Travel: Completely comfortable outside of my comfort zone at Center Parcs

I was out of my comfort zone… by about 50ft! Standing among the treetops, on the edge of a platform just big enough to hold the soles of my feet, I looked down – and instantly realised it was a rookie mistake.

For a few seconds, I froze. But there was no turning back, so I gripped the rope for dear life and vaulted myself forward. After a few seconds of flying, I scrambled onto the safety of the next platform. It was both exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure.

Aerial Adventure is essentially a big playground in the sky. The obstacle course takes you swinging, climbing and crawling through the treetops on rope bridges, and culminates with a thrilling zipwire descent across the lake.

This grand finale was the ultimate adrenaline rush for the whole family, and what a sense of achievement looking back and realising we’d reached new heights on this weekend of adventure.

That’s the thing about Center Parcs – even if you’re not the adventurous type when you arrive, you’re guaranteed to be a bit of a Bear Grylls by the time you head home.

We had made the most of a long weekend by heading for Whinfell Forest in Cumbria – the largest of Center Parcs’ five UK sites. And what a gorgeous place it is. Plonked in the middle of a forest, the stunning scenery stretches for miles under the canopy of thousands of trees.

Our base was a two-bedroomed Executive Lodge, spacious yet cosy. The lodge’s rustic charm was complemented by a touch of luxury – a hydro bath – and there was also a barbeque on the terrace and a well-stocked kitchen complete with coffee machine.

Safely unpacked, we despatched the car to reception and collected our bikes. This is one of the plus points of Center Parcs … you don’t need your car for the rest of the weekend – and it’s super safe for the kids to cycle around without the worry of traffic.

Getting on a bike for the first time in 20 years was an adventure in itself. The kids screamed with laughter as they watched me road test my new wheels. I could tell they were just waiting for me to fall off! But as the old adage goes, it was literally like riding a bike – a skill that never leaves you no matter how old or out of practice you are.

With the autumn weather on our side, we headed to the adventure playground where the kids burned off plenty of energy climbing, balancing and sliding before trying out the Subtropical Swimming Paradise – an afternoon of splashing around in the flumes, waves and river rapids.

With temperatures of 29 degrees all year round and decked in lush green tropical plants and trees, it’s easy to spend hours here. The heated outdoor pool – minus the chilly walk out and back in – was a particular favourite for us.

After drying off, we went for a walk round the shops in the Village Centre before a relaxing and delicious dinner at Bella Italia, where the wiped-out weans were happy to colour in between courses served by a robot waiter – Bella the Cat Bot – which added an air of excitement to our meal.

Then it was back to the lodge to fall into bed, ready to do it all again tomorrow. And there was no shortage of activities waiting for us as the new day dawned. We opted for a woodland walk and forest cycle followed by a sumptuously sweet lunch at the Pancake House.

There’s seldom a dull moment at Center Parcs and the sprawling sports plaza is a hub of activity. Take your pick from badminton, football, table tennis or even wall climbing. We opted for a game of short tennis, where the two kids channelled their inner Andy Murray and gave mum and dad the runaround. After another fun-filled trip to the swimming pool, we snuggled up with a hearty home-cooked dinner in the lodge followed by a night of good old family board games. It was certainly a welcome change to see the kids off their screens – and not even asking for them!

By day three, the parents were exhausted – but the kids were still raring to go. My husband and the kids were back on the bikes to explore the forest paths and paid another visit to the park, while I took the opportunity to test out the Aqua Sana spa. My goodness, this was tranquility at its finest. From the herbal sauna to the hydropool, and salt steam to sole therapy, my mind and body were in full relaxation mode – and that’s before a full body hot stone massage which cured my weary muscles, particularly in my upper arms after gripping the zip wire. Three hours of uninterrupted chill time which, in the chaos of family life, I never quite seem to find back home.

I left feeling as if I was floating but it didn’t last long before I was thrown full throttle back into the activities with an afternoon of adventure golf, bowling and a few hours in the games arcade. We had just about enough energy left to cycle up the hill to the lodge and flop on the sofa with pizzas, popcorn and a movie. Quality time together was what this holiday was all about.

The kids are already pleading to go back and visit again and, if I’m honest, I’m missing it too. I’m not an adventurer by any stretch of the imagination but that’s the magic of Center Parcs … after just a few days you’ll feel completely comfortable outside your comfort zone – and I guarantee you will love every second of it.

P.S. If it’s your first time at Center Parcs, don’t book too many activities in advance. The best plan is to have a few things in place and then just see where the weather – and the adventure – takes you! Cycle hire and swimming are free and will fill up a lot of your time!

Factfile

Prices for a two-bedroom New Style Woodland Lodge weekend break at Whinfell Forest (Fri-Mon) from November 1 start from £779 and a mid-week break (Mon-Fri) from November 4 from £629. For more information and to book, visit www.centerparcs.co.uk