Castlewood Holiday Park
Millboard Weathered Oak walkways for a woodland retreat
Surrounded by the ancient trees that frame Shane’s Castle in Antrim, Castlewood Holiday Park was created with the ambition to offer guests a peaceful escape where nature, comfort, and thoughtful design come together. As part of Blair’s Holiday Park, the team wanted every detail to feel considered, from the layout of the cabin village to the materials guiding guests through the forest. This meant selecting products that reflected the character of the woodland while also standing up to the practical demands of a busy holiday destination.
For the walkways and private decking areas, the requirement was clear: the material had to look natural, feel welcoming, perform reliably, and require minimal ongoing maintenance. Millboard’s Weathered Oak decking in Vintage was chosen to meet all of these needs.
The Project
The vision for Castlewood Holiday Park was shaped around a gentle transition from cabin doorstep to woodland trail. Each log cabin has its own outdoor space, and the walkways form an important part of the guest experience, encouraging visitors to step outside and explore the surrounding forest.
To achieve the desired look and feel, the team selected Millboard’s Weathered Oak resin mineral composite decking in Vintage. Its timeworn character and natural grain detail mirror the appearance of aged oak, making it ideal for a woodland setting. The subtle variation across each board creates a calm, understated look that fits naturally beside the timber cabins and forest floor.
While appearance was important, the material also needed to cope with constant footfall, changing weather conditions, and use throughout the year. Millboard’s Weathered Oak decking provides the warmth and personality of timber but without the weaknesses that can be associated with natural wood. It won’t warp, rot or splinter and does not require regular sanding, staining or sealing. This gave the Castlewood team the reliability they needed while maintaining the natural atmosphere they wanted for the site.
A Durable Foundation
Beneath the decking and walkways lies Millboard’s Plas-Pro subframe system, made from 100% recycled plastic. For an environment that experiences high moisture levels, wet weather, and shaded areas beneath the trees, this was a vital choice.
Traditional timber subframes can soften or deteriorate in damp conditions, but Plas-Pro offers long-term stability and is resistant to rot and moisture absorption. It supports the decking with confidence, ensuring the walkways remain secure, level, and dependable season after season.
Plas-Pro was also used within the railing elements, helping maintain consistency across all outdoor structures and contributing to the park’s preference for low-maintenance, long-lasting materials.
Designed for Natural Beauty and Everyday Use
What sets Castlewood Holiday Park apart is the way the outdoor spaces feel so comfortable and fitting within their surroundings. The Millboard Weathered Oak decking in Vintage finish provides a soft, aged character that looks entirely at home among the trees. Guests leaving their cabin step onto a surface that feels sturdy, is natural in appearance, and inviting to walk on.
Safety was a central consideration throughout the project. With guests moving around the site during wet weather, early mornings or late evenings, the park needed a decking solution that could offer consistent grip. The surface of Millboard decking provides exceptional slip-resistance, making it suitable for all conditions and ideal for families, older visitors, and anyone enjoying the site year-round.
Alongside this, the surface resists algae growth and surface breakdown, helping the decking maintain its appearance without the demanding upkeep timber can require. For the site’s maintenance team, this means more time available for guest service and less time spent managing outdoor surfaces.
The Client Experience
Castlewood Holiday Park’s Managing Director, Colin Mayrs, shared his reflections on the project:
“Millboard’s Weathered Oak decking has provided the walkways and private decking areas for each of our log cabins with a beautifully aged appearance that perfectly complements our natural woodland surroundings. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, its ease of installation and maintenance is remarkable. Moreover, it provides robust durability and exceptional slip-resistance, even in wet conditions, ensuring the safety of our guests.”
His comments highlight the qualities that mattered most to the project: appearance, performance, safety, and simplicity.
Project Details
Location: Shane’s Castle, Antrim
Substructure: Millboard Plas-Pro
Decking: Millboard Weathered Oak – Vintage
A Woodland Destination Built to Last
Castlewood Holiday Park now offers guests an outdoor experience that feels steady, calm, and connected to the surrounding forest. The choice of Millboard products supports this vision by providing surfaces that look natural, feel reassuring underfoot, and offer long-term reliability with very little maintenance.
The combination of the Weathered Oak decking and Plas-Pro subframe has created walkways and private outdoor areas that work beautifully throughout the seasons. They remain stable, retain their colour and character as the months pass, and continue to offer exceptional slip-resistance – an essential feature for a hospitality setting in the midst of the Irish countryside.
The result is a holiday park where guests can settle in, breathe in the woodland air, and enjoy moments outdoors in comfort. For the team at Castlewood, the chosen materials provide peace of mind and ensure that the site remains welcoming season after season, year after year.
