Center Parcs Longford Forest
Forest resort with its own indoor pool
About this hotel
Center Parcs Longford Forest runs a large self-catering resort a little further out from the Baysports inflatable waterpark at Hodson Bay, with its own indoor pool complex, hot tubs, spa and fitness centre distinct from the outdoor inflatable course on Lough Ree. Families combining a Baysports day with a longer midlands stay get an indoor wet day and an outdoor inflatable day within the same short region, useful if the weather turns against an outdoor lake session partway through the trip. Self-catering lodges with kitchens suit a longer, multi-day stay built around the forest resort itself. The short drive to and from Hodson Bay becomes routine after the first day of the trip.
- Indoor pool
- Spa
- Self-catering
- Pet-friendly lodges
Our take
Center Parcs Longford Forest suits families wanting a longer, resort-style midlands stay with an indoor pool of its own, using Baysports as a planned day trip rather than the base for the whole visit. It sits further from the lake than the Athlone-area stays on this list, so factor that into the daily plan.
- ✓Treat Baysports as a day trip from the resort rather than an easy walk from your lodge.
- ✓Use the indoor pool complex as a backup wet day if the weather turns against Baysports.
- ✓Breakfast is a paid add-on here rather than included, unlike several Athlone-area hotels.
Why we love it
- Large indoor pool complex
- Self-catering forest lodges
- Hot tubs and spa on-site
- Good backup for a rained-off lake day
Why guests love itWe split a week between the resort's own indoor pool complex and a day trip to Baysports, which worked well when the weather turned for one afternoon. The self-catering lodge gave us room to dry kit from both activities, and the kids honestly could not decide which pool they preferred by the end of the stay. It suited the pace of a family trip built mostly around the lake.