Name: Sherwood Castle Holiday Forest
Address: Rufford Lane Rufford, Newark, Newark, Newark, NG22 9DG, United Kingdom
Rating: 7

Garden

General

Vending machine

Meals

Billiards

Mini golf

Recreation

Free Parking on Premises

Parking

Swimming pool

Pool and beach

Snorkelling

Sports

Playroom

Children's playground

Kids

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Rufford Country Park

Doncaster Sheffield Airport

East Midlands Airport

Sherwood Castle Holiday Forest

Newark

Great weekend at Sherwood castle lodge park. Lodge clean on arrival sofas and beds company kitchen tools available, welcome pack came in useful with wash up liq and dishwasher tabs to get you started. Great hot tub full working and great surroundings for short walks etc , all in all a good weekend and will definitely return

Great family place !!

We stayed in cabin 42 as a family of 8 and one infant. The cabin is spacious, clean & everything you need inside. Plenty of plates, bowls, cutlery ect. 

Comfy sofas & beds. Stunning furnishings. Huge table so we could all sit and eat together. We had one towel per person in the lodge ready for arrival, a full tray of coffee, tea & sugar plus 2 small bottles of milk which was a very nice touch, each bathroom had 3 small bottles of shampoo and conditioner, body wash & body lotion again a nice touch and very welcoming. Full size dishwasher is also within the lodge & you get a handful of tablets and a full size dish soap, cloth, sponge & tea towel - perfect for  a short stay. 

The hot tub is a large 4-6 person with views of the small pond & fields was ready to use upon arrival and was very fast to gain temperature after use. Donna was really welcoming when we arrived to check in explained everything to us and gave clear directions on how to get to the lodge. The shop has a good selection  of drinks, sweets, frozen items and even a select few dressing up items to tie in with the Robin Hood theme that runs around the whole park. Plenty for children to do with three play parks, Forrest to run around all day long. Small petting farm ‘animal corner’. Plus a swimming pool although closed for urgent repairs when we stayed. 

Inside the lodge there was a small tear in the floor but that’s down to people moving furniture as there’s no cups on the chair / sofa feet - would be ideal once the floor has been repaired, didn’t affect our stay in anyway we just made sure the furniture stayed over it to avoid any further damage.

Large family weekend break - Loved it.

Just back from a lovely weekend at Sherwood castle. We stayed in one of the bigger lodges with hot tub , long was clean and tidy on arrival although there are a couple of things that need updating. Lino in kitchen living area had torn due to furniture being dragged around , so new flooring needed and cups for the metal chair legs, this didn’t take away from the break at all and is merely an observation, A couple of radiators needing a repaint . Sofas and beds really comfy in fact I would say very much like the premier inn mattresses slept so so well. Hot tub new and up to date with all jets working which is amazing. Park surroundings ideal woodland walks for those who like walking and going on adventures. Kids loved the tyre swings in the wooded area also, a couple of small park areas for the younger kids also, once done we nipped to the shop on camp for ice cream and found them reasonably priced .All in all a great weekend and will definitely return once the pool is up and running.

Great family weekend

We have been here 3 times now and we do like it. This time however was different. We booked a last minute break and was disappointed when we found out the pool was closed as we like to use the pool to entertain the kids. This is not advertised on their website or through hoseasons who we booked with so found it a bit misleading. 

On arrival we could see there have been upgrades to the reception and grounds area aswell as to the outsides of the cabins. 

It wasn't great when we had to step over deliveres to get into the reception. 
We attempted to utilise the indoor activities available, kids play area and the basketball area but found we had to leave as the constant drilling was too much. 

I'm all for the place being updated as it does need it but to not have it noted anywhere that building works are being carried out or amenities are not available is not fair to paying customers who are expecting to be able to use what is advertised. 

We booked a 2 bedroom cabin and it was clean and tidy. The inclusion of tea, coffee and a small milk as well as the washing up liquid, teatowel and dishwasher tabs was a welcome surprise. The bathroom also had small shampoo, conditioner, and soap bottles. Towels and linens were provided too. 

The pool is closed for a month. The place is great to use as a base to explore the local area. There are supermarkets less than 10 minutes away and we went the the Rose cottage pub for an evening meal and the food was amazing. 

Overall we still enjoyed our stay and hope to return again.

Good but building works spoilt it.

I very nearly cancelled this trip having been told at the 11th hour that the pool was closed but I’m SO glad that I didn’t. 
We arrived at 10pm Thursday and the key was left for us to collect with ease on the way in. 
We arrived at our pet friendly cabin and I was apprehensive after reading the reviews .. but all of that was at rest instantly. 

The cabin was clean, tidy and heaters had been left on so that it was warm and cosy for the get go. There was coffee, milk and some biscuits as well as washing up liquid and dishwasher tablets provided as a welcome. 

It was so quiet and peaceful, we looked out on trees, you’d get the occasional walker passing by and very little traffic. 
Given the awfully wet winter we’ve had, we got lucky with the weather and had our first BBQ of the year. 

We travelled as a family of 4 with 2 Newfoundland’s and the cabin catered for all of us. 

Now the site itself is absolutely not Butlins or Haven - the “castle” / reception area is a bizarre and totally under utilised set up for a huge space, predominantly a tennis court (extra cost).. there are lots of “trails” (extra cost) and a small climbing area indoor for kids. As I say, pool was closed. The animal corner is very small.. might impress a 2 year old with sheep goats and chickens.  
I mean really, this place is base camp to explore the local area, not to stay on site and be entertained - if that’s what you’re after, this is not your place. 

For us, it was the first day of the year we got to spend outdoors with the dogs and exploring Sherwood Forest and the kids were happy to collect pine cones for the log burner and BBQ in the evening and the break away from home and in peaceful surroundings was just what we wanted. Would definitely return and recommend to others looking to do the same.

Peaceful forest visit - just whag the doctor ordered

We booked 3 chalets for a family weekend getaway. 
1 family had to spend a night in another lodge due to the smell of sewage in the chalet (no 41) 2nd chalet (no38) sheets were covered in black dog hairs and pillows had no protectors on them. When we asked for clean bedding,  they brought this to us and were told we had to change it ourselves. Well...the mattresses were covered in all sorts of stains, we put down bath towels underneath the sheets.  
The pillows had no protectors on, and were covered in stains and smelt awful. I actually rolled up a jumper to sleep on. No protectors on the mattress. 
Freezer was dirty inside and the floor had not seen a mop in a while. 
The outdoor seating area had a very large concrete slab over half of the seating, which rendered it useless for a family to sit at. 
Of the 3 lodges, No 38 was the best, having been recently refurbished. 
We were allocated an hour swimming slot, which was nice to have the pool for the whole family, however, the 1 shower that is available was stone cold, you were unable to shower after swimming. The area of the changing rooms was worse than the ice bucket challenge. 
This could be a great place, but sadly  is let down by cleanliness and shabiness of the lodges. 
Why Hoseasons are an agent for this park is beyond me. 
Major overhaul required. 

So disappointing 

Just checked in to chalet 28 it’s immaculate, I’ve worried after reading the reviews what to expect, no complaints so far,  I’ll let you know of anything detrimental, if I find anything. Oh btw I was in hotel management for 29 years so I’m especially picky! 

Worried after reviews!! Exceeds expectations

Definitely not relaxing, nor worth the money!
Ridiculously overpriced, cabins are filthy, we had a mattress soaked in urine which we were told was changed when in fact it was turned over, all bedding was filthy and stained as were all mattress and pillows!
Dining table was so sticky your clothes stuck to it even after attempting to clean it multiple times, Dust and cobwebs on every surface, filthy dirty cutlery, pots, pans and plates, fridge had mould in it, oven was filthy oh the list could go on!
We stayed two weeks, there was no offer of clean towels or bedding, nor any way of us cleaning these ourselves as there is no laundry on site!

From the moment we arrived there were refurbishment works being carried out next door to us, the was from 8.00am - 8.00pm, fuel powered jet washes going off all day, drilling, banging your name it! Should this not be done out of season?

On our last night they were working on the Chalet next to ours, the workers were on the roof jet washing until gone 9.00pm, when I approached them at 8 and asked them to stop please as I had children to get to bed I was basically told they were employed too do a job and hadn’t finished yet, “talk to reception “  reception closed at 7 and no one wanted to answer the Emergency number !!

Finally the pool and activities area….  The pool was cloudy the whole two weeks we were on site and I never once smelt chlorine in there, my son developed a nasty rash after the first time of using it, the floors are filthy dirty and so is the shower!
£5 every time your kids want to play basketball, tennis etc for half an hour, comes expensive when it’s raining!

(Edited to add here) a few members of staff on site appeared to realise we weren’t happy and did their best to support and help my children to have the best experience possible in the situation!

Overall though we were absolutely disgusted and disappointed considering the amount that was spent on coming here, and NO we wouldn’t be returning!

This is not the first disappointment from Hoseasons and would certainly make us think again about using them in the future!!!

Building site & Urine

Spotlessly clean accommodation we stayed in lodge 42 by the little lake with a hot tub. Nice towls crisp white bedding. Kitchen well equipped. The lodge was comfortable and cozy with everything we needed. All the staff our lovely. We went swimming and enjoyed the time in the pool with just our family. You get half an hour private pool hire. Our only negative comment was that maintenance work was going on during our stay(painting) to some of the lodges which at times was not peaceful. However we spoke to the manager who was very good and apologised for any noise. We were pleased with our stay overall. Some lovely walks nearby. 

Comfortable lodges

We enjoyed the walks, the Archery is no longer available. My little grandson wanted to play mini golf, however the mini golf is abandoned and dirty. He has his own little golf club etc so still enjoyed playing a bit. The swimming 30 minute slot, was OK but the pool and jacuzzi didn't look clean, water rather cold for babies, &  there were muddy foot prints around the pool. No locks on changing rooms either.
Our cabin was clean, esp bathroom. However on opening all 3 windows the recesses were full of insects, and their poo, cobwebs and dust. 
No handle on kitchen window, not one shelf in the fridge! 
All crockery was mis matched and scratched and old  cups were also old and scratched inside. Cutlery was also mis matched and old. 
Oven was very clean but cooker hood was greasy, & had only one very dull  bulb, so hard to see to cook! 
Bunk beds were not made up properly, the sheets just folded in half and placed on the bed not tucked in. So I had to pull out the bunks and make properly.
The table and benches on the tiny terrace, were filthy, covered in algea and bird poo.
We made the best of it but will not be returning.

Sherwood Castle Holiday Forest

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