All about Scales Plantation

All about Scales Plantation

The concept behind Scales Plantation was born through Tab and Rob’s desire to share the sensational beauty of their home with the rest of the world. The working sheep and cattle farm sits roughly 1000 feet above sea level where life on an upland farm is not always easy. Nevertheless, the breathtaking views over the North Lake Fells easily make up for all the hard work and long hours.

Environmental Policy

Tab and Rob are working hard to safeguard their little slice of Cumbria for future generations. With solar powered electricity, self composting loos and enthusiastic recycling, the green ethos at Scales Plantation is clearly visible. The family is involved in numerous environmental schemes. They have cleared acres of woodland to preserve and encourage wildlife breeding grounds and laid over 1km of hedgerow, planted over 2500 upland hardwoods and created seven ponds and wetland environments. They have also set aside 100 acres of moorland for heather regeneration to provide habitat for grouse.

Wildlife

Scales Plantation is home to a variety of wildlife. The woodlands of the Lake District remain one of the few areas of the country where the red squirrel can still be found in the wild. Cumbria is rich in birdlife and over 200 bird species are recorded in Cumbria in any one year. Many visitors to the Lake District in recent years have shared in the excitement of seeing ospreys breeding in craggy woodland near Bassenthwaite Lake.

In & around Blencathra

• Gas hobs
• Wood-burning range oven
• Fire pit & BBQ
• Dining area
• Utensils all provided

• Bed linen and towels provided

• Check in time is 4pm
• Check out time is 10:30am
• The hut has solar powered electricity which can be used to charge phones and so on
• Each hut has a double bed at one end and removable bunk at the other that can be adapted into a sofa

Getting there

Scales Farm, Berrier, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0XE

By car

Leave the M6 at junction 40, heading west on the A66 towards Keswick. Turn right off the A66 signposted Hutton Roof (at the Sportsman Inn). Take the next left, signposted Berrier, stay on this road and continue until you reach a crossroad. Turn right towards Newsham and Lamonby and continue up this road until you see a sign for Scales Plantation on the right.

By train

The nearest train station is Penrith. Taxis are available but may be expensive. The distance to Scales Plantation is around 12 miles.

If you are getting to the Cabin by train, bus or any other non-car means you can think of be sure to take a photo and enter our Go Greenly competition to win a 4 night stay at The Wagon or The Ark.

Local activities

Outdoor & active

The Lake District National Park is an adventure playground for all the explorers amongst you. The Ullswater and Skiddaw areas have a range of outdoor activities available. Ullswater's attractions include the Ullswater Steamers which offer trips around the lake calling at Pooley Bridge, Glenridding, and Howtown.

Cocklakes Fly Fishery and Farm Shop

Cocklakes Fly Fishery is a family owned and operated business. The lake is 3 acres with a range of opportunities for fly fishermen. If you are new to fishing or fancy something fun as a family day out, you can arrange lessons with Eric, the resident expert who will teach you all the basics to get you up and running with as little tangle as possible!

Mountain Bikes

At Scales Plantation, your hosts can arrange quality mountain bike hire and guided tours leaving the camps with Savvy Lake District Mountain Biking who can also provide all kit and equipment. www.lakedisrtictmountainbiking.co.uk.

Whitehaven in the Northern Lakes is the starting point for the Coast to Coast Cycle Route with the 132 mile route running to Sunderland on the East Coast. There are many cycle paths in the area with an extensive list of tried and tested routes available at Cumbrian Cycle Routes.

Air Experience

Guests can book a gyroplane Air Experience with Roger Savage, one of the most experienced gyroplane pilots and instructors in the UK. An Air Experience can either be a flying lesson or a pleasure flight where you can sit back and enjoy the Lakes from above. This can leave from the farm but during lambing season take off and landing points will be a couple of miles down the road in Berrier. www.rogersavage.co.uk.

Rookin House

Rookin House Equestrian Centre has been established over 20 years and offers a wide range of options to suit all abilities. If riding is not your thing, there is always Quad biking, air rifle shooting, activity packages or 4×4 off-road driving.

Places to visit

Keswick

Keswick is situated between Skiddaw and Derwentwater and has become the major centre for tourism in the north lakes. Many visitors to Keswick come for the town's string of events including festivals dedicated to such things as beer, films and jazz. Cumberland Derwent Pencil Museum is situated in Keswick and is known for producing high quality brands of fine art pencils, thus making Derwent Pencils the first choice for artists around the world and the museum surely a must see for all pencil fans.

Hesket Newmarket

Keswick Museum and Art Gallery is home to a collection of local history stretching back to Roman times and includes such items as the famous 500 year old cat, a penny farthing bicycle and a man trap. One of the prime exhibits is a set of musical stones which are made from the Skiddaw Slate, known as the Musical Stones of Skiddaw.

High Head Sculpture Valley in Ivegill offers the chance for a stroll through a natural woodland valley seeing large scale sculptures and ever changing exhibitions. There is also a traditional farmhouse tea room.

Cockermouth is home to both the Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre and the renowned Woolfest.

Eating & drinking

Eating & Drinking at Scales Plantation

Tab and Rob can arrange for a hamper of fresh local produce to be in the camp on arrival and will deliver groceries if needed. They'll sent you a list of provisions prior to your arrival for you to order in advance, which will then be delivered to the camp.

Complimentary free range eggs are also available from Scales Farm.

Cocklakes Farm Shop, (on the A66 near Berrier) has an extensive deli and butchers along with a bakery and fresh vegetables.

Both Greystoke and Hesket Newmarket have a Post Office and shop.

Turkeys can be ordered during the Christmas period.

Pubs & restaurants

The Mill Inn in Mungrisdale

The Mill Inn, Mungrisdale (2.5 miles). A beautiful 17th Century coaching inn in a striking location with the Glenderamakin River flowing below and the Lakeland fells above. The menu is based around traditional Cumbrian fayre with fine wines to accompany your meal. In summer you can relax in the beer garden beside the river, and in winter warm yourself by the open log fire.

The Boot and Shoe, Greystoke (6.5 miles). A 17th Century pub overlooking the green in a picturesque village. famous for Tarzan and the Gordon Richards Racing Stables. Homemade bar meals, local real ales and a roaring log fire.

The Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket (5 miles). Owned by a co-operative of more than one hundred local people and other supporters, all dedicated to maintaining the essential character of the pub. The Old Crown serves the very best real ales all brewed by the Hesket Newmarket Brewery which stands at the rear of the pub.

Eating & Drinking at Scales Plantation

Tab and Rob can arrange for a hamper of fresh local produce to be in the camp on arrival and will deliver groceries if needed. You will be sent a list of local, seasonal produce before your arrival and your order will be delivered to the camp.

Complimentary free range eggs are also available from Scales Farm.

Cocklakes Farm Shop, (on the A66 near Berrier) has an extensive deli and butchers along with a bakery and fresh vegetables.

Both Greystoke and Hesket Newmarket have a Post Office and shop.

Turkeys can be ordered during the Christmas period.

All about Scales Plantation

The concept behind Scales Plantation was born through Tab and Rob’s desire to share the sensational beauty of their home with the rest of the world. The working sheep and cattle farm sits roughly 1000 feet above sea level where life on an upland farm is not always easy. Nevertheless, the breathtaking views over the North Lake Fells easily make up for all the hard work and long hours.

Environmental Policy

Tab and Rob are working hard to safeguard their little slice of Cumbria for future generations. With solar powered electricity, self composting loos and enthusiastic recycling, the green ethos at Scales Plantation is clearly visible. The family is involved in numerous environmental schemes. They have cleared acres of woodland to preserve and encourage wildlife breeding grounds and laid over 1km of hedgerow, planted over 2500 upland hardwoods and created seven ponds and wetland environments. They have also set aside 100 acres of moorland for heather regeneration to provide habitat for grouse.

Wildlife

Scales Plantation is home to a variety of wildlife. The woodlands of the Lake District remain one of the few areas of the country where the red squirrel can still be found in the wild. Cumbria is rich in birdlife and over 200 bird species are recorded in Cumbria in any one year. Many visitors to the Lake District in recent years have shared in the excitement of seeing ospreys breeding in craggy woodland near Bassenthwaite Lake.

Booking terms for Blencathra

Booking Conditions

Please note that Canopy & Stars is acting as an 'Agent' in the booking of all accommodation at Scales Plantation on behalf of Rob & Tabitha Wilson (hereafter referred to as the 'Owner'). The Owner of the property is responsible for your stay and is the 'Principal' in this agreement. Customers renting property through Canopy & Stars are referred to as the Guest. The rental arrangements are made by Canopy & Stars, on behalf of the Owners and the contractual relationship is directly between the Owners of the property and the Guest.

The Canopy & Stars booking line (01275 395 447) is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm except on public holidays. When using the online enquiry form, please allow 24 working hours for us to contact you by telephone to confirm the booking. If we are unable to reach you by phone we will attempt to contact you by email. We will contact you during Canopy & Stars working hours. Online enquiries will be dealt with in the order they are received, but please be aware that we cannot guarantee reservation of your selected dates until the receipt of suitable payment.

1. Booking and payments

1.1 The dates of your booking will be held upon payment of a non-refundable deposit of 25% or payment in full. Deposits are only payable when booking more than 10 weeks in advance of your check in date. Any booking less than 10 weeks in advance of your check in date must be paid in full immediately.

1.2 On receipt of the deposit, a booking confirmation will be sent to you within 24 hours in the case of email and seven working days in the case of post, containing the details of your stay and of payments made and due. If you have not received your booking confirmation within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible. We're sorry for any inconvenience, but payments can only be made by credit and debit cards. A 2% surcharge will be applied to credit cards. We do not accept American Express, cheques or cash.

1.3 Where a deposit has been paid, full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in date and a reminder will be sent to you two weeks prior to this date, where applicable, by email. If you are unable to pay the balance before the stated due date, you will forfeit your deposit and your booking will be cancelled.

2. Cancellation

2.1 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your deposit being forfeited, as all deposits are non-refundable.

2.2 All monies paid for a holiday (deposit and balance) are non-refundable within 10 weeks before check in date.

2.3 Cancellation of any holiday after it has been paid in full and at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, will result in forfeiture of your deposit (or an amount equivalent where one was not paid as the holiday was paid in full) and the balance being returned to you.

2.4 Cancellation insurance is available but will be a third party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way.

2.5 If the location of your booking is inaccessible due to adverse conditions your booking can be deferred to a later date subject to availability and at discretion of Canopy & Stars on behalf of the owner of the property.

3. Alteration

3.1 Alterations to your booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time alterations will be treated as cancellation. All alterations will incur a £30 administration fee and are subject to availability and at the discretion of Canopy & Stars on behalf of the Owner of the property.

3.2 Differences in the total amount payable resulting from alterations will be refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price and paid by you in the case of increases in price.

4. Complaints

In the event that you have any complaint about your stay, please notify the Owner of the property as soon as possible and they will use all reasonable endeavours to resolve the issue. Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also contact us as we appreciate all feedback.

5. Pricing

Prices on the website are not binding, but costs stated in any booking confirmation email you receive from Canopy & Stars will be honoured as shown and will include all VAT and any charges.

6. Information

Information on the website is correct to the best of our knowledge, but circumstances outside of our control may cause it to become inaccurate. We apologise for any inconvenience that may result from this.

7. Liability

7.1 Canopy & Stars accept no liability for accident, loss of property or personal injury whilst on your stay.

7.2 Canopy & Stars will not be liable for any act, neglect or default on the part of the Owners or any other person not within their employ or otherwise under their control, nor for any accident, damage, loss, injury, expense or inconvenience, whether to person or property, which the Guest or any other person may suffer or incur arising out of, or in any way connected with the rental unless Canopy & Stars is responsible. In addition, the Owners and Canopy & Stars accept no liability for loss of or damage to the Guest’s possessions on the Owners’ property or land.

7.3 Nothing in these conditions excludes or limits the liability of Canopy & Stars or the Owners:

a. for death or personal injury caused by Canopy & Stars or the Owners negligence.

b. for any matter which it would be illegal for Canopy & Stars or the Owners to exclude or attempt to exclude their liability.

7.4 The use of swimming pools, lakes, climbing trees, tractor rides and any other activity on the Owners land is the responsibility of the Guest and is done so at their own risk.

8. Pets

Pets are only permitted with the prior consent of Canopy & Stars and the Owners and where pets are permitted they are to be kept under control. Pets must not be left in the Property unsupervised as this could result in damage to the Property and distress to the animal(s). A weekly charge may be made for each pet.

9. VAT

Many of the Owners of properties in the Canopy & Stars portfolio are not registered for VAT in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable the tax is included in the weekly rent.

10. The Holiday – Guest Conditions of occupancy and Conduct

10.1 The Guests have the right to occupy the Property for the paid for holiday period only (within the meaning of Schedule 1 Paragraph 9 of the Housing Act 1988).

10.2 Guests undertake to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their property. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner in consultation with the Agents. In addition, the Owner reserves the right to sue the guest for any loss, damage or injury caused to the Owner, the Property or to other guests and/or their property.

11. Breach of Booking Conditions

11.1 If there is a breach of any of these conditions by the Guest or any of their party, the Owners or Canopy & Stars reserve the right to re-enter the Property and end the holiday and ask the Guest and their party to leave in addition to their other rights specified in these Booking Conditions.

11.2 Ending the Holiday by either the Owners or Canopy & Stars, or the Guests does not affect that party’s other rights and remedies.

12 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

Any dispute will be governed by the non-exclusive law and jurisdiction of the English or Scottish Courts depending on the location of the Property.

13. Authority to Sign

The person who signs the Booking Form certifies that:

1. he or she is authorised to agree the Booking Conditions on behalf of all persons included in the Booking Form, including those substituted or added at a later date;
2. the signatory is over eighteen years of age;
3. they agree to take responsibility for the party occupying the Property, and to notify Canopy & Stars if they are not a member of the holiday party.

14. Discrepancies

In case of a discrepancy between these Booking Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Booking Conditions shall prevail.

15. Validity clause

In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Booking Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Booking Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.