Forest Pines Hotel is just a stone’s throw from Junction 4 of the M180. You wouldn’t know this, though, as you turn into the hotel’s grounds and see the 190 acres of stunning woodland, which presumably lend this hotel and golf resort its name.

We had the pleasure of staying at Forest Pines last month and found it to be the perfect ‘tick in the box’ hotel for any couples who find themselves divided, gender-stereotyping-wise between golf and spa! The award-winning 27-hole golf course is one of the best in the country, whilst the spa has plenty to boast about. This means that, if you want to, you can split your days between the golf course and the spa, and then gather together again in the evening for a meal in the hotel’s restaurant. If you both like golf, or you both prefer the spa, even better!

We fitted largely into the latter camp, and spent a good couple of hours in the spa area, taking it in turns to splash around in the pool with our little girl and to enjoy the heat facilities, like the excellent jacuzzi and the sauna. By the time evening rolled around, we had worked up an appetite and headed down from our very comfy room to the restaurant.

Dinner is a relaxed affair, and we didn’t feel out of place with our little girl there. I enjoyed monkfish wrapped in parma ham with a beautiful leek sauce. The fish was perfectly cooked and the ham hadn’t dried it out in the slightest. My side of dauphoinnaise potatoes could have been a little creamier and cheesier though. Kyle’s duck was served pink, just as it should be. The time in the pan was clearly timed perfectly to the exact second, and it paid off here. The accompanying mushrooms and jus gave the dish an earthy flavour that stood up against the quality of the meat.

We slept really well after dinner in a very comfortable bed. The rooms at Forest Pine are on the large side, and ours came complete with nice little touches like complimentary soft and alcoholic drinks, gorgeous nuts, and exceptional biscuits alongside the tea and coffee!

As for breakfast, the extent of the buffet spread was impressive. For those wanting a traditional cooked breakfast, the standard egg, bacon, sausage, and baked beans set-up was spot on (the sausages were especially nice), but for those wanting something a little different, there were waffles, pancakes, fresh fruit, croissants, pastries, and a selection of breads.

Forest Pines is a lovely hotel, big enough to accommodate large groups of friends and families wanting to use the golf and spa facilities, but small enough so that you can get from your room to the spa, or to the restaurant, quickly. The rooms are comfortable, the service good (if not the best we’ve ever experienced at a QHotels hotel), and the food a real selling point!