Forest of Dean Lodges & Log Cabins

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Rachel - Verified booking

  We booked a last minute break for Christmas.

  Communication was really good with lots of useful information. The lodge is tricky to find as the sat nav takes you past the site. As soon as you see the sign for Phocle Green its down a dirt track then a sharp left where its says phocle Lake private land. We chose Mallard which is one of only four lodges onsite so its secluded and quiet. We were pleased with the location onsite as it was the furthest away from the entrance and at the edge so no one else had to come past our lodge. However other lodge visitors walking around the lake did walk past as probably didn't realise it was a dead end. Upon arrival we were surprised by a Christmas tree along with prosecco and mince pies which was lovely. The place was immaculate, exactly as pictures and smelt nice. It was spacious with two decent size bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. Supplies included were sachets of tea, coffee and sugar. Anti bac spray, tea towel, dish cloth and dishwasher tabs. Hand and bath towels along with separate towels for the hot tub, hairdryer, toilet rolls, tubes of shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. The only things I would have liked to be included which were not is a small bottle of milk so we could have had a hot drink on arrival. Some cooking oil, salt and pepper as you only need a small amount for the times you choose to cook. Also some washing up liquid for when you only have a couple of items so don't need to use the dishwasher. The place is so relaxing with beautiful lakeside views with the bonus of the hot tub which we made use of even in the horrible weather. We saw rabbits, a stoat, a heron and lots of birds. We did have a few negatives but don't let this put you off booking as they aren't a problem if you are aware of them. We chose a place with TVs in each bedroom but we could only get a couple of BBC channels so had to stay in the living area instead of relaxing in bed. We would have liked to have sat out on the patio of an evening or spend time in the hot tub after dark, as it turned dark just after 4pm. However there was no outside lighting. There was a switch for an outside light but it only seemed to stay on for a few minutes then switched itself off. We left it on when we went shopping but came back to complete darkness so struggled to get from the car up the steps with our bags. They do supply torches but when hands are full it would be impoved with a few solar lights around the hot tub area and a light that can be left on by the front door and patio. We did find as the central heating was on timer we were cold at times so could have benefited from some more throws. The fire in the living area is just a flame effect with not much heat from a fan heater underneath it. So after coming out of the hot tub we could have done with an actual fire to get warm and dry our swim gear. It was winter with minus temperatures though so its probably not an issue when staying at other times of the year. For cooking lots of cutlery, crockery, pans etc were supplied, so cooking isn't too much of a problem. We could have done with some foil, a couple more pans for the hob and a casserole dish or deep roasting tray with rack but we managed to cook Christmas dinner by keeping stuff warm in dishes and reusing pans. Finally even though we loved the location the road directly behind the hedge is very close so you do get road noise. Its an excellent base for visiting loads of places. Very close to Ross on Wye with several supermarkets and pubs. The Moody Cow pub 4 mins drive was exceptional service and quality food. Also recommend short 20 min drive into Ledbury where the Feathers hotel is popular. Gloucester docks is around 25 mins drive. Hereford is around 30 mins with lots of independent shops. All in all I can honestly say we were very pleased with our choice, the negatives are minor, we have already recommended it and look forward to returning. Thank you to the owners for enabling us to have an enjoyable Christmas.

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• Vicky - Verified booking

  We have just returned from a lovely week staying in Skylark.

  The location of the site is ideal for exploring Ross-on-Wye and the Forest of Dean area. All the sites and attractions we visited were within a half hour drive and it was easy to pop into the town of Ross for an evening meal. The site has a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, although you could still sometimes hear the dull roar of the traffic on the M50 when sat out on the deck or in the garden, not that the noise spoilt our enjoyment. The cabin itself was comfortable and just the right size for us and our two young children. The kitchen was well equipped, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that we were supplied with tea towels, oven mitts, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets etc. There were also complimentary toiletries and even slippers, which was a nice touch! The beds in one bedroom were made into a comfortable super king size double, the second bedroom was made into two singles. However, the single beds were only 2’6 wide and one of my children fell out a couple of times in the night as they are used to 3’ single beds. I think adults would struggle to sleep in one of these single beds but I do appreciate the size of the bedroom dictates the size of the beds. We enjoyed using the hot tub but felt a bit overlooked by the Kingfisher cabin which is right next door. It’s a shame that the hot tub wasn’t sited in the garden area on the deck side of the cabin. At the time of booking, we could have booked any of the log cabins, however if we’d seen a site plan, we would have booked the Mallard cabin. It’s the same size as Skylark but on its own at the end of the lake, so would have been a bit more private and also given our boys a bit more outdoor space to play in. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again or recommend to friends.

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• Ann - Verified booking

  We have just returned from a lovely two week holiday staying in Skylark Lodge.

  We had forgotten just what “peaceful” really meant. No sound of traffic or other associated noises just the sound of birdsong with the occasional quack from the ducks and maybe a rumble of a distant tractor. If you are looking for somewhere to relax this is the place. The lodge itself could not be faulted, all of the windows overlooked the lake. Sitting around the table on the veranda for breakfast or dinner allows hours of pleasure watching nature evolve around you. The lodge had everything and more that was needed to allow you just to unpack and relax. Within a five minute drive or twenty minute walk was “The Moody Cow” excellent food and service. If the budget is a little more restricted a ten minute walk in the opposite direction would bring you to the “Beefeater” which itself has a comprehensive menu. Fishing on the lake is very good but whether you catch or not it doesn’t matter. There are many places of interest to visit, we went to nearby Ross-on-Wye handy for shopping as it has a Sainsbury’s and Morrisons as well as numerous individual shops. Days out were spent in, Hereford, Gloucester Quays, Leominster, Ledbury (don’t forget to buy some cherries from the local farms if you are there in July) and Great Malvern. Needless to say we have rebooked to return. One last thing a big “Thank you” to Mark for recovering my fishing float which had been expertly cast by me into a tree!! Ann Adams

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• Daniel - Verified booking

  Really nice place, we booked it for a week but only stayed for 5 days due to work commitments.

  The site is well looked after, the lodge was very clean and spacious, had everything we needed. Cutlery etc was spotlessly clean which is something we always look for. We used the beefeater pub down the road a few times, we found the staff there very friendly and the food was good too. The location is far enough out of town for nice quiet evenings but close enough to the town for daytime shopping and exploring. All in all, we were very impressed. There was one odd situation with a guy riding round on a quad bike. Maybe the owner/groundskeeper?? Seemed to stare into the lodge all morning which made us feel a little bit like we were under observation. My son stayed with us and has his own car so he parked by the lodge, out of the way. After a morning of staring into the lodge the guy on the quad drove past, purposefully looked at my sons car and shook his head. No idea what that was all about, maybe he doesn’t like Vauxhalls?? I went out to see if there was a problem but he’d gone. Strange.. Anyway, other than that, would recommend.

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• Lariana - Verified booking

  We had a wonderful stay over Christmas at this beautiful lodge .

  The view over the lake is simply beautiful with surrounding nature scenery. It’s a quiet tranquil location and very peaceful. Cosy homey atmosphere in cottage - just what we wanted as a family at Christmas time and in winter . It’s spacious and fully equipped with facilities to cook and spending time in this cottage with feeling trapped in . Interior Decor of the cottage is really on high standard and well chosen colours to be a pleasure on the eyes. The owners welcomed us so friendly with a bottle of mulled wine , box of mince pies and xmas card on kitchen counter . It smelled so lovely inside and heating was already upon arrival . Forrest of Dean , Clearwell caves and Symonds yat Rock is astonishing sites to visit and only under or about 30min drive from the lodge. Will definitely want to go back in another season . Thank you , from the O’Riordan family

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