Dog Friendly Cottages In Bowness On Windermere

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 John Forster - Verified booking

  The location just a short distance from Ambleside was perfect with a safe walk into the town which had plenty of amenities. We all had a wonderful time as the lakes are stunning and the weather was very kind and dry. The equipment at the property was plentiful, no real need for an iron, ironing board, who irons when on holiday and a dishwasher as there’s only the two of us. The log fire is also OTT as you have underfloor heating. There’s no permanent place to put clothes or towels in the bathroom so everything has be hung on either the shower stall or the clothes airer which takes up half the bathroom. The sink outlet pipe is obviously blocked as the note above the sink testifies to other stayers having similar issues. A number of the wall unit doors were sticking especially the end cupboard door and the dishwasher unit was badly fitted so the door was 2” out at the top. 3 of the plates were chipped. We were asked to remove the bedding which revealed large stains on the Mattress, mattress cover and duvet cover. The storage cupboard had a freezer an iron, an ironing board which reduced its capacity and wasn’t needed. Overall the-feel of the property was a little cramped and that it needed a good clean especially to the outside of the property which let it down. We’ve become accustomed to having a few treats on arrival with all the properties i.e. milk tea coffee or a bottle of wine etc so was disappointed with not even a welcome card. The property was very comfortable the bed the sofa etc, apart from the 2 pillows which were rock hard, but as I said difficult to move around the bed with the TV on the wall next to the bed end, next to the fire base, the stools as well as 2 large dogs and their beds. Value of the property was ok but never sure what the accidental damage charge and the £20 per dog goes to as the property had all wooden floors. We booked a midweek break but the 4pm arrival and the 9am departure time for the soul purpose of cleaning left me with the feeling it was more like 3 days and the regular reminders of the arrival and departure times x6 were tedious and excessive. We would have no issue with booking with your company apart from the additional charges, admin dogs etc if we found a property but not The Hideaway. I Never recommended companies or products. Just to say we did have a pleasant stay but due to issues raised above it felt short of our usual experience and expectations

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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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• Mr Jonathan Bell - Verified booking

  My wife & I, along with out 2 miniature dachshunds recently returned from a 10 day break at Whitecross Bay, staying in Oakwood Lodge for the 4th time in 5 years.

  Oakwood Lodge is positioned in an excellent location, tucked away at the very end of a cul-de-sac, so it's very quiet. Our 4th experience of Oakwood Lodge is a little mixed & although it provides a very homely & warm feel the decor & some of the furniture could do with upgrading, as this has not changed since our 1st visit, therefore things are looking a bit tired. This is a shame because Oakwood once held a Diamond rating due to it's high quality finish, which was the key factor in our returning, however we feel that the previous high standard has slipped somewhat. That said Oakwood Lodge was clean & tidy & provided comfortable accommodation for all, especially the bed in the main bedroom which is very comfortable. The kitchen provides all the mod cons, although we did require a new toaster, which Lake District Lodge Holidays replaced soon after reporting the broken original & the Hot Tub is great for relaxing in following a days walking. We will be returning to Whitecross Bay next year & it would be nice to stay at Oakwood again following some much needed TLC. What did you enjoy most about your stay? The park's location to Lake Windermere What one experience (e.g attraction, walk, day out) would you recommend for our future guests? Elterwater, a lovely walking experience & a good pub in the heart of the village

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