SWIMMING, cycling, walking, sailing ... sometimes chilling out is quite tiring!

I was on a weekend trip with two 14-year-old boys and luckily (although not for him) one of them was slowed down by frostbite on his foot, or I’d never have stood the pace.

As it was, I snuck off a couple of times to the onsite spa for a bit of grown up rest and recuperation.

We were at Center Parcs in Longleat Forest where there is a huge range of activities and facilities. There’s always something to do come rain or shine; although having now experienced both, I have to say shine is much preferable.

You stay in cabins among 400 acres of woodland and there’s a real green feel to the place.

Once you’ve driven to your accomodation, you drop your car off at a central car park and spend the rest of the time getting around on foot, by bicycle or on a land-train which runs in a loop around the parc.

You can arrive at any time from 10am on your first day, so by the time we got there at around 8.30pm the car parks were pretty full, but we managed to find a space and after dropping off our bags in our swish woodland lodge - complete with three TVs, dishwasher and ensuites - headed off to have a look around and pick up our hired bikes (you can take your own if you want to save cash).

We also took a look around the site’s centrepiece, the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, which is part of a complex which includes restaurants, shops and other entertainment.

Although it was dark and cold, visitors were happily using the white water rapids which take you outside of the pool on an extended waterslide open to the elements. The pool stays open until 9.45pm and it looked great fun to journey down the route lit by fairy-lights.

We hit the pool complex the following morning and enjoyed the rapids, swimming both inside and out and the wave machine, although I left the boys to try out the flumes by themselves.

By this time one of son Tom’s feet had developed huge, painful blood blisters. He’d had his verrucas frozen by the doctor the day before and we hadn’t quite realised what getting frostbite would be like.

Still, he soldiered on and we also managed to fit in a sailing session on the parc’s lake. There is a host of activities, both inside and out, for all ages, ranging from 10-pin bowling to archery and scuba diving. There are nature walks, horse riding, organised sports, clubs and classes.

The boys went for a cycle while I had a relaxing facial and tried out the spa. It’s an impressive place with more than a dozen different areas and experiences to relax in including a Finnish sauna, Balinese multi-steam bath, Greek herbal bath, Japanese salt steam bath and Turkish Hammam.

The parc also boasts 11 restaurants and bars, along with a new takeaway delivery service to the lodges, and after a fun dinner at Huck’s American bar and grill we had just about enough energy to cycle back to our comfy lodge.

Relaxed . . . and totally exhausted!

Travel Facts

Center Parcs, Longleat Forest, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 7PU www.centerparcs.co.uk. 08448 266 266

We stayed in a two bedroom Executive Lodge (accommodation suitable for a family of four) from £419 for a mid-week or weekend break. A two bedroom comfort villa starts from £199. Best available rate pricing which means that guests should book early for best prices and availability.

Winter Wonderland starts at Longleat Forest from November 20 when there will be plenty of festive surprises including an igloo with Eskimos, the Rolling Gnomes and roaming choirs helping to put everyone in the Christmas mood. There will be live reindeers, horse drawn carriage rides to visit Santa in his grotto, an enchanted walk and a Santa and snowman trail highlighting the delights of the forest in winter. The pantomime will be Aladdin.