I've just returned from a 5 day break at Center ParcsOasis Whinfell Forest in the Lake District. Until recently, when Center Parcs took over, the resort was known simply as Oasis and was run by an entirely different company. It's a place I've been visiting for the last 3 years, so I was interested to see how it might have changed under its new owners.
About Center Parcs Oasis Whinfell Forest:
CPOWF is set in 400 acres of pine forest on the edge of the lake district. Accommodation is in timber-framed lodges which range from 1 bedroom to 4 bedrooms. It is an incredibly beautiful and peaceful place, as well as being an environmentally-conscious nature reserve. Cars are not allowed on site. It has a lake, a country club, a traditional pub and the 'Butterfly Centre' which contains lots of amenities, including a massive 'World of Water'. There are over 100 activities to do on and off site, some free, some charged for.
Stays at Oasis are either Mon-Fri, or Fri-Mon. Check in for lodges is 3.30 pm and check out 11.00 am. You can pay extra for VIP treatment and check in and out earlier. You can also turn up earlier than check in and leave later than check out, but you won't have your lodge available for the extra time.
Getting There:
CPOWF is a doddle to find. Get off the M6 at Junction 40 (Penrith), turn right at the first roundabout, go straight over the second and after about 3 minutes driving you see it signposted on your right.
Arrival and Check In:
CPOWF has a drive-through check-in facility. You can find yourself in quite a queue here, but the 5 check-in posts are very efficient and your wait will be less than you think. Here you present your booking confirmation, the barcode from it is scanned
into a machine and out pop your keycards to get you into your lodge.
Lodges:
We had a 3 bedroom forest lodge, comprising a huge open plan living room/kitchen/dining room, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a 3rd WC. All mod cons are in the kitchen, including microwave and (if you're in a Cumbrian lodge) dishwasher and laundry facilities.
Lodges are stylishly decorated, lovely and warm, and like a real home from home. In fact, they are nicer than many homes I've been in.
Naturally, lodges have good sized TVs with radio, and there is a telephone in each lodge which will contact you with customer services, maintenance, housekeeping, leisure bookings and various takeaway food places at the touch of a button. You can also call other lodges for free.
Upon receiving your credit/debit card details, customer services will also give you an outside line (which can of course be used for laptops) at a charge of 11p per unit.
The Scenery:
Oasis really is beautiful. Lodges are mostly in clusters amongst the pine trees and ferns, and great care has been taken with the necessary roads and pathways to keep them from looking too urban. The names given to the different sections of accommodation, such as Badger Wood, Fell View, Forresters Lane and Lake Beck, really do describe the places well.
The forest is a haven for wildlife and lots of species of birds and animals run around freely. There are also plenty of guided nature walks each day for a smallish charge if you're really into the flora and fauna thing.
Getting Around:
Cars are not allowed on site, except for unloading on arrival and loading on departure. Instead they are kept on a huge car park at the foot of the village for the duration of your stay.
Many people bring their own bikes, but others choose to hire bikes from Freewheelers, which cost around £14 per week. You can also hire children's buggies to attach to the back of bikes, or special child's carts that you push around. There is a large selection of bikes to choose from, from your standard boneshaker to really sophisticated mountain bikes.
My dad, who currently has two broken ribs and a broken leg, hired a disabled 'lark' for £20 for the week, and as the place is very well geared-up for disabled people, he was able to have a great time.
What to Do:
There are over 100 activities at Oasis. Obviously I can't list them all (and I haven't done them all), so I'll go over some of them.
Butterfly Centre ++++++++++++++++
The Butterfly Centre contains a supermarket, 4 restaurants, ten pin bowling, amusements, 2 bars, a cinema, a show-bar, several souvenir shops and the World of Water. world of Water is free to use and is spectacular, containing jacuzzis, several swimming pools (including outdoor very heated ones which are fantastic in winter), some very scary water chutes, kiddies pools, a poolside snack bar and loads of areas to just sit and relax.
Lakeside Inn ++++++++++++
A traditional pub, as in mock Victoriana, which overlooks the lake. It contains a fantastic children's play area and serves pub grub, and has a quiz night twice a week.
Country Club ++++++++++++
The only place in the village you can get a mobile signal!
Badminton courts, squash courts, soft tennis courts, pool, snooker, five-a-side courts, roller skating and more are inside, whilst outside there is ice-skating, bowls, tennis, crazy golf, and a children's playground.
The Health & Beauty complex is also accessed here, where you can book in for loads of different treatments, use the gym, or take classes in aerobics, pilates, salsa etc.
Also contains a bar, snack bar, Chinese restaurant and sports shop.
From here you also book for off-site activities such as clay-pigeon shooting, quad biking, riding, golf and archery.
None of the above are free.
The Boathouse +++++++++++++
Book here for all watersports on the lake, including windsurfing, pedalos, kayaking and more. Again not free.
For Kids ++++++++
Face painting, kids activity club, outdoor and indoor play areas, nature trails, supervised games, swimming and sports lessons, kiddies water chutes, and babysitting.
Eating & Drinking:
There are places to eat and drink all over Oasis. Choose from snacks, Italian, Indian, Chinese, American, French, Burger King or takeaway pizza. Some of the restaurants will deliver to your lodge if you don't want to eat in.
I've tried them all in my time, and the quality of food (excepting Burger King, which I loathe anywhere) is excellent.
They are all also very clean, very pleasant (in a tacky sort of way), and have a wide choice of food and drink.
They get very, very busy at mealtimes, though, so it's always best to book first.
Service:
Oh dear. I have been very disappointed with the standard of service this year, and wonder if it is because of the Center Parcs takeover.
I have to say that on the whole staff are generally lackadaisical in their attitude, and barely smile.
We reported a fault in our lodge on the first day and no one had come to fix it when we left. Previously when we have needed maintenance, they have arrived within 20 minutes.
You can stand at bars for ages whilst staff chat amongst themselves or ignore you and polish glasses instead.
Here I must single out the Italian restaurant, Luciano's. It was probably the best Italian nosh I have ever had, but it was certainly the worst service. We waited so long for our food that I was shaking with hunger by the time it arrived, and catching someone's eye for another drink was impossible.
Expect to spend ages buying anything, be it an ice cream from a little stall or a 3 course meal in one of the very fine restaurants.
Prices:
If you're on a family holiday, it has to be oh dear again. Some examples:
In Luciano's, I had garlic pizza bread, lasagne, salad and one coke. It cost £18.
In the American Rock Café, a burger (admittedly large and fancy), is almost £11.
In the pub, it's over a tenner for a steak pie with chips/potatoes and a bit of veg.
If you've taken the whole family, you might want to make full use of the supermarket (but again not cheap) and the cooking facilities in your lodge.
Price of Stay:
Our 3 bed detached forest lodge cost around £360 for Monday afternoon until Friday morning. Obviously this is cheaper for a smaller lodge, and more expensive for a larger one.
In summer, our lodge would be well over £700, and I think over £1000 at Christmas or New Year.
Overall:
Despite the service and the prices (it was never cheap but prices have definitely risen since Center Parcs took over), I do love Oasis.
It's a beautiful setting, the accommodation is superb and there is absolutely loads to do for children and adults alike if you don't mind paying for it.
As the advert says, Center Parcs really is a 'British holiday the weather can't spoil' and I would heartily recommend anyone to try it whether they want a pampering break, some family fun, or a sport-packed fitness fest.
It rained almost all week for us, but it didn't spoil our holiday one bit.
I enjoyed myself 5 stars worth, but the prices and especially the service have to knock it down to 4.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Sounds great, just booked up for a weekend in feb!
jameswilson22 04.01.2006 02:05
Sounds great, just booked up for a weekend in feb!
KELLYLOUJ 07.10.2005 09:58
Great review, I went in september just for the weekend to the CPOWF really enjoyed it and I had never been before so unlike you did not know what to expect but I did pick up on the unenthusiastic staff, the happiest staff I met were those at the Boathouse! Very relaxing and we took full advantage of the World of Spa at the Aquasana in one word............................amazing!!!!!
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Advantages: Huge range of activities, good for families, excellent facilities for small children. Disadvantages: Mediocre service especially in pool bar, mediocre level of cleanliness.
timmyotoole 19.05.2001 (19.05.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Center Parcs
Advantages: Great family holiday, perfect for kids, lovely natural setting, plenty to do Disadvantages: Lodges can be shabby, you will wear yourself out with all the activity!
fallen121 20.03.2006 (20.03.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Center Parcs
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