Forest Holidays Reviews 

Absolutely terrible to get hold of via a phone!
If you need to cancel your going to have a big problem.

Overpriced.

We have been visiting forest holidays for 11 years every February and love it, great locations and site are always kept well. Over the year they have been redecorated and kept up to scratch.
For our visit Feb 2026 it cost £787 for a lochside in Argyll and just went to rebook but Feb 2027 is £1265. We expect an increase each year however 60% increase for the same cabinet Feb weeks was an absolute joke.
There were several empty cabins this year and suspect this will only increase with the 60% hike!

Poor show

Booked a cabin with these at Scotland was good decided to book another one but due to unfortunate circumstances and ill health we are unable to attend with plenty of notice they have to just said there is nothing they can do no compassion just happy to take your money not a good experience over all will not be using again at all and would recommend anyone who is family orientated not to use either

I'm just sorry I had to leave a one star review, I wanted to leave zero stars. As repeat customers we had a trip booked for this weekend Feb 13th. Our son is now in a mental health crisis & we're on suicide watch. I emailed Forest Holidays on Feb 4th asking not for a refund, but to be allowed to change the booking to a later date. They have categorically refused, citing their 'terms & conditions'. I am devestated as we already have a difficult time & have now lost £1,000. Citing the terms which I'm aware of, I was just hoping for some compassion or a gesture of goodwill. I want nothing to do with any company that refuses to have a human touch.

Holiday Cancelled with 1 days’ notice
I’m extremely disappointed with Forest Holidays and want to warn others before booking. We booked our break six weeks in advance, only to have it cancelled with ONE day’s notice due to a booking system error they failed to spot earlier.
This was supposed to be a birthday trip, and the late cancellation meant we had no chance to make alternative plans. It completely ruined the occasion.
The response since then has been just as poor. The only thing offered was a minimal discount on a future booking, which felt like a token gesture and not remotely reflective of the upset and inconvenience caused. Adding to the frustration, I am still waiting for a refund for a prepaid activity, leaving me out of pocket.
This was our first time booking with Forest Holidays, and sadly it will be the last. Unreliable systems, last‑minute cancellations, disappointing compensation and unresolved refunds — an all‑round awful experience.

I had to cancel my booking due to a family death,a health condition, and having to cover excessive funeral. FH were happy to refund what I had paid less the deposit amount and said it would be better to take out insurance, that way I dont lose over £300. As a customer for 3 years only, I won't be going back especially with price bump for school holidays.

Recently stayed in a log cabin in Delamere Forest for a birthday weekend. The cabin was lovely & tranquil, the log burner was very warm & cozy, and the hot tub was very relaxing & great fun.

Sherwood Forest – Unfortunately a first and last visit
We were hoping for a relaxing break, but there were far too many negatives.

Pros
• Lovely woodland setting and peaceful scenery.

Cons
• The booking advertises Wi‑Fi, but once you go to pay it warns the Wi‑Fi is poor unless you upgrade for £42 – which feels unreasonable.
• Everything comes with an extra charge. We bought the log‑fire starter pack (£10) and asked for a few extra sticks to get it going, but were told that would be another £4.50. Even a simple walking‑trail map was £10.
• The underfloor heating is the only heating (there was the log fire), and it takes 24 hours to cool down. We spent the first night too hot (we all had to sleep on top of the blankets - not a good nights sleep for anyone), the next night freezing because we were scared to turn it back on. This is actually why we had to buy the log‑fire pack.
• Plates, cutlery and towels were dirty on arrival. We took photos in case we were blamed.
• The hot tub felt like it was on its last legs.
• There’s a warning that if you don’t leave the cabin spotless you’ll be charged £250 for cleaning, so we filmed everything before leaving to protect ourselves.

Overall, it wasn’t the relaxing weekend we needed. It was an impulse booking, and we really wish we’d read the Trustpilot reviews beforehand.

Keldy site is great, just returned from another week visit ( stayed here many times) and already booked ahead for summer and January 2027. Anything not right quickly dealt with ( frying pan needed replacing) by friendly and efficient staff.
We also used our “ flexible amendment “ cover to change the dates of our July break , this was simple to do. Anyone who doesn’t take this out ( only available at time of booking) and adhere to the terms can’t then complain ( and presumably they don’t bother with travel insurance either) if their circumstances mean that they lose monies already paid. “ Sympathy “ and “compassion“ doesn’t come into it - companies have to treat everyone the same! Either you have cover or you don’t - that’s what insurance means.

Never again been going in january for 3 years now year 1 and 2 fantastic this year disgusting unclean cabin no spare bedding staff and company rude and dont want to know about problems ykur a disgrace forest holidays thetford

I have stayed with forest holidays coleford about 12 times since it was built. Once in near Looe. Brilliant lodges and stayed when first built. Last stayed in october 2025 6 berth pet friendly silver birch woodland. The lodge a bit dated but clean and welcoming. Clear instructions. Underfloor heating loved by the dogs 😄. Only downside in oct was the hottub was cold as had a fault and wasnt heating up inntime for the evening after being backfilled in the morning of arrival.
FH were amazing and apologised for the not being able to use it that evening (had 3 visits the friday evening). It needed time to heat up. It was up and running the next morning early. HQ ended up with arranging a decent reduction on our upcoming Feb 2026 visit. Cannot wait! Put it this way, i will be calling coleford to check hot tub is working in the morning. We will be back

I’m writing to ensure other customer make sure they have their own travel insurance sorted prior to booking with this company.

We booked a break for my son’s birthday and I made sure to include their ‘amendment insurance’ as my mum hadn’t been too well so I wanted an extra just in case protection. I’d paid also an excess for our dogs to join us.

Sadly just over two weeks prior to our stay my son was diagnosed with Leukaemia. I informed Forest Holidays immediately. They point blank refused to refer this to management and offered only a small part refund as part of their ‘policy’ - which barely covered the extra I’d paid by adding the dogs. And this was only due to me purchasing their ‘flexible amendment cover’ because it was “late notice’ (over two weeks prior to stay) and I’d only booked it within the previous month.

I would never recommend this company due to the treatment received, I asked for a referral to management which was ignored and I’m now hugely out of pocket at the most stressful and upsetting time of our lives due to a ‘policy’. If management do read this I suggest they have an exceptional circumstance policy whereby families such as ours are given a human perspective and listened to.

Delamere Forest Resort is a nice place to stay for a few days away from the rat race. Although on day one there were a few glitches with some things in the well laid out cabin, the staff soon made the little problems go away with their friendliness and support. I will come back in the Summer because it will be great here in the good weather

We had an unexpected family emergency two weeks prior to our holiday and asked if we could amend our booking for another date that had plenty of availability but were told that we could not amend our booking, even when I offered to pay a fee.
I certainly won't be booking with them again. It is a shame as we thought this would be a great place to bring our daughter for many years to come. I find it quite extraordinary that any company would choose to lose repeat custom like this.

Third time using this company and prob last.

Children don’t want to be in the country so will look to city breaks. Also for family four, two older teenagers it isn’t big enough. To get into some of the toilets around door and fixtures does feel squash.

I also don’t get the excitement I used to.

Hot tub great. Don’t have one at home so nice to enjoy.

However for the cost I do feel there needs to be more tlc to the properties.

Facilities good. Parking off road at this unit.

Maintenance, en-suite ceiling covered in grout remains which annoys me. Gives indication no one cares.
Cracks in tongue and groove on walls. Bodge job on filling in holes.
Holes in floor near dishwasher. I did wonder if mice but shape long and thin.
Deep pleather sofa so very uncomfortable and slidey even with cushions from beds.

Cleaning
Shower heads gross. Left soaking.
Inside Bins dirty. Outside bins full of water.
Cobwebs throughout. I know spiders in rural location can set up home quickly so not true indication of filth but there from day zero
Tissue inside kitchen lampshade. Looks like deliberately thrown in due to height.
Deep clean on edging and corners.
Microwave stank of last week curry.
Overall needs colour and a fresh pair of eyes casting over to make cosy
Nearly forgot to add shower grimy around metal fixings.

Moved recycling bin near to step outside. Make them more convenient as make up 90% of waste.

Staff car parking outside lodge on day of arrival felt intrusive, disturbed privacy and peace. Not there next day so great but imagine insufficient parking for staff who park right by your hot tub on edge of grass destroying verges.

Staff friendly and provide more towels as seemed to be missing towers for one toilet.

I didn’t complain. Last time I gave feedback via email I received no response so decided to share feedback via trustpilot instead.

Has been steadily going downhill and our most recent stay will be our last. The lodges are in desperate need of refurbishment: kitchen doors hanging off, worktops damaged, worn flooring, furniture old and tired etc. Couple that with low standards of cleanliness makes for a very expensive and disappointing break. The ‘add ons’ are outrageously expensive and should just be included in the price, it is unreasonable to expect guests to pay extra for Wi-Fi that works (the default doesn’t), pay extra to watch a basic package of films etc especially when it’s so expensive to stay in the first place. Overall, there are far nicer places to stay for far less. Would no longer recommend Forest Holidays.

Forest holidays are grossly overpriced and under maintained. On arrival, bedroom door handle fell off, sewage smell in en suite, TV movie package not working, fridge or oven doors not closing properly. On day three, took I shower and was hit in the face by two pieces of the shower unit flying off with the force of the water, I'm disabled slightly so moved as stunned by flying objects, no safety hand rails, no grip on shower tray or rubber mat. Shower door flew open , en suite flooded only limited towels to mop up with. I'm done with Forest holidays, think twice before you book!!!!

I have stayed at multiple forest holiday lodge locations, all have been lovely, clean with beautiful scenery. My most recent had an unfortunate incident happen, which unfortunately wasn’t handled the best way. The staff although great were young and inexperienced and failed to properly communicate with the guests causing unnecessary concern, what should have been a peaceful break was ruined by lack of communication. I contacted their customer services who were sympathetic to my concerns and happy for the feedback.. totally brushed me off, ignoring my follow up emails. Customer services let down what could have been a 5 star review.

Been staying at forest of dean lodgessince 2010...retrning everyyear..
Always had 2 bed golden oak cabin with hot tub log burner but found i jst stayed on ky own last few times so wasting extra bedroom and money.plus the cabins are becoming tatty .and always itchy on sofa and beds .rusty shower bath and cooker digsusting ive seen a massive decline so this year i upgraded to a hideaway one bed to see wat they like. I prefer staying in forest meadow is rubbish to open no privacy etc ..to holiday home forest is so better for privacy nature peace wildlife ..the hideaways are in the meadow and not really hidden? So weird shld be in the forest plus they back onto a public footpath making them less private and hideaway . No logic to this and nothing like hidden however there is no comparrison on inside .the quality the cleanliness the applicances the decor the little touches that make it absoloutly beautiful to stay in.the bed is kingsise quality lovely bedding all dimmable cosy lights his and hers shower 2 sinks a double his and hersbath champagne bucket large fridge freezer and the oven was spotlezz. Stuning carpwt bedroom open plan so you get benwfit of log burner and looking oyt over forest. Egg chair barbecue hot tub table and chairs. I really cannot stress enough the diffrwnce in cabins to all the other cabins however you pay a lot more . Little bit overpriced! No tikka curry on check in and hot tub lid was broke had to have someone out. You get a tv in bedroom which yu dnt get in other cabins but it nevr works constantly trns off complete frustration let dwn and dissapointing surely they knw it keeps doing this then says loading ..shld be checking their tvs are fully working for the price you pay for these cabins..also the knocking of the door on the tuesday 7pm like it was the police awful i go there for peace not to be disturbed or door knokd like a police bust ! First night orderd food for 7pm but nope jst gets in hot tub at 6.20pm and they knock with my food ?? Had to gwt out soaking open door . I do think aftr coming here year aftr year that some things shldnt be happening yearly .and they shld have everuthing runing like clockwork..do not disturb signs shld be issued on arrivial so you can put outside to stop the unwelcome hounding .i pay a lot of money to go there switch off peace quiet nature i dont want to see anyone be disturbd thats why i go there i love the forest the quiet the peace nature wildife relaxin de stressing. But there is always something to complain about .that is preventable . Usually hot tubs get checkd evwry morning by 10 30 in all my years going thats what happns first day it did second day jst got hot tub 2pm sat in room in bathers and next minute a hoy appeard to do hot tub they dnt knock they dnt warn you they dont give you a time and they have full view of in yr cabin i think it disgusting that they can jst appear with no warning this shld be changed to time slots or they knock yr door first yu cnt relax because you knw they coming to do hot tub but 2pm for 2 days runing wen i jst want to relax in cabin etc is not okay. Will i retrn ? Yes .but i wont continue to go and accept all the preventable no need mishaps early food .knocking of door. Impossing anytime on decking not at 800 pound for hideaway i hope they sort these niggles out as it shows yr not runing yr buisiness to yr best potentiol or doing yr job right .surely a manager oversees all this. The xmas tree was much better last year in the seating area of retreat was not there this year so not as cosy xmasy ..i do think by now it shld be runing like clockwork .dog water bowl was always empty in retreat too had to ask . I want to give it 5 stars but every year theres always several issues and its not cheap...i do recommend staying there. But managemnt and staff / jobs need addressing .

We stayed in cabin 40 at Sherwood Forest Pines. The cabin was gorgeous.

We were delayed check in from house- keeping for 45 minutes, but the cabin was lovely and clean when we got in so it didn’t matter. It was worth the wait.

I would definitely return for another trip, however in drier weather as the wet weather leaves you quite restricted.