The Tranquil Otter

Absolutely amazing. Me and my Girlfriends best experience. Lovely and clean rooms, walk in shower, all the amenities you could think of like a flask, ice, pots, pans, cutlery salt and pepper. the hot tub outside was also beautiful, with stunning views and songs from the birds. they even had a boat which made the flask they had come in handy. couldn't be better.

What a lovely place! We (2 adults, 16 and 10 year old plus our dog) visited in October, weather was mixed but the Lough always looked fantastic. Great to take the boat out and get closer to the Swans and ducks. Hot tub was used every day, usually after a big walk. We had a really clear night and the star gazing was amazing! Log fire lovely at night too. The lodges are well kitted out, really comfortable beds and recliner sofa. Definitely hoping to return at some point!

Superb location for a peaceful couples or family break. Lodge was fantastic views even better. Fully kitted out inside, log fire a bonus with plenty of supplies wood. Hot tub with lakeside views, clear night skies with stars everywhere. Nice walk around the private woodlands too. Bird life outside the lodge was incredible. Couple of pubs nearby, really liked the Drovers. Highly recommend.

We stayed here at Chiffchaff for 4 days after our wedding. The staff was lovely and the woman who came around to check the hot tub every morning was so friendly with tips and getting us any extra supplies we needed. The lake and forest around the cabins are beautiful. We had fun feeding the ducks and swans each morning. The cabin itself was perfect for 2 people and equipped with everything you need. We brought food from town with us to make in the kitchen- the options to eat out are limited though there are a few pubs nearby they may only have food some days. We enjoyed a longer walk to Drovers Rest which was awesome, and popped into the royal oak for a drink as well. The log fire and hot tub were both cozy. The extras of the local produce and meats, BBQ, rose petals and picnic were fantastic. Overall a really lovely stay!

This is our second trip to the Tranquil Otter and we will definitely be back again! Absolutely lovely place and totally feels like coming home. We stayed in Buzzard Lodge this time. It’s well furnished, has everything you could need, comfortable, spacious and spotless. I believe it’s also one of the closest lodges to the water, so you’re in great company with the ducks in the garden 🦆 We love rowing in the boat where the inquisitive swans come over to greet you. And there’s a lovely woodland walk that surrounds the lake. The whole place is perfect for nature lovers, photographers, star gazers and anyone seeking peace and tranquility and an escape from every day life. Hosts and team members are so friendly and communication is outstanding. Would highly recommend and can’t wait to get back! Jen & Martin x

We visited Tranquil Otter a week ago and was really looking forward to our stay in the Alder Lodge. Always a bit of a gamble with self-catering but the reviews were very good so we decided to push the boat out; this place is certainly not a cheap option and we paid extra for the hot tub. Initially we struggled to find the site as there were no signs from the main road and the position is remote. First impressions of the lodge were good and we settled ourselves in. Carlisle is about 5 miles away where there's very good amenities, including a fab M&S on the outskirts. The first night it was stormy and the trees are very close to the lodge, so all night the tree's branches were banging on the roof and the gales continued battering the lodge over the first few nights. On the second day, our son attempted to take the boat out on the Lough, having needed to empty the water out first. The Lough is in need of lots of attention as it's so overgrown and the high algae levels make rowing very difficult. We then sat down for a meal on the second evening only to watch a mouse scuttle across the kitchen worktop! Closer inspection, wire wool had been stuffed behind the cupboards to deter them but mouse poo was found in the kitchen cupboards under the the sink and across the worktops! This meant hypervigilance with food and moving any opened food packages into the middle of the glass kitchen table, hoping mice wouldn't be able to reach food there and as there were no airtight containers available to protect food This was highlighted to a member of staff who visited to test the hot-tub water, who was aware of the problem and did apologise, but nothing appeared to be done during the rest of the stay. This did put a damper on the trip, as mice are rarely singular visitors and we feared where else might they be lurking in the lodge! Cobwebs were everywhere and the log construction is showing its age, with lots of gaps for little critters to enter. We're sure it was lovely when first built, but the lodge is dated and in need of some TLC to bring it back up to the standard you would expect for a two thousand plus self-catering week away in the UK. The drain in the ground floor wet room also needs attention as the floor floods every time the shower is used because the drain can't cope with volume of water, the shower curtain/screen isn't sufficient. A squeegee style broom would help with drying the floor, making it safer to walk on then a flood. On a positive note, we saw some lovely birds including a kingfisher, lots of ducks and an owl was very close-by, hooting in the evening. The pub in the nearby village did a good value and hearty Sunday lunch, albeit not gourmet. If you're looking to visit the Lakes, then also be mindful they're a good hour and half away from the lodge, so maybe look to stay further south to make it easier for visiting; the lodge is nearer to the Scottish borders. The Lodge is also marketed as disable friendly, but be mindful that in wet weather the decking outside and woodland areas would be very difficult to navigate (including emptying the bins) and upstairs would be completely out of bounds.