All about Westley Farm

All about Westley Farm

Cows in the afternoon sun

Westley Farm is an inspiring place. A hive of activity, from farming to making yurts to running many courses. Julian and Hege own the farm and run the courses, whilst Blue and Graham take good care of the yurts and their guests. All four follow a green and sustainable approach to all that they do. Julian uses no artificial fertilisers or pesticides on the farm and limits the use of weed control to spot treatment when unavoidable. The varied habitats of traditional hay meadows, ancient woodland, regenerating coppice and species-rich limestone grassland on the farm have ensured Westley's acceptance onto the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme. With the help of a few local friends, Hege, an archaeologist, runs some fascinating courses including bushcraft and foraging. Other courses can be arranged too, from pottery to painting, so just ask and see what's available.

Blue and Graham started making yurts about 5 years ago. They love their craft and it's there to be seen in Sapperton Yurt. The little details make a massive difference and they've both got that canny knack of knowing how to make things creatively and cleverly.

Compost loo with a view

Environmental policy

Westley Farm is committed to sustainable tourism and you'll see many examples of this during your stay. In the farmhouse they've installed solar water heating for keeping up with all the summer linen washing. As part of their efforts to reduce the impact of the business on the environment, they also offer full recycling facilities to their guests and are investigating the possibilities of providing their own electricity from a wind turbine.

Here are just a few of the many things they're doing to reduce their carbon footprint and make your stay as green as possible...

Sapperton Yurt has its own recycling and composting bin.

Ask Blue before your stay about their free pick-ups to and from the local train station. There are details of local walks and maps you can borrow. A local cycle hire company can deliver bikes to the farm for you to use during your stay.

Cleaning is environmentally friendly too, using products such as Ecover.

Much of the farm is under Higher Level Stewardship Scheme which means they encourage wildlife and protect and enhance habitats for rare and endangered species.

Wildlife

Westley is teeming with wildlife and part of the charm of staying at Sapperton is simply walking around the fields and forest.

Julian and Hege are doing their best to encourage the Marsh Fritillary butterfly to breed here with the help of Natural England. Though not overly impressive to look at, its success here is important as it only breeds on one other site in Gloucestershire, which happens to be nearby. As part of their Higher Level Stewardship, they commissioned a professional survey of their flora and fauna and discovered, among other things, that they have dormice in the woods. Rabbits are everywhere and the scrub is a refuge for many small mammals, beetles and plenty of nectar for bees and butterflies. You are bound to see deer, buzzards, hawks and bats, and hear the hoot of owls and the bark of foxes. In summer, orchids thrive in the wildflower meadow.

B&B

There are five self-catering cottages and three other yurts at Westley Farm, so you can come as a group or with friends.

All of the yurts have their own private clearings and are on the other side of the farm to Sapperton Yurt. They do all share use of the Old Barn back at the farm. This is a fully equipped kitchen, with washing machine, tumble dryer, drying rack, flush loo and showers. It also has maps and local information leaflets as well as books and games to borrow. There's an outdoor washing line in the vegetable garden. Sapperton has its own bathroom facilities within its clearing so you don't actually need to leave your little woodland area.

Sapperton Yurt - details

• 2 ring gas burner in fully equipped field kitchen at the yurt
• Sapperton Yurt has its own balcony with lounge chairs which is perfect for dining in privacy and comfort
• Full kitchen available in the communal Old Barn kitchen
• Campfire at the Sapperton Yurt
• There is a ceramic cool jar for storing milk and such and a fridge/freezer in the Old Barn

• All provided, including towels

• Book, jigsaws, cards and board games all available in the Old Barn kitchen

• Wellies
• Woolly jumper
• Walking boots
• Good maps
• Nothing functional! The yurt is fully equipped, just pack a change of clothes and maybe some extra coal for the bbq

• Check in time is 4pm
• Check out time is 10am
• No pets are allowed at Sapperton Yurt
• The Sapperton Yurt is for couples only, but other arrangements may be possible
• Wifi is available at the farmhouse, not in the yurt itself
• Phone reception is ok at the yurt on most networks
• The occasional glider may pass overhead, vying with the buzzards for a peek of you sunbathing
• There is a railway which passes through the lower woodland, but its only faintly in earshot

Getting there

Westley Farm, Chalford, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 8HP

By car

Coming to Westley Farm is very easy as they're just off the A419, halfway between Cirencester and Stroud. From the A417, follow signs to Cirencester (industrial area). Go round Cirencester ring road to A419 Stroud. Six miles out of Cirencester look for a lay-by on the right, opposite Aston Down gliding airfield. The next turning on the right is marked 'Westley Farm Holiday Cottages'.

By train and bus

Leave the car at home and arrange to be collected from Stroud or Kemble, the nearest train stations. There are National Express services to Cirencester and Stroud bus stops.

By glider

With a good wind, it would technically be possible to arrive by glider, landing at Aston Down, Cotswold Gliding Club. It would then be a half-mile walk to Sapperton Yurt. No one has arrived this way before, but a free organic hamper and a pat on the back to the first that does.

Things to do

Sapperton Yurt from above

Things to do on the farm

The pictures pretty much say it all...walk in the woods, or lie in a meadow watching the clouds. Take a picnic with you if you like - or include one of the local pubs on your route. You could even take part in one of Westley Farm's many courses. Sitting on the deck of your yurt, immersed in glorious greenery, or snuggled by the fire in the evening, you may wonder why anyone bothers to go anywhere else...

Outdoor & active

Noah's Ark will deliver and pick up hired bikes to the farm, allowing you to explore the Cotswold lanes.

The more adventurous may take a flight in a glider - the club at Aston Down is half a mile away.

Rainy days

Stroud’s Museum in the Park has some interesting prehistoric and post-Middle Ages stuff and a good local geology room.

Cirencester’s Corinium Museum (mainly Roman of course) is worth a trip.

Northleach’s Museum of Mechanical Music is small, odd and charming in equal measures.

Gifford's Circus is an amazing touring circus. Small and charming in the way a circus should be. It stops at Minchinhampton (almost) every year. So if the circus is in town, make sure you go.

Places to visit

Uley Bury (an Iron Age hillfort) is just a short drive away near Hetty Pegler’s Tump (a Neolithic long barrow) and at the bottom of the hill, there’s a brewery (oh joy!) run by a local character. His beer is also sold in the village pub.

While you’re in Uley, why not go to the beautiful Owlpen Manor - Vita Sackville-West’s favourite place – for tea and cake after mooching round the house. The village of Uley lies in a sort of bowl surrounded by oddly shaped hills and ridges.

Rabbit in the Golden Valley

Woodchester Mansion is an unfinished Victorian high gothic house in a wooded valley with lakes. As all good gothic mansions should, it has a resident population of horseshoe bats. There are guided tours, or you can explore by yourself. Afterwards, go to Giuseppe’s Italian restaurant at the Nympsfield Gliding Club. Giuseppe serves genuine Italian food with great character in the gliding club’s no-frills canteen. He also sells olive oil, fresh parmesan and other Italian treats.

Dunt Valley between Westley Farm and Cirencester is a great place to walk. It's a very different shape to Golden Valley, home of Sapperton Yurt, and has five late Saxon/early Norman churches all within 5 miles of each other. Then pop back to the Golden Valley village of Miserden for lunch at the pub. After lunch visit the Miserden Estate nursery which has very good prices for high quality plants. The house and gardens are occasionally open to the public.

Minchinhampton Common is an area of land managed by the National Trust but grazed by all with commoners’ rights. Not only does it have great views of the valleys either side, and valuable flora and butterflies, and three pubs all with excellent food, it also has an ice cream factory! Absolutely delicious, but watch out for curious cows - because it’s a common, cows roam around freely; on the grass, on the road, right next to you as you lick your ice cream.

Courses & classes

Spring foraging weekend - On this course, you'll identify and gather some seasonal, edible and tasty examples of the local flora and look at different ways to prepare and cook them. By the end of the weekend you will have enough knowledge to sample and harvest a variety of plants on your own days out in the countryside.

Coming soon...

Owl Prowls with TV's Chris Sperring - Chris Sperring MBE is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust, as well as an experienced Naturalist and Broadcaster. Take an evening walk through the farm with Chris as he identifies the local owls and describes their habits and habitats. Small groups only so book early!

Awakening the spark – Basic bushcraft course focusing on fire by friction, making bowls using fire, spoon carving, shelter building and tracking with Chris Holland. This course opens the doorway to the world of bushcraft, introducing the basic skills necessary to feel at home in the great outdoors. The final course content is subject to the interests of the group but is likely to include most of the following: fire-making and management including fire-by-friction, improvised shelters, wild edible and medicinal plants and simple campfire cookery.

Ask Hege for details of courses available during your stay.

Also local experts on butterflies, bee keeping, moths and more are all available to give guided walks and talks.

Festivals, celebrations and special days

Westley Farm Open Weekend falls in early May. Last year's event included falconry and ferreting displays, heavy horses working in the woods, local cider producers with ample opportunities to sample some tasty ciders, local artists exhibiting their work and a solar powered gig ‘Wandering Ska’. Next year's weekend will surely be even better, hopefully with the return of the festival food tent, and many other surprises.

Apple Pressing Day will be in late October. The communal hydraulic press draws in neighbours and friends for a day of washing, mashing and pressing. Inevitably some (much) cider is tasted and then a song or two follows…

Eating & drinking

Pubs & restaurants

These are favourites of Hege and Julian, all within a couple of miles of Sapperton Yurt and all a great resting place after a lovely walk.

Bell Inn at Sapperton.

Crown at Frampton Mansell - this one’s their absolute favourite.

Ragged Cot at Minchinhampton.

Eating & drinking at Westley Farm

Chester and Teddy

Local produce

There's an abundance of local produce to be eaten while staying at Westley Farm. Stroud Farmers’ Market is a 'foodie' paradise and even the local village shop does a fine line in local and seasonal delicacies and produce. You don't even need to walk there, as the two Chalford donkeys Chester and Teddy will deliver groceries up the steep narrow lanes from the village shop every Saturday morning - and to your yurt if you order it! Don't forget the foraging opportunities too...probably best tried after the foraging course.

In Minchinhampton, there's an excellent local organic dairy which has a shop selling their own eggs, milk and cheese. Really good bread is also sold there from the best baker in Stroud. Minchinhampton also has a high quality butcher selling locally reared meats, and a vegetable shop.

Prince Charles lives nearby in Tetbury and has opened two shops there: one’s an organic vegetable shop.

You'll find details within the yurt of local places to eat and local food producers. You can even arrange for groceries to be delivered to the farm on the day of your arrival and a couple of local suppliers and restaurants will deliver too.

All about Westley Farm

Cows in the afternoon sun

Westley Farm is an inspiring place. A hive of activity, from farming to making yurts to running many courses. Julian and Hege own the farm and run the courses, whilst Blue and Graham take good care of the yurts and their guests. All four follow a green and sustainable approach to all that they do. Julian uses no artificial fertilisers or pesticides on the farm and limits the use of weed control to spot treatment when unavoidable. The varied habitats of traditional hay meadows, ancient woodland, regenerating coppice and species-rich limestone grassland on the farm have ensured Westley's acceptance onto the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme. With the help of a few local friends, Hege, an archaeologist, runs some fascinating courses including bushcraft and foraging. Other courses can be arranged too, from pottery to painting, so just ask and see what's available.

Blue and Graham started making yurts about 5 years ago. They love their craft and it's there to be seen in Sapperton Yurt. The little details make a massive difference and they've both got that canny knack of knowing how to make things creatively and cleverly.

Compost loo with a view

Environmental policy

Westley Farm is committed to sustainable tourism and you'll see many examples of this during your stay. In the farmhouse they've installed solar water heating for keeping up with all the summer linen washing. As part of their efforts to reduce the impact of the business on the environment, they also offer full recycling facilities to their guests and are investigating the possibilities of providing their own electricity from a wind turbine.

Here are just a few of the many things they're doing to reduce their carbon footprint and make your stay as green as possible...

Sapperton Yurt has its own recycling and composting bin.

Ask Blue before your stay about their free pick-ups to and from the local train station. There are details of local walks and maps you can borrow. A local cycle hire company can deliver bikes to the farm for you to use during your stay.

Cleaning is environmentally friendly too, using products such as Ecover.

Much of the farm is under Higher Level Stewardship Scheme which means they encourage wildlife and protect and enhance habitats for rare and endangered species.

Wildlife

Westley is teeming with wildlife and part of the charm of staying at Sapperton is simply walking around the fields and forest.

Julian and Hege are doing their best to encourage the Marsh Fritillary butterfly to breed here with the help of Natural England. Though not overly impressive to look at, its success here is important as it only breeds on one other site in Gloucestershire, which happens to be nearby. As part of their Higher Level Stewardship, they commissioned a professional survey of their flora and fauna and discovered, among other things, that they have dormice in the woods. Rabbits are everywhere and the scrub is a refuge for many small mammals, beetles and plenty of nectar for bees and butterflies. You are bound to see deer, buzzards, hawks and bats, and hear the hoot of owls and the bark of foxes. In summer, orchids thrive in the wildflower meadow.

B&B

There are five self-catering cottages and three other yurts at Westley Farm, so you can come as a group or with friends.

All of the yurts have their own private clearings and are on the other side of the farm to Sapperton Yurt. They do all share use of the Old Barn back at the farm. This is a fully equipped kitchen, with washing machine, tumble dryer, drying rack, flush loo and showers. It also has maps and local information leaflets as well as books and games to borrow. There's an outdoor washing line in the vegetable garden. Sapperton has its own bathroom facilities within its clearing so you don't actually need to leave your little woodland area.

Booking terms for Sapperton Yurt

Booking Conditions 2010

Please note that Canopy & Stars is acting as an 'Agent' in the booking of Sapperton Yurt on behalf of Hege Usborne and Blue Stewart (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 (01179 247 877) 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.

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 not permitted at Sapperton Yurt. We apologise for any inconvenience.

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.