We go to Center Parcs Whinfell Forest every year, but this was the first time it felt properly worth it with our daughter. She's two now, old enough to get stuck into the pool and the classes, and that changed the whole weekend.
There were six of us: me, my wife, her friend Lauren (Aunty Lauren to our daughter), my mother in law, my father in law and our little girl. We went from Friday 23rd to Monday 26th October, the start of half term, and two storms hit the UK while we were there. It rained and blew pretty much non stop from Friday to Monday, so almost everything we did was indoors. It still didn't ruin it.
Getting there and getting around
Whinfell is about a 2.5 hour drive from Manchester. We always stop for a big food shop on the way, because the shop on site is very expensive. The only things we buy there are smokeless logs for the fire and a few cakes and treats.
Once you're in, you don't have your car. You unload at the lodge and then it goes in the car park for the weekend. Not all of us own bikes, and bike hire is about £45 per person for the weekend. On top of what the break already costs, that adds up fast for six people.
So we walked everywhere. It's slow and you rack up a lot of steps, especially pushing a toddler through the forest in the pouring rain. It was hard work at times, but it's part of the place and it didn't spoil anything.
The lodge
We always end up in the Three Oaks area, and this year was no different. We like it there, but it's a fair walk from the centre, which you notice in bad weather.
We booked a detached, two storey Woodland Lodge for about £1,100 for the long weekend. It's not cheap, but everyone chips in and it works out fine split between us.
Downstairs there's the master bedroom with an en suite, a separate toilet, a dining area and a small kitchen. The kitchen has loads of cutlery and everything you need, plus a fridge, coffee machine and dishwasher. The living room has two sofas, an armchair and a fireplace, which we love.
The TV is dated. It has a few channels but nothing smart, so no Netflix or BBC iPlayer. That's not what you go for, but when it's blowing a gale outside you'd use it.
Upstairs there are two twin rooms, each with two single beds, and travel cots are available. They share a bathroom with a bath, shower and toilet. My in laws take the downstairs suite, Lauren has one twin room, and me, my wife and our daughter have the other with her in a travel cot. I think this is the last year she'll fit in it, so next year we'll need to sort a proper bed for her.
The pool
The pool is where we spent most of the weekend, and it's the best thing about Whinfell with a toddler. It's huge, with a big section just for little ones that has a couple of small water slides. Our daughter absolutely loved them and would have stayed all day.
The water is warm, and the changing rooms are really hot. That matters with a two year old, because you have to dry and dress them before yourself. Even doing it that way round, you never get cold.
There are loads of lockers and proper family changing areas, so you all change together rather than splitting into men's and women's. For families that's a big deal.
There are outdoor pools too. The water is warm, but the air outside was freezing, so we only had a short go. Getting in and out was brutal.
Activities
We didn't book much this time. The one thing we did book was Halloween Mini Movers, a half hour dance class for toddlers that cost about £6. It says only one adult per child, but three of us went in and nobody minded. It was a slow start, a few songs and some toys, and she was a bit shy at first. Then the music and props came out and all the kids loved it, her included. The rest of the time we played pool and table tennis. I also spent a bit of time in the big sports bar in the Sports Plaza watching the football with a few drinks.
Next year I'll book her on the climbing. If the weather is kinder, I'd like to do the rope walks and maybe a pedalo on the lake. This year any of that would have been miserable.
Food and drink
Most meals we cook at the lodge from the big shop, but we eat out a couple of times.
The Starbucks has been refurbished and it's much better than the old one, which was tiny. It's now big enough that you can usually find a seat, so we grabbed a few coffees there over the weekend.
Sunday lunch was at the Lakeside Inn, and you absolutely have to book. It was about £35 a head and honestly not great. The menu is limited and the food is just okay. We still enjoy doing it, and the soft play area is a lifesaver when your little one has completely had enough of the high chair.
Breakfast on Monday at Cafe Rouge was the better meal. It was about £20 a head and really nice. I'd book that too.
What it cost
Item | Cost |
|---|---|
Woodland Lodge, detached, two storey (Fri to Mon) | about £1,100 |
Bike hire (we skipped it) | about £45 per person |
Sunday lunch at the Lakeside Inn | about £35 a head |
Breakfast at Cafe Rouge | about £20 a head |
Halloween Mini Movers dance class | about £6 |
Would we go back?
Yes, and we will, like we do every year. Sometimes other family members come too and we try to get two lodges next to each other.
My tips for families: do a big shop on the way, book every restaurant before you go, and pack for the weather because you'll be walking everywhere. With a toddler, the pool alone makes it worth it, even in a storm.