Dog Friendly Cottages in Cumbria

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Graham - Verified booking

  To whom it may concern, I would like to bring to your attention my disappointment with my recent stay at the Oakwood Lodge, Windemere which was purchased through the Sykes Cottages Website.

  Unfortunately, this property was described as a lodge which it clearly isn’t. It is a form of static caravan with cladding which looks like a lodge. First impressions of the caravan were that it was acceptable, however this quickly changed when we spent the first few hours in the caravan with our 6-year-old and 9-month-old children. There was a dirty dishes in the cupboard, and we could not find a brush and shovel anywhere within. I did however find a mop which was filthy and unsuitable for use. Despite my wife washing it twice on a hot wash in the washing machine it was still unusable. This resulted in us having to use baby wipes to clean the mess on the floor. Which in turn meant our 9-month-old was restricted to the travel cot and highchair which was also unclean and unhygienic. The straps were covered in food and other detritus. The blind in the twin room was broken. It would go down but would not go up. As were both blinds in the living room, one had to be manually moved along due to the control stick being broken off, the other had the control stick attached but was missing key fittings and not held safely captive. The fridge was a really poor fit and would not shut unless it was lifted into position. The toilet seat in the main bathroom was loose therefore anytime you sat on it, it felt like you were on a fairground ride. There was also a crack on one of the floor tiles and the tile itself was wobbly. I did note that the proprietor was aware of the crack in the bedroom wardrobe mirror. For as nice a feature the hot tub was it in full view of the veranda on the neighbouring caravan. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but I could not get the decking outdoor lights to work, and I also noted that there was a broken spar fencing beside the hot tub. It should also be noted that the end drainpipe next to the living room was disconnected and clogged with weeds, twigs and moss. Critically though was the lack of Wi-Fi at the accommodation. Our welcome note stated that Wi-Fi was supplied by the site, however this Wi-Fi was very weak, slow and unable to penetrate into the property. Wi-Fi was only accessible outside the property. For a 4-star accommodation I would have expected our own Wi-Fi within the accommodation. In conclusion I was not impressed with the money that I spent for the service we received. This break cost my family £914, and I was very disappointed. I look forward to you response/explanation to these small issues I found Regards Graham Gulvin

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• Chris - Verified booking

  Good location for exploring the lake district.

  Our two sons loved the 5-aside court and had a brilliant time playing with younger and older kids. However, there were elements that were disappointing. Directions for finding the lodge were poor and incorrect. A wrong gate entry code in our arrival email meant we caused a holdup trying to get into the park. Very poor cleanliness when we arrived. There were pills and medication left loose on the carpet in one of the bedrooms. If we had been with very young children this would have been a serious concern. The floors possibly had been hoovered but we found the hoover was broken, quite obviously so and there was a dustpan but no brush. One of the curtain blinds in the bedroom was completely off the wall and just on a dirty floor. The screws had physically been pulled out of the wall. Despite advertising there was an allocated space to BBQ, there was no BBQ slate or brick to protect the decking, meaning that despite the advertising, we weren't able to - a shame considering we had good weather. There is no WIFI at the lodge, despite advertising to the contrary. When we enquired about this at the main reception we were told the wifi signal there was probably too weak. The hot tub was lovely, a real bonus at the end of the day. This doesn't appear to be cleaned or tested daily, although there is a sign to say it is. On two occasions the filter was left in pieces in the water and not put back together. After mentioning this to reception, there was no visit or fix so we just used it as it was and hoped for the best. We were told the bar, restaurant and areas surrounding it were not dog friendly by the park reception prior to the visit. This was incorrect, dogs can go everywhere apart from the play park. We phoned Sykes twice during our stay to try and fix a few of the bigger problems. The Sykes helpdesk were very good. Ringing us back when the line got disconnected was much appreciated. Even after these calls only some of the problems were fixed, and required people coming into the lodge during our holiday to try and do maintenance, which seemed the wrong time for this to occur. The help desk also informed us that they only hear of problems when people phone up to let them know, which begs the question what sort on ongoing maintenance contract is there? If I was the owner of this lodge and was renting it out, I would be pretty frustrated at the problems we encountered. For this amount of money, I would look elsewhere for a family holiday.

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• Mr Phillip Allen - Verified booking

  We choose Oakwood and the lake district from a list of other locations and lodges due to how amazing the place looked, the hot tub and the lakes as we have never been there before.

  I have to say it was close with a few other places but we made the jump and went with Oakwood. A few weeks before our stay I noticed there were reviews from previous people who had stayed (should have looked at these before booking) and the last review wasn't great so I was pretty concerned as Oakwood isn't the cheapest lodge out there. I called lodge holidays and to their credit they were very good and assured me everything that was mentioned in the review was being investigated and sorted out/fixed. So our stay, both my partner and myself were very pleased. The hot tub was one of the main selling points for us and we were disappointing it is no longer sunken (as the pictures show) but saying that you are still very private and the hot tub itself is great! The actual lodge itself is amazing, very clean, really nicely laid out and it was all very pleasant. There were a few stuff marks on the walls but we wouldn't have noticed them unless we say it on the review first. There was even Sky Sports 1 which made my day and a Christmas tree which made my partners day! The park is situated pretty well too, you have a 10-15 minute walk to nearby villages or a local ferry port which takes you further out across the lakes. The view around the lake district is something else, at times it was breathtaking! If there was one bad point I would say for me it would be the bed, I personally didn't find this very comfortable and if I was the owner I would perhaps look at this but saying all that my partner found it fine. All in all Oakwood and Lodge Holidays were excellent, couldn't really fault it. We have already spoken to a few people about potentially coming back within the next year and this time maybe bringing some friends along with us! What did you enjoy most about your stay? The Hot Tub, so nice to sit in and relax! It has different settings which include colourful lighting. What one experience (e.g attraction, walk, day out) would you recommend for our future guests? We tried to get out as much as possible, a trip on the lake is probably a must. Great views and some nice villages to visit along the way!

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• Mrs Rachel Wilson - Verified booking

  We stayed here at oakwood as a couple and with our dog for a weekend break away and we had the most amazing time.

  It really was a perfect romantic getaway. The lodge itself is a really good size and has all the ammenities you could need - from a dishwasher, washing machine, full cooking appliances/cutlery to board games and dvds for entertainment. We also found the lodge very clean and tidy, Maybe a bit cold on first entering, but this soon warmed up with the heating on. One of the best parts was the hot tub.. just so relaxing. It was the best way to spend our evenings after some long walks out. It was a good temperature, easy to work and looked beautiful lit up at night. It was also really nice that the hot tub was sheltered from view of others, so privavcy was always maitained. Finally, just a brief mention about the area - the most beautiful landscape i have seen. The lake district is so clean and undisterurbed, with beautiful views all over. We took some lovelys walks up to wansfell pike and over to ambleside near by - you wont be disapointed, the views from the top of the hills were absolutely breathtaking.. We will deffinately be looking to return again and maybe even invite some friends or family to join this time. What did you enjoy most about your stay? Just getting away from everyday life, the location was so peaceful and tranquil. Also te hot tub was especially relaxing, the best way to relax after some long walks What one experience (e.g attraction, walk, day out) would you recommend for our future guests? Deffinetly go on some of the local walks. There are so many to choose from. We did a couple of long walks and saw some amazing views of the lakes - they can be long and tiring but so worth it for the beauty of the landscape and environment.

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• Amanda - Verified booking

  The double bed is too small for two people and no, we’re not overweight.

  I took it and can honestly say it’s the worse bed I’ve ever slept in. A big thick winter duvet during a heatwave, old and worn duvet cover and pillowcases, and, horrible pillows which have created a problem with my neck. I daren’t join my husband in the twin room as he said the same and the beds looked fit for children, not adults. The red decor is depressing and old fashioned and those Roman blinds don’t filter air through. The shower in the en suite is very small so we used the one over the bath. The toilet flush in the bathroom isn’t in very good working order. The little tv in the main bedroom doesn’t work. I had maintenance man out who appeared to fix it but then when I went to bed to watch it, it was broken again. I don’t believe for a second that you’re not aware of it either. The oven doesn’t look safe, you can only turn it off by switching it off at the main switch on the wall. What happens if someone assumes it’s been turned off and goes out? The switches on the oven are faulty? I was surprised that there wasn’t any handsoap in the bathrooms. There was some in the kitchen. We also had to ask for toilet paper. I wouldn’t class staying in the lodge as cheap and there are areas which didn’t meet my expectations which didn’t make me feel like I’d got value for money. Nobody had swept the decking and it was filthy. I think someone needs to take a good look at it and maybe have a night in ‘that bed’ so that you understand what I’m saying. The position of the lodge was perfect under the trees during the heatwave. Ps why are kitchen weighing scales in one of the kitchen drawers without batteries? Neither use nor ornament.

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