We have twice stayed at the Lakeland Village in Newby Bridge. The first time was in February last…read moreyear (2007) when we rented a one bedroom cottage that overlooked the River Leven. All of the cottages are nicely decorated and come with a fully equipped kitchen including a cooker, dishwasher and washing machine. Great for self catering if you are on a tight budget and also for cleaning off the mud splattered clothes after a long walk! There is a large tv downstairs with music and DVD player. I missed having a tv upstairs in the bedroom to lounge in front of in the evening when the girls went to bed, but it didn't really matter as we were all tired anyway. We were shown how to use all of the controls in the house, including the heating which was needed at that time of year. Be warned, we weren't aware that you have to pay for the electricity at the end of your stay and it was only when I went to return the key on the last day that I was presented with a bill for the week. Ouch! The upstairs of the one bedroom cottage was very spacious with a lovely view over the river and a huge wardrode. It was just me and two ten year old girls - so I had the huge bed to myself and they decided that they wanted to sleep on duvets in the wardrobe that they made into a den! THEre was a large pullout bed downstairs as the cottage sleeps four, but we didn't use it. The bathroom was large with both bath and shower. A large airing cupboard provided ample space for drying wet clothes and housed a plentiful supply of towels. We used the leisure facilities at the nearby hotel, although the swimming pool is quite small and didn't really excite the girls and there weren't any other activities for children on site other than a small playground with a slide. However, there is so much to do out and about that this didn't really matter. Although the cottages are part of a timeshare resort, there is no hard sell. You are casually invited to a meeting in the Coach House, but I wasn't hassled by constant phone messages or newsletter to attend - unlike the approach we have had when visiting some of the other Interval International properties. You are pretty much left alone to enjoy the peace and quiet of the Lakes without interference. I enjoyed the week so much that we went back again this summer. The prices for a week in August are still very reasonable even for the larger two bedroom cottages that sleep 6 and we had a dog with us as well (£50 extra). I suspect that this is somewhere that we will go back to again and again. Not only is the accomodation really nice but the Village is a great base from which it is easy to visit so many other places, and a welcoming home from home when you are fit to drop from all the walking and sight seeing!

We stayed at the cottages here, with a certificate I bought from Living Social. We paid for the…read moreupgrade to stay here and we were not disappointed. The cottages are part of the timeshare program and are well-taken care of. We were met at the cottage by the timeshare associate, Rachel, who explained how the devices work at the activities going on through out the week. When you stay at the cottages, you also get access to the hotel and the spa/fitness club. The hotel has a restaurant and pub, but both have different opening & closing times so be conscious about that. Also, the restaurant is a bit pricey. The spa is wonderful and has many services available (massages, facials, waxing, etc) and the prices are reasonable for a private resort. So, when you stay at the cottages, you get complimentary access to the pool, which includes the hot tub, sauna and steam room as well. The cottages are all situated on the river, which is so picturesque. The flowing water is lovely to listen to, while sitting on your porch, watching people feed the swans. The cottages are all well-equipped and stocked with all the cooking, bathing and cleaning supplies one may need. They have washer/dryer unit, full kitchens, linens, iron/ironing board and all the cooking tools that come in handy. For anyone staying here, purchase groceries before arriving to the cottages -- the nearest grocery store is about 10 miles away (a bit expensive and they close early). There aren't many businesses or things to do around the area so be prepared to travel for the sight-seeing adventures & tours. Also, for the fellow American travelers, bring a conversion adapter plug for all your American appliances (hair dryers, curling irons, shavers). The cottage grounds are maintained beautifully and the surrounding landscape is breathtaking. The staff at the hotel & spa are all very friendly and helpful. I would definitely return to for some R&R. Wonderful experience!!