Lower Shockerwick Lodge

The kitchen and dining room feel open and roomy, with a view across the whole back garden, and you can fit 6-7 cars on the drive. At night it’s wonderfully quiet, with countryside all around and trees in every direction. The hideaway is joined to the main house, and the sunlight in the Lavinder room is lovely at sunrise and sunset. It’s cosy, with a real woodland feel from above. We’d book again for a family break, but there are things that need attention. There’s a sewage smell that comes and goes, worst around midday. The hot tubs need cleaning, and two of the three don’t heat up. When one did, the water was dirty. The back gate wouldn’t close, which felt risky with children around. There were also lots of bugs, spiders, wasps and hornets around the house, so it may not suit anyone uncomfortable with them. Inside, a loose raised screw on the metal carpet strip at the far left hurts if you step on it. A beautiful, peaceful escape from the daily grind, but it needs some repairs and a proper clean.