Elm Escapes

The heating was as good as it gets, and the sauna was amazing. We also had milk waiting in the fridge, which was a nice touch. From one of the double bedrooms, you can look out over a field of sheep. It was really lovely.

The lodges felt run down and uncared for. We stayed in Maple over Christmas, arriving on Christmas Eve as a family of six, and there were problems everywhere. The cooker knob was broken with no dial visible, so we had to guess whether it was set to the right temperature. The sofa had tears with nails sticking out, and plugs were coming away from the wall, a real concern with my two-year-old grandson there. The sauna wouldn’t turn off, the windows were dirty, and the metal door blind was broken. My daughter has posted photos, so I won’t add them here. When we tried to raise the sauna issue, the owner wasn’t much help. We later got a text saying it runs on a timer, and that we had to leave the lodge by 10 the next morning, our departure day. Thanks for that. We won’t be coming back.

The setting is ideal for a quiet break, especially if you like walking or cycling. There’s a local pub about a 5-10 minute walk away, and Knighton, with its shops and pubs to eat in, is a 15-minute drive. It’s a lovely place to get away from city life in either winter or summer, and I’d recommend Elm Escapes. This was my second booking at one of their lodges, and I look forward to returning. Elm Escapes communicated really well from booking through arrival. They sorted any issues before we got there and replied to emails within 24 hours. The lodge was clean and tidy, though in December it was very cold and took a while to warm up, even with all the heaters turned up to maximum. A timer or thermostat might help. The sauna and hot tub are great, but it didn’t feel right to pay extra for the sauna, even if it was only £1.00, after paying a premium for those facilities. With shops some distance away, it would also help to have basics like toilet roll, a hairdryer and larger towels supplied.

The welcome book and emails beforehand explained everything clearly, so we had no questions and didn’t need any help while we were there. The lodge had everything we needed, plus extras like the sauna. It’s in a quiet little village with lovely scenery. The pub just down the lane is a great local spot, and the owner and barman were really friendly when we chatted with them. I’d happily stay again and have already recommended it to friends :)