Ullswater 29

The facilities were a letdown too. The pool changing rooms were cold and very dirty, and the kids’ pool was cold as well. When I mentioned it at reception, the response felt dismissive. Maintenance told me, “it is what it is.” That’s not what you expect after paying for a family holiday. We stayed at Landal Whitbarrow Village from 17-21 November, and were very disappointed with both cleanliness and service. Our accommodation clearly hadn’t been cleaned properly before we arrived. There was visible mould on the walls and grout in both bathrooms. Even after we spoke to reception and got a so-called “refresh clean,” they were still dirty. One bedroom had a shocking amount of dust and rubbish between the bed and wall, as if nobody had touched it for ages. There was rubbish outside our cottage too, including a champagne cork and its wrapping. The cleanliness, facilities and lack of care from staff were all well below what I expected from Landal. Based on our stay, I wouldn’t recommend it.

It’s hard to find the access lane, especially after dark, though it’s been greatly improved. You’ll need a car here: the resort is handy for visiting places and attractions, but nothing is within walking distance. The timeshare accommodation is arranged like a little village, with a duck pond, and there are hotel rooms as well as a pool, bar and restaurant. Things are generally maintained very well. Online booking works well, but the texts need rethinking because the tone comes across as quite aggressive. They warn that if you don’t follow the instructions on time and pay £125 for utilities plus a £100 damage deposit, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHECK IN.

The resort is pretty and well placed for driving further into the Lakes. We stayed in an Ullswater apartment, which was spacious enough for two, and the bathroom was really nice. The heating was very warm, and having a big radiator was a plus in winter when it can get cold. Still, the room felt outdated, the bed was uncomfortable, and the TV looked tiny on such a large wall. I know the TV isn’t a big issue, but with it dark by 4pm in winter, a decent size and a Netflix option would have been nice. Check-in at about 5pm was awkward. The woman at reception seemed bored and didn’t want to talk. She handed us a key card and said to get our things from the car, then go to the main car park and walk back to the main apartments. She didn’t say where the car park was or how to get back. There was a map there, so we managed, but in the dark, not knowing the place, a little more guidance would have helped. We got no information about the resort facilities, where the restaurant or bar was, or opening times. I also thought it was bad that nobody asked for ID. We both look a bit younger than 19, in my opinion, and she didn’t have our booking details on the computer or ask to see identification. The apartments’ entrance door is always unlocked. Nobody can get into the rooms without a card, but anyone can walk into the hallways. During our four days we only saw a few staff around, and they ignored us as they passed, without even saying hello. The resort itself is lovely and looks nice, but the apartments could use an update and more comfortable beds. Friendlier staff and better security, like checking ID at arrival, would help too. We’ll probably come back because it’s a perfect base for the Lakes, though next time we’ll look at a bigger lodge instead of an apartment.

We rented one of their houses for a nice weekend. It was very clean, in a quiet area, with modern interiors and all the white goods.