Center Parcs - always a great break

We've been to Center Parcs many times over the last 25 years. The first time, our eldest (now 25) was about a year old. This time both our grown up kids came along  plus my sons's best mate. We went as we always have to the Longleat resort.

The Rapids in daylight

The Rapids at night - an absolute must!

I've blogged a couple of time about our visits, this one in 2006 and this one in 2010 so I won't go into the minutiae again - a basic summary is that it's a midweek or weekend break in the forest, with a tropical indoor pool area (free), and a gazillion activities (mostly extra cost) that can be done if that's your bag. Plus restaurants, and well furnished accommodation that range from basic (but nonetheless well equipped) to luxurious. It can be expensive (and overall accommodation prices are hiked horribly to co-incide with school holidays), but at the end of the day you can take it or leave it. We love it. A good friend of mine is also an advocate, and he's also blogged about it previously.

The Pancake House

I suppose having written before about what you can do the key things for me are the way I've seen the place change over the years. It's still fundamentally what it set out to be. Good family fun. The lodges have been uprated and improved over the years, newer, executive style lodges and even tree house accommodation is now available. We pushed the boat out this time in a 3 bedroom executive style lodge complete with sauna! Also new (for us since last time) is that you get given a green wristband(s) which acts as your key to your lodge and key for your locker in the Subtropical Swimming Paradise. It certainly makes you 1) less likely to lose a key, and 2) not have to faff around trying to find £1 coins.

Our 3 bedroom Executive Style Lodge

The restaurants have changed. There are many more activities that have appeared over the years. The Sports Bar has a TV at almost every table. The (free) wifi right across the estate is pretty decent in the Plaza's and accommodation, and if you can't get wifi at least you can (mostly) get a 3G/4G signal these days.

Our lodge interior (downstairs)

Our lodge interior (downstairs) with a well equipped kitchen 

The new tube rides (Cyclone and Typhoon - free as they're part of the sub-tropical swimming paradise) are great, although inevitably the queues build pretty quickly and waits can be long for a short thrill ride - but arguably worth it!

In the Dome - there were people about - honest!

Sports Plaza (it's much bigger than this!)

Inside the Dome

We had a fabulous time on our long weekend break. Plenty of pool/slides/rapids/tube rides time, a couple of meals out at Las Iguanas and the excellent and highly recommended Rajinda Pradesh Indian restaurant. Although some of our party were carrying various injuries between us we played badminton, table tennis, snooker, pool, min-golf (indoor and outdoor), the girls spent time in the Aqua Sauna spa, we watched sport, drank beer and wine (and cocktails), went on a nature walk on the estate, rode bikes and played 10 pin bowling. I think that's a pretty impressive effort for a weekend!

One of the many Coastal Redwoods on the estate

Unfortunately the weather can't be guaranteed we had one decent (but overcast) day and the Sunday was hit and miss with some heavy rain showers, but that didn't stop us! As I said of one of our previous visits, the beauty of this format is that even if you're only been for the weekend, you leave feeling like you've had a real break from reality. Chill with a glass of wine, or be as active as you want. The choice is yours. Will we be going again? Absolutely!

There are paths galore

All the paths are well laid out, generally well lit at night when the forest looks and feels remarkable different, Keep your eyes open for squirrels, badgers, foxes, owls and even deer.

You're not far from nature anywhere!

Center Parcs at night near our lodge

There a quietness about the place at night, even though it's 900 lodges are generally at 97% capacity (so we were told). The site is 400 acres, so there's plenty of room and places for those occupying the lodges to disappear to, and although inevitably the Sub Tropical Swimming Paradise, key rides, and Sports Plaza and popular activities can be very busy at times, there are plenty of quieter opportunities.

Heaven's Gate (just outside Center Parcs with view over Longleat - when it's not foggy!)

You're right next to Longleat Estate and the Safari Park (or very nearly - you won't get eaten by lions).

The magic of the FA Cup: City 2-2 Carlisle

FA Cup 3rd round day. One of the biggest football days of the season. David's v Goliath's. Or in this case Cardiff City v Carlisle United. Separated by around 300 miles and 50 or so league places, it should have been a walk in the spork for City, especially given Neil Harris, the City manager's resolve to bounce back after a 6-1 hammering by QPR on New Year's Day. But this is Cardiff City, and things never, ever go to plan. There were multiple changes to the squad as expected, but it was still a decent XI on paper. City appeared to be denied a penalty by the inconsistent referee within the first few minutes, only to concede a penalty themselves 11 minutes in, which was scored on the rebound after 'keeper Smithies saved the original shot.

City were all over the place, and chants by the decent number of travelling fans of "You're fucking shit" couldn't really be argued with. In fairness to the visiting fans, that wasn't the only song they had, and the predictable "Championship - you're having a laugh" and renditions of God Save The Queen were wheeled out, and they did their best to create some sort of atmosphere. With less than 5,300 fans in total, and the Grange, Grandstand and Canton stands closed there was never going to be any atmosphere from the City faithful.

But back to the football - if you can call it that. A Premier League side only last season, Cardiff's stock plan seems to be pass sideways, sideways, sideways, then back and hoof long. Come to think of it, that was our plan in the Premier League too. There's no visible plan, let alone a plan B. There's little quality on or with the ball, and a lack of composure and urgency right round the team. City had a fair bit of the ball, but could do nothing with it. Carlisle compounded City's woes by going 2-0 up on the stroke of half time, and the Bluebirds were roundly booed off at the break.

Manager Neil Harris said after the game there was no ranting at half time (there bloody well should have been), but City did come out of the blocks after the break for 10 minutes at least, pulling back a goal through Callum Paterson and then equalising  via a Gavin Whyte header (despite a suspicion that the ball had gone out of play before he scored), but any glimmering hopes of a City comeback win faded as they reverted to type and despite a (slightly) better second period, they failed to break down the visitors defence. Indeed, Carlisle had a couple of late chances to nick it, and whilst that might have objectively been harsh, you wouldn't have been surprised had they done so.

There were less boos at full time, but a hugely disappointing afternoon following on from the QPR game and the prospect of an unwanted long distance midweek replay beckons, but I suppose at least we're still "in the hat" for the 4th round.

More worryingly, the next home game is the fabled South Wales derby, with our friends from down west hoping to do the league double over us. On this form, who'd bet against it? Not me.

New Year 'up North' - waterfalls and castles

Travelling abroad for holidays often makes me think how small the UK is. But it's not really. A trip to Barnard Castle in County Durham for New Year with a whole bunch of family brought it home to me.  For a start there's the getting there. It's a bloody long way. 304 miles to be precise the way went which keeping (roughly) to speed limits and allowing for a stop or two, took us around about 6 hours. Unlike the rest of my family, I always enjoy the "getting there" aspect of any trip. Despite being behind the wheel, I always find it interesting to go to (or past) places I've rarely/never been or only read about or seen on TV/film/social media (delete as applicable). County Durham, and indeed a lot north of Birmingham is relatively unfamiliar territory for me so signs to York, Ripon, Harrogate, Wensleydale (and even Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham) make me wonder what these places are like (I've actually been to Harrogate a couple of times, but not the other places).

Anyway, we got safely to our lodgings adjacent to a livery stable in Barnard Castle and unloaded for a couple of days chilling with family.

On New Year's Eve, wanting to make the most of our trip we ventured out - eventually. Have you any idea how difficult it is to corral 17 people and 6 dogs to leave (and arrive at a designated place) at the same time!

We drove a few miles into wilder country to High Force waterfall on the Tees river. One of the most impressive waterfalls in England, it was certainly in fully flow when it appeared out of the trees on the well maintained short path to it from the car park.

Countryside near High Force, County Durham

High Force waterfall from the path

The walk to High Force

Myself and my good lady at High Force

It's an impressive site as you at first hear the waterfall as the path winds round and then comes into view, the river Tees plunging 70 feet into the pool below. I've seen some waterfalls in the Welsh valleys, but this is a step up on them (with apologies to my Welsh family and friends!). The river then continues downstream, the water dark and brooding, even if not very deep. We retraced our steps, and then took a walk slightly downstream, across a bridge and back up the other side of the valley to get close and personal with the falls from the top.

The Tees downstream of High Force

High Force from the far side of the valley.

The Tees just before it plunges over High Force

A little bit of artistic licence as the Tees starts its plunge down

We were lucky that the light was good, the river was in full flow to see this most impressive waterfall.
After our walk we had a quick refreshment stop at the High Force Inn by the car park (you actually have to pay to go down to the falls - tickets available at the hotel, but it's only a couple of quid, and worth it for the well maintained track and safety fencing).
After refreshing ourselves we drove back and had a very quick stop in Barnard Castle. The castle itself was closed, but again, a mightily impressive site sitting on the banks of the Tees in the evening sun.

The bridge over the Tees at Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle itself

I suppose the point of this blog, aside of sharing some phots of an impressive waterfall, is to reinforce that we live in a country with some wonderful areas of outstanding natural and historical beauty. There are many, many places in the UK that I've never been in my 60 years on this planet, and although it 'feels' like this was a long trip, in the grand context of someone who normally travels abroad at least once a year, it's not. We have a whole lot on our doorstep, and there's plenty to choose from. I'd certainly like to go back to this part of the country and spend longer exploring. And I've got family who live barely 45 minutes from there, so it's not as if I have an excuse!