New Year Breaks In The Lake District

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• David - Verified booking

  Dear Sykes, we have stayed in a number of your cottages over the last 5 years and have always had a very enjoyable holiday.

  Unfortunately this lodge did not live up to expectations. On arrival the lodge was unbearably hot and we discovered that someone had put the boiler on its maximum setting. The following day when the building had cooled down, it smelt musty and damp. Possibly the heating was left on full to mask the damp! The bedrooms were both very small with inadequate storage space for our clothes, no chest of drawers in either room and the wardrobe was only equipped with three coat hangers. The double bed had what was without doubt the most uncomfortable mattress I’ve ever had the misfortune to sleep on. It sagged in the middle and was so soft I could feel the slats in the bed frame. The duvet was at best 20 mm thick and the cover was torn around the popper fasteners. Despite the fact that the holiday was to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary we ended up in the two single beds in the even smaller bedroom because they were marginally more comfortable! The bath had a very obvious repair in it and the basin was so small you banged you head on the bathroom cabinet when you tried to use it. We discovered on our last day that the shed contained a black bin liner full of decomposing kitchen waste, which probably accounted for the number of flies around the property. We had stayed the previous week in one off your lodges named Iona in the village of Strontian in the Scottish Highlands. This was a delightful cabin and was £200 pounds cheaper than the Skiptory Howe lodge. We paid more than £100 pounds a night to stay in this property and consequently expected a much more luxurious well equipped lodge. I have taken photographs of the problems we encountered which I am happy to send you. I also would expect some form of compensation because this holiday was not a memorable experience in a positive way!

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• Simon - Verified booking

  Overall a very nice lodge.

  However there were a few issues which were also picked up in the visitors book, for example, the double bed was uncomfortable - felt like it was sagging in the middle, the mechanism to switch from shower to bath didn't work and I found it difficult to maintain a relatively constant water temperature, also there was initially a musty smell to the property including the kitchen cupboards.The window in the main bedroom room didn't open and the cushions on that bed did smell so they went outside for the week. The sofa positioned in front of the TV was quite uncomfortable. That sounds like quite a moan but it isn't, this is a well equipped property and we enjoyed our stay there. The lodge is quite overshadowed with trees which suited us but if you wanted to sunbathe on the generous decking area then this isn't the place for you. At the rear there is a shed which we used to store a couple of bikes and a gate into the woods which was a god-send for the dogs. Fortunately no-one was in the lodge above us so it was a peaceful place to stay. With regards to the site I would say it is quite limited in the facilities on offer; there is a small shop. a small-ish 1.5m max deep pool which opens to guests from 10am to about 5.30pm and you have to book in 45 minute sessions at least a day before to use it, there is a small gym, jacuzzi and sauna, a play area for children under 12 and a sports court. There is a pub/restaurant which does a take-away menu (our burgers were really nice but beware the roasted veggie option - dire - perhaps we hit it on a bad day). The site was tidy and well maintained with plenty of woodland - all in all the positives outweigh the negatives.

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• Anna - Verified booking

  From the moment we arrived at the lodge, we were enveloped in peace and tranquility.

  With horses and pheasants as our nearest neighbours, it truly felt like a home away from home. The lodge itself was super clean and modern, striking the perfect balance between contemporary comforts and rustic charm. The beds were incredibly comfortable, ensuring a restful night’s sleep after a day of exploring the great outdoors. Speaking of which, the nature views were a highlight of our stay. The gentle flow of the river nearby provided a serene backdrop for our morning coffee. For those of us who appreciate a good cup of joe, the Nespresso coffee machine and French press were much appreciated touches that catered to our caffeine needs. The kitchen was well-equipped with all the necessary appliances, including a dishwasher, making meal prep a breeze. After our adventurous, albeit muddy walks, the washing machine with a dryer was a godsend. It made our stay that much easier, ensuring we always had clean, dry clothes ready for the next day’s activities. The hosts were nothing short of wonderful, providing great recommendations for local restaurants and breakfast spots. Their helpfulness added a personal touch to our stay, making us feel well-cared for. In summary, our stay at the lodge was nothing short of perfect. It’s a place we would recommend to anyone looking for a clean, modern, and comfortable retreat in nature. Thank you for making our getaway so memorable!

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• Wendy - Verified booking

  We arrived on the 2nd of January.

  The cottage was nice, clean and had all the facilities. The park was pleasant also. We’d not been there half an hour when we had an urgent email from Sykes cottages to call them. We did so, sorry I cannot recall the name of the lady we spoke to, but she said the resort was closing on the 3rd and we’d have to leave a day early. We had originally booked the break from the 1st to the 3rd but altered it to the 2nd to the 4th at the property owner’s request so they could get cleaners in on the 1st. If we had known the cottage was only available for 2 days instead of 3 we would never have booked it and sought alternatives. We were very disappointed. We were offered alternative accommodation at nearly £300 for one night! Three nights had cost us £400 so this seemed extreme. We were told the cost of the night would be refunded, but no compensation was offered. We then enquired as to what time we needed to leave. The lady at Sykes said she had made an executive decision and we could stay on the Friday for as long as we liked. The next day another representative from Skyes told us the owner wanted us out by 11 am. I am very disappointed in this total failure of communication. At the moment it seems both the owner and the agency are more than happy to take money but are not willing to do the right thing when they make a mistake.

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• Isabel - Verified booking

  I stayed in one of the Lodges with 2 other adults and 2 dogs in late June 2024.

  We all agreed that the accommodation was superb and will probably book again next year There are 9 Lodges spaced well apart in an area of wild meadow with a river flowing through the land. Each Lodge has it's own private patio with our door eating area and barbecue. There is very little traffic noise and the atmosphere is very peaceful and relaxing. The accommodation is very spacious, modern and clean. The kitchen was well equipped and we were able to buy food from a nearby Booths supermarket and cook most of our meals on site. We had everything we needed in our Lodge to make our stay comfortable, such as washing machine, dish washer and flat screen TV. There was also a touch of luxury with an nespresso coffee machine complete with pods and some locally produced toiletries. We spent our holiday walking, going to the nearby coast and visiting a couple of nearby stately homes. We were very lucky to have warm sunny weather for most of our stay, but would have enjoyed the holiday regardless of the weather. Most of the outings we did required a short journey in the car, but we didn't have to travel for more than half an hour. There is a pub which serves good food and a station cafe within walking distance. I don't usually leave reviews but this accommodation was very good and I'd like others to know about it.

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