The Lodge
The Accommodation
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The entrance hall and the living room floor are all laminated, so that doggie paw marks etc are all easy to clean up. It was laid in March 2009.
There is a comfortable 3-piece suite with a coffee table in the middle. Two lovely squishy soft faux fur beanbags add to the seating, children love them, as do any doggie visitors! They are also. a wonderful way of resting your legs after a hard day in the hills.
The lounge has a large television with DVD/video recorder. It also has a portable CD/radio player. The area is still on an analogue signal.
There is a folder on the coffee table with instructions for all the electrical equipment in the lodge.
The lodge now benefits from free wireless internet access, provided by Limefitt Park.
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There is a bookcase with many books of local interest, including many lovely walks. Many of the walks are laminated and 'rain proof'. Please remember to replace the walks you borrow in the folder. There is a selection of novels including some of Charles Dickens' works!
We haven't forgotten the little ones there are some children's videos and some games to keep them entertained! We would of course suggest you bring some of there favourite toys, DVDs and books though.
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The dining area seats 6 comfortably and is situated next to the kitchen, overlooking the balcony, and the bird feeding station. This attracts many different types of birds including a lesser spotted woodpecker!
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The kitchen is equipped, to a high standard, as one would expect! It includes a full oven, gas hob, dish washer, the usual kettle, fridge freezer, microwave, and toaster, filter coffee machine The owners have also added a sandwich toaster, a health grill with removable dishwasher safe plates, a slow cooker, liquidizer, stick blender, electric carving knife and an iron and ironing board. All the crockery, cutlery and glassware are dishwasher safe.
An efficient vacuum cleaner and floor 'swiffer' lives in the coat cupboard in the hallway.
The carpets in all bedrooms are brand new as of March 2009. All the linoleum in the bathrooms is brand new also installed March 2009
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The double bedroom has an en-suite with a walk in shower. It also has its own TV/DVD unit and a radio controlled alarm clock. There is a hair dryer in this room. It has a good size wardrobe and plenty of drawers. It looks out onto the fell behind the lodge. Often in the morning, there is evidence of nocturnal visitors by way of a flattened grass track down the fell side! Visitors have reported seeing deer outside the bedroom window early in the morning.
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Bedroom two is equipped with two full size single beds. This room has its own TV/DVD unit also. This looks towards the front of the lodge.
Bedroom three also has two full size single beds. This also looks towards the front of the lodge (over the hot tub)
Both twin rooms have radio controlled alarm clocks.
The main family bathroom has a full sized bath and showerhead fed from the mixer tap.
All bedding including mattresses, pillows and duvets have anti dust-mite covers on to reduce any risk of allergy.
For the cooler nights of the year, we have provided electric blankets for each bed and extra blankets.
Outside
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Around two sides of the lodge there is a decked area with a gate to help contain small children. Care must be taken, as the gate is a normal gate-latch and can be quickly mastered by adventurous tots!
The decking may be accessed by the French doors from the lounge and also the main door. There is a barbeque and outside furniture to use for wonderful alfresco meals, or maybe for late night drinks, reflecting on the splendid day one has just spent in one of England's most beautiful corners. If you are lucky, you may just hear, or even see, visiting badgers and deer! There is car parking space for one car at the side of the lodge.
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The decking also has a 'Catalina Spa' which should be used strictly at the guest's own risk. This cannot be stressed enough especially when there are children around. There is a substantial cover, which should be kept in place at all times when the spa is not in use. The spa handbook should be adhered to strictly and it is advised that it should not be used after taking alcoholic drink or when tired. Any guest with a health problem, such as high or low blood pressure should check with their doctor before using the hot tub and take extra care. Pregnant guests must not use the spa. Dogs, obviously, are not allowed in the spa.
The lodge owners will accept no responsibility for any accidents or issues, which may arise from the use of the hot tub, proper or otherwise. It is to be used at your own risk.
The Site
On site there is a good pub (The Haybarn) which serves good local food and splendid local beers! It has been updated for the 2009 season. It is a relaxed child friendly pub with a lovely, cosy atmosphere. There is a games room with some arcade type games.
The site operates an 11.00pm noise curfew.
We are now a 'Dog Friendly' lodge, but we would request that owners are responsible and keep their pets on a leash when on the park anywhere other than the dog field (just beyond the children's play area) it goes without saying that owners should 'pick-up' after their pet at all times.
We are starting to compile a collection of local dog walks and we welcome any input from guests. Within the lodge, there is a list of 'dog friendly' pubs.
Within Dickens Lodge, we ask that pets are not allowed in the bedrooms or on the furniture and that prior to leaving, owners ensure that there are no traces of their pet. We do not ask pet owners to pay extra for their pet but just to adhere to our requests.
Words of warning, when we have nocturnal badger visits, dogs, hear and sense them much before we do!
An extra technical tip is that Vodaphone/Asda mobile are the best networks to have in this area!
There is a small shop for essentials and early morning fresh croissants! There are DVDs to rent in the shop. For 2009 this is situated within the reception building.
There is a very good Booths supermarket in Windermere near the tourist information and Lakeland Plastics shop! Windermere Main Street has two good butcher's shops, two chemists and an interesting selection of other shops, including two newsagents and an excellent hardware store.
In the lodge there is a parking permit which allows you to park, free of charge, for up to one hour in the allocated spaces in Windermere town. Please replace this prior to leaving.
For the children, Limefitt Park has a small adventure playground and a river pool for paddling and fishing. These are signposted just across the bridge from reception (Turn left after crossing the bridge with reception behind you).
There is a large marked out games pitch, for ball games.
There is a launderette with large capacity washing machines and dryers.
There is a security man who patrols the site during the evening hours until the gates are locked at 11pm. The site managers live on site and can usually (within office hours) be found in the main office at the side of the lovely Troutbeck.
The main office has many leaflets, which can provide many ideas to fill your days!
There is direct access to the fells from behind the Haybarn. Several lovely walks start from here - for instance lovely walks to Ings Bridge, Troutbeck Park, and Dubbs reservoir.
For the more energetic, the Garburn Pass leads on to Kentmere and also on to Froswick and Ill Bell. This is a favourite mountain bike route.
