Monday to Friday 5 to 9 August 2024 - A Trip to Center Parcs Whinfell

This posting will probably only be of interest to the family. Click on any image for a slideshow.

Last Monday, six of us - me, Sue, Kate, Jacob and Jessica, plus Jacob's friend Seb, made our way to 14 Forresters Lane, at Whinfell Center Parcs near Penrith.

The boys had a stomach bug that miraculously didn't find its way to any of the rest of us, but they were laid low for a while.

A walk around the 'village' (there can be up to nearly 5000 visitors at any one time) took us past some tree houses that cost a fortune to stay in. As you can see, our accommodation was more modest, albeit perfectly adequate (apart from its oven, which only Sue could operate!).

After we had all enjoyed a 5km walk around the perimeter, Sue and Seb went on a quad bike safari. Great fun, and not without incident.

Not all of us saw the resident red squirrels, but we did see this deer, pottering about in the village.

Kate, Jess and Sue enjoyed an 'aerial adventure'.

Back outside the house, some baby hares were nestling in the grass. 

Their mum was attentive and soon moved her babies to a more secret location.

The mum mallard was not so attentive - she preferred preening to mothering.

I was appointed photographer for a kayaking interlude.

There were five soggy bottoms.

A half hour of 'football fun', in the sports hall, tested some forgotten skills.

Meanwhile, a tough jigsaw was nearing completion.

Apart from ping pong, various  folk enjoyed a game of pool, and some family fun games in the squash courts. As well as lots of watching the Olympics (mainly me).

Shortly before we left number 14 on Friday morning, the jigsaw was finished.

Our final morning was based in a cabane in the aquatic centre. £30 for three hours. A good spot with a TV.

Then after some more ping pong and pool, we went home. 

Thanks for your company everyone, that was a lovely few days. Waterproofs were used for about five minutes - not bad for the Lake District!