Woodlakes Country Park

"We arrived at the park right at 5pm, which was the check-in time listed, but the reception was already closed. After a few tries to ring the emergency number, someone finally answered and gave us directions to our lodge. The place itself had its charms, but there were quite a few little things that let it down. The private garden was left in a bit of a state - dog poo from previous visitors was still there and the fire pit was filled with burnt logs and rubbish, so we had to clear it out ourselves before we could use it. The beds were pretty poor - plastic mattresses with a thin sheet on top that kept slipping off, so we kept waking up on plastic or chasing the sheet around. The bathroom could do with some updating, especially around the shower area where theres quite a bit of black mould. The kitchen was well-stocked and had everything we needed, but there was no oven, just a microwave, which was a bit disappointing. The knives were a nightmare - handles kept falling off and they were blunt, so chopping anything was a hassle. The whole park felt a bit half-finished - building materials lying around, waste water pumps just sitting on the grass with sewage nearby. The enchanted forest area has loads of potential but looked a bit abandoned - hanging wires, materials strewn on the ground and what looked like an abandoned Santas grotto. On our second day, a maintenance team decided to light a big bonfire less than 100 metres from our lodge. We had the doors open at the time, so the smoke quickly filled the place - we couldnt sit outside in the hot tub or enjoy the outdoor space at all. We ended up taking the kids for a walk instead. We did complain at reception and a friendly guy came to put out the fire quickly and even brought us some chocolates to apologise, which was a nice touch. Despite all these issues, we still managed to have a lovely stay overall. Its clear the site has a lot of potential, but it definitely feels a bit unloved and neglected in parts."

"The hot tub was just as advertised-hot and relaxing. Loved the privacy and the nice touch of chemicals on day two. Pretty spot on overall!"

"Honestly, we expected more from the log cabin based on the pictures online. The door lock was a bit of a pain to use and inside, it was pretty dirty - dog hairs on the sofa and dead flies by the windows. Wifi was barely usable, which was frustrating and it took almost a day for the hot tub to heat up. For nearly £400 for two nights, it didnt feel like good value at all. Sorry for the late feedback, just saw the review email now."

"We really enjoyed our stay! The lodge was beautifully decorated and had all we needed. It was fairly clean, apart from a bit of limescale in the shower and a dusty mirror. Still, lovely overall."

"Our Woodlakes Country Park review: The staff really went out of their way to help us when there was a mix-up with the hot tub."

"Lovely spot with a charming front garden. The skybedroom and sauna sound brilliant! Definitely recommend."

"We really enjoyed our stay! The place had everything we needed, though a fan wouldve been handy if it was really hot outside. Overall, lovely stay!"

"Its a peaceful spot, but seriously, the bar and restaurant being closed from Monday to Wednesday was a letdown. Would have been nice if that info was on the website before booking."

"The place was spotless and had a sleek look. The hot tub was definitely the best part! Our boys loved it."

"We stayed here recently and honestly, the place was super clean and had a comfy bed with nice bedding. The outdoor sauna was a highlight, but we were a bit disappointed about the hot tub not being there as advertised - just a cold tin bath and sauna. No lighting in the main bedroom and only one mirror meant doing hair was tricky. The shower door kept slipping and the WiFi was patchy. Still, the jacuzzi was brilliant!"

"Really relaxing, worth every penny"

"Nice place overall, peaceful vibe is a real plus. Could do with a bit more cleaning inside and out."

"Needs serious improvement, honestly."

"We had a fantastic stay at Spruce Lodge! The view of the lake is simply stunning and the kids adored their cosy rooms. The only downside was the sofas werent very comfy, but honestly, we didnt mind since we spent most of our time relaxing in the hot tub. A lovely little getaway, well be back for sure!"

"We really enjoyed our stay at the lodge. Its a good size for a small family and the hot tub was lovely and clean. However, some small details could be improved - the sofas are quite worn and the mattresses need replacing because we kept feeling the wood underneath. Adding some lamps in the lounge would make evenings more cosy too. Still, a nice place overall!"

"We really enjoyed our stay overall. The hot tub would be perfect if it had a roof-rain or shine, itd be lovely! The bar felt more like a dining spot, but still nice."

"We had a lovely stay overall. The location is perfect, with stunning views over the lake that really made our trip special. The outdoor space and hot tub were fantastic and the kitchen and bathroom facilities were top-notch. We did find the furniture a bit outdated, especially the chairs in the living room, which werent very comfy. No Wi-Fi was a bit of a pain and signal was patchy, but the staff were super friendly and helpful. Jacks restaurant is a must-visit too!"

"Great experience, definitely coming again!"

"Beautiful scenery and a fantastic spot for a getaway. The only downside was the fridge drawer, but overall, great value!"

"We really enjoyed staying here! The location is perfect with the lodge overlooking the lake, which was great for fishing, while I loved relaxing in the hot tub on the deck. The peaceful atmosphere and the wildlife strolling around made it even better. We also tried the restaurant, Jacks and the meal was fantastic! The lodge itself was nice, though some furniture could do with an update-looks like work has already started on that. Wed definitely come back!"

"We really enjoyed our stay here. The staff were lovely and welcoming, which made a big difference. The place itself was great, though a few fittings could be better. Itd be perfect if there was more for the kids, like a games room. Overall, a solid 10/10!"

"We really enjoyed our stay overall, the pod was lovely. Just a few small things could make it even better, like adding some blinds since the outside lights stay on all night and make sleeping tricky when the sun rises. Apart from that, it was a fantastic experience and wed definitely recommend it to others!"

"We booked a stay at this lodge and initially got the keys, but then found out the place wasnt quite ready, so we had to move to a different lodge. The first alternative was a tiny pod with kids beds, which obviously wouldnt work for our 15 and 19-year-olds, so we asked to move somewhere else. Luckily, we ended up in an XL lodge that wasnt being rented out at the time because it was under renovation and didnt have a hot tub. We stayed there for one night before finally settling into a lodge with two rooms, a hot tub and a spacious living area. The park itself has great facilities on paper, but we found the Thai restaurant and Jacks restaurant to be pretty expensive. The cafe was closed when we wanted to use it and the enchanted forest just sat there unused, which was a bit disappointing. Still, every staff member we encountered was friendly and really helpful, even if they werent always sure about everything. Overall, we had a good time - lots to do nearby and the woodlands and lakes are stunning. Wed probably go back!"

"We recently stayed at Woodlake Parks for the first time, booking the Ash Parkside lodge with a hot tub. Although our check-in at 5pm was a bit later than planned, once we arrived, we were quite pleased with the place. The lodge was easy to find and close to the main car park and reception, which was handy since my mum has limited mobility and having a parking spot right beside the lodge made things much easier. The inside was clean and felt quite cosy and the hot tub was fully functional, which we loved. Beds were comfy for a short stay, but we did find the seating area a bit disappointing; the chairs could do with a proper clean and upgrade, especially since one had a strange smell. There was some building work happening nearby for new lodges near the enchanted forest, but honestly, we couldn't hear a thing from inside. If we had to suggest improvements, it would be to include towels, an iron and a hairdryer as standard in all lodges, or at least have some available to borrow or rent. Also, a little guidance or a site map during check-in would have been helpful, especially with check-out instructions like emptying bins or returning towels. A welcome note inside the lodge with this info would be a nice touch. Overall, we had a lovely, relaxing stay and appreciated how welcoming the staff were-definitely a place wed consider returning to!"