Lodge on the Lake Kendal, Cumbria

We have just returned from Lodge on the Lake having experienced an amazing holiday. The views are stunning and the lodge itself was fabulously equipped. Sitting on the decking in the autumn sun was gorgeous. It is located within walking distance of Bowness so we hardly used the car. We walked to the shops and restaurants in the town. We have booked for spring next year, we all loved it so much. There was

We have stayed at Lodge on the Lake and the owners' other lodge Beech Hill Lodge many times. When we first stayed the photos still showing on the website were a true reflection of the furnishings in the lodge but the interior has changed significantly since . However if its stunning views you are seeking then you wont be disappointed. Unfortunately the attitude of the owners is not good. We had booked March2020 and March2021 previously but both holidays were made unavailable because of Covid lockdowns. We were due to stay at Lodge on the Lake again in March 2022. There was £130 outstanding from the 2020 booking and also £100 from the 2021 booking. Unfortunately, completely due to an oversight on our part we were late sending the balance for the 2022 reservation. We sent the balance as soon as we realised our mistake but Jenny had rebooked the lodge to someone else. In March 2020 David (the owner) had assured us that 'we would not lose out' We fully appreciate that the £100 deposit carried forward from the 2021 would be forfeited but asked for the remaining £130 still outstanding to be refunded. On 4.3.2022 we received an email from Jenny stating 'please forward your bank details and we will transfer £130. Regards Jenny'. We sent off our details. Despite 3 reminder emails and one recorded-delivery letter the money has not been paid. We had hoped this was an oversight on Jenny/David's part, but clearly not. Be aware that verbal or written promises may not be worth a pinch of salt.

Our party of 6 stayed in this lodge for 5 nights 1st week Sept. Firstly the good stuff; Your back garden is lake Windermere and it’s absolutely stunning - a beautiful picturesque scene. It’s also well situated in Bowness with everything within a 5-10 min walk. The fair stuff; The lodge is situated within a park. You do know this if you read the details carefully (as I did) but you wouldn’t know on first sight of the marketing info. I think it’s fair to say you’d expect more exclusivity and privacy given the way it’s marketed and the cost. The park is Fallburrow Park if you want to check it out. Now the bad stuff; Sadly this is the significant part of my review. Firstly the furniture & soft furnishings bear no relation to the images used to market the property. The photos attached aren’t great but were taken by me on exit (for a different reason) but give you a snapshot. The overall space is also a lot smaller than the photos lead you to believe. The lodge is essentially a mobile home cladded in wood. Secondly and most importantly, we arrived to a very unclean lodge. I’m not suggesting that’s always the case but it was for us. The cleaner had only cleaned the main “on show” areas and ignored everything else. Examples; toothpaste marks on bathroom cupboard shelves, hairs & general bits in bedroom drawers, slugs in en-suite shower (I’m not kidding), mould stains on duvet cover, unswept decking, decking furniture covered in cobwebs and outside debris, kiddie toys trapped in decking furniture (presumably from previous guests), dirty walls, and most corners of all rooms had dirt & cobwebs. Attached photos give examples of all of above. We paid £2865 for a 5 night stay. The appearance, cleanliness and reality of the lodge verses the marketing photos doesn’t compare. Now the worst part of all; The Host - Jenny. Very responsive during the booking process. Didn’t want to know re messages of complaint sent on arrival and day 2 of our visit. She replied once and with no apology, only stated she’d get the cleaner to get in touch. Who didn’t! Through subsequent messages of communication since departure, she has basically said “we created the dirt ourselves”! Because I forwarded photos on day 2, despite having dated photos of the day before (arrival day) has suggested the dirt was created by us. Said slugs should be expected given the property is near water. In addition, completely denies her marketing photography differs from reality. She made no apology for anything, completely the opposite, instead accused and insulted. Our experience also included a main oven that didn’t work, a leaking kitchen sink, a faulty kitchen tap and a faulty microwave handle. I don’t have a problem with any of this kind of thing … “stuff happens” and I very politely informed Jenny of this info on departure, not as a complaint, but so she could address before the next guests. I had no thank you or apology for the inconvenience these issues may have caused. On a much smaller note. You’d perhaps anticipate a small welcome pack with a few gestures; wine, chocolates, milk for example and maybe some helpful info such as “suggested walks” “recommended restaurants” “places to visit” etc, but there was nothing. We had a wonderful time in Bowness (we basically stayed out of the lodge as much as possible) and if it wasn’t for the fact that I’d be spoiling our lovely holiday memories, I’d pursue my grievances through formal processes. I have written to Jenny with my complaints and requested a partial refund to which she has replied “no” and essentially get lost. I have never ever dealt with such an inhospitable host in my life! I actually run a similar business myself and whilst I don’t believe “the customer is always right” I would NEVER respond to a client of mine in the way Jenny has responded to our complaints. Bowness and Windermere are beautiful parts of the Lakes. Our party had a lovely time, cycling, walking, paddle boarding and dining in Bowness. I’d absolutely recommend a visit, but if you trust my review, do not stay in this accommodation. The entire lodge needs re furnishing, painting and a deep clean before it comes anywhere near a 5* option commanding nearly £3000 for 5 nights.

I visited the lodge for 5 nights with friends in early September. We decided to splash out on a staycation instead of our usual Spanish retreat. We had a great time as the weather allowed us to enjoy the great outdoors. Unfortunately, the Lodge itself left us disappointed. The view of the Lake is spectacular, but the lodge itself would benefit from a deep clean and overall decoration. We let the owner know on arrival that there were areas of the Lodge that were dirty and indeed not cleaned from the previous guests. Given the climate we are trying to recover from, I was taken aback by her lack of accountability and said she’d let the cleaners know. We did not hear from her again during our stay despite her saying retrospectively that she sent the cleaners around!! I think it’s fair to say at nearly £3k for 5 nights, you would not expect slugs on the tiles in the shower (even if you’re near water), neither mould stained sheets, and overall lack of cleanliness. My friends and I are all used to a good standard of holiday accommodation and this does not come close, which is a shame as a little more attention to detail and an owner who cares might turn this place around. I regularly visit Lake Lodges in Hawkshead with my partner, which are superb. I wish I’d have taken my friends there to receive the usual great standards … Very disappointed customer.

My family stayed in the lodge on the lake from 14th August 2021 for one week. I left a 5* review on Airbnb mainly because overall my family hadn’t seen each other in over a year and we were determined to enjoy ourselves. Plus, I just don’t leave bad reviews unless something terrible happens, like many I give 5* if no major issues - I have learnt my lesson the hard way. Please do not book here! Avoid this host at all costs. We had multiple issues during our stay. The main thing being a broken dishwasher and a temperamental oven. The cleanliness was also not up to standard for a ‘luxurious holiday’. For instance there were thousands of dead insects on windowsills and around the sliding doors when we arrived that I cleaned up (because my baby would try to eat them), the bedside drawer had dirty contact lenses in it, hair in plug holes, cutlery and glasses dirty, wardrobes thick with dust, a dirty bag left on a wardrobe - generally grubby and dated. WiFi was really poor. No smart TVs in bedroom. Two slice toaster. The jetty is closed off with a sign saying hazardous and had multiple broken panels. parking inadequate for 2 standard cars. Roof rotting away. Washing machine/tumble dryer combo useless (one small wash cycle took 3 full tumble spins and still damp). Beach is a few rocks. I could go on. Yes I should of mentioned all this on a review on Airbnb but it seemed petty when overall we enjoyed seeing each other, the beautiful views and the location. My family contacted the host on day 1 to inform her that the dishwasher wasn’t working. I was pleased that the host organised a workman to visit the next day but unfortunately he could not fix the problem. We were informed it needed replacing and he would feedback to the host. We heard nothing. Again I didn’t mention this in my previous review as we are a reasonable and kind family, appliances break, this was no ones fault and sometimes delivery can take a week. We know this. I thought the host would be mortified. I could not have been more wrong. The deceitful and very nasty host then left me an awful review - I can only presume this was because Airbnb do double blind reviews so she presumed I would complain. Really unprofessional. The host lied on her review stating we hadn’t read the manual - even though the workman couldn’t fix the dishwasher! Outrageous. The host then stated we left the lodge filthy and were ‘in the worst 1% of customers’. The lodge was left spotless despite having no dishwasher. I was astonished and very upset by this. The host tainted the whole experience. To be clear this is a 2* dirty lodge in a 5* location, well overpriced and the host will leave negative feedback if you dare report any problems. I am in the middle of formal complaints via appropriate channels. Please note Helen’s response on here and on Airbnb & larissa’s response (Airbnb) which has a very similar theme. Given the small number of reviews I think the number of negative reviews and the hosts general responses speaks volumes. Please avoid.

Rather disappointed with the appearance inside the lodge. The outside view and setting is fabulous but the marketing photos of the inside portray this property to be far better than it actually is, e.g., the sofas are different and not very welcoming, only 2 red cushions per sofa unlike the abundance shown, there were no molton brown toiletries as shown in bathroom photo! The bedrooms were basic caravan cramped type rooms with little space to manoeuvre around. The drawers hadn’t been cleaned out properly and contained hairs. The bathroom cupboard shelves were dirty inside. The host was not helpful when presented with problems, customer service training is needed! This lodge is massively overpriced, you are simply paying for the view.

The main reason we were disappointed is that the photos of the lodge on your site were nothing like the reality.. The decor on your photos was stunning, with beautiful blue and white striped sofas. We got two cheap looking grey leather look sofas with cheap red fleeces thrown on the back. The lodge next door had the lovely sofas so I can’t see it was a Covid issue. Also we had cheap looking white duvet covers instead of the more pleasing colour ones shown in your photos. I have photos if you want to compare and contrast, The set up of the lodge was more pleasing on the photos with the sofas facing the beautiful view. You had changed it so that the kitchen table was in front of the window, or maybe the photos related to the next door lodge as they clearly show a hot tub on the decking. Not that we were expecting a hot tub but the photos shouldn’t really show one in that case. With a minimum amount of effort the lodge could be made to look like the photos.

Fantastic location with wonderful views over the lake.. Only down side was the wi fi was a bit intermittent but I could live with that. Would I book this lodge again.....yes.

The first thing I have to mention is the stunning views from the lodge overlooking the lake, it was breathe taking.. The lodge itself catered very well for our party of six adults, it had everything we needed for a comfortable stay, plenty of room in the living area and the fixtures and fittings were of a high standard. There was enough room for our two big cars. Reception gave us a map of the park but did take us a few attempts to work out how to get to the lodge from their one way system and it being the other side of the park. But overall a great place to base yourself while exploring the lake district. Would recommend the lodge on the lake.

Absolutely brilliant long weekend away - the lodge on the lake was better than expected, roomly comfortable and prime location! Only negatives would be the pillows were not the comfiest and the frying pan was difficult to use due to the style. However other than that could not fault it and we will definitely return in the future and recommend to others! Thank you for a great stay!

We went here as a group of friends looking for somewhere to chill and catch up, and it was perfect.. Everything you could want under one roof, clean and nice and warm when it was cold and raining outside. Only downside was you gave to take the bins out and take them to a bin point, which was miles from the cottage. A small point in what was a lovely trip. We are talking about booking it again next year so you"ll be hearing from us soon!!

Stunning location.. Peaceful and secluded lodge with fantastic panorama views. The lodge was very well equipped and perfect for lounging about.

This lodge is absolutely fantastic.. The views are outstanding - the wrap around decking captures the lake all day long. Inside the lodge the fixtures & fittings are of top quality with a large fridge (many lodges only have uncounter) On arrival our lodge was ready and was clean throughout. We had one power cut on our last day - easily solved. Plenty of cups & glasses (maybe a few more larger plates needed) but we had picnic hampers so used them as well. A frying pan is needed though. Parking - we had one car and a 9 seater van & we managed to park. Overall this lodge is idyllic and we will most certainly be going back we had a wonderful stay.

We had a fantastic family holiday in this most wonderful location.. The lodge had everything we needed for a relaxing week. Close enough to walk into Bowness and a great base for exploring the Lakes but to be honest we didn't want to spend too much time away from the decking and fabulous views. Dream holiday and hope to return.

The lodge was amazing.. Beautiful location and lovely views of lake Windermere. Definitely come back and booking again.

The lodge is situated in a perfect spot, the only thing I would change is an 11.. 00am departure.

We had a lovely break in the Lodge on the Lake - the view was fabulous

3pm book in,lodge still had cleaners in and was told to return in 30mins,no .... 3pm book in,lodge still had cleaners in and was told to return in 30mins,no apology and was rude,stains on fleeces in living room,cobwebs on most ceilings,we had to pull a big black lump of black hair out of the shower plug for it to drain properly,electric kept on tripping,settee's in living area were uncomfortable,main bin wasn't emptied and still had previous guests rubbish in,check out was 10 am which I think is a little early,and to top it off we was accused of stealing towels and threatened with court,I've stayed in hotels all over the world and everyone who stayed are very successful professional people and we all felt that we were more of an inconvenience than paying customers,we will not be visiting again

Fabulous location and fabulous view.. Everything went very smoothly.

Fabulous location on the Lake and you could spend all day just enjoying the changing scene.. Just the briefest of walks into Bowness and we took a boat trip around the islands which was lovely. The accommodation is excellent and very comfortable. We loved it and would definitely recommend it.

Holidays are very personal things so what matters to one person, may not be important to anyone else.. As far as the Lodge on the Lake goes, once you have found it in its tucked away location, I think this Lodge has the best position in all of the Park. The views from the lounge and deck are quite breathtaking, unsurpassed and uninterrupted across Lake Windermere. There is no pedestrian or vehicular access in front of the Lodge and very little traffic passes behind it. There is a neighbouring lodge on one side only with trees on the other, leading to a private little beach. There is a large and very well appointed decking area in front of the lounge. So, it is very quiet indeed unless you count the calls of the geese! I note earlier guests saying that parking for two cars was an issue. We actually managed to park three cars in the area provided, albeit only two could get out at a time - you just have to be creative! We had 6 adults and one toddler staying in the lodge and we didn't feel particularly cramped for space. As ever there are things that could have been better for us. I found the single beds to be very soft and uncomfortable to sleep in. The travel cot was broken along one of the long edges so we had to line that edge of the cot up against the wall. There was no travel cot mattress provided - again we had to be creative with duvets. The owners may not have realised that this was necessary though. Not a serious issue for our toddler but I feel this would have been a show-stopper for a younger baby. There was a high-chair but no table attached to it - again, not a problem for us, but wouldn't have been great for a smaller child. There were only six hangers in each of the wardrobes- somewhat unrealistic for a three bedroom house designed to accommodate 6 adults so we had to go and buy some more in town. There are only six sets of cutlery, crockery so with seven of us staying, we couldn't really use the dishwasher!! The rest of the cooking utensils, equipment, pots, pans, bowls etc were all fine. The Park's own internet didn't really extend down to the Lodge so we had to rely on the internet signal provided in the Lodge itself. This was described by my android phone as "unstable". It worked most of the time but it was very slow. Again, this may be irrelevant to others but I had to rely on turning the 4G Vodafone mobile signal into a personal hotspot to be able to work. It is a great place to base yourself to tour the Lakes. Bowness was extremely busy and seems to have dedicated itself to relieving tourists of their money at the fastest possible rate. There are lots of eating places to suit most wallets and the Park access means it was easy to get out towards the northern Lakes. Overall, then a very positive experience because of the privacy and location, and which with a little attention to detail, could have been flawless!!

The view of the lake from the lodge is just fabulous with very private and peaceful surroundings.. There is lots to watch while relaxing on the deck and there are not many places in the Lake District where you can walk or sit right on the shores of Windermere. The lodge itself is comfortable and reasonably well equipped. The bathrooms were very clean. The kitchen area, sitting area and bedrooms were reasonably clean. The site bar/restaurant had a good choice of menu at reasonable prices, good portions and good quality. The staff in the bar were very attentive. There were some down sides to the lodge: On arrival there was a very strong smell of floor cleaner, perfume difusers in the lounge area and a strong perfume on the bedding all which affected my wife's lung condition. In spite of opening windows, these did not dissipate until 5 days after arrival. The lodge would benefit from a 'spring clean' to clear cobwebs and dust under furniture and in drawers. Opening all the windows allowed in lots of flies. There was no welcome pack provided, if you want to put the kettle on when you arrive have tea/coffee/milk with you as there were only sachets of sugar in the kitchen. A high chair is provided but none of the crockery, glassware, cutlery is suitable for small children. All the outdoor furniture was dirty with little provided to clean it, the barbeque was rusted and not very clean. The description states that there is parking for 2 cars but this is very tight and would not accommodate 2 average sized family saloons. The instruction folder states that power cuts can occur but no torch is provided in case this happens during dark hours. Fortunately when the power went during our stay it was during day light hours. We would visit again because of the superb location but we have stayed in similar properties with a front line sea view where more has been provided for less cost.

If you book this lodge you will not be disappointed.. It really has the wow factor. The view is breathtaking, the lodge is immaculate and you are literally a five minute walk from Bouness Windemere.

We love the Lake District and have visited many times. We found Lodge on the Lake to have the best views of any, truly amazing. The Lodge itself is stunning with everything of the highest quality. It is located on Fallbarrow Park which is a lovely quiet development within walking distance of Bowness. Bowness is very pretty with great restaurants, bars and shops. Lodge on the lake is not cheap but worth every penny. It accommodates six which reduces the cost per person. We could not recommend the Lodge highly enough..

Well equipped property with fabulous lake and mountain views..

The Lodge is in a fantastic location with an amazing view from the deck. It is a bright, airy and well appointed cottage with adequate Wi-Fi, secure entry and a parking space next to the property. We would definitely come back.

Incredible location and beautifully appointed cabin. We cannot wait to return.

Loved everything and would definitely return.

The location suited 3 generation's of family. The views were fantastic with the ferries, yachts boats sailing by. We would like to thank the owners for the very high standard of accommodation. We would highly recommend this holiday home.

Excellent accommodation in a great location and quiet situation. Had superb views of the Lake and was a short distance to the centre of Bowness.

Liked everything..amazing lodge, amazing location.

This is the best place I have ever stayed. I run one of the most luxurious self-catering accommodation in the UK and for me to say this place is better is saying something. You will not get a better view anywhere in the UK. Sitting in your lounge right on the shoreline of Windermere was simply breathtaking.the lodge was stunning with everything you could need and we loved the fact it was secluded from the rest of the park yet only a few minutes walk to Bowness. I stay in Bowness once a month and stayed in all the top hotels, this place is by far the best and when you divide the cost between the 3 bedrooms it works out as one of cheapest places to stay which is mad as it's the best. Can't recommend highly enough to anyone you, must stay and see for yourself.

This is one of best places I have ever stayed. The view is the best I have ever seen and the most relaxing lounge over looking the lake. I have stayed in all the luxury accommodation in Bowness and this is by far the best. We will definitely be back and have found a hidden gem I couldn't recommend highly enough.

We loved the views and the open living with the glass doors, Lodge on the lake in a great position with lots privacy. I would stay again without a doubt.

Lodge on the lake was very well furnished equipped. The position was one of the best on the site with stunning views across the lake. Only a short walk into Bowness and all amenities. Very central for visiting the Lake District. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and hope to return.

The position of this Lodge and the Fallbarrow park is very nice indeed. This is our second visit to this Lodge and would love to come back again.

The position of the lodge is outstanding. This is the main attraction and we have re-booked, on the day we returned, for a week in October.

We stayed as a family in a luxurious and beautifully maintained lodge literally on the edge of Lake Windermere. The children played on the beach at the side of the Lodge and my father spent all day sitting on the decking admiring the view. He never stopped talking about seeing the flying swans, ducklings and beautiful changing scenery. It is a short walk into Bowness which is a lovely place to wander around and shop. There are lots of lovely small retailers and plenty of places to stop for coffee or to eat. The Lodge is not overlooked and no one can walk past and look in so it was lovely to just sit and look out drinking a glass of wine We spent just 5 days there but felt we had spent much longer because we arrived back home feeling we had been away ages and very relaxed and refreshed