Day 4 and we headed towards Lydney to stay at Whitemead Forest Park in Parkend.
Despite the fact that the campsite is less than five miles from both businesses, we somehow managed to arrive after standard check-in hours – thankfully, we were still greeted with big smiles.
Having stayed in a pod at Bracelands, we’d booked a different type this time – a Mega Pod X, no less. Complete with double bed and sofa bed, bathroom and well equipped kitchen, the pod sleeps four people very comfortably. Bed linen is supplied, there’s a TV and DVD player, even underfloor heating. Outside, there is a decked area and picnic bench for alfresco dining. This is definitely glamping – plenty of home comforts, no worries about whether the tent will stay up in a wind and no torchlit traipsing to the loo in the middle of the night!
You can, of course, use a tent or caravan – Whitemead has over 100 pitches available, a mix of grass and hardstanding – and there is a very smart and newly refurbished shower and toilet block and laundry rooms available. If you prefer a pod, there are four different types, which sleep 2-4. The smallest pod is available on a B&B basis, so you get a tasty breakfast every morning of your visit. At the other end of the spectrum, the Mega Pod XL is a very roomy 3m x 6m x 2.5m. Or how about staying in a log cabin or lodge? These are great for 4-8 people and some include a hot tub as well. If you don’t want to feel at all like you’re camping, you can stay in one of Whitemead’s apartments, which are spacious and modern, or The Bungalow, which is ideal for bigger groups of up to 8. All of them boast the most amazing views. What a choice!
Wandering around the site to get our bearings, it was clear to see that there is plenty of space, and this site has been well considered in terms of keeping all ages happily occupied – playgrounds for younger and older kids, outdoor chess, ping pong, football goals and tennis courts for sporty people. There is also a leisure club with gym and indoor heated swimming pool, and a health and beauty spa. And what did we do wrong? We failed to book ahead for the Sunshine Spa, so didn’t get chance to experience any of the beauty and holistic treatments available!
If you run out of food, there is a very well stocked shop on site. If you don’t fancy cooking, Whitemead’s restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is also a bar for a cheeky drink, TV screens showing various sporting events, plus evening entertainment every night during the school holidays. Needless to say, we happily took advantage of the restaurant for dinner before enjoying a stroll through Parkend. We stopped off at The Fountain for a G&T, then headed for the Dean Forest Railway. Here you can take a relaxing train trip along a 4.5-mile track. With five stations along the way, you can stop off and explore the local area.
Crossing over the footbridge at the station, we picked up the Parish Church Walk so that we could visit St Paul’s, the village and parish church, built in 1822 and rather charmingly located in a forest clearing. Having climbed a hill to see the church, we felt fully justified in stopping off for last orders at The Woodman Inn, and then back to our pod for an extremely good night’s sleep in very comfortable beds.
Not without trepidation, our final stay would be under canvas. Could we do ‘proper’ camping after this?
