Trail Lodge

We spent two nights there last year, three of us, and found it nice and calm. There was a bit of trouble checking in, but it was sorted after we contacted the host. It’s more like a hostel, with shared bathrooms. I think people sometimes use a bathroom that isn’t assigned to them, so perhaps that could be looked at. A nice place for a weekend, and the bus stop nearby can take you to the major cities.

I came to honour my grandad and his TT days, but I already just want to be home. The room wasn’t ready until late afternoon, even though it said we could be in by 2. The mattress protector was stained and left exposed, and the supposedly clean bedding on the counter had makeup all over it. There were cobwebs on easy-to-clean spots like the table lamp, and I killed several spiders before the cleaners even arrived. There was old toothpaste left in the bathroom from the previous visit. I’m absolutely appalled by this place.

This place is basically a very expensive youth hostel, and I’m kicking myself for not checking the Google reviews first. I brought my six-year-old and eight-year-old. Each room has a small dedicated bathroom, but it’s too far away to be useful. It’s down a corridor, three doors away, and you need a key to unlock the toilet. You can’t expect little kids to manage that in the middle of the night. Even during the day, the kitchen and lounge are too far from the bedroom for young children to go alone safely. There’s no point having a plush bedroom if the other facilities are out of reach. It’s a disaster for families with kids. I couldn’t care less if there’s a nice lake. I just want somewhere my children can move around safely without all three of us having to go everywhere together. If I need a shower or the toilet, am I meant to leave my six-year-old three communal doors away? No.

We had a wonderful Christmas stay, and it was absolutely amazing for accommodating our large family. I’d highly recommend it for all ages!