Sherwood Castle Holiday Forest

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After the end of May Bank Holiday I was back at work for a few days looking forward to a week of day trips the next week with Lou and the boys. We had booked a night in Ambleside but other than that had no real plans.

However a chance search for last minute breaks prompted by a friend led us to booking 4 nights in a lodge in the heart of Sherwood Forest. The best bit for a cheapskate like me was the cost, £225 for the whole trip, booking was via Hoseasons.

Obviously this was very last minute so my usual extensive research had gone out of the window, therefore Tripadvisor reviews where not read, distances to the local supermarkets where not know and the to 10 local attractions had not been studied to an inch of their life. A quick check on Trip Advisor had thrown up some really mixed reviews, many quite recent so I really did not know what to expect.

Valentino Lodge

Lying just to the east of Mansfield the drive only took us 2 hours including stops and traffic and initial impressions at check in where very positive. Alfie loved the catapults and other siege weapons and I was please with how clean the general area was. On finding our lodge our impressions continued to be positive. The lodge its self was clean, warm, homely and had all of the comforts you would want for a break in the forest.

Assault Course

Outside of the lodge the park boasts

  • Assault Course
  • Indoor Play Area
  • Giant Rope Swings
  • Den Building Area
  • Family Walks
  • Farm Animals
  • Swimming Pool
  • Indoor Sports Court

They also offer a number of paid activities but we did not feel the need to do any of them as there was plenty for us to do when we where not out and about. But prices on those activities seems reasonable.

Den Building

We found the whole location and experience to be a really nice mix of back to nature and modern comforts. Minimal screen time was required for either the adults or the children and we all got to act as big kids. Certainly where we where there the park was very quiet despite most of the lodges being occupied so you could real get the forest atmosphere and in reality apart for getting supplies you could spend the whole time here without a car.

Locally there are some great cheap days out which I may expand on elsewhere.

One of the on park walks

Summing up, this is not Centre Parcs, and to be honest I wouldn’t want it to be. Its a good quality family holiday where you can make some wonderful memories, we will be back.