Guests say
Guests generally enjoy the lodge's comfortable beds, spaciousness, and quiet surroundings. The location is appreciated for its proximity to attractions and natural beauty. However, some guests note the need for better cleaning and maintenance, with occasional issues such as a broken dishwasher or bath plug. The staff are commended for their friendliness and efficiency.
Mixed feedback on cleanliness, with several guests finding the lodge clean and comfortable, while others report the need for deeper cleaning and attention to detail. Issues like grime build-up and dirty carpets are mentioned, suggesting room for improvement.
The lodge's location is frequently praised for its ideal setting and convenience to tourist attractions. The natural surroundings and quiet environment contribute positively to the guests' experiences.
Comfort is highlighted with mentions of comfy beds and spacious lodges. Some guests, however, had preferences regarding bed firmness and found some furniture shaky, indicating variability in comfort levels.
Facilities are generally well-received, with lodges equipped for guests' needs. However, reports of maintenance issues like leaking gutters, broken bath plugs, and the need for TLC suggest that some facilities require attention.
There is no mention of gifts or special touches that would indicate thoughtfulness from the hosts. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a score in this category.
About this property
Luxurious lodge with one spacious king-size four poster with dressing area and en suite bathroom and one twin with contemporary en suite shower. Stylish open-plan living space, modern well-equipped kitchen and elegant dining area. Patio doors leading to outdoor decking, perfect for al fresco dining. Ideal for a luxury escape away with family. Pets allowed in selected accommodation only.
Images are representative and may not be the specific accommodation assigned on booking.. Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat part of our Evermore collection is a stylish beachside resort just a short drive away from vibrant Cowes. This Diamond award-winning getaway nestles at the water’s edge on the Isle of Wight’s serene north-east shores, perfect for unwinding and taking in the breath-taking sights over the Solent, or venture into the lush woodland complete with nature trails nearby and discover the abundant wildlife, all at your own pace. Take a stroll along the adjoining shingle beach or explore the scenic, cultural, culinary and historic attractions of this ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ by foot, boat or bicycle.
Featuring luxurious, premium contemporary design and an outdoor hot tub on selected lodges, each opulent accommodation creates a tranquil ambiance that offers all that you need to unwind, letting the everyday hustle and bustle drift away.
Have a glass of bubbly at the bar, all set in a picturesque area of the retreat.. Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat part of our Evermore collection is a stylish beachside resort just a short drive away from vibrant Cowes. This Diamond award-winning getaway nestles at the water’s edge on the Isle of Wight’s serene north-east shores, perfect for unwinding and taking in the breath-taking sights over the Solent, or venture into the lush woodland complete with nature trails nearby and discover the abundant wildlife, all at your own pace. Take a stroll along the adjoining shingle beach or explore the scenic, cultural, culinary and historic attractions of this ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ by foot, boat or bicycle.
Featuring luxurious, premium contemporary design and an outdoor hot tub on selected lodges, each opulent accommodation creates a tranquil ambiance that offers all that you need to unwind, letting the everyday hustle and bustle drift away.
Have a glass of bubbly at the bar, all set in a picturesque area of the retreat.. Woodside Bay Bar
Outdoor sun terrace with spectacular views over to Portsmouth
Free open Wi-Fi access
Woodland walks
Discounted ferry** Up to a 25% ferry discount from Portsmouth or Lymington, or up to a 15% ferry discount from Southampton
. Opening times and dates of the on site facilities will vary throughout the year, without prior notice.
** Discounted Ferry - Please refer to the FAQ’s for the park.
Discounted ferries - refer to your 'important park information' link on your confirmation once your booking has been confirmed which will give you directions to follow to claim your 25% discount on your ferry crossing.
Arrival Information: Darwin Escapes check-in’s are available from 16:00. If you are likely to arrive later than 18:00, please call our resort reception team on 01983 885 220 to let them know. Please note any guests under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Departure Information: Check out time is at 10:00am on the day of your departure. Darwin Escapes kindly ask that you leave your accommodation as you found it.
Bathrobes: Bathrobes are available to hire for £5.00 per bathrobe. Please note: Bathrobes are only available on a request basis when you arrive at the park.
Hot Tub Information: Please note due to water change and maintenance your hot tub may not be up to the correct temperature when you first arrive. By using the hot tub you are agreeing to Darwin Escapes’ terms and conditions, and agreeing that you have read their hot tub safety information, found here.
Travel cot hire: You can request a travel cot on your booking. Please note, there is no bedding provided and the mattresses are folding, thin and firm and is provided by manufacturer. We require you to follow the safety instructions, which state not to use a secondary mattress or any padded bedding such as pillows or quilts. You must bring your own bedding (e.g infant sleep bags). Please contact reception for mattress dimensions should you require. For further information on safe sleeping in travel cots please refer to information available from sites such as the Lullaby Trust. Important travel COT information Manufacturers instructions are provided at the point of issue and cots are cleaned in line with these after each use. Please also be aware that travel cots may not fit in double/master bedrooms in selected units, please call reception on 01983 885220 for more information if a cot is needed.
Pets: Please make sure that you have included your pet in your booking. If your pet is not included, Darwin Escapes will either relocate you to a pet-friendly lodge, if there is one available, or holds the right to refuse access to the resort. You may be liable for any charges incurred.
Resort Facilities: Woodside Bay’s facilities are currently working at a reduced capacity. The gym can be used by people over 18 years old only. You can access the gym by visiting reception, you may be asked for a fully refundable deposit.
Additional Information: Please note your car registration number will be requested upon arrival for Woodside’s security barrier system. Please read Darwin Escapes’ park rules found here.
Group Bookings/Party Types: A security deposit may be requested on arrival.
Work Parties: No Work vehicles or Workwear will be permitted on site. Un-authorised Work Parties will not be allowed to stay.
Discounted ferries - please refer to your 'important park information' link on your confirmation once your booking has been confirmed which will give you directions to follow to claim your 25% discount on your ferry crossing.
Arrival Information: Check-in is available from 16:00. To make your check in as smooth, quick and easy as possible, we’d like to request you call ahead for specific arrival information and to inform our reception team of your car registration number in advance of your arrival, particularly if you’re arriving outside of normal working hours. Please contact the retreat reception on 01983 858 220. Please note any guests under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Hire of Travel Cots: You will need to supply your own cot mattress and bedding as this is not included in the hire of travel cots. Please be aware that travel cots may not fit in the double/master bedroom of selected accommodation.
Hot Tubs in Premier Accommodation: Please be aware the hot tub may not be up to temperature when you first arrive due to water change and maintenance.
Departure Information: Please ensure you leave the accommodation by 10:00am on your day of departure.
Pets: Please note, if you are planning on bringing your pet or animal on holiday, this must be included in your party make up when booking. If you arrive on holiday with an undeclared pet/animal, the park operators are entitled to either relocate you to suitable pet/animal-friendly accommodation (if available) or refuse access to the Park. You may also be liable for any Pet charge, cleaning costs and/or relocation costs incurred. Please check with the retreat prior to including any extra pets. Any pets arriving undeclared could be asked to leave the retreat if there is no pet accommodation available.
Group Bookings/Party Types: No Work vehicles or Workwear will be permitted on site. Un-authorised Work Parties will not be allowed to stay. A security deposit may be requested on arrival.
In line with government guidance and to ensure you and your family are safe during your stay all leisure facilities, restaurants and bars are currently closed to guests. A takeaway and delivery service will be available from restaurants and bistros.
Discounted ferries - please refer to your 'important park information' link on your confirmation once your booking has been confirmed which will give you directions to follow to claim your 25% discount with Wightlink or 15% with Red Funnel for your ferry crossing.
Highway works in New Road, Wootton - 25/09/2023 – 06/10/2023
Island Roads have been in contact with us to let us know about the highway works that are due to take place in the local area shortly. These works will comprise of carriageway and footway maintenance with some realignment to short sections of kerb and channels. This approach will allow access to be maintained; although we would inform anyone using the road to expect short delayed during the works and where possible to minimise journeys through the site.
As the nature of these works are affected by the weather, the below dates may be subject to change at short notice.
· Timing of works- 25/09/2023 – 06/10/2023 inclusive (weekdays only)
· Time of works- 07:30 – 18:00
· For further information please refer to info@islandroads.com
Location of works- New Road, Wootton- between St Edmunds Walk to property named "Inwood"
Applicable to Premier accommodation only - We take care to ensure the hot tub is ready for you to use on your arrival although whilst every attempt is made on some occasions due to the strict cleaning and disinfection procedure, we follow the hot tub may not have reached the required temperature and there could be a delay before you can use it.
Nearby points of interest
- HMS Warrior
- Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Reviews (24)
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Confirmed Guest
First thing's first, I would stay here again and I enjoyed my stay. But I think there are some things that need pointing out for the benefit of other guests.Lots of other reviewers criticised the cleanliness of the lodges. From my experience I would say that most of them overstate the problem but there is a problem. My lodge was clean enough, it wasn't disgusting, it wasn't bad enough to ask to move. But it's really obvious that these lodges get nothing more than a quick superficial wipe over between guests and as a result there are build ups of grime in every crevice on the kitchen work surfaces and in the shower etc. There was a brown smudge in the toilet that hadn't been cleaned properly. The fabric sofas smelled of stale sweat. The dining table had the remnants of the previous guest's dinner on it. The decking and steps to the door were green and slippery. Just a little bit more care and attention to cleaning and maintenance would make the world of difference. As a related aside, I didn't have a hot tub but the lodge next door did and it wasn't cleaned between guests. I'm no clean freak but I would draw the line at getting in to a hot tub that hadn't been cleaned after a young family had been it all week. It's a pity because these lodges were clearly top of the range when new. The overall feeling is that the ship has been slowly spoiled for a ha'p'orth of tar.Other minor things to note - the kitchen extractor is very low and sticks forward from the hob. If you are taller than about 5ft4 you're going to whack your head on the glass continually. If you're more than 6ft you will struggle to cook at all. The site slopes north and all the lodges face that way so very few of them get direct sun and the decking is in shade (which is why it's green). And the treeline obscures the view of the sea. So definitely think of this as a woodland site rather than a coastal site. Finally, the lodge is a bit more compact than other similar lodges I have stayed in. It's like every room is a foot or two smaller than normal. The photographs are a bit deceiving. The TV has this infuriating menu system that makes it impossible to adjust any settings. We watched a film one night and could barely see or hear what was going on. It was impossible to adjust the brightness or sound settings. There was a spare HDMI cable so it would be possible to plug in a DVD player or similar but in my lodge the HDMI sockets had been ripped out and there wasn't enough room behind the TV to plug something in. The infuriating menu system seemed to make it impossible to select a different source anyway. There was a limited range of TV channels and they all had a poor signal. I tried listening to the radio through the TV but gave up because we only heard half of every song.On the plus side, the lodges are modern and well laid out. The double aspect open plan living and cooking area is great as are the skylight windows (that cannot be opened by the way) which make the room brighter by day. The kitchen was well equipped, we cooked a full Sunday roast with all the trimmings no problem. The site is generally quiet. There's no kids playgrounds/entertainment so you don't see many young families. The outside areas are well kept. I saw other reviews criticising it for being overgrown but this is nonsense. Maybe if you only stay in those stark, lifeless caravan parks with nothing but rows of white boxes, having wild ferns and sedges growing between lodges will look untidy to you. To everyone else it's natural. There are a few red squirrels around, mainly first thing in the morning before all the dog walkers get out of bed. And plenty of birds in the trees and hedges. There is a beach not far away which is very pleasant and gives good views across the Solent but the beach faces north so mostly in shade and you can't walk that far.
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Sarah
The lodge suited our needs.Loved the kitchen island and the wine fridge and the outside deck with a view onto spectacular autumnal trees.Our dishwasher broke down but maintenance staff were really good at replacing so no complaints.Beds really comfy.The only thing -the carpets need replacing and curtains looked a bit shabby.
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Confirmed Guest
First I must say I had a lovely time and would stay again. The lodge itself is lovely, the downfall is, the floor could do with a good wipe, more attention to cleaning!! ETC sofa seat removed and vacuumed the chair, lots of hair, utensils could do with a wash beds are very shaky and could do with a tightening up.I am being honest, love the place and would stay again, but the lodge needs to be cleaned and checked before guests arrives. I had to go out and buy a mop and bucket to wipe the floor and wash the utensils. I felt better after, when someone book a holiday, they expect to arrive at their apartment ready, prepared and feel clean. I have read other feedbacks and most of them are writing about the cleanness of the place, all the reviews just needs to be listened too just needs to get that bit right.