booking and payment

The information regarding deposits and rents do not apply to guests who have booked via Airbnb or other agencies. .

Minimum stay We normally ask for a minimum of three night stays.

Security Deposit Bookings are secured by payment of £100 ‘Security Deposit’, this deposit is refunded within 48 hours of departure if our terms are complied with - see below.

Rent We normally ask the the rent to be paid two weeks before arrival, for more information, see our Terms

Cleaning fee We don’t charge a cleaning fee, but we do ask that guests leave the place as they found it and undertake some simple chores eg stripping of beds (see ‘Departure Checklist’ at the Cottage). Also see ‘Cleaning’ below.

Checkin and checkout times Checkin is after 4pm on the arrival day, checkout is by 10am on the departure day - sometimes we can offer earlier/later times, please ask.

Deposits: If bookings are cancelled at any time, we will refund the security deposit. Otherwise, we will refund it after departure, assuming there is no damage (except for fair wear and tear), loss or for the repairing of faults caused by misuse, including the soiling of carpets or furnishings caused by pets.

the cottage

Location and directions The cottage, a detached secluded property, is located in The Forest of Dean, near Lydbrook. Except for a local pub, there are no amenities eg shops, in the immediate area.. The closest shops and a couple of takeaways are in Lydbrook, about 2 miles from the cottage. Please ask for more information at any time, otherwise, a week or so before arrival, we provide guests with the full address, directions and information about accessing the keys for the property (if you require the address earlier eg to arrange grocery deliveries, please ask).

Cleaning before you arrive: Before you arrive, we clean the cottage, focussing on all surfaces and ‘touch points’, carpets and flooring, kitchen appliances and utensils as well as scuffs and marks on furniture and windows. All bins are emptied and we top up essentials such as tea and coffee. We also check that all the lights are working, as well as remote controls. We deep clean all bathrooms and toilets, but other deep cleaning eg behind or under the fridge/freezer, is undertaken every three months. The cottage is susceptible to spiders and their webs, which we brush away; but spiders are pesky little creatures, they wait til our backs are turned, then pop out to repair or replace their weds. This particularly occurs in the Autumn..

Parking There’s sufficient off road space for up to 3 vehicles - OUTSIDE THE GATES.

People with restricted mobility The cottage and garden are not suitable for people with restricted mobility.

Children Whilst we welcome children of all ages, we ask guests to be mindful that the cottage is open plan, on five levels, with short flights of stairs between each level, parts of the cottage date back to the 1850’s, with uneven floors. Therefore, toddlers and babies will need extra care. Sorry, but we don’t provide a travel cot or other facilities for babies.

Sleeping arrangements The cottage accommodates up to six people, in a king, double and bunk beds*. Unless otherwise agreed with you, we will make up the beds and provide towels.

*We can provide a comfortable folding bed as an alternative, please tell us when booking or preparing to come and stay.

Dogs We welcome up to two well behaved and toilet trained dogs; we do not charge an additional fee for dogs. See our House Rules for more information.

Security of garden The decking and garden are on multiple levels, steep in some places. There is a path throughout, which we ask guests to use. Small children or people with limited mobility may require assistance in places. There is fencing around the boundary, but determined dogs - or children - may discover a way out!

Privacy The cottage and garden, as well as the hot tub and sauna, are private and for the exclusive use of guests.

Groceries and deliveries There’s a Premier Store in the village + a good range of supermarkets in local towns eg in Coleford, Monmouth and Ross on Wye. If you wish to arrange grocery deliveries, ask us for the address and directions.

The hot tub and sauna These facilities are for the exclusive use of guests; both require some TLC to ensure safety and comfort of guests (guidance provided). You may wish to bring extra towels for use with the Sauna/hot tub.

BBQ There’s a charcoal BBQ with a range of tools - you’ll need to bring your own charcoal and lighters.

Heating & Log Fire We programme the heating and hot water in advance, but you are free to change the settings - guidance provided at the cottage. Between October and March, we provide a basket of logs, kindling and firelighters for the Log Fire - logs can also be bought in local stores and garages.

Kitchen & bathrooms The kitchen is well equipped kitchen with ‘Rangemaster (electric) cooker, fridge/freezer, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine; there’s an ensuite shower/toilet in the king bedroom, a modern family bathroom with power shower and a downstairs cloakroom/toilet.

The basics and facilities We provide basics - tea, filter and instant coffee, sugar, washing up liquid, hand wash, tea towels, oven gloves, kitchen roll, dishwasher tabs, cooking oil, condiments, toilet rolls, bath mats. For more information eg re entertainment, follow this link Facilities

things to do

Massages and other therapies Sarah, at Your Balance of Life - based locally - can visit you at the cottage to provide massages and other therapies. Contact Sarah direct to arrange sessions.

Home entertainment You’ll find a great selection of home entertainment at the cottage, including 3 flat screen TVs with access to Netflix, Amazon Prime and an on line library of movies, see more here Facilities

Walks and adventures There’s an abundance of Forest and river walks for all ages and abilities, see information here WALKS AND ADVENTURES

Pubs, eateries and takeaways The Royal Springs, a traditional pub - serving food - is within walking distance, a ‘chippy’ and other takeaways in the village; and a wide range of other pubs and eateries within a few miles - most welcome dogs - see more information here EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY

Hot tub, sauna and therapies The hot tub and sauna are for the exclusive use of guests; both require some TLC to ensure they are safe and operate properly (guidance provided). For massages and other therapies, our friends at Your Balance of Life will visit you at the cottage. See more here RELAX AND THERAPIES

Historic sites See more information here MYSTERY AND HISTORY

Please call or text us if you have any other questions 07949 005456