A fabulous escape filled with activities, adventure and acres of nature, nestled away in the Forest of Dean, Whitemead Forest Park promises something for everyone. Richard Easton – technology journalist, husband, and dad to three boisterous boys – went to find out if it lived up to his lofty expectations. All while benefiting from a 20% Boundless discount on his long weekend stay.
Where is Whitemead Forest Park located?
You’ll find Whitemead Forest Park in the heart of Gloucestershire, next to the Forest of Dean. That means you’re surrounded by beautiful woodland greenery all around, and it makes for a wonderful drive before you reach your stay.
How to use Boundless membership on your Whitemead stay
Boundless members can enjoy a saving of up to 20% on their stay at Whitemead Forest Park, on top of any other current offers available. That saving applies to its variety of accommodation options, including glamping pods, log cabins, and apartments.
Claiming the savings is easy. When booking online, you’ll be given the option of two price points: Boundless membership price and the full price. You’ll then be prompted later to confirm your membership number.
If you’d prefer to make your booking over the phone, it’s simply a case of quoting your membership number.
Our stay in the Whitemead Forest Park premier apartments
Whitemead Forest Park has accommodation options that’ll suit pretty much everyone. Whether you want to camp under the stars; go a bit more luxurious with a glamping pod; bring your own touring caravan or motorhome; or opt for one of the premier apartments - you’re rather spoiled for choice.
You get a spacious kitchen and living area
We stayed in a first floor premier apartment, and there was copious space for all five of us to relax, play games and get a good night’s sleep to energise for the exciting days ahead. There’s a kitted out kitchen if you want to go the self-catering option, too, and we enjoyed making breakfast pancakes as part of our new holiday tradition. You get a welcome pack with some tea and coffee on arrival as well as all the bits you need for washing dishes.
We knew we were in for a treat as soon as we arrived on site as we were immediately greeted at a mobile check-in station. Staff were super-friendly and helpful (a recurring theme), and we didn’t even need to get out of the car to pick up key cards and information. Result.
The archery area surrounded by plenty of green space
Our apartment balcony overlooked the sprawling green space available, which made for a lovely area for the kids to play and run free, in addition to the toddler and bigger kids’ playground options. It was a refreshing change from other holiday parks we’ve stayed at where it felt like any spare green space was taken up by squeezing more camping and caravan pitches in.
The grounds feel lovely and spacious as a result, but all of the facilities are within a short walking distance regardless of your accommodation choice.
Things to do in Whitemead Forest Park
We found there was lots to do whether you’re travelling as a couple or with kids in tow.
I like to always make sure there’s a gym available and the gym facilities meant I could still get a quick workout in. There’s also an indoor heated pool with a dedicated toddler area for added peace of mind. Plus sauna facilities for some extra relaxation. Our kids could have spent a whole day just splashing around. There are also water-based activities available at the pool, such as water zorbing and sea scooters but you’ll need to book these from guest services.
Checking out the 'What's on?' board
During your stay, there are copious amounts of activities to enjoy, keeping you entertained throughout the day and evening.
There are also table tennis spots dotted around the park for an outdoor game, as well as adventure golf and archery sessions you can book. A big grass football pitch is also available for a kickabout, so bring a ball.
We signed our little ones up to the Build a Bear activity and they absolutely loved it. Neither of our two eldest (5 and 2) have ever really been into stuffed toys but something about making your own, putting a wish inside it, and giving it a name makes it that much more special. So much so ‘Holiday Teddy’ and ‘Misty Dragon’ ended up accompanying them for the rest of our trip.
The kids loved making their own stuffed toys – as did my wife
They also did Slime Making (glad that wasn’t in our house), which was also great fun, and joined in on Saturday night’s Kids’ Disco and Bingo. Special mention to staff member Sarah who ran all of the sessions the boys went to - her energy and enthusiasm was impressive and the kids loved seeing her throughout their stay.
If the kids weren’t too partied out, we would have stayed for the evening entertainment. A number of tribute bands perform at The Venue, so it’s worth checking the schedule.
Richard’s top tips
Whitemead Forest Park boasts so many great activities, so I’d definitely advise taking a look at the activities timetable ahead of your stay to make a plan of action and get the most out of your trip.
There are also a number of walking routes we didn’t manage to do - so they’re on our list for when we come back - but they’re worth checking out for those looking to take in the scenery.
Train fans will love Perrygrove – just a 10 minute drive away.
Near to Whitemead Forest Park is also Perrygrove Railway Adventure. It’s a great day out for kids, with trains to ride and playgrounds to run off excess energy. There’s also Puzzlewood that lets you take in the magic of the Forest of Dean with its rainforest-like climate. Also Star Wars was filmed there for the film buffs.
Where to eat and drink
You’ve got plenty of options on the site. The Foresters Bar serves food and drink, and is a good option if you want a cooked breakfast to kickstart your day. You can also order for pick up to take food back to your accommodation. This was perfect when the kids just wanted some chips after an afternoon swim. The Venue - where the evening entertainment takes place - also serves food on an evening - where you can get burgers, fish and chips and more.
One of many ice creams had during our stay – just outside the leisure facilities
Then there’s The Terrace, handily overlooking the playground, so we could let the kids run wild while we sat back with a drink. It serves hot drinks, as well as ice cream and waffles for those looking for a sweet treat. You can also pop by The Wild Boar coffee shop for a caffeine kick, and there’s an ice cream kiosk outside the leisure facilities. The kids particularly loved the latter and there was a great variety of flavours on offer.
How to get there
Whitemead Forest Park is situated near the River Severn, out towards the Welsh border. The nearest motorway is the M5, and the fact that we passed Gloucester Services was also a pleasant bonus. It’s definitely worth popping into as it’s one of the fanciest service stations you’ll see. If you’re going by train, your nearest major train station will be Gloucester.
Do more with Boundless
These savings are one example of the deals and discounts available from Boundless. If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus.
With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to the Ramblers' extensive group walks and routes, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery by LV= Britannia Rescue.
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