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Swadlincote, Derbyshire Check Availability Key Information Facilities About The Site View On Map In The Area Questions Steam Mill Lodges Site From Above Key Information – Steam Mill Lodges 8 Lodges on site Adults only Suitable for couples All lodges have hot tubs Fishing On Site (2 Lakes_) 1 Small dog allowed in selected lodges Address: Canal Street, Oakthorpe, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE12 7RD Email: steammilllodges@yahoo.com Website: steam-mill-lodges.co.uk Like the look so far? Why not share it with your friends? Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email On Site Facilities Restaurants nearby 2 Lakes on site In lodge Wifi Parking close to lodge My Stay At Steam Mill Lodges Disclaimer – I booked this privately and was not paid or the review, more did I receive a discount. The owners were unaware of our stay until the review was published.  We booked to stay in the Hazel lodge in May for a weekend break without the kids, for a change! Steam Mill is close enough for a quick weekend away and the opportunity to stay there was something we couldn’t miss. On arrival the gated entranced added to the feeling of privacy and the area around the lodges looked very well kept. I really liked how they’d let some of the grass grow other than the pathway down to the lake – very eco.  In the lodge we had a very nice welcome basket – I always think this is a sign of the owners showing they have a good level of care for your stay. The bread was delicious!  We stayed in Hazel lodge which is one of the 2 bottom lodges with views to the lake – the others have views to the lake but you can see the back of the lodge in front of you also. Outside the lodge is a good-sized decking area and a table and chairs. Our hot tub was covered and had an oak frame around it which is a very nice touch, especially was the weather was showery while we were there.  The lodges themselves are small but efficient. There’s plenty of space for just a couple and we found our stay very relaxing. The sofa in the living room is a great spot to look out to the lake and fields beyond. One evening we spotted a barn owl swooping over the grass before coming to rest on a dead tree stump at the bottom of the hedge. This seemed to be its perch and we saw it there a few times across the evening.  Overall we had a very relaxing trip to Steam Mill lodges and felt it was worth the money we’d paid in spite of the bad weather! The site is well looked after and very peaceful. If you stay a trip to Chalke Abbey is well worth your time. The house is full of a collection of weird and wonderful items from all around the world including hundreds of taxidermied animals.  We will definitely be going back when we next get a free weekend!  Fishing! If you’ve read any other pages on the site you’ll know I’m an avid carper! I’ve been carp fishing for over 20 years and have stayed at a number of the lodges we feature on the site(and will be staying at more!). I did not take my fishing gear to Steam Mill as we were only there for a short break. I did have a good look around at the lakes while I was there. Here is what I found  Main lake Steam Mill has a small bank of the main lake that you can fish which is just down from the lodges. We were there in May and I would personally class it as unfishable die the the amount of weed. There was another spot you could fish, there is a footpath to the left of the lodges as you get to the entrance. Down there were a couple of pegs in front of a small clear area – I do not know who has the right to fish that area.  Here is how the lake looks –  For me this lake has great potential, it must be over 5 acres, reed-lined and full of natural food from the weeds. The water was crystal clear – this has the capability of growing some big carp in my opinion. It just needs a boat and a big rake!  Smaller lake The smaller of the 2 lakes is just down from the lodges and is more of a pond than a lake! I saw a couple of small carp on the surface when the sun was out. I’d estimate these to be 2lb to 3lb as a maximum. You can also fish in this lake. There were a few lilies in it but no noticeable weed.  How To Find Steam Mill Lodges Distances To Nearest Facilities 2 minute drive to nearest shop/ supermarket 5 minute drive to nearest pub/restaurant Frequently Asked Questions Read Our Latest Lodge Reviews Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email

Colehurst, Market Drayton, Shropshire Key Information Facilities About The Site View On Map In The Area Key Information – Colehurst Lake Small site with a handful of unique accommodation typs Couples only Hot Tubs & Baths Fishing – Selected accommodation has private pegs on the main lake Pets are allowed How The Site Looks From Above Like the look so far? Why not share it with your friends? Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email On Site Facilities Restaurants around 2-3 miles away 2 lakes on site. A main carp lake and a smaller match lake Cafe nearby Woodland on site What You Will Find At Colehurst Lake Cabins Disclaimer: I am personally a regular visitor to Colehurst lake, to go fishing, and have been for a while. I know the owners, who are fantastic but have not stayed any of the accommodation. I have seen them being built and had a look around them all.  Colehurst Lake is nestled in the countryside just off the A41 near Market Drayton. The accommodation has been carefully converted by owner Nick to provide an opportunity to stay somewhere unique that is suitable for families and couples.  The accommodation list is regularly added to with new projects being completed. The owners have a clear plan and make it some that everyone is not on top of each other. You all have space to move around without feeling penned in with other cabins near you.  Some of the current accommodation includes a tree tent (yes a tent suspended from 2 trees, this is not one for me with a fear of heights!). There is also a tough glamping pod with extended decking and outdoor kitchen, a converted Shepards hut and a small house project.  You can check the current availability on Airbnb here or contact them directly to see what is available and would suit your needs.  The main lake has carp to 20lb, the current lake record is a carp called Houdini caught at a top weight of 19lb 15oz (by me!). Full details of the fishing are provided further down the review.  What Else Will You Find On Site Peace and quit! The location is superb with 2 lakes a meadow and woodland to walk through. Colehurst lake has a very laid-back vibe where you can just relax and enjoy your break from the moment you arrive.  As their advertising say “come, forget about the world for a while” Carp and coarse fishing Colehurst has 2 lakes and I have fished them both regularly for the last couple of years.  Main lake The lake is around 1.6 acres and is quite silty in parts due to the number of trees around the site, although a number have been removed recently as a part of the continued program of works improving the lake.  The lake has a decent stock of carp with the largest, Houdini, at around 19lb at a standard weight. Thre are a couple of other upper doubles known as Eddie and the slightly large Dynamite. These 3 are from VS fisheries and are absolute stunners that you would not be disappointed catching.  The remaining carp stock caught is usually in the 8-12lb range and is a mix of original commons and some more mirrors stocked by VS fisheries.  There is also a good head of pike to go at in the winter, although they are not massive they do go to around 8lb and provide good sport on the lure or dead baiting.  Match lake The match lake has a good head of coarse fish with a lot of slivers and perch. There are some nice fighting carp that go up to around 10lb with the average being around 6lb. This is a great lake to catch your, or your children, first carp. Float fishing works well in the warmer months and method feeder for the carp. In the winter there is 1 pike to go at around 9lb and you can catch a good amount of perch on a micro jig.  How To Find Colehurst Lake Lodges What Is In The Local Area If you ever want to leave the site then there are some local attractions to visit. You are not too far from the historic towns of Telford and Shrewsbury. If you have children Enginuity at Telford is worth a visit. Around Telford and Ironbridge you will find a number of industrial museums and Bliss Hill, which is a Victorian town museum where you can walk around and go into the old shops.  In Shrewsbury, you will find lots of history, a nice walk along the River Severn and other things to do. There is a lot of nice pubs and restaurant if you’re walking along with the river head to the boat house on a nice day for beautiful food in a garden overlooking the park and river.  Distances To Nearest Facilities 1 minute drive to nearest shop/ supermarket 1 minute drive to nearest pub/restaurant 1 minute drive to nearest beach 1 minute drive to nearest golf course Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email

Check Availability at High Lodge Key Information Facilities About The Site View On Map In The Area Site Map Questions Key Information – High Lodge Leisure 14 Lodges on site Suitable for families Suitable for couples 5 Miles to nearest beach Selected lodges have hot tubs Fishing – All lodges have a dedicated peg Bar/ Restaurant on site Pets are/ are not allowed High Lodge From The Air The lodges main are around the lake, they have seperate lodges near the clubhouse which are known as the Claywood Lodges. Like the look so far? Why not share it with your friends? Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email On Site Facilities Restaurant on site Lake on site In lodge Wifi Parking by lodge Disabled access lodges Cycle trails nearby Cafe on site Golf course within 5 miles (9 holes) What You Will Find At High Lodge I have stayed at High Lodge twice with my family. These were paid trips; this review is based on my opinions of my stay. We are booked to go back again this summer!  About my trip We had a week booked in one of the lodges around the lake. High Lodge had a cancellation so we stayed for 3 nights at one of the lodges nearer to the entrance and then moved over to around the lake. The lodge Due to a cancellation, we ended up booking 3 extra nights at the start of our stay in one of the other lodges that are not by the lake. These have a small pool of water in front of them and overlook the clubhouse and cafe more. There is a fishing lake off to the side of them that residents can fish on a day ticket. This is packed with small carp, koi and lots and lots of roach. Take some floaters in the summer and you’ll see the fish going absolutely wild for them. The challenge is stopping the roach from destroying your bait to get to the carp! I didn’t have any with me but I’d suggest dog biscuits would be the way to get around this. For the rest of the time, we stayed in Jay lodge which had a hot tub to the side. The lodge was very nice and well kept inside. We had a nice terrace area to sit at the front and steps down to the grass to get to our peg. Behind the lodge was a large area of grass where we played some football, cricket and frisbee. This was a nice relaxing place to stay. Some days and evenings there were shooting events on site which was a little noisy at times but apart from that, it was a very quiet place to stay. The lodges are a traditional black wood build that is common in Suffolk. It was noticeable how well maintained they were. The site and the lodges are very well looked after.  What Else Will You Find On Site Resturant On Site There is a restaurant on-site that serves meals and drinks throughout the day. The food is well priced and very nice. Check with High Lodge directly for the opening times. Fishing All the lodges around the lakes have their own peg. Ours was on the left and 4 lodges down. The peg we had was great with a reed bed to the left, Lillies in front and a small bit of open water to the left. No one in the lodges to my left was fishing. One lodge two to the right was and another lodge across from us. There was not a lot of lines in the water during our trip. Most fish in the morning and then again in the evening. The carp I’d classify this as a match fishing carp lake. Most of the carp are in the 2lb to 4lb range, but there are absolutely loads of them! We did a lot of surface fishing and with some pre-baiting, the carp would come in on the sound of floating pellets going in. It was incredible to see them turn up over and over again. I also had a rod with a bite alarm on and the runs were relentless. When we go back I’ll be going for a more swing tip and method feeder set up than the bite alarms – these were a little overkill. I caught them feeding boilies and sweet corn with trimmed wafters on the hook. Both of my children (7 & 9) caught and landed their first carp, unaided, on the trip which was great to see. It was a quality family fishing session with loads of fish caught and lots of happy smiles all around. Match fishing As well as the carp there is a good stock of match fishing. My children had their float rods with them as well as the carp rods and the bites again were relentless. If you didn’t get a bite on the spots in a couple of minutes you could guarantee that your bait had come off. We fished corn on the hook and caught endless roach, of a decent size too. My 9-year-old was pulling half pound roach in all week!   Archery High Lodge has regular archery classes for beginners and more experienced archers. We did a beginners class and it was great fun. I would recommend giving this a go!  Clay Pigeon Shooting There are various levels of shooting and areas where this is done. Please check with High Lodge for availability and more information.  How To Find High Lodge What Is In The Local Area Whist staying we got out and about to visit some local places and pubs, here are some of the things we enjoyed during our visit. 2 Magpies Bakery This is at the end of the drive and is a MUST visit unless you don’t like food! They have a range of bread and pastries as well as delicious cakes. We visited a few times and I can personally recommend the salted chocolate torte. I would probably go back to stay at High Lodge just so I could buy more bread and cakes here. They also have a baking school but this was fully booked by the time we found out. Sutton Hoo This is a National Trust site where they found ancient burial mounds. The story was recently made into a film for Netflix called the dig – It’s well worth watching before you go. The Fox Inn -Darsham This is just down the road from High Lodges in a quaint little village. It is an old-style traditional pub that serves very nice food. We liked it so much we went back again later in the week. Kings Head – Yoxford This is just a little further down the road than the Fox in but still only around 5 minutes. We had a very nice Sunday Lunch here although the pub was rather quiet. Distances To Nearest Facilities 5 minute drive to nearest shop/ supermarket 5 minute drive to nearest pub/restaurant 8 minute drive to nearest beach 11 minute drive to nearest golf course High Lodge Site Map *Site map was taken from the source and is subject to change, check the website for the most up to date information.  As you can see the lodges on one side have hot tubs. There is an island on the lake between lodge 10 and 4 approximately.  If you are planning to fish while you are there I would recommend booking, lodges 15-12 if you want a hot tub and lodges 2-4 if you don’t.  Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email

Key Information Facilities About The Site View On Map In The Area Site Map Questions Key Information – Wigmore Lakes 9 Lodges on site Suitable for families Suitable for couples Selected lodges have hot tubs Fishing on site Pets are allowed – Up to 2 dogs Wigmore Lakes – Site Overview Like the look so far? Why not share it with your friends? Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email On Site Facilities Take away and shop located next to the entrance 2 Lakes on site In lodge Wifi Parking by lodge Room for children to play on site Disabled access lodges Camping also on site What You Will Find At Wigmore Lodges Disclaimer: I have stayed at Wigmore Lakes lodges for a weekend with my family. This was a paid trip and the view here represents my own opinion of the site.  Wigmore Lodges are in a handy location to visit Sherwsbury and Telford where you will find shops and historic towns. Both Shrewsbury and Telford have some great parks alongside the city centre. Wigmore’s lodges are more prefab plastic built lodges that is on the smaller size when compared to other lodges we have stayed in. We had an Oxmoor lodge that was right on the lake and we did some fishing from in front of the lodge. This had a hot tub at the front which lacked a little privacy when getting in and out. You can read my fishing guide further down the page.  The lodges were very well kept as was the site. The welcome pack had a lemon drizzle cake in that was fantastic! The lodge was comfortable for a weekend but I’m not sure I could have stayed there for a week personally. It is a good place for a quick break from the world!   What Else Will You Find On Site Fishing There are 2 fishing lakes at Wigmore with the smaller lake being closest to the lodges. The larger lake is the match fishing lake and there was a match on while we were there and some serious weights of fish were getting caught. The main lake looks good for catching slivers, small carp and F1’s from what I saw. It is very heavily stocked and suits float fishing with a rod or pole. I’d expect you’d catch a lot on a small method feeder too. I never fished the lake as we choose to fish the lake by the lodge. The lake by the lodges is the smaller of the two. Two of the lodges are right in front of the lake. They do not have private pegs on the lake but we were able to fish from the bank right in front of our lodge. There was another lodge guest from the lodges further who fished a couple of pegs down from us. We were there in May and the fishing was good. The average size of carp being caught was 4-7lb and the runs were plentiful. Due to the weather, we only managed to fish for 3 hours but did bank 8 carp in that time and missed a couple of runs too.  The pegs down from the lodges fish to the island and this is a narrow gap so you don’t need any heavy gear. We caught all the carp from the reeds along the island. I think the lake is well stocked as we could see carp moving all over the lake during the day. The person alongside us banked a few carp as well from the end of the island and out in the middle.  Here’s the peg The lakes are great for fishing with children as the action is fast-paced enough to keep them interested and there is still room for them to run around on the grass.  How To Find Wigmore Lodges What Is In The Local Area There are lots to do in the local area if you are there for a short break or a longer stay. I live around 45 minutes from Shrewsbury and visit that area of Shropshire regularly.  Things to do near Wigmore Lakes 1 – Visit Shrewsbury Shrewsbury is a lovely old town that has lots to do other than the shops. You can take a long walk along the magnificent River Severn (and stop for lunch at the boathouse – highly recommend). Alongside the river, you’ll find a good-sized play area for children along with a splash pad that is open on the weekends in the warmer months and in the summer holidays too. Further into the park are the dingle sunken gardens to walk around and these always look spectacular.  The playground, splash pad and gardens are all free to use.  2 – Visit Attingham Park Attingham Park is a National Trust property on the outskirts of Shrewsbury. There is a very large and impressive manor house that you can walk around as well as a vast site including a large deer park. The River Tern flows through the site and there are many walks around.  For the children there are the fields of play – This is a massive area of grass with some swings, slides, tunnels and more to play on. We often visit here and the children spend hours running around the grass banks, climbing on logs and generally having a great time! It is worth taking a football/ cricket set etc if you have them.  If you like some more history there is a historic trail around the site showing where the grounds were used during World War 2.  3 – Vist Telford & IronBridge Telford is a town steep in industrial history with Iron Bridge gorge close by. In Telford, you’ll find a large shopping centre and numerous restaurants. Right by the shopping centre is Telford Town Park. This has play areas for different age ranges and lots of activities you can do while there  High ropes climbing Bike hire and trails  Football cages for 3 v 3 football Disk golf course Mini golf course 3 fishing lakes Around Telford and Iron bridge, there are a number of museums and places to visit. Take a step back in time to Bliss Hill victorian village. Our favourite one to visit is Enginuity – Fun, science and engineering museum. Distances To Nearest Facilities 1 minute drive to nearest shop 8 minute drive to nearest pub 20 minute drive to nearest golf course Wigmore Site Map Important: This is a final plan for all the lodges on site. Only a handful of them are actually built at the time of writing.  *Site map was taken from source and is subject to change, check the website for the most up to date information.  Frequently Asked Questions Read Our Latest Lodge Reviews Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email