As regular visitors to CentreParcs, Heather and Peter Barron go their separate ways at the Sherwood Forest resort and try something different.

THE beauty of Center Parcs is that, after ten years of family visits, there are still things to write about.

Whatever you didn't try last year, you can do next year. This year - in CenterParcs terms - my daughter came of age. At 14, Hannah was old enough to join me in the Aqua Sana Spa. She seemed a bit unsure, so I enticed her with the brochure blurb.

"Each spa experience uses temperature, humidity, lighting and scent to create specific environments."

Sounded good to me and she was tempted, so I also booked a mother and daughter pampering session (£90) comprising a specially tailored facial - designed to renew radiance in more mature skin - that'd be me, then - and one aimed at nurturing younger, more delicate skin, followed by a hand, foot or scalp massage.

I tried to persuade her to have the foot massage because she does a lot of dancing, but she said that I'd told her for so long that ballerinas have ugly feet that she wasn't going to let anyone see them close up. Oops!

We set off for three idyllic hours of pampering, while the boys (45, 17, 13 and ten) embarked on their own chosen activity...

...While mum and daughter were basking in all that tranquillity, we boys were playing with bows and arrows in the forest, trying our best to kill wild animals at the field archery (£20 per person).

Not real animals, just animal targets painted on wooden boards, but it was enough to bring out our basic instincts.

We were each kitted out with bows and three arrows and given a few minutes' tuition. Then, it was out into the killing fields, starting with a fox.

Dave, our instructor, explained that the "wound" zone was shown by a peripheral black line on the animal's body. The "kill" zone was an inner black line covering the main organs. And a small inner circle represented the "instant kill" zone.

Mister Fox escaped with a few minor wounds out of our entire party of 12. Max, aged ten and the smallest of the archers, was struggling to reach the target, let alone hit it.

He hid his disappointment well with a couple of compliments for his brothers: "Hey, nice one, Chris, you took its eye out. Cool, Jack, you got its butt."

Me? I didn't hit anything with the first two arrows but killed a tree with the third...

...Ahh, bliss! After donning our swimming costumes and soft, fluffy towelling robes, we entered The World of Spa. Starting off with a bubbling foot bath, we made our way round varied spa rooms, stopping in here for a blast of eucalyptus steam, dropping in there for a short water-droplet meditation, although every time I sat down to savour the delights of another room, I fell asleep.

My daughter was tolerant and understanding - trailing round after me as I introduced her to the somnambulatory delights of the steam blossom room, the rose quartz room and the Turkish Hammam...zzzzz...

...A bear, stoat, deer, and wolf had come and gone. Max was still a long way from being the new Robin Hood and the frustration was starting to show.

Mind you, Christopher had instantly killed the deer and killed the stoat, while Jack had bagged the bear.

I'd hit the board a couple of times but was still well outside the wound zone. Nevertheless, I must have scared 'em.

Dave was patience personified with Max. "Don't worry, you're getting closer," he told him. But the targets were running out...

...Meanwhile, our three hours in the spa were up. I'd even managed to catch some shut-eye on the gently undulating water beds, despite experiencing the Tyrolean sauna and rubbing ourselves with 'refreshing' flakes of ice-crystals.

We laughed at how brave we were and how the boys would have shied away from such daring behaviour.

We made our way to the conservatory cafe for a well-earned cranberry presse and cream scone, then on to the mother and daughter treatment...

...We were nearing the end of the forest trail and, by now, everyone in the party was willing Max to get a kill, although he'd perked up a bit when Christopher took the hare's eye out.

"Right through the blinkin' eye," he yelled, and then went all glum again when he failed to hit the target.

The partridge was one of the shorter targets and Dave sensed it was his best chance. The party fell quiet. "Come on Max."

The first arrow thudded into the ground a yard short. The second whizzed past to the left. He took aim with the third, closed his left eye just as he'd been told, and let fly.

"YES! Smack in the instant kill zone."

I've seldom seen him happier - I wouldn't care, but he's a vegetarian...

...In a darkened room, gently fragranced with aromatherapy essential oils, the treatment was explained by beauty therapist Lizzie.

First, a back and shoulder massage, followed by cleansing and toning of our faces, then a face, neck and scalp massage. The intention was to remove impurities, promote faster cell renewal and improve elasticity.

After 45 blissful minutes, we were left to relax with face masks on. Ten minutes later, I woke suddenly as the therapists re-entered the room for the final moisturising. In the relaxation room afterwards, Hannah kindly assured me I had not disturbed her by snoring, but then couldn't resist pointing out, while perusing the details of our beauty requirements, how many more products had been needed to rejuvenate my skin than had been needed for hers.

I resisted mentioning long-term foot-care...

TRAVEL FACTS

CenterParcs Sherwood Forest was opened in July 1987 and is spread out over approximately 400 acres. There are 794 villas and 41 appartments. Guest can chose from 11 themed restaurants and bars, browse five retail outlets, lounge in the Roman-style Aqua Sana Spa, explore the Nature Centre or take a trip on the Grand Cascade Family Raft.

Prices for a three-bedroom woodland lodge start from 419, for a four-bedroom executive lodge from 769, for a three-bedroom comfort villa from 349, for a two-bedroom executive villa from 399 and for a four-bedroom exclusive villa from 1015. All prices are for a three-night weekend stay, per villa and also include all services. Prices for mid-week stays differ.

Bookings can be made by calling the reservations line on 08705-200300. For more information log on to www.centerparcs.co.uk