How much time do my three children actually spend outdoors? Typically just an hour or two at the school playground during the week, occasional weekend visits to our garden on pleasant days, and infrequent strolls at the local country park.

When we’re back home in London, outdoor time is limited. However, our excursions often involve swimming pools or playgrounds. This realization hits me hard as I observe my children eagerly collecting moss and what could be described as forest debris at Glentress Forest in the Scottish Borders, fashioning them into fairy houses and whimsically jabbing sticks into the ground.

We are spending a weekend at the latest site opened by Forest Holidays, nestled among the trees overlooking the Tweed Valley. This particular location is one of 13 across the UK, each featuring self-catering cabins in a serene woodland environment. The Glentress site comprises 56 cabins, strategically spaced to enhance privacy, including five new units designed with the theme “Unfurl” — a perfect name for the experience intended here. These cabins boast sage green walls and warm wooden interiors along with generous windows that offer stunning views of the surrounding forest.

“This works for me,” was my immediate reaction upon stepping into our three-bedroom cabin and discovering a log burner and a spacious family sofa oriented towards the forest view, not to mention our very own hot tub on the terrace. Unfurl here? Absolutely.

But first, we’re on a quest for fairies. We gather at the central Forest Retreat, which serves as reception, café-bar, takeaway, and shop, and join two other families as we venture to the bug hotel. The structure is still shiny and new, so no bugs have yet taken residence, but the kids are captivated as ranger Nikki Speirs showcases a toy worm that transforms as it’s stretched, while she engages the school-age kids with bug-related trivia. Though chilly in April beneath the spruces, my attention is captured by Speirs as she shares fascinating facts about bugs. Did you know a worm has five hearts? Or that woodlice can digest their own waste?

After an informative session about bugs, we undertake a creative task of gathering forest materials to make a postcard. The children spread out eagerly, collecting pine cones, leaves, stones, and sticks. Gradually, a family depiction forms, our eldest representing a comically large figure crafted from an oversized stick, with Daddy’s head as a small pebble deemed too tiny. Laughter fills the air as Speirs mimics talking to the fairies with a sprig from a nearby spruce, enacting an enchanting moment.

I find myself engrossed, trailing after her like an intrigued child, while my kids dash ahead in search of the fairies’ entrance. In this forest paradise, far removed from our city life — not even the allure of our hot tub can compare — we find ourselves creating a magical retreat of miniature homes. “I’ve never seen so many trees in one place,” my eldest gushes, as her sister explains how the fairies might use the leaves as steps to their climbing frame. It feels utterly enchanting, and as we return to our cabin with rosy cheeks and dirty hands, our spirits are high.

Next up is hot tub time. Every cabin at Forest Holidays comes equipped with a hot tub on the terrace. Although this site doesn’t feature as many activities as Center Parcs—such as a swimming pool—the children scarcely notice or mind. What a delight it is to have a private hot tub just outside our door, warmed to a perfect temperature. We’re fortunate with the weather, but part of me wishes for winter, imagining how splendid it would be to enjoy a hot soak under the stars on a crisp evening.

As the kids become slightly pinker than desired, we coax them out one by one to help their dad start a fire. They gleefully gather sticks from the provided firewood, contributing to a blaze we don’t necessarily need for warmth but find ourselves captivated by nonetheless, sharing silent smiles. With wine in hand, I feel the tension in my shoulders recede. Is it possible I’m actually unwinding?

The following morning, an exciting treat awaits — an in-cabin spa treatment by mobile therapist Lindsay. She arrives with an abundance of positive energy, as she sets up her massage oils and towels. The children are utterly transfixed as she prepares, and soon she’s coaxing them to venture outside while I enjoy some tranquility.

After two hours of deep tissue massage and reflexology, I feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle the day, though I also recognize the numerous knots I carry—thanks to the small child I often carry. Right on cue, chaos returns as my toddler bolts back in, dirt-covered and clutching a pine cone.

While I manage the newfound disarray, my husband seems less chaotic after spending time with the children, recounting their adventures on a nature trail filled with playful opportunities like hammock-like nets and wind chimes. They excitedly share details about measuring their height against various animals. Despite the chaos, I catch the longing to have joined them in their fun.

With family time now the focus, we relish our weekend in the cabin. Every window offers breathtaking forest views, while our terrace encircles a symphony of birds. We indulge in the hot tub, listening to the calls of chaffinches and robins, then wrap ourselves in bathrobes and opt for dinner via delivery service. While the kitchen is well-equipped for self-catering, the thought of preparing meals for picky eaters is daunting; instead, we relish pizzas and curries enjoyed al fresco. It’s simple — precisely what one hopes for during a holiday.

Of course, a playground is essential, and Glentress Forest delivers with one conveniently located near the Retreat. As we savor coffee at tables equipped with fire pits, the kids enthusiastically navigate tree trunks and climb a remarkably beautiful treehouse. There’s no soft cushioned flooring in sight. They come back with scrapes and dirt, but their joy is infectious. We experience far fewer squabbles and can even discuss topics outside of parenthood. One of our resolutions upon returning home to London is to spend significantly more time outdoors.