Darwin Escapes Bath Mill Lodge Retreat Review

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Bath Mill Lodge Retreat

This was our second visit to Bath Mill Lodge Retreat

It had been about eight years since we last visited Bath Mill Lodge Retreat for Holiday Park Guru so we thought it was about time we paid a return visit. 

As much discussed on this website, we are big fans of Darwin Escapes and have been to several of their parks around the country. ​

The reception and pub at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat is an attractive building

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First impressions of Bath Mill Lodge Retreat 

Of course, it isn't quite right to say this was our first impression of Bath Mill Lodge Retreat, but I didn't remember a huge amount about it from when we last visited - perhaps because our children were young and I was thoroughly sleep deprived.

The driveway to Bath Mill Lodge Retreat is off a fairly busy road. Thankfully, it is far enough away that the park is peaceful and quiet. There are also a significant number of really lovely mature trees and some rolling landscape.

As we approached the reception, our memories began to come back to us. It wasn't quite a flood of memories, but certainly a trickle. The reception building itself is very attractive and looks like an historic pub. Next to it is a rather nicely done bistro overlooking the river. 

​Next to the reception is the small gym, which is for guests to use. 

As with all the Darwin Escapes that we have visited, the whole place looks very smart with smooth tarmac and well-kept plants and hedges. This may seem like a small deal, but we find that it makes a big difference to the overall impression, compared to some holiday parks that are full of potholes and overgrown grass.​

The woodland driveway leading to Bath Mill Lodge Retreat

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Accommodation at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat 

Bath Mill Lodge Retreat has a similar setup to the other Darwin Escapes resorts that we have visited, such as Woodside Bay on the Isle of Wight. The accommodation is spacious lodges, which are considerably more appealing than a narrow caravan. In these lodges you tend to get full-sized beds rather than the narrow sort that you will find in the cheaper accommodation at Parkdean Resorts and Haven. 

Some of the accommodation at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat overlooks the river. When we visited, it was a fast flowing river, but I would imagine in summer it is more serene. I would caution that for younger children it would be quite hazardous as there are not railings all the way along. My children are now old enough to understand the hazards but I would have been slightly nervous if our accommodation had been right next to the river when they were younger.

Despite it being a few years since our previous visit, we didn't feel that that Bath Mill Lodge Retreat looked tatty or worn out. ​

We love the spacious lodges at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat

Several of the lodges at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat overlook the river

The river at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat was running fast when we visited

All of the lodges at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat have a balcony

The grounds at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat are well maintained

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Facilities at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat ​

Bath Mill Lodge Retreat is not the place to come to if you are looking for an action-packed holiday resort. It does not have a swimming pool or entertainment on site. As mentioned, there is a small gym and there is somewhere you can get something to eat, but really this is a location for getting into Bath or Bristol or for exploring places such as Cheddar or the rolling Mendip Hills. 

We did find some nice green space for kicking the ball around and there were plenty of dog walkers making the most of the site when we visited.​

There aren't many facilities at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat - but there is somewhere to eat

The restaurant overlooks the river

There's a small gym at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat for guests

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Location of Bath Mill Lodge Retreat ​

Needless to say, this is not a coastal resort and isn't one to go for if you're looking for a beach holiday. You can drive to places such as Weston Super Mare for a day trip. It is much more convenient for visiting the beautiful city of Bath (we have family that live in Bath so this park works very well for us)​

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Final thoughts on Bath Mill Lodge Retreat ​

We remain captivated by Bath Mill Lodge Retreat and think it is a really lovely place to stay. It is not really a resort in the same way that Center Parcs or larger Haven resorts will provide you with lots of entertainment. Instead, it is good quality accommodation in a peaceful area with the convenience of a restaurant on site, if you want it. Personally, I quite like the anonymity that a holiday park offers you and the consistency that you don't always get with holiday cottages. 

We plan to visit Bath Mill Lodge Retreat again!

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Related pages from the Holiday Park Guru

• Holiday parks near Bristol and Bath
• Best holiday parks in Somerset
• Best Darwin Escapes Holiday Resorts