from the village, also offers a wide choice of indoor activities with a good selection of shops, cafes and restaurants to chill out in after working up a sweat.
It also incorporates the resort’s luxurious Aqua Sana spa which we had booked as a special kid-free treat.
The large, pristine complex is an idyllic retreat offering 15 “experience rooms” from the intense dry heat of a Tyrolean sauna to Japanese salt and Balinese multi-steam havens.
A few gentle laps of the beautiful (heated) outdoor pool were followed by the hydropool where water jets and bubbles massaged grown-up limbs.
An excellent selection of beauty and health treatments are also available – I opted for a relaxing Swedish body massage – as well as many quiet corners with comfy couches, loungers and water beds to sink into.
It’s a wonderful way to spend a few hours (or all day if you can swing it) and fully recharge the batteries.
Obviously all this lounging around and pampering had helped build up a healthy appetite.
The resort has cafes, bistros and restaurants to cater for every taste and budget including Indian, Italian, Thai, French, American steaks and burgers, as well as The Pancake House and Starbucks for smaller treats. I picked The Lakeside Inn which turned out to be a great familyfriendly spot offering contemporary meals. We opted for the mouthwatering carvery where our two eldest – who nowadays eat more than their parents – skilfully filled their plates to capacity. Despite the generous portions, we still found space for four amazing home-baked desserts topped off by three slushies and a bottle of wine for the adults. As a family, we try to eat
Quad biking got the kids, and my pulse, racing...
out on a regular basis. But we all agreed this was one of the best meals we’d had in years and one of the highlights of our break.
The food was delicious, the atmosphere relaxed and the staff were quick, attentive and unerringly friendly. And it was this consistent quality of service throughout our stay which made a lasting impression.
Employees across the resort were professional, patient, genuinely friendly and down-to-earth.
My short-sighted son put all these qualities to the test when he decided it would be a good idea to bring his glasses into the pool in his pocket.
Inevitably his specs fell out during one of the first tumbles down the many flumes and water rides – gone for ever, probably smashed into pieces and potentially spoiling the rest of his (and therefore our) holiday.
I explained our predicament – with no little embarrassment – to the lifeguards who said they’d do their very best to help.
When we called by the next day, however, the glasses were there, unbroken and obviously cleaned. It turns out two of them had scoured the vast pool earlier that morning – before the flumes and wave machine were turned on – and found the glasses in a distant corner.
I was impressed to say the least, and my son’s gratitude (prompted by a nudge from dad) were met with a smile, shrug and: “No problem, sir.”
After reluctantly leaving our woodland retreat, packing the car and returning our bikes, we spent our last few hours in the pool.
While the kids squeezed in as many water slides as possible, I chilled out in the jacuzzi and reflected about what made our stay so enjoyable.
EXCITEMENT
Essentially Centerparcs is the perfect destination for a short family break. The large range of activities offer a great mix of fun, sport and excitement for all ages. Nestled in the heart of a large forest, the lodges allow you to immerse yourself in a quiet, natural habitat. After the hectic unpacking period, the absence of all traffic creates a resort-wide ‘safe zone’ where parents can relax and let their children scoot, cycle and run around all day. The jewel in the Centerparcs’ crown, however, is the Swimming Paradise and the village itself. To be guaranteed a year-round warm subtropical climate where you can spend most of the day splashing around or sitting outside a cafe is a very strong unique selling point. Driving out of the resort I asked three happy children what they most enjoyed about their stay. A flurry of answers followed: the pool and slides, the cycling, the activities, the food, the lodge, the pool (again), the sports stadium, the playgrounds… “Okay,” I eventually interrupted, “So was there was anything you didn’t like?” For the first time in months, the back seat became blissfully silent as they remained deep in thought. I never did get a reply to that one – but chose to savour the quiet, happy family glow as we left Whinfell Forest and headed for the mountains of the Northern Lakes for our next adventure.