[Closed] Forestholidays.co.uk Any good?

Never experienced ForestHolidays, but I just wanted to point out that Longleat CP starts from <£38 more expensive than the cheapest FH 3-bed cabin (Forest Of Dean) for the midweek we are going to book for next month.

The Beddgelert campus would make a decent location to explore bits of North Wales by road/gravel/mtb (Fford Pen Llech and Stwlan Dam jump into my road hillclimbing mind, not to mention you are very close to Snowdon).

I've not stayed at them but looked a few times and the prices were mega with kids in holiday time. Our last few holidays (and this years) will be to "independent" lodge type park places which seem to offer a similar thing but at a better price (obviously with the risk you choose a shit park!).

For example, we stayed twice last year at the Conifer Lodges (solidluxury.co.uk) which is right beside Kirroughtree and it was brilliant. Planning to go to a place near Dalbeattie this year (Barend) which has lodges and a small pool. The lodges at Barend look at bit basic vs the other place but other family members dictated that it had to be walking distance from a beach.

But don't go to Dumfries and Galloway. Yes there are lots of holiday parks but it's dreadful. The mountain biking is like a midge infested version of Lincolnshire, the beaches make the marshlands of Essex look appealing and the people burn outsiders in big wooden figures. Stay away, and that goes for Northumberland too. It's shit. Go to the lakes.

We went to the one at Sherwood last year - I was impressed and I'd definitely go again.

I've never been to center parcs....

The sherwood one just has a little kids play park on site along with a small shop and bar/cafe (the food was surprisingly good actually!).... but you have the whole of sherwood pines right on your door step - the red trail literally goes across the back of the site.

The cabin itself was nice - underfloor heated, hot tub cleaned daily, all very clean. It was just one of the bog standard three bedroom ones.

We stayed in the Forestholidays FoD while Mrs E was pregnant with our 1st sprog (nearly 7 years ago) and it was great for an off-season relaxing break, but the prices seem to have gone up loads since then. I've looked again a few times, but have ended up going to similar places in France for similar money (including ferry etc)!

Having been to and enjoyed CP's in the past I had a look at these recently. Looked nice but prices were at least on a level with CP's if not more, with much less to do, so with two young kids I'd just be going back to Whinfell.

You used to be able to use Tesco Clubcard vouchers towards them. They're nice enough, but quite expensive and all they are is a self catering cabin, there's not really any other facilities included (although they're often places where there may be things like mountain bike trails and Go Ape within walking distance). We stayed there for a hen do, so costs were reasonable when split between adults.

Was at Copton midweek last Jan.
Standard cabin with hot tub. Was really nicely done out. Again, just a play area onsite for kids, some activities we're run through the cafe/shop - some bush craft, walks, are here etc for young ones. Some free some paid from memory. Surrounding forest had mix of marked and unmarked walking trails

Went a couple of times when first kid was still very young (and we could avoid school holiday times!). Cabin was really nice, plenty of space between them not all crammed in like a caravan park. Not a self-contained thing like Center Parcs, either walking, a few activities they put on for older kids, or head off elsewhere.

Forest of Dean one isn't far from the trails at Cannop, Sherwood one is right next door to Sherwood Pines.

They vary.

I didn't rate the Argyll one. Location not exactly the best of Scotland!`

I live near the Sherwood one and that is more modern and much better integrated into the park.

Lodges are a step up over CP in my opinion and your not fenced in with razor wire.

It’s it just an alternative to Center Parcs but without the pool?
Are you stuck inside of it rains for the whole week

Yes, which is why we finally gave up on both and just hire cottages now. We went to the FoD and Thetford and one up Cumbria ways (they other site near by [walkable] had 'more' facilities). The cottages are very nice, definitely better than CP's but CP's are hardly terrible. The location are what drew us, as we have dogs not children, so having them locating them by forests, they were exactly what we wanted. It's expensive, which is why we went for self catering cottage instead now..
Your worrying about being stuck inside for a week, but at CP's you'd be stuck inside the pool/restaurant area with 1000 other people

Sounds like I need to think of this as camping for people who don't like tents rather than an alternative to CP.

(Oddly despite hating busy places I have no issue with CP - stress free holiday!)

These things are all personal

We often found rental cottages with access to nearby leisure clubs included. These worked well and are less than centre Parcs

Mainly we just rented a cottage and then drove to a nearby pool or soft play area if it rained

I know it's not the same thing but it's way cheaper. But mostly when the suns out you actually in the Lakes or Sea side with actual views

But as a teacher I'm probably more price sensitive than most but also more able to ride out the odd wet holiday as one of those things

There's nothing there except the cabins, a hot tub on the balcony and loads of trees. We love it there and the FoD one is 7 minutes away from Cannop Cycle centre so good to get loads of riding in whilst the family laze around in the mornings. The kids just roam free building dens in the woods have a crazy week of adventuring. Been to Centre parcs, Haven & Butlins in the past and whilst Forest Holidays are more expensive initially, it's a cheaper holiday in the long run as you aren't held hostage to spend loads of money whilst your'e there as running around in the woods is free!. You can get a Tesco delivery to the cabin to save driving around getting supplies all the time. It rained on our summer holiday last year and the kids didn't care, they just put their coats on. If your'e on the mailing list they often send out promo codes. Just booked our summer holiday with 20% off (our 3rd time there in 2yrs). You also get 12.5% off if you buy a Forestry England FoD parking permit which is valid for all of the places to visit down there.

The ones that are being built in Delamere are knackering some of the better trails in the area.☹️
They are also right at the opposite end of the forest from the new visitor centre, probably 2 miles away from GoApe and the kids play area, which seems an odd choice given the average families aversion to walking.

We just spent 4 nights at Cropton for the second time with our 18 month old.

The cabins are great and an 18 month old is easily entertained running round the cabin and forest. We use them outside of holidays so paid £350 for 4 nights which included £15 per night for the dog.

The location is great for us as we can get straight into the forest with the dog and it’s only a short drive to Whitby for fish and chips and Dalby Forest for some biking. Next time I’ll take the CX bike and explore the local forest/moors a bit more.