Horton Lodge Boathouse

Stayed here for a week.

The place was immaculate and the new electric hot tub was a great bonus. The setting is even better than the photos make it out (if that's possible) and would definitely stay here again.

What an ideally perfect retreat in the countryside.

Tony made our stay so easy by keeping us updated prior to arrival and then filling us in on all the information with the property and the area during our stay. Please ignore the negative comments made, this cottage is beautiful, yes there are quite a few steps down to the front door, so if your not mobile don't book! Yes the bathroom sink is small, do if you can't wash in the shower don't book! Yes nature is going to wake you in the morning, I slept with the curtains open so I could watch the birds singing their morning chorus as I woke, if your not an early riser and noise disturbs you, take ear plugs! I could have sat on that decking on the edge of the lake or in the hot tub forever, I needed a retreat to relax and unwind and that's exactly what I got. The kitchen had everything you needed, we cooked and oedrred indian one evening. We walked the lake one day and went to a local national trust another. Leek village is very quaint with lots of coffee shops. Thank you Tony for a wonderful stay.

Had such a lovely week at the boathouse.

Such a unique property in an amazing location with plenty of places to explore, lots of wildlife and stunning views. We wish we did more exploring around the area however the accommodation, the lake and the hot tub were so good we struggled to leave the place!! The host Tony was also very kind and helpful. Would highly recommend and we wish to return in the future x

We loved our stay at Horton Lodge Boathouse, both the property and the setting were amazing.

The Boathouse has all you need for a comfortable stay, with the added bonus of outdoor space, the lake and a hot tub. Tony, the owner could not have been more helpful if we had a query about the local area, and parted with local knowledge frequently. Our dog was absolutely shattered by the time we got home from all the lovely local walks, and he did love his fusses at the Hotel Rudyard where we had a meal one night, also first class - we could not recommend highly enough, and hope to come back one day. Jude and Kev.

We arrived to a beautiful spot on the lake which initially seemed as if it would be the perfect peaceful romantic break, unfortunately it wasn’t quite as wonderful as that.

It was very cold in the mornings & as we had no control over the heating, except for the fire in the lounge/kitchen, we had to keep contacting owner to put it on for us. The owners actually live above the boathouse, which we were not aware of & were very noisy. You can hear every foot step across the floor & going up & down the stairs, one evening until 12.45am! The shower appears to drain directly into the lake below. Not sure whether this is permitted, but we were personally not happy about this, considering the wildlife on the lake. There were a few cleanliness issues. Kettle definitely badly needed de-scaling, the kitchen sink was very stained. There was half open packets of food in the freezer, obviously from previous guests. The exposed brick work was a nice feature, but clearly needed a good dust. Flooring by table in kitchen was giving way & needed repairing. There was a tiny sink in the bathroom & was very difficult to use without water spilling over onto the floor, which we believe was laminate, and was peeling & separating because of the water spillage. The hot tub didn’t appear to be monitored/checked as we believe it should be. Overall seemed like a thorough clean was needed & some general maintenance work. We had a lovely time in the general area but decided to leave early due to these issues with the property.

Had a lovely 3day break at this amazing place.

Tony the host was great and nothing was to much trouble. Well equipped, lovely comfy bed and very clean and tidy inside. Hot tub was the best way to sit, relax and take in all the beauty around this wonderful setting. Would definitely recommend and we will be back. Take no notice of the negative comments A ++++

This little place is beautifully done, extremely comfortable and such a unique place to stay.

The location is just perfect, no noise apart from owls at night, and the odd gentle boat going by. Its 5 mins from the supermarket and nearest little town, and walking along the track down to the sailing club is a perfect little morning treck for our elderly pooch. The steps down are a bit of a killer, especially the last few with quite a rickety handrail! But that is minor compared to everything else. Such a lovely place and very welcoming owners who couldn't do enough to help. We do hope to be back!

Lovely warm, cosy place to stay.

Had everything we wanted and more. The owner made us feel very welcome, and made us feel that if we wanted anything he was there for us. Would definitely recommend Horton lodge boathouse. Would live to go back in the summer but sadly it's to expensive for us

Everything about the property and location was perfect.

Very suitable for dogs as well, especially if the like water. Thank yiu Tony and Zoe for a wonderful stay.

We had a great long weekend at the Boathouse, Extremely clean, well maintained and the perfect getaway spot, Fabulous owners, very accommodating and had everything ready for us on our arrival, including the hot tub, which we were able to use on arrival.

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would have no reservations recommending it and would certainly return here.

We had a lovely week at the Boathouse, it is truly unique and beautiful with stunning views and wildlife.

Never seen a bedroom with a better view. We loved the African Swallows that were nesting, watching the chicks being fed and walking round the lake. I wish I had got onto the lake more, the weather was not good which put me off, but once I had used the kayaks for the first time I realised the weather didn’t really matter, the dog even came out with me! We also used the hot tub every day (enjoying the bottle of Prosecco left for us) which is now electrically heated. The Hotel Rudyard serves really good food and the Cafe at the Dam end served amazing breakfast rolls, don’t waste your money at the sailing club though. Tony and Zoe were perfect hosts, very friendly without ever being intrusive, always answered any messages/queries promptly. Thank you.

Absolutely stunning little gem of a place, had a fabulous stay tony the owner went above and beyond to make our stay as cosy as possible…if needed he was always on hand.

.rowing boat or kayaking all on tap for you or just kick back and relax..views are amazing highly recommend will be returning definitely…Linda John n Hector..

Had a fantastic stay here, loved the Hot Tub and Kayaks

Could be the "perfect place" if it didn't have so many issues.

This place was advertised as "the perfect romantic place for a couple", and while it was certainly one of the more unique places I've been to, it definitely wasn't romantic. Primarily what it was; loud. I would suggest to anyone else booking this place to bring some ear plugs because the resident birds woke me up every morning at 4am with their incessant calling and, once the birds had left their nest, you wouldn't able to stay asleep because of the noise coming from the occupants upstairs once they had woke up. As the property advertised is an "apartment" you should expect a certain degree of noise from your neighbours, but when it keeps you awake, it takes away from the holiday experience. Ironic how this place does not accept booking for children, yet the owners themselves have kids that make a racket while you are trying to relax. Hardly the "ideal romantic get away". The noise and lack of privacy combined with how dirty the place was (utensils, floors, decking etc.) means it couldn't provide my girlfriend and I with the relaxing break that we had wanted. Some less considerable issues that the owner may want to address is that there is no partition between the toilet and the bedroom, the fall on the shower is wrong so the water collects in the tray, which the dog kept trying to drink (very annoying), and the curtains do absolutely nothing to keep the sun out in the morning. A more serious issue are the stairs going down onto the pier, which are loose and pose an increased hazard. I can't say that I didn't have fun, because I did enjoy using the provided kayaks and hot tub. It certainly is a privilege to be able to launch from your accommodation. But, the severe let-downs of this place means that in the future I'd be more inclined to go for a more basic place that actually has it fundamentals sorted out rather than Horton Lodge Boathouse-- sorry-- Apartment.

What a beautiful space, in a beautiful location.

My wife and I had a wonderful 3 night stay at Horton Lodge. Right on the lake, we were able to kayak right from the front door each day. The space was more than enough for the two of us, had everything we needed and was super comfortable. The view of the lake from the bedroom was spectacular. Tony, the host, went above and beyond to ensure we had all the local info we needed to eat/drink, and to make sure we knew what we needed to know about the property on arrival. Having a lovely hotel/pub/cafe just 10 (lovely) minutes walk down the lake path was also amazing. All in all a fantastic trip and we will absolutely be booking again later in the year. There are a few negative reviews for this place, which I might suggest my you ignore. A great place to be.

I have been to many cottages and short breaks but this was truly a disaster.

The draft from under the door was so so cold that we could not sit to watch the TV and we both ended up wearing our hats and put our jackets on . I sent a message to the owner to turn the central heating up more as it was barkey warm but there was no mobile net work .Although we had rented the cottage for 2 nights we left the cottage next day as our health was more important. The cottage is in a lovely surrounding but for 300 pounds a night I would expect a warm room . Total waste of money .never again.

lovely area, and the owner Tony was nice and greeted us when we arrived.

He gave us the run down on some of the basics in the apartment but most things we had to work out for ourselves. the apartment itself was nice but was dusty and dirty when we arrived, we had to go round and give it a good clean before we could feel at home. the kitchen was small and the oven was tricky to use despite there being an information manual. unfortunately the shower was broken for the whole week we were there, which left us with no hot water and had to have cold showers all week. however all the taps had instant hot water. not good for tall people as the lights hang low. overall we had a nice stay, but we’re disappointed with the standards.

Some small niggles: there is mention of having to descend 50 steps to the property but I feel it needs to be stressed that it is a steep descent and maybe not suitable for anyone with joint issues or arthritic problems.

Two of the post rails at the bottom of the steps were loose and could of caused injury ( but didn’t ). The Hot tub was disappointing , had no jets or temp regulation and the area was poorly lit - if you wanted to use it after dark. It was a warm tub at best. The induction hob had no instructions, and the combination oven wasn’t particularly user friendly. Lastly, the septic tank was intermittently noisy for the last few days and kept us awake half the night

Absolutely loved staying at Horton lodge.

Right on the lake and it was so relaxing. Owner was very helpful and friendly. Lovely walk around the lake. Walking distance to local hotel where we used as a pub. It was exactly what we were after, relaxed and chilled. I would absolutely recommend staying here.

Lovely stay at Horton boathouse.

What a beautiful place! Very comfortable, everything you need. Maybe a chest of drawers would be good but overall a great stay. Hosts were lovely.

Quirky boathouse.

Sympathetically modernised with the original engineering fixtures retained. Such a peaceful location directly on the lake. Spent hours watching the wildlife and people using the water. Beautiful 5 mile easy walk right round the lake. The owner Tony was really helpful. Nice touch to leave us a bottle of Prosecco and some chocolate biscuits.

We had a great stay at Rudyard Lake, the property is lovely and right on the lake.

Despite the owners living upstairs, we felt like we had privacy and were able to relax. There is some noise from upstairs as I’d read in previous reviews, but we were aware of this and understood that this is a ground floor property. Tony communicated really well with us, we really enjoyed using the kayaks and boat to go out on the lake. There is a lovely walk around the lake that takes about 1hr 45 that the dog loved! The tv has lots of streaming services that are free to use, and as we just wanted to relax in the evenings and watch a film, this was great. The large bed was a luxury for us and the view from the bedroom was beautiful to wake up to every morning! Really recommend Horton Lodge Boathouse to anyone who would like a little break away from normality!

When we arrived the view was great from the top we then made our way down the steps where I nearly landed on my back because one of the steps was very lose however we then went into the property and noticed a musty smell on entry but after the property got warm it went everything else in the cottage was spotless.

The next day we used the facilities although this is picky it’s still must be said the decking was not the cleanest but again we carried on we then decided to used the hot tub nice and warm but again the wood in the water had a coat of grime on it so we didn’t use it again we was there for our anniversary so was a little disappointed the owners live above the cottage and where away until the Sunday night when they returned we could hear them quite easy but it was our last night for the amount of money we paid I thought we would of had a little better the area is stunning and great walks

Lovely place in a lovely area.

However, some things look great in a photo but aren't necessarily practical to live with. For instance: Bedroom - very little drawer space means that we lived out of our suitcase, which I personally hate. Just a small chest of drawers (or even some shelving in the tall, thin wardrobe) would have been a real help. Bathroom - position of mirror is too high for anyone below about 5' 1" (my wife!), but the shelf below the mirror is so close to base of mirror that you can barely put anything on it. Shower tray is not properly level, so all the water gathers (and overflows) at the far end of the tray, because the water cannot flow uphill to the drain towards the middle of the tray. And yes - I know it was shown in the pics, but there really needs to be a door of some kind on the en-suite. If someone has an upset stomach during their stay, it's not pleasant for either of the occupants! I fully understand that these things are relatively small (hence why I haven't given a terrible score) but they made a difference to the enjoyment of our stay. On a plus side, the hot tub was lovely, the living area was very comfortable, and we personally found the resident swallows absolutely fascinating & charming.

Lovely accommodation in a beautiful setting.

On arrival everything looked lovely and Tony our host told us about the swallows that were currently using the front of the boathouse for nesting. This initially didn’t bother us as we live in the country so used to lots of bird noise however, this is on another level. The window to the bedroom looks out to the front and is not double glazed. Every morning as soon as it starts to get light about 3.30am to about 5am the birds come to life in an enclosed area that echoes and the noise woke us every morning so sleep was not great unfortunately. Not sure if Tony is aware of how noisy the swallows are as he lives above the accommodation but I think guests should be made aware of this before booking. The steps leading from the hosts house to the guest accommodation don’t feel as safe as they should and most of them feel loose underfoot. The steps to get to the kayaks, the last composite board is completely loose, tried to clip it back in but it is slightly warped and needs a couple screws. The whole of the decking could do with a jet wash. On the whole it is a lovely place to stay, a bit of attention is required on the composite steps otherwise we couldn’t fault the accommodation itself but the downside is we definitely would not return during the swallows nesting months.

Horton Lodge Boathouse is in a beautiful location and has all the facilities you require for a relaxing stay.

Tony, the owner is very friendly and helpful. There are plenty of places within easy reach for days out, but if you want to stay at the lake and walking is your thing there is plenty of wildlife to keep you entertained. I would highly recommend this holiday accommodation.

We loved our little escape to the Horton Lodge Boathouse.

The house itself was incredible and spending time soaking in the hot tub was a delight. I'd love to go again!

Beautiful unique waterside apartment with fantastic views of Rudyard lake.

It was extremely comfortable and the hot tub made it extra special. A couple of minor negative points. Some of the stairs leading up to the road are loose and need securing. Central heating seemed to have a mind of its own as to when it came on of off. Other than this, we had a great stay and highly recommend others to try.

We had the most amazing weekend, I couldn’t fault one thing with the property.

It was cleaned perfectly, the bed was huge and the gesture of arrival Prosecco and cheese was lovely. We thoroughly enjoyed the use of the hot tub, boat and kayaks. What a luxury stay, we will definitely return.

Stopped for a long weekend break.

The place was amazing, very comfortable with excellent facilities. I took washing up liquid, tea & coffee and a Tee towel, but there was no need as these were available, supplied by Tony and Zoe. Tony met us on arrival and explained the TV and hot tub controls. There was a bottle of Proseco with some crackers & cheese left for us which was very thoughtful. The rooms were to a very high standard and very comfortable. Got lost in the 'super king size bed', which was very comfortable. Fantastic to wake up and have views over the lake in the morning. Had a lovely meal at the hotel which was just a short drive away. Walked around the lake and stopped for a coffee in the lake side cafe which was very nice. I would highly recommend this place for a relaxing break.

Tony and Zoe are so welcoming !

The location is amazing, the hot tub was great And the bed is huge !! Such a wonderful 30th surprise for my partner. Would book again 10/10

Where do I start.

The only reason we booked the cottage was for the hottub. I got a text from the owner the day before explaining this was broken - but they had a replacement. Upon arrival it was clear to see the old broken hot tub as it was in bits strewn across the decking with the replacement (a lazy spa - which we could have purchased ourselves with half the cost of our 2 night stay!) dumped by the side of the broken one. The steps on the way down to the property are badly lit and strewn with old plastic children's toys, the steps are uneven and decking lose which makes this pretty hazardous. The decking itself was filthy, covered in dirt an leaves and stained a nice shade of green from lack of cleaning. Upon entry to the property, the first issue was the front door - apparently it had 'swollen' and as such was impossible to close without slamming it hard. Immediately you will need to duck under the most ridiculously placed ceiling light. The interior is shabby to say the least, slightly damp, badly painted - with splatters all over the stone walls, brick dust from drilling, skirtings coming away from the walls, the kitchen floor literally feels like it is about to give way. The bed has a mattress you can feel the springs through and was seriously unstable, creaky and rickety. Pillows flat and hard, and TV so small you can't see it from the bed. Not that watching TV was possible the 2nd night - the owner switched OFF THE INTERNET = it seems because he didn't like the TV noise - yet we had to put up with his screaming kids and family constantly running around on their heels directly upstairs. No internet = no TV no phones, no nothing. This was annoying and pathetic. This is definitely not in any way even nearly a luxury, comfortable or private place to stay. Massively overpriced and sadly a complete disappointment.

A great little place in a lovely location.

The owner went out of his way to make us welcome and explain everything to us and the welcome pack of Wine, cheese, crackers and biscuits was well received. The area is great for walking with a couple of pubs at the head of the lake as well as the local at the bottom end. The hot tub was ready on arrival and very well used. A place for rest and relaxation and there is a very good chance we be returning.

A great stay in the most idyllic location!

Facilities were great! Our host was lovely, left us scones, jam, pancakes and Prosecco etc etc which was such a lovely touch! We cooked and used the kitchen but there wasn’t any oil or salt and pepper which is the only thing I can fault (an absolute minor if I was having to be picky). Highly recommend this home and I would 100% come back! Thank you for having us x

We booked for 7 nights but decided to leave after 1 night.

The setting was stunning but unfortunately that was the only positive for us. The 'bathroom' does not have a door and the toilet is very visible from everywhere in the bedroom except the bed, where it is next to your head with a small dividing wall. Couple that with food poisoning and it was not a pleasant experience. The accomodation felt damp, and the welcome basket (although a nice guesture) contained mouldy scones. there was fungus growing outside the bedroom door on the boathouse steps, and it affected my breathing so due to that and the bathroom door, we diecided to leave. Although not the owner's fault, there were spiders everywhere which I struggled with. You could hear everything from the owner's house upstairs, including his two small babies crying which did not exactly make for a romantic break. The owner would not meet us even halfway with a refund, and refuted all of our concerns, saying it was a matter of personal preference. I feel that the bathroom door situation should be made clear to prospective renters so that they can decide whether it bothers them or not. I for one certainly don't want to use the toilet next to my partner's head on a romantic getaway.

We arrived very late due to an accident but Tony was very understanding and was there to meet us and help us with our bags down the 50 or so quite steep steps that lead to the accommodation from the quiet road with ample parking.

He then took time to explain where everything was and how it all worked including the large TV which came with free Netflix. After that he left us to enjoy our break and although he and his family live above the accommodation it feels very private apart from the occasional footsteps heard from above. When we did need to text him once he replied quickly. There was a welcome basket of fresh bread, milk, butter, jam etc and most welcome of all after our long and stressful journey, a chilled bottle of Prosecco! The boathouse is so lovely with an open plan kitchen/living area and large bright bedroom with huge bed! There is a fabulous shower in the en-suite but we were a little taken aback that there was no door on the ensuite with just a gap through to it from the bedroom. We got used to it though! Everything you could need is provided including thoughtful items such as a cafetiere, hairdryer and 2 f towelling bathrobes. The large outside decking area has table and chairs + 2 sun loungers, perfect for taking in the breathtaking view of Rudyard lake. There is also a small bbq and a wood fired hot tub, neither of which we used. The hot tub does take around 4 hours to heat up and this, as well as the very hot weather whilst we were there, meant we didn't use it. We did however use the rowing boat supplied and enjoyed going up and down the lake - hubby fishing and me admiring the lakeside houses! There are also 2 canoes supplied with lifejackets. On a couple of evenings we went to the nearby Rudyard Hotel - a 15 min walk through lovely woodland. The range of food and drink here is excellent, the staff are really friendly and there is a large garden with lots of tables. We also had a takeaway delivered from the Rajah Tandoori in nearby Leek which was very good. Whilst in the area we visited Luds Church (a rock chasm), Matlock Bath, Buxton (inc Pooles Cavern) and Bakewell, all of which we thoroughly enjoyed. We had the most wonderful break and would highly recommend the accommodation and the area in general.

Small but perfectly formed!

A lovely relaxing holiday, the boathouse has everything you need and the lake and surrounding area is beautiful. Owner Tony was very friendly and helpful. We loved being able to paddle out on lake on the kayaks, and had our first go at Stand Up Paddle-boarding via hire at the lakeside (also good fun). Don’t be put off by the mention of steps to the cottage - they aren’t all in one flight and are not steep. Highly recommended.

We expected a hot tub, not a wood fire one which takes 4 hours to heat up and we had to buy our own wood as only given enough for one heat.

Loved the personal touches, welcome pack bathrobes and getting the hot tub ready for when we arrived.

Had the best time.

It was a brilliant place for a getaway for two.

We actually thought the pictures didn’t do it enough justice. Having the open doors in the bedroom was a massive draw for the place. I think the only thing that was a bit of a negative which you probably can’t help is that there are stairs right above our head in the bedroom and was quite loud but I guess that can’t be helped if it was a flat it would be the same. Overall though having a bbq and the hot tub and kayaks and a rowing boat made our experience so so nice especially in a time of not being able to do much. We loved it!

The accommodation is gorgeous, in a wonderful setting.

A really lovely holiday break; thank you

We had a wonderful time and the apartment is very comfortable.

Ample outside space and beautiful location. Hot tub was really fun and hosts were lovely.

Horton Lodge Boathouse certainly has the WOW factor!

Situated on the lakeside it is an idyllic, romantic and tranquil place for a staycation. We have holidayed in numerous self catering properties all over the world and this is now in our top 3! The property still retains its original features ie the gate and pulley systems in the ceiling of the bedroom and the exposed stonework throughout. The attention to detail and high spec decor within the apartment adds to it's quirkiness. The high quality furnishings are extended to the outdoor area where there are 2 rattan sunbeds, a dining table & chairs, a coffee table & chairs and a BBQ. There were even 2 kayaks and a rowing boat at our disposal. On arrival we received a warm welcome from the owner Tony who explained everything to us and had heated up the hot tub ready for our use. We really appreciated our welcome pack consisting of quality local produce and even a bottle of Prosecco. There is plenty to do in the surrounding area. We did a walk every day and visited Tatton Park, Leek, Buxton, The Roaches and Tittesworth Reservoir. There is an excellent cafe at The Sailing Club 10 minutes walk and also a pub The Rudyard Hotel with a huge beer garden within walking distance. All in all we had a perfect weeks stay especially as it was our first holiday following Lockdown. We would thoroughly recommend this property.

We enjoyed a fantastic week in Horton Lodge and would wish to return, great location and facilities.