Holiday Apartments in Hawkshead

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Imogen - Verified booking

  After seeing the reviews, I was really looking forward to staying at Lake View with my mum for a little break away.

  The views are amazing from the property and you're provided with everything you could need to cook and prepare meals. The hot tub was the highlight for us, it felt really clean and was lovely to get into every night. However, both my mum and I felt the place lacked warmth. The place was very clean but equally felt a bit clinical. I suppose this does come down to personal preference but it would have been nice to have some pictures on the walls, cosier dining chairs and more colour around the place. The bathroom is a wet room and is mostly black with no window and the bedding was all white along with the walls. The sofa was low down which we didn't mind but it is marked and a bit tired looking. Considering what you're paying, it's not amazing! Collecting the key and dropping it off at the office at the end of our stay too was a bit inconvenient and a surprise as we'd never done a Sykes booking before. I feel a keysafe at the property would be much better, although again, that is personal preference. Another downside is, currently, another holiday home is being built very near, off to the left from the property. Its a building site with noise and machinery over the hillside above what they're building! We weren't warned of this and it just wasn't nice to have that going on, on the weekdays, during our stay. Parking is good but the multiple key fobs for gates was a faff. When we first arrived, we drove down the hill to the bottom, missing the fact Lake View was at the top of the hill. The hill is very steep and it was tricky turning round as the road isn't wide enough for 2 cars. It would be good if it was noted on the booking how far down the hill your holiday home is. I imagine it would be tricky to find in the dark. The views are great as well as having the hot tub but we wouldn't go back to Lake View. The hot tub is great but it's different to the one pictured and when you're sat in the hot tub or on the terrace chairs, you can't see the lake due to a wall blocking the view! In hindsight we realise we booked the wrong thing. We wished we had booked a b+b further into the countryside but that is our mistake. I realise it's clear online the place isn't colourful and it's very white etc but it does look great online! It just FEELS like a cold environment when you're there. Also, I presume this is normal when you do an AirBnB or holiday home stay (?) but we had to strip the bed upon leaving and put all laundry in a bag and clear our rubbish. This was unexpected and fustrating considering the stay cost £800+ for 4 nights. The place just doesn't feel welcoming. You're also threatened with a £250 charge to your payment method if you don't leave the place spotless. Consequently this was often in the back of my mind at a time you want to relax. I suppose we were naive to thing the property was on its own, nestled away somewhere but it actually backs onto a main road and is part of a big complex of holiday homes which all look the same in style - grey - and are fairly close together. Life jackets are provided which is great and kayaks were available to use but be aware they're big! We just couldn't lift them down the big steps into the water but I suppose that's down to personal strength. It's not clearly written down or photographed, where they're situated either. If you're looking for a clean, open plan, mod-con filled space then this is the place for you but if you want somewhere private, with no fuss and a warm, cosy environment, I wouldn't book Lake View. I realise some of my criticisms are about personal preference but I think other things I've mentioned would be an issue for most people! A shame it wasn't what we were hoping it would be.

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• Tracy - Verified booking

  This was & is a fabulous place to stay.

  Such a great location, beautiful property & absolutely spotless, we have just had a week here & thoroughly enjoyed the break. However, there are a few points that need to be upgraded & actioned. I myself do not complain whilst I am actually there & comment later. I am aware that things could be rectified whilst there but I think it should have been top notch anyway. On previous occasions people have noted comments etc & things after haven't been improved & they definitely should be listened to, actioned & completed. Here are our notes & recommendations for immediate action necessary. No comeback to the on site cleaners at all, they definitely cleaned this accommodation thoroughly. The Owners & Holiday company should action these recommendations immediately. 1. On approach, Louper Weir should definitely be lit up, previously noted on many occasions & not actioned. 2. Light near door entrance as you can't see door key hole & step down into utility room. 3. New battery on dyson handheld as it doesn't charge any longer. 4. Dyson fan is useless, can I recommend Meaco fans, these are more efficient & effective. Previously noted & not actioned. 5. For such a top spec apartment the new luxury sofa is actually so very uncomfortable to sit on & relax. It is so soft & stupid shape. We have crooked our necks & backs trying to sit correctly & are going for osteopath treatment after now returning home. Again, previously noted & not actioned. 6. Having electric blackout blinds are a great touch, curtain furnishings are needed as there are people & cars around all the time & the blinds need to be closed to have privacy then this leaves you being in the dark all day. This has been noted on many occasions & not actioned. 7. The bed needs to be replaced to a divan & king size duvet to go with the bed & not a double on a king size. The pillows are terrible, this is where we have crooked necks from. So so uncomfortable & once again many people have commented & no action been taken at all 8. The dining table is actually outdoor furniture as I have these myself. However, the seats are so uncomfortable & definitely needs to be soft furnished chairs. Never used the Hot tub as it was too far from the property & badly lit. For such a top spec beautiful place these changes need to be made as it isn't cheap to stay. The cleaners seemed to be around all day but never came in to do anything, never met them until leaving, however it was spotless on arrival.

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• Steven - Verified booking

  Good points: Location is 2nd to none.

  Travelled all over the UK staying in similar types of property, lake windemere is up there with the best of them. The property is clean, had everything we needed for what we hoped would be a relaxing stay. The complaints about the fan are ridiculous, there is a tablet next to it with the Dyson app on it or you download it to your smart phone. Very reasonable price for what you get in return. Bad points: Arrived 15 minutes early to pick up the keys after a 7 hour drive up from the south east and was made to feel like we were asking for an extra day for free....... not a great start. Even offered to sit outside for 15 minutes. Get any ideas out of your head about being able to stay at the property and relax. The cleaner and hottub maintenance chap seem to be always at the property. There are lovely floor to ceiling electric blinds which when opened give you a fantastic view. Unfortunately we had to leave them closed to try and retain some privacy. My partner didnt really want to use the hottub as its checked every single day which seems ridiculous. She didnt want to be sat in there with some stranger just walking in. This is the only place we've stayed at in the UK with a hottub that has done this and seems obsessive. Likewise the cleaner seemed to be there every single day we were. This may not have been the case but again, its a self catering property, seems ridiculous that the cleaner is there so much. After the first night we were emailed and asked to give a "First night review" which I marked as adequate because of the privacy issues. I then had to email the office to tell them to leave us alone because we started getting phone calls and emails because of the adequate rating. Certainly won't be coming back to this property. Its not the first time we have used Sykes and had no issues at the last place we stayed at at all.

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• C W - Verified booking

  Overall it is impossible not to enjoy a stay at Lake View.

  In balance however: some features exceeded our expectations and some were disappointing. There was an abundance of modern conveniences which made a great first impression and marvellous views: albeit either side of a large tree. The hot tub was a welcome feature and used on a regular basis. In settling in we found the bed very creaky and the pillows were ultra soft. A wooden slat under the wet room door was loose. Being of an older generation we found the sofa very low to sit comfortably and had a little difficulty sitting and rising. We would have sat at the dining table more but the seats were hard wooden ones as it appeared essentially a good quality patio set rather than dedicated indoor dining furniture. Given the general high level of technology the provision of a microwave was conspicuous by its absence. Cleanliness was general good but the standard lamp light bulbs were covered in dust and there were crumbs in between the slats of the table. The pepper mill didn't work. The hot tub was great but positioned central to the small terrace. The terrace table and chairs were at the rear and it was not possible to see the lake when sitting due to the low surrounding wall. If the hot tub was better positioned, and the table and chairs moved to the front, it would be possible to sit and enjoy the view. Access to the property can be difficult to find and it would be helpful to be provided with a specific reference such as What 3 Words or similar. We are certain everyone would none the less enjoy a stay at Lake View but those with age, mobility or medical considerations may experience some difficulties.

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• Shanjida - Verified booking

  Due to strict measures in leaving the country, me and my husband chose the Lake District as our Minimoon for some us time after a very stressful month wedding prepping.

  After searching for hours for the perfect cottage in Windermere, non of the others came close to the Lower Lake View. I had my eyes set on this throughout my whole search. The only thing that would have set us back would be the price as it was a lot more than the others we saw. However, I am so so SO glad we picked this one! You 100% get what you pay for and this cottage was by far my favourite get away. Everything about it was so beautiful! The fact that it was in a little secluded area which required the keys to get through the gates, the private parking, the facilities inside the cottage such as utility room, fully loaded kitchen, two bathrooms, two smart TV’s - my list could go on! It has everything included which is listed in the accommodation details so is literally what it says on the packet. BUT, the one thing it did not mention, is the absolutely beautiful sunset view of the lake we watched every night from the hot tub on the terrace of our cottage. It truly was a dream. This cottage exceeded our expectations by far and made our wind down time for our minimoon a beautiful one. The customer service was absolutely spot on, the staff at the office made our key collection quick and easy, they had given us a courtesy call after our first night to check up on us, the caretaker was so sweet and bubbly when speaking to us at the end of our stay about how it was and even the cleaner of the hot tub we bumped into was lovely! I could not recommend the Lower Lake View enough and will definitely be coming back!!!!!

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