Top Lodge, 4 Skiptory Howe

Neil communicated very well even giving us the flood warnings that were announced.

Well kept clean and very warm. Nice location with a wood at the rear for a quick short walk with the dogs or 5 minutes to the woodland walk and lake launching are. Nothing negative to post about the lodge, all positives. Many thanks and would recommend and book again when visiting the lakes. Many thanks

Lovely break away, we have stayed at white cross bay before so knew what to expect.

The lodge was lovely, small but enough for us as a family of 4 and a dog to use as a base and a get away. There were lots of games for the kids to play and books if needed. The lodge was warm and lit on our arrival with information about the site and surrounding area. Lots of items in the kitchen which provided us with the opportunity to cook meals as we needed, a fabulous place.

The cabin was great, clean, comfortable, great location, it had everything we needed.

The only negative was the WIFI and the Parkdean clubhouse. Although the WIFI signal showed as a strong signal from the booster, there was no data, you couldn't do simple tasks like internet browsing, let alone watch a film. The Parkdean clubhouse onsite isn't much to write home about either, ok for families with small children, but not a lot else otherwise. .

We had a very nice holiday at the cottage and enjoyed our stay.

Thank you. Blessed with good weather all week. Really good location and very convenient for the lakes. The only downside (which may be outside the owner's control) was the WiFi---it didn't really work and only provided intermittent access to basic email and not any TV based apps such as Netflix (we were able to log in momentarily but timed out)--this appears to be a general issue park-wide. Thanks for the DVD collection-the children really enjoyed Harry Potter!

The property is as listed and well furnished.

Kitchen had all that was needed and nice that it had lots of cutlery, plates etc. Heating and hot water worked well and lovely and hot on demand. Situated in a quieter part of the site but still close to the reception & shop.

Absolutely brilliant stay , it was as described, would recommend to all to stay there , would gladly revisit

Loverly property in a great location.

The site is loverly and is located on the side of the lake which is great if using the lake. On site facilities too. Loverly get away, had peace of mind that my dogs would be safe as the property has a secure deck with fence around. The property itself is loverly, home from home. There was a lingering smell of cigarettes in the kitchen/living room area of the property which is not great if you are a non smoker and it gets on your chest (really not good if you are asthmatic). (The property did have no smoking sign). Other than this it was fantastic. The owner text with details that we needed during our stay, keeping us well informed.

We had a wonderful week at Top Lodge, thank you.

The lodge is situated within a short walk from the reception and restaurant but benefits greatly by being in the quieter part of the holiday park. The lodge has great facilities and we were very comfortable there. I particularly like the large decking area and spacious kitchen. It's only a short drive into the lovely towns of Ambleside and Bowness on Windermere with easy access to the beautiful lakes of Coniston Water and Derwent Water too. I would highly recommend this holiday.

The property was filthy, bedding and towels were only clean things.

Floor had not been cleaned, furniture and paintwork dirty, hole in bath filled with polyfilla, boiler hadn't been serviced either according to paperwork. Just because we have dogs doesn't mean we don't want cleanliness!

The only fault we had was when we arrived at the property late afternoon it had not been cleaned and Beds were not changed should this had been checked before customers arrived that’s my only fault!

Top Lodge was well appointed, clean, warm and cosy.

Great location on the site, but also Ambleside and Windermere/Bowness can be reached very quickly either by car or on the bus. We had a great time andcwill be using Sykes again and would happily return to 4 Skiptory Howe.

Had a fantastic time.

It was just as expected if not better. Didn't want to leave and will definitely be booking again.

Lovely property in quiet wooded location, near the lake, great for children and dogs.

Very comfortable beds, slept better than at home! Few minute drive to all locations of interest and a spar nearby. We discovered Dominoes also deliver to lodge. Only negative for teenager was intermittent internet signal but that was a bonus for me!

Great stay thank you, nice and quiet, was nice and clean also, needs a bit updating but a decent price so would stay again cost wise but everything we needed.

Great service amazing place will use again best holiday ever !

Very very damp,found food on the baking trays,found a watch and a lighter stuffed down the sofa back not to mention about 3 months of dirt and half eaten food.

Horrible stay. It managed to make us actually dislike the lake district something until that moment i would have thought impossible. Oh and when i asked about the wifi was told "tough". Dont say the lodge/site has wifi if it clearly hasnt,i dont mind not having any we stayed many places without and loved them but to be told "tough" when i asked about something they claimed was available is taking the mick abit isnt it? Would never vist again.

Excellent and spacious holiday lodge which was in a great location for touring around the area .

Also really cozy as the heating was always on. Would highly recommend.

Fantastic, comfortable break regardless of the storm raging outside and the subsequent power cuts locally.

The lodge was not cleaned very well and smelt.

The bathroom was disgusting and needs replacing especially the bath and tiny sink. It was so hot on arrival with all radiators on maximum we couldn't sleep on the first night. You could hardly read the dials on the oven they had worn away . The sofas and beds gave us backache. We left two nights earlier than planned.

Cleanliness of property was dissapointing the fridge was dirty we had to clean it the freezer had ice creams and half bag frozen chips and could have done with defrosting , under the kitchen sink needed cleaning as it was dirty and had a smell there was a dirty sock under the 2 seater sofa and the floor was dusty so obviously had not been moved to clean under it and it needs a little TLC as its looking tired ie decor and bedding (musky smell in double bedroom ) We swept and mopped the floors cleaned and disinfected the bath which at some point had been damaged leaving a hole which had been filled in which made us reluctant to have a bath shower was ok sink and toilet also disinfected before leaving and made sure it was spotless would have expected more for what we paid cabin is in a great location and despite all the negatives we had a great holiday in lakes

The cabin is in shade all day so there is no opportunity to relax in the sun on the decking.

Lodge was clean and tidy on arrival and as described.

A couple of small niggles but nothing major. Off road parking for one car in front of the lodge. Close to play park and clubhouse but not too close so nice and quiet after dark. A great location set in beautiful woods with easy access to explore Windermere and beyond. The Clubhouse staff were very helpful and friendly and the restaurant served decent food and drinks. Our son loved the pool and the amusements arcade. Would book again with Sykes and would visit a Park Dean resort again in the future.

Lodge in a good place.

A bit dark due to the trees. Decking would be nice painted or cleaned. Hot tub would be fab. I don't like tvs high on a wall.

Uncomfortable bed and pillows, uncomfortable settees, lodge needs some TLC, good outside space

The location of the lodge was the only very slight issue as it was very dark due to being totally enclosed by trees, other lodges were more open next to us, but it's still a lovely place and ideal for dogs as it's enclosed decking area is secure

The lodge smelled musty when we arrived but once the heating was on it disappeared, the rug under the coffee table was a bit scruffy.

Very pleasant atmosphere with the trees around and the birds too, saw our first nuthatch. Our main tv stopped working but was quickly sorted by Jack at Sykes. No wi-fi or Netflix during stay but had DVDs and tv Overall a lovely break even with so much rain (luckily overnight)

The cabin was in a nice quiet wooded position .

The wildlife was a pleasure to watch each day . Deer and woodpecker's were the highlight. Warm and we'll equipped. Being so close to lake Windermere the paddle boarding was great, especially at this time of year.

The cabin and it's location in the middle of a forest were fantastic.

The cabin had everything we needed (except for a mop and broom) it went beyond expectations and even the fact the tv's in the bedrooms didn't work (not connected to an Ariel as we couldn't scan for channels) did not spoil the week away. We saw deer,foxes and other wildlife right at the cabins front and rear.It was also well placed to go sightseeing at all the Lake's attractions.

We had a great week away in this lovely lodge.

Well positioned, the lodge was very clean and the most well equipped holiday accommodation we have stayed in. Great size decking, and having direct access into the forest was a real bonus. The torches the owners provide came in very handy for our night walks, they've thought of everything! Ample parking space. The facilities on site are very good, would recommend a meal in the bar or breakfast, was very good and dogs welcome inside too. We were fortunate enough to have the deers visit our lodge every morning, a very special experience to have them so close ( keep an eye out between 8 and 10 am). The lodge is very central for visiting all the beautiful places the lakes have to offer. A short walk to The Sun Inn where you will be made very welcome. Bowness is definitely worth a visit, so many great places to mention. Including drinks outside the Hole in T wall in Bowness under the patio heater in November was great. Thankyou for a very memorable stay for our anniversary break. would definitely return.

This was an amazing lodge so clean and equipped for everything we needed.

Internet worked perfectly. Location was perfect. We will definitely book again added bonus watching the deer walk past the lodge in the evening.

The cabin was beautiful, far nicer than expected.

Great access to the woods for our dog. Would highly recommend

holiday lodge was excellent everything was there lovely place to visit and are 2 little Westies enjoyed themselves x weather for the lakes wasn’t bad at all x lovely lodge and lovely surroundings x

Generally the lodge was very comfortable and well kitted out.

Just a few things. Obviously the smell of damp inside the lodge. Maybe take a few scented candles and this would mask the smell. The rug and cushions on the sofas really need to be replaced, they looked skanky! And the shower was hot and cold, needs a new thermostatic control. All easily fixed. Generally tho, a nice lodge

The accommodation and location was perfect for the holiday we wanted along the fur babies.

Very peaceful and very cool on hot days which is good if you have gone with children or pets due to the location of the lodge being nestled in the trees. The downside to that is it does make it dark .... you can’t have it all ways. Fully equipped with everything and more. There are only a coupe of things and they are only slight, you could call it me being picky ! The rug and cushions could do with a good clean or being replaced and the shower is hard work to get the temperature correct as previous customers have mentioned. Everything else you cannot fault. We had a lovely week and will be looking to go back next year.

This was a lovely place but a mother screaming at her kids at nearby lodge was a bit awful.

All she did was make them cry. I am not against children but think they should be on a different part of the resort. The stay apart from that was really enjoyable.

Lovely place, very clean.

Would come again. Only niggles were the lack of space to put clothes and the temperature of the shower was always changing. Otherwise brilliant.

Lovely place very private only downside is too many trees blocking sunlight over lodge

Couple of problems but owner sorted them out Thankyou

we encountered an issue with the shower head being broken.

rang sykes and they had it replaced within 24 hours

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.

I was very pleased with Sykes on this holiday We had a slight issue with the shower and it was fixed whilst we were out the same day The only issue we had was finding the contact number should there be a problem but other that that our holiday was not marred in anyway

Lovely lodge and ideal location.

The lodge is equipped with everything you need. The only drawback is dogs are not allowed in the bar so when it’s raining it's a bit of a letdown. I would still return regardless

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!

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.

Generally we were pleased with the lodge and the site.

Staff were helpful and nothing was too much trouble. Only complaint, we needed lights on most of the time, it was very dark inside the lodge due to the mature trees all around us. Even the large patio only got a little sunshine! We would definitely holiday at White Cross Bay again, but would choose a lodge in a more open setting.

We got home yesterday and we had a fantastic week at your cabin at White Cross Bay.

It was clean and comfy, our dogs quickly settled in and we certainly had enough living space in the kitchen and lounge. I'm pleased we stayed at Top Lodge on the edge of the camp rather than in the middle of the site where I'm sure it would have been noisier and busier. It was very quiet and peaceful until our final night when we got a rowdy party of five blokes staying at a cabin 10-15 yards away - and they were out drinking and talking loudly till well after 1am. Perhaps the camp owners should impose restrictions on all-male groups renting lodges as well as insisting on a lights out, silence first policy after midnight. We loved the woods behind our cabin, taking our pets up there every day. As for the minuses. The lodge seriously needs more shelf/cupboard/drawer space. We had to keep the food/drinks we'd taken up in bags because there wasn't anywhere to put it. The same applies re our clothes in the bedroom. We could have done with more cupboards for pants, socks, shirts, tops, etc. The bed was just OK and the duvet just about big enough. Easily the biggest bugbear for me was the joke of a basin in the bathroom. I could hardly clean my teeth in it never mind have a shave! I ended up having to shave in the kitchen sink! I just do not see the point of having such a ridiculously impractical basin that was neither use nor ornament as my grandad used to say. I've stayed in all sorts of places all over the world over the last 50 years and never come across a basin so pointless. I also had to call you to get the proper key safe code when we arrived after apparently being sent a new code by email. I should have spotted the new number but it would be a big help if you could banner headline such a change in emails in future to make sure customers don't miss it. But all in all we had a fabulous week and would return, perhaps to try one of your lakeside lodges next.

beautiful site.

Weather was gorgeous. Surrounding areas were so out of this world enjoyed the whole experience .will definitely be coming back to the lake district.Disapointed with wi-fi the cabin has a booster but still couldn't receive any thing

very good place to stay and see the lakes

We spent last week in this beautiful lodge.

Its immaculatly decorated and the kitchen and living area are so light and spacious. We cooked every night in the kitchen and there were plenty of dishes, crockery and cutlery. Bedrooms were clean and airy. Shower was a bit hot and miss temperature wise but that’s the only slight fault. Amazing lodge!

If everything would have been working at the lodge we stayed at then it would’ve been brilliant.

Our plan was to make the most from the walks with our dogs then come back to have a shower and get in comfy clothes to watch some films on the DVD player, as my husband and I really needed a break. The boiler only worked when it wanted to rather then when we needed it, so we struggled for hot water, and the DVD player in the living area didn’t work. So our plan kind of went out of the window. It was a shame as the site we stayed was lovely but I wouldn’t book this lodge again until I could be assured everything worked.

We were very disappointed at 9.

20 on the day of departure we could hear someone on our decking to go out to find workmen plonking equipment on it. They left the gates open and we have a dog. That said "you're checking out aren't you" Our response being yes but we have until 10. We were put under immense pressure to leave asap. Our dog couldn't go on the decking as she was scared of all the equipment which they still kept putting over the top of the fencing. Very rude and certainly ruined what should have been a pleasant check out.

The lodge itself was lovely and stocked well and easy check in.

It could of been a little cleaner. The doors were creaky so our dog barked a lot which led to a few poor nights sleep. We had to reset the boiler a few times as it did go off and led to no hot water and heat for small periods of time. The single beds were very comfy however the double wasn't it was a very thin hard mattress. The lodge was dog friendly however they didn't allow him in the bar/restaurant this would be our main problem because we would of loved to get involved with the entertainment but were unable to. It would of enhanced the whole experience really. Surrounding area was lovely. We would definitely book with Sykes again but not at the white cross bay until they allow fur babies into the bar/ restaurant.

The site is kept up to a very high standard there is plenty going on for all ages.

It's an ideal place for going out to other parts of the lakes highly recommend.

We had an absolutely wonderful time.

Lodge is in a fantastic location and has everything you need. Whilst we were there we booked to return later in the year. It's our new favourite place!