New Year Breaks In The Lake District

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Jason - Verified booking

  The property was warm and spacious and finished to a very high standard.

  Having two bathrooms also made getting ready to go out on an evening very efficient. The car parking space was generously sized - once we located it - but more of that later.... This week marked the 15th anniversary of the first time we took our daughter on a cottage holiday when she was just 10 weeks old. We have averaged between 2 and 4 cottage holidays per year over that time, visiting a mixture of old favorites as well as exploring new ones. 2023 has been no exception and our week in Ambleside was our 4th cottage holiday this year and the third at a new property. My point is that as a family we are well used to locating and gaining access to properties in places that we have never been to before - although I do know Ambleside town very well having been a visitor for the last 30 years or more! We had a relatively trouble free 3 hour drive over to Ambleside last Saturday afternoon and arrived in town quite relaxed and in good spirits at around 5.00pm. We were also able to drive pretty much straight to the lane end on Kirkstone road marked "Edinboro" which we turned down as instructed. We drove down a very narrow track and came to what looked like a dead end with cars parked everywhere and nowhere to turn around. I decided to reverse up and review the written instructions, but in doing so scraped my car along a low wall that I hadn't seen. At this point I was fit for driving back home and we were at the top of Hardknott pass by the time my wife persuaded me that we should go back and try again. At this point we had to reverse along Edinboro twice more to allow delivery vehicles out as there is absolutely no room for vehicles to pass each other and no space to turn around. Finally, I drove further down and we located the parking space for number 16 - but it was now beginning to get dark. I unloaded the car whilst my wife and daughter set about finding the apartment. There was a sign on a wall marked 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 - but not a number 16. We asked other people but nobody else knew where number 16 was. Eventually my daughter explored a little further and after about 20 minutes we finally found number 16. It was now after 6.00pm and darkness had fallen. By now we had been in Ambelside for well over an hour, but we had yet to locate the secure box with the key in it. There was a secure box in a well lit area with what looked like a faded number 16 next to it on the wall near the fuse box for number 16, but our key code would not work. We phoned Sykes several times and eventually they sent a local assistant to help us. He wasn't going to arrive until after 7.00pm so he advised us to go for our evening meal and he would tell us how to get in once he had fixed the secure box. So two hours after arrival - we set off down into Ambleside for our meal and just made it in time for our 7.30pm booking. The assistant phoned me half an hour later to explain the our secure box was in the parking space next to our car. It did say that in the instructions but it was pitch dark under there and none of use had seen it and we were all a little frazzled by this point. I don't care if "everyone else manages to find the property and the secure box OK" - we didn't. It wasn't the best start to our holiday and really spoiled the mood for a while what with scraping the car and all. The site is compact, but quite complex with several apartments in different buildings over four levels. The instructions really need a plan (map) of the site clearly showing the location of the designated parking space and the apartment entrance. Also the key code and location of the secure box should be on a separate line in block capitals - not buried in a paragraph of text which includes navigation instructions from Windermere town. In summary, a great apartment in an amazing location. Summer nights on the balcony must be absolutely lovely. Just needs better instructions supplemented by a site plan or map to help locate everything that we struggled with for nigh on two hours.

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• Tracey - Verified booking

  We had a great stay at River Falls view and would highly recommend the property.

  It was very well situated with a gorgeous view of the river. We spent many hours watching the water flow past whilst having a cheeky glass of vino. The property was well stocked with many items you don’t normally see in holiday let’s such as a hairdryer and cleaning items which was a bonus. On arrival we found it clean and well maintained and the decor was akin to a country cottage (very quaint) The only recommendations we would give are for it to have a set of recycle type bins in the kitchen rather than just the one bin as when you go to the refuse area outside they expect you to separate for recycling, having separate bins in the kitchen would make it easier to organise for the quest. The other recommendation would be to improve the outdoor seating as it’s a gorgeous view and great to sit out and watch the birds and wildlife but the plastic chairs and table provided don’t fit with the elegance of the property, are faded and stained as well as uncomfortable (no seat pads) which is the same for the wooden bench at the other side of the balcony (again no seat pads to make it comfortable to sit for any length of time) Other than that we loved the property and would certainly book it again, I. Fact we tried for June but it’s already fully booked.

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• Lee - Verified booking

  Hmmm Dirty.

  The place itself is in a good condition however the cleaner / cleaning company lets it down. This is what we found… Dirty carpets clearly not hoovered, I ended up emptying the hoover and hoovering top to bottom which made a huge difference to the carpet. Cobwebs, hair and dust everywhere including cooker hood, ornaments, hob and all the paces that are not so easy to get to. Simple things like a table were clean but it seemed like anything that required a bit of effort to clean wasn’t. There was also a really strong smell of damp or mould downstairs which was horrible. We had hoovered but it was coming from under the bed so we got some incense stick which took the edge off enough to sleep. Upstairs toilet doesn’t flush properly so we only used the downstairs bathroom. No dishwasher is a bit of a pain but most of all would of helped with hygiene as the cleanliness of the pots, pans and cutlery didn’t inspire confidence, again we washed what we needed by hand. Would NOT recommend and would NOT go back.

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• Mary - Verified booking

  A really comfortable & well equipped apartment.

  The kitchen is tiny, but has a separate fridge & freezer. I wondered if the sound of the river would keep me awake, but it was more like "white noise" in the background, and quite soothing! The town is an excellent base for walking, there were so many interesting walks within a few miles. In response to other reviews... The downstairs does smell a bit "rivery" especially if it's been shut up all day, but it soon goes off. Once you've parked and collected the keys, go under the archway, turn immediately left along the balcony, it's the second door. *** Note for owner (doesn't need publishing!) The closure on the 2nd taphole on the kitchen sink is broken, it needs sealing down or there's scope for a major disaster. Sorry no pic but it's obvious when you see it.

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• Michael - Verified booking

  The property is really nice, with two parking spaces, which is a plus.

  The quality of the furnishings is excellent. However, my only, but significant, issue was with the heating. It was pretty cold during the two weeks we stayed, to the point where we could see our breath inside. The owner told me he would adjust the heating, and we went back and forth for four days. Eventually, I gave up and drove a 60-mile round trip to buy a heater. Having the owner argue that it was perfectly warm while I was sitting in my coat was not what I wanted during my stay. Whether the app on his phone wasn't working or he was just too miserly to spend a bit on electricity, the heating still went off all day despite his repeated assurances that he had adjusted it. Either way, I won't be staying in any place where the heating is controlled remotely.

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