Parc and ride

THE mean-looking swans moved towards us like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator.

They had us trapped. Our only route to the safety of the villa was blocked. Then I had an idea - the outdoor steam room! We ran in and waited for the birds to go. But they didn't. There was only one thing to do. . .

I opened the door, chucked a piece of stale bread from our duckfeeding trip as far as I could, grabbed my giggling children, Elliot and, Zara and bolted for sanctuary. The swans waddled one way, we ran the other.

"Everything all right, " said my wife, Jayne, as we bundled through the patio doors at "home".

"Fine, " I said. "Just meeting the natives."

That was on day one at Sherwood Forest Center Parcs, and by the end of our stay we were well acquainted with the swans, as well as the ducks, moorhens, squirrels and rabbits to be found on the 400acre complex.

The site is one huge nature reserve, which is why it has just opened a new nature centre.

Here, you can observe creatures from the wildlife hide or on the web cams. You can go on guided walks looking for birds and bugs, or explore on your own.

One of the great features of Center Parcs is that they are virtually car-free. Once you have unloaded at your apartment, you drive to the car park and that's where your vehicle stays. You can then walk, or cycle, without having to dodge traffic.

We hired two cycles, one with a trailer, the other "a slipstream" (a child's bike welded on to an adult cycle), and spent hours exploring the complex.

One of the great things about Center Parcs is that you can do as much, or as little, as you want.

There are activities for all ages and abilities, indoor and out, although most have to be paid for, so don't forget your wallet.

As we were in Sherwood Forest, I played at being Robin Hood and had a go at archery. I surprised myself by hitting gold several times, although some of my arrows shot so wide of the mark I feared a dozy squirrel might be skewered.

The list of activities includes falconry, horse riding, golf, fishing, laser clay pigeon shooting and gokarting. There are watersports available on the lake, such as windsurfing, canoeing and sailing.

If it is raining, indoors activities include squash, badminton, ten-pin bowling, snooker and five-a-side football.

Your kids should never be bored.

There are Time Out clubs where youngsters engage in all kinds of supervised fun, computer zones, discos, play areas and a creche.

There are fantastic outdoor adventure play areas and a beach, where you can build sandcastles.

One attraction which is free is the subtropical swimming paradise. Here you can ride the waves in the pool, have fun on the flumes and slides, take it easy in the hot whirlpool or put your feet up and read a book. It's all undercover and the temperature is a sub-tropical 29.5 Celcius.

New this year is the Grand Cascade raft ride, which combines the thrill of water tubing with white water rafting. At more than 450 feet, the ride is longer than two jumbo jets.

Ideally, four people share an inflatable tube which whirls down a roller-coaster of rapids, waterfalls and whirlpools. I went on my own, but it was still great fun.

Elliot loved the pirate ship, which is the colourful centrepiece of the children's pool, designed with four to seven-year-olds in mind. There is a 15-metre flume, treasure island sandpit and a shipwreck.

At Center Parcs, the accommodation blends into the forest. The size of the apartments and villas on the complex varies, depending on the number of guests. We stayed in a superb three-bedroom executive villa.

All bedrooms were en-suite (one with a jet bubble bath, which the kids loved). The modern, fitted kitchen had a microwave and conventional oven, while the comfy lounge had TV, DVD and a hi-fi system. A nice touch was the private patio area and barbecue, and the outdoor steam room.

If you want pampering and relaxation, try the Aqua Sana. Here, you can enjoy a Japanese salt steam bath, a Greek herbal bath and an ice fountain, where you can rub yourself down with ice flakes.

For those who fancy pampering, there are facials, body wraps, mud baths, massages, leg waxes and pedicures to be had.

The resort has a vast selection of restaurants and eateries, serving French, Italian, American, and Indian food. We had a fantastic meal at Huckleberry's American diner, where we were entertained by a magician who did tricks between the tables.

Those who like to do their own cooking will find that the supermarket is well stocked and competitively priced.

You could spend a month at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest and still not see, or do, everything.

That is why visitors return year after year.

As we drove away from our villa, we waved to the Terminator swans and shouted "We'll be back". And as soon as we got home we booked up for another break.

Fact file

How to get there.

By car: Leave the A1 South at the junction with the A614 in north Nottinghamshire. After about nine miles take the B6034 to Edwinstone, and follow the signs for Center Parcs. It should take about 90 minutes from York.

By rail: The nearest mainline station is at Newark, 15 miles away.

Cost: Prices vary according to type of accommodation and time of year. Breaks are three-night, Friday to Monday, or four-night, Monday to Friday, or seven days.

Center Parcs also has villages at Whinfell Forest, Cumbria, Longleat in Wiltshire, and Elvedon Forest in Suffolk. A fifth one is planned in Bedfordshire.

To book, or order a brochure and free promotional DVD, phone 08705 200 300. Or check out the website, www. centerparcs. co. uk