Daniel
“Great location. The lodge had everything needed and it was a great price.”
★★★★★on Booking.com
South Lakeland · Lakes, Dales & coast
The Sahara
One base that works for everyone — the kids, the dog and, for once, you. Pool on the park, lake on the doorstep, three landscapes within thirty-five minutes.
Check Availability- Sleeps up to six
- Two bedrooms
- One-and-a-half bathrooms
- Dogs stay free
- Heated pool on the park
- Five minutes from the M6
“It looked like it had never been stayed in.”
A guest said that. We intend to keep it true for you, too.
Everyone gets their bit here.
Most family breaks make someone compromise. The Sahara is the base that doesn't.
For the kids: a 15-metre heated indoor pool five minutes' walk away, a lake path and little beach to burn energy on, safe gated grounds — and Lakeland Wildlife Oasis and Greenlands Farm Village a short drive away.
For the dog: properly welcome, not just tolerated — and included in the price, with no pet fee. Decking for morning sniffs, a lake to lap on the doorstep, and the Silverdale & Arnside AONB fifteen minutes away for the big walk. No kennels, no guilt.
For you: a brand-new lodge kept spotless, with plush lounge seating, a farmhouse table the family actually fits around, a spa on the park (pre-book) and Waters Edge for lakeside dinner on the night nobody cooks. You'll arrive to a small welcome gift — guests mention it more than almost anything else. New to the park? We've written a full guide to what South Lakeland Leisure Village is really like — the pool, the restaurant and what actually costs extra.
For whoever's planning: five minutes off the M6, self check-in with a smart lockbox, parking at the door, and a host who replies fast — it comes up in nearly every review.
Book The Sahara direct for best rates
- Best price guarantee
- Full refund when cancelled 30+ days before arrival
- No hidden fees
- Personal service from our team
Guests
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The Sahara sits in the middle of everything — Lakes, Dales, estuary and coast. Family-tested itineraries, ready to borrow.
Day one
Arrive & settle
Morning
An easy drive — five minutes off the M6, no crawling up the A591. Booths in Carnforth for supplies on the way in.
Afternoon
Self check-in from 4pm with the smart lockbox. Find your welcome gift, kettle on, kids straight out onto the deck.
Evening
Dinner at Waters Edge, the lakeside restaurant a short walk away — then a lake loop before bed. Dog approves.
Day two
Pool & paws
Morning
Heated indoor pool at the Pure Leisure Club, five minutes' walk — day passes from park reception, whatever the weather's doing.
Afternoon
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis, ten minutes — snow leopards and meerkats — or Greenlands Farm Village for the tractor-and-tearoom crowd.
Evening
Dinner at the farmhouse table, board games out, kids to the twin room, deck and fizz for you.
Day three
Windermere day
Morning
Half an hour to Bowness-on-Windermere — lake cruise first, while everyone's fresh.
Afternoon
The World of Beatrix Potter, rowing boats, or just ice cream by the pier. The dog does the lakeside path with you.
Evening
Chippy tea back in Carnforth — the local one near Booths is the move. Checkout's at 10am tomorrow; Arnside prom makes a lovely leg-stretch on the way home.
Day one
Arrive & settle
Morning
An easy drive — five minutes off the M6, no crawling up the A591. Booths in Carnforth for supplies on the way in.
Afternoon
Self check-in from 4pm with the smart lockbox. Find your welcome gift, kettle on, kids straight out onto the deck.
Evening
Dinner at Waters Edge, the lakeside restaurant a short walk away — then a lake loop before bed.
Day two
Pool & paws
Morning
Heated indoor pool at the Pure Leisure Club, five minutes' walk — day passes from park reception.
Afternoon
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis, ten minutes — snow leopards and meerkats — or Greenlands Farm Village for littler ones.
Evening
Dinner at the farmhouse table, board games out, an early night all round.
Day three
Windermere day
Morning
Half an hour to Bowness-on-Windermere — lake cruise first, while everyone's fresh.
Afternoon
The World of Beatrix Potter, rowing boats, or just ice cream by the pier.
Evening
Chippy tea back in Carnforth — the local one near Booths is the move.
Day four
Estuary & Arnside
Morning
Fifteen minutes to Arnside: up Arnside Knott — short enough for little legs, huge views over the Kent Estuary. Dogs love it — it's one of ten walks we've measured from the lodge door.
Afternoon
RSPB Leighton Moss — family trails, pond dipping and red deer if you're lucky — or Jack Scout's clifftop picnic spots at Silverdale.
Evening
Back to the deck — the estuary skies do their thing while dinner's on.
Day five
Seaside classic
Morning
Morecambe, twenty minutes: the prom, a statue selfie with Eric, and the Stone Jetty.
Afternoon
Happy Mount Park's playground and splash park, then Brucciani's ice cream — non-negotiable.
Evening
One last Waters Edge dinner — book the terrace if it's warm. Checkout's at 10am tomorrow.
Day one
Arrive & settle
Morning
An easy drive — five minutes off the M6, no crawling up the A591. Booths in Carnforth for supplies on the way in.
Afternoon
Self check-in from 4pm with the smart lockbox. Find your welcome gift, kettle on, kids straight out onto the deck.
Evening
Dinner at Waters Edge, the lakeside restaurant a short walk away — then a lake loop before bed.
Day two
Pool & paws
Morning
Heated indoor pool at the Pure Leisure Club, five minutes' walk — day passes from park reception.
Afternoon
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis, ten minutes — snow leopards and meerkats the kids will talk about all week.
Evening
Dinner at the farmhouse table, board games out, an early night all round.
Day three
Windermere day
Morning
Half an hour to Bowness-on-Windermere — lake cruise first, while everyone's fresh.
Afternoon
The World of Beatrix Potter, rowing boats, or just ice cream by the pier.
Evening
Chippy tea back in Carnforth — the local one near Booths is the move.
Day four
Slow day
Morning
Nowhere to be. Long breakfast at the farmhouse table, coffee on the deck, another swim if the kids insist (they will).
Afternoon
Pre-book a treatment at the Pure Essence Spa while the other grown-up does Greenlands Farm Village, ten minutes away.
Evening
Takeaway from Carnforth, film on, everyone horizontal. Holidays need a day like this.
Day five
Yorkshire Dales day
Morning
Half an hour to Ingleton — the Waterfalls Trail for bigger kids, or White Scar Cave's underground world for everyone.
Afternoon
Picnic near Ribblehead Viaduct and wave at the trains, or tearooms in Settle if the weather turns.
Evening
Slow evening back at the lodge — kids flat out, deck and a blanket for you.
Day six
Estuary & Arnside
Morning
Fifteen minutes to Arnside: up Arnside Knott — short enough for little legs, huge views over the Kent Estuary. The dog's favourite day.
Afternoon
RSPB Leighton Moss — family trails, pond dipping and red deer if you're lucky.
Evening
Fish & chips on Arnside prom watching the tide race in, or back to the deck for sunset.
Day seven
Seaside send-off
Morning
Morecambe: the prom, a statue selfie with Eric, penny arcades and the Stone Jetty.
Afternoon
Lancaster for one more adventure — Williamson Park's butterfly house under the Ashton Memorial dome — or one last swim.
Evening
Farewell dinner at Waters Edge, last lake loop, suspiciously easy bedtime. Checkout's at 10am — kids swum out, dog flat out, and you, for once, actually rested.
Every family moves at its own pace — treat this as a starting point, not a schedule. Message us any time for recommendations; we'll point you to our favourites.
Selected guest reviews
A selection of reviews guests left for The Sahara on Airbnb and Booking.com. They are chosen, not complete — the full picture is on the platforms themselves.
Over 170 completed stays across our lodges. Across every review of The Sahara: Airbnb 4.83/5 from 6 reviews · Booking.com 9.0/10 from 10. Read them all on Airbnb.
Anthony
“Lovely comfortable lodge. Beautiful location, fantastic service, and central to a lot of places. Great hosts, very helpful. We will be back.”
★★★★★on Booking.com
Catherine
“Lovely stay, thank you. The lodge was very clean and welcoming and had everything we needed for our children and our little dog. The welcome gift was a really nice touch.”
★★★★★on Booking.com
Letitia
“We loved it. The kids loved the swimming pool, the lake and the mini beach… the lodge itself looked like it had never been stayed in — beautifully maintained. We’ll be booking again!”
★★★★★on Airbnb
Amy
“We had a wonderful stay. The lodge was clean and well maintained — a great base for exploring the Lake District. We’d recommend it to anyone looking for a comfortable, relaxing stay.”
★★★★★on Airbnb
Good to know
The no-surprises answers — everything upfront, nothing hidden.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is from 4pm and check-out is by 10am — your lockbox code is smart-programmed to your stay window, so it switches on and off automatically. Full directions and a what3words pin come with your check-in details, so you'll drive straight to the door first time. Early check-in and late check-out are available for a small charge, subject to the cleaning schedule — just message ahead.
Can we bring our dog?
Yes — dogs are properly welcome here, not just tolerated, and they're included in the price. No pet fee at any of our three lodges, and nothing to settle later. Up to two as standard; bringing more? Message us first. We just ask that they stay off the furniture and aren't left alone in the lodge.
How does the pool work, and what does it cost?
The Pure Leisure Club — a 15-metre heated indoor pool, steam room and gym — is a five-minute walk away. Day and week passes are sold at park reception (around £25 for a family of four to come and go for the day — ask reception for current prices). If your kids are swimmers, budget for it: most families say it's the best money they spend here.
How far are the Lakes, the Dales and the coast?
Everything worth doing is within about 35 minutes: Carnforth (Booths, Aldi and a great chippy) 5 minutes, Silverdale & Arnside AONB 15, Morecambe, Lancaster and Kendal about 20, Windermere and the Yorkshire Dales both around 30–35. And you're five minutes from the M6, so getting here is easy too. Wondering whether to stay right inside the Lakes instead? We've laid out the honest case for basing yourself here instead. And if it's raining, here's what's actually indoors nearby.
What's provided for our stay?
Bed linens, towels and a fully equipped kitchen with a full oven and integrated fridge-freezer — plus a small welcome gift on arrival (guests mention it more than almost anything else). A travel cot is available for little ones.
Can we eat out without driving?
Yes — Waters Edge Restaurant and Bar does lakeside Mediterranean dining a short walk away, with an outdoor terrace for warm evenings. The Pure Essence Spa is on the park too (pre-booking recommended).
Can we barbecue at the lodge?
Sorry, no — barbecues of any kind (including disposables) aren't permitted at the lodge, on the decking or anywhere on the grounds, under park rules.
Our other escapes
Same care, different corners of the north.
The Lake House
A cabin you can walk everywhere from — one minute to Windermere's shore, five to Bowness.
Explore The Lake House
The Debonair
A contemporary lodge on the same quiet park — ensuite master, two bathrooms, effortless family escapes.
Explore The Debonair