Scorlinch Shepherd's Hut
Devon, United Kingdom
Scorlinch Farm
- Our low price promise from £95 p/n
-
Shepherd's hut
Sleeps 2
- 1 double
Overview
Your adventure begins with the farm buggy greeting you to take your bags through the hay field and straight to the door. The cosy eco-hut is powered by a mini solar-power station and almost everything inside is locally made from the wool insulation in the walls to the woolly sheep-print curtains. The private decking is all yours, complete with a shelter to protect you from the elements, a covered kitchen, outdoor shower, a fire-pit and a stunning view. A local breakfast basket can be provided, including delicious home-made butter, jam and compote.
Explore the 20-acre farm - meet the sheep, chickens and turkeys, and perhaps even the odd peregrine falcon or stoat. There are a number of circular footpaths around the farm taking you to local villages and pubs. Very little noise beyond that of nature, fantastically clear skies and lack of light pollution make for a peaceful walk day or night.
Scorlinch Shepherd's Hut is available from the start of April to the end of October. The hut is in a field off the grid on a farm with great eco credentials. Additionally, whatever the weather, guests can access the facilities in the converted Milking Parlour in the farmyard. This is a great space in the colder months including an indoor shower, plumbed toilet and a kitchenette with mains power. For an additional charge you can use the private spa, including sauna, hot tub and spa pool. They aren't included in the price because if you don't use them, you're not paying for them.
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 3pm
- Check out: 11am
- The summer location of the shepherd's hut has spectacular views and is wonderfully isolated with complete privacy
- Please note that due to uneven terrain, the steps into the Shepherd’s Hut and the bed within it, guests will need to have sufficient mobility to be able to climb steps
- We suggest visitors bring torches and wellies whenever you visit
- We ask that visiting dogs are wormed and under control around the sheep
- As part of our low carbon footprint, Scorlinch Farm has an EV charging point which guests can use to recharge EVs at reasonable cost
Sleeping arrangements
- 1 double
Extra space available
Space for 1 baby from £20 per baby per night , travel cot provided
Space for 1 pet from £20 per pet per stay , only dogs that can be controlled around livestock
Kids & Pets
Babies and toddlers welcome however it is a working far. Children need to be kept under close supervision at all times. Dogs welcome but please keep on leashes around the livestock and ensure they are up to date on worming before they arrive
Cooking
In hut:
- In the winter weather when the hut is on a hard standing there is an electric kettle that can be used in the Shepherd's Hut
Summer location by the shelter:
- Fire pit with cooking grill, charcoal, wood and tools
In kitchen hut (30m from Shepherds hut):
- Single gas ring
- Large cool box with ice packs provides your refrigeration
- Washing up sink with hot and cold water, tea towels etc.
- Selection of pots, pans and utensils
- Salt, pepper, oil, vinegar, condiments and seasoning
- Variety of tea, coffee, hot chocolate and local fresh milk are provided
- Glasses, crockery and cutlery for up to four settings
In the Milking Parlour kitchenette
- As equipped in the kitchen hut. There is also an electric fridge, gas hob, electric kettle, toaster and combi microwave oven
Washing
- Hot and cold water in both locations in the kitchen
- At the shepherd's hut field location there is a high quality compost loo and a hand sink with hot and cold water
- There is a heated outdoor shower by the kitchen hut
- There is showering and a fully plumbed toilet in the Milking Parlour, a 5 minute walk from the Shepherd's Hut field site
Heating, lighting & bedding
- All bed linen and towels provided
- Wood-burner in the well insulated shepherds hut
- Enough charcoal and wood is supplied for short stays, for those staying longer more can be supplied for a small charge
- The shepherds hut is well lit with a separate bedside light and exterior light by the door.
- In the summer these are all powered by the renewable energy unit but there are candles and camping lanterns around the rest of the site that can be used in the hut should batteries be drained
Entertainment
- Selection of board games, playing cards and books
- Nature books and local OS maps and a wide selection of information about local activities
- Rechargeable radio which can be moved around the site (this also has a USB socket so phones can be charged off it)
- The Milking Parlour has a hot tub, sauna and spa pool that can be hired for exclusive access for the duration of the stay (to be agreed with owners on arrival) - £55 for 2 days, £65 for 3 days with £10 per day more for each additional day. Payment can be by card or cash on check out. If you wish to use them they are booked for the duration of your stay (meaning they can’t be booked on a day to day basis).
Getting there
Scorlinch Farm, Clyst St Lawrence, Cullompton, Devon EX15 2NJ
By public transport:
Whimple on the West of England Line is 3 miles away. Tiverton Parkway on the Penzance main line about 14 miles away. There isn't a bus stop nearby
Pick ups:
The owners can collect you from Whimple for free - please give lots of notice to them and arrange directly on booking. If you are travelling to Tiverton, a taxi costs around £35
By car:
Most Sat Navs will get you close but you need the instructions for the last part of the journey in the village otherwise you might not find us!
From M5 Southbound
Sat Nav will probably give you the right route to the village from Junction 28 on the M5 which is about 6 miles away:
- Take J28 and turn right off the junction and follow signs to Cullompton
- You will go towards the town centre, past Tescos on your left,
- You reach a T junction with traffic lights, turn left marked for town centre
- Follow this road through all the shops, past Aldi, and keep going until you get to a roundabout
- At the roundabout take the first exit on the left (probably marked Broadclyst)
- Follow this road for about a mile - you will past over the M5
- After about a mile there is a pub call the Merry Harriers on your left - with a bull statue outside (!) turn left here, marked Clyst Hydon
- The roads start to get narrower. You follow this road for about 2.5 miles - you just keep on it towards Clyst Hydon.
- After about 2.5 miles you will get to a large bend to the left with a turning to the right. The right turning indicates Clyst St Lawrence and the Five Bells Pub - turn right here
- Follow signs to the pub which you will drive past on your right
- Follow that very windy road (with passing places for when you meet vehicles) for about 1.3 miles. Just keep following it for Clyst St Lawrence
- When you reach the T junction at the end of the road turn left down the hill.
- You are now entering Clyst St Lawrence. You go past the church on your right, over the river on the bridge and keep going for about 200 yards
- Just when you think you are nearly out the village you will see a turning on your left, it says Mount Pleasant Farm, No parking and a rather invisible sign saying Scorlinch Farm.
- Turn down there and keep going down the track until you can go no further - we are the green farm house and you drive straight through the gate and park up!
From A303 Westbound
Sat Nav does not always get the route right
(Note the A303 becomes the A30 near Honiton)
- You are aiming to come off the A303/A30 after Honiton
- Take the exit marked Ottery St Mary and with the tourist sign for Escot
- Follow the directions to Ottery St Mary. You have to pass Escot to get to us - so it is a good barometer and follow those signs
- At Fairmile you will turn right to Escot and there will also be signs to Talaton
- Pass Escot on your right and keep going towards to Talaton
- Go through Talaton over railway and keep following the road
- You stay on that road for about another half mile
- When you see a large White House set amongst parkland, the road will bend round to the right
- Soon after there is a turning to the left marked Clyst St Lawrence and Westwood. Take this turning
- Go about 1 mile down this road which is quite windy
- You will see the Clyst St Lawrence sign. We are the first turning on the right as you enter the village. The turning says Mount Pleasant Farm, No parking and a rather invisible sign saying Scorlinch Farm
- Turn down there and keep going down the track until you can go no further - we are the green farm house and you drive straight through the gate and park up!
Parking:
Is a 5 minute walk away. When you arrive the owners will take you and your luggage in an ATV to and from the Shepherds Hut
Scorlinch Farm now have an EV charging point!
Food & Drink
At Scorlinch:
You'll find tea, coffee, hot chocolate and milk provided. There is also a water dispenser for easy access in the hut to water for drinking/boiling for drinks.
Breakfast baskets are available to order, packed with local goodies: homemade bread, butter and jam, Scorlinch eggs, local bacon, fruit juice and yoghurt. Card payments are possible at Scorlinch Farm.
You can order a BBQ box to be delivered to the hut at a discounted rate from the local Pipers Farm or buy their products from the owner who keep a stock of their excellent BBQ meat.
Local shop:
There is no shop in the village. The nearest shops are in Talaton 3 miles away and Whimple also 3 miles away.
There are three particularly renowned farm shops with cafes within a 20 minute drive from Scorlinch. Darts Farm (which won best UK Farm Shop 2020) and Greendale. Both are open quite late with excellent stock and a wide range of local produce including local fish. They also both offer excellent eat in and take away food. Fordmore Farm Shop and Café is in Cullompton (6 miles away). They also do various hamper meals of local produce.
Pubs & Restaurants:
The Bakehouse, Cullompton - lovely bistro, cafe and wine bar serving local produce
The Blacksmiths Arms, Plymtree - traditional pub, good for lunchtime, particularly as a stop on a circular walk from the shepherds hut (40 mins each way)
Fordmore Cafe – great day time café on the edge of Cullompton with local produce
The New Inn, Broadclyst - local pub 3 miles away for traditional pub grub
The Thirsty Farmer, Whimple - just over two miles away, good higher end food and open 7 days a week
The Red Lion, Broadclyst - lovely old pub in the centre of the village
The Merry Harriers, near Cullompton - 4 miles away, traditional pub grub in a classic Devon setting
Il Grano, Pinhoe - 5 miles away, a good local Italian restaurant open 7 days a week
For something special, the nationally recognised gastropub The Jack in the Green is about 5 miles away and has a amazing A la Carte restaurant, alongside its bar menu
Activities
At Scorlinch:
Enjoy nature and walk around the farm - you are welcome to collect eggs and feed the sheep!
The local footpaths lead through the farm, so there are a number of good walks that can be done straight from the farm. Additionally, it is only 20 minutes’ walk to Ashclyst Forrest which has some fantastic routes known for butterflies.
Places to visit:
Exeter, Ottery St Mary and Honiton are all great historical, cultural and interesting places to visit
Scorlinch is 5 miles from the wonderful Wildwood Escot, a fantastic historic garden with a number of specialist breeding programmes (including Red Squirrels) and birds of prey. Additionally Devon Country Pursuits based from Escot offer lots of activities like extreme Segway and quad biking.
There are some wonderful beaches within 10 - 15 miles: Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth and Exmouth
Yarak Bird of Prey Centre is 3.5 miles away, with the opportunity to see and work with beautiful birds of prey
It is an easy 40 minute drive to get to Dartmoor to enjoy the wildness there!
Killerton House (National Trust) is only 4 miles away and great for good and bad weather
Knighthayes is another National Trust near Tiverton with amazing grounds and house
Cadhay House is a real gem 5 miles away but only open some days and well worth a visit
Coldharbour Mill Museum, is a working wool museum and a great day out, mainly indoors
Slightly further afield is Powderham Castle, the castle is fantastic however the shops with cafe in old home farm are worth a visit
Outdoor & active:
South West Coastal Path for walking
There are lots of cycling routes round this area (you'll find maps provided in the Hut)
At Escot there is Devon Country Pursuits, with loads of activities from foot golf, archery, quad biking, extreme segway and axe throwing to name a few.
Devon Laser Clays is about 4 miles away, for those who might want some target practise
Near Cullompton is the brilliant Bear Trail which is a mud assault course suitable for all ages if you don’t mind getting muddy (they have showers!)
For the more adventurous it is possible to rent canoes and kayaks from the Quayside in Exeter and paddle out to the Double Locks and Turf Locks
Meet your hosts
Meet Hannah & David
Hannah & David bought Scorlinch in 2011 knowing they were taking on a significant project and also a career change: David becoming a full-time farmer and Hannah handling much of the planning and administration. When they arrived, the farmhouse and farm were derelict and two years of rebuilding had to happen before moving into the house. With that completed in 2013, they turned their hands to the land. They are gradually transforming the outbuildings into a liveable space. They now have a pedigree Poll Dorset flock of sheep and a thriving turkey and egg business. In 2018, they launched the amazing converted milking parlour with a swim spa, hot tub and steam room/sauna, which also provided the opportunity for great wet weather plans for guests.
Wildlife & the Environment
David and Hannah are committed to a carbon neutral set up and have tried to ensure the least environmental impact from their farm, creating a place where nature can thrive. They are surrounded by organically farmed land. The house runs off biomass for heating, solar for much of its electricity and its water system is off the water grid. There is very little light pollution at Scorlinch, so the stars are fantastic on a clear night and the wildlife is amazing: at night you see bats and if you are lucky then you might see the owls. There is also very little noise beyond that of nature. There is an abundance of flora and fauna, and also some less common sightings: Peregrine falcons, deer, foxes, badgers and stoats to name a few. The willow they have planted and the tidying up of hedgerows means they are attracting a good number of insects and you can spot some beautiful butterflies at certain times of year.
Reviews
Just so peaceful and relaxing, we absolutely loved everything. Our hosts were just so fantastic and helpful and just made the whole experience so much pleasurable. We shall come again.
27/10/2023Michael
I had a brief, two night solo stay here at the end of October. It was exactly what I needed. I left feeling rejuvenated and serene. The setting is idyllic and the shepherds hit and facilities are amazing. There is great attention to detail. I enjoyed sitting out on the deck reading, cooking in the kitchen, and using the outdoor shower. Really enjoyed having access to the hot tub and sauna in the sauna (especially when it was raining). Host David was helpful and welcoming, and really gave me space and privacy too. Loved my stay. I would certainly return.
24/10/2023Michael
Wonderfull retreat. Great hospitality . The venue was the perfect location with enough shelter and opportunity to really view the stars too! We had all we needed and the hut was well equipped with refreshments, extra blankets and games and firewood; though we didnt need a woodburner as it was so warm. Its just a short drive to some stunning coastline and pretty little seaside towns. The spa facilities were really relaxing and very good value for money
12/10/2023Sarah
Fell in love with this place instantly!
29/09/2023Alana
We really enjoyed our weekend break and the accommodation suited us perfectly and plenty of space for our dogs. The indoor facilities in the old milking parlour were really helpful as it turned out to be very wet weather!
15/09/2023Jennie
Booking Terms
Canopy & Stars low price promise
Book with us in confidence knowing you won’t find that place cheaper elsewhere. All of the prices we display are set and matched by our Owners. (In this world of foreign currency, we do have to say 'subject to exchange rates' for some of our European places.)
What does ‘from price’ mean?
Our ‘from price’ is based on a four night stay in low season and designed to help you to compare different prices across our collection. Some of our Owners vary their nightly rates and check in days throughout the year, so it may differ from the rate quoted below the calendar. It is quite common (although by no means universal) for places to charge a little more in peak season or for shorter stays, to cover changeover costs. Consider booking longer stays during the cooler months if you’re looking for the lowest nightly rates.
Agency Terms & Conditions
Except where otherwise specified, we Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd (Company No 09088366) of Merchants House, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RW act only as an Agent in respect of all bookings we take and/or make on your behalf. As an Agent we act as an intermediary between you and the owner (‘’Owner’’) of the holiday accommodation (‘’Property’’) you will be staying in. We help to arrange reservations and bookings between you and the Owner and take payments from you on behalf of the Owner.
We are only arranging a contract between you and the Owner for hire of the Property and for any other services or arrangement you purchase from the Owner (the “Booking”). This means the legal contract for the Booking is between you and the Owner despite the fact that a payment for the Booking has been made to the Agent. Your contract for the Booking is not with Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd (Canopy & Stars).
Canopy & Stars is part of the Sawday’s family of companies, a majority employee owned business, 24% owned by a charitable trust and a B Corp. We accept no liability in relation to any contract you enter into in relation to Bookings or for the acts or omissions of any supplier(s) or other person(s) or party(ies) connected with any Booking.
When making your Booking we will arrange for you to enter into a contract with the Owner, as detailed in clause 1.2 below. Your Booking is subject to these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other specific booking conditions of the relevant Owner(s) you contract with. The Owner’s booking conditions may limit and/or exclude the Owner’s liability to you.
You may decide to make more than one Booking at the same time. The price charged in total for more than one Booking will always equal the prices charged separately for each individual Booking. All Bookings are available to be purchased separately at the same price as they are when more than one Booking is made. This means that any multiple Bookings do not constitute a package as defined in the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992.
By making a booking, you agree that:
- You have read these Agency Terms & Conditions and agree to be bound by them;
- The lead name on the Booking will be the person responsible for the Booking and shall be responsible for paying the deposit and the full price, for making any amendment and cancellation requests and for the payment of any additional charges. The lead name accepts these Terms & Conditions on behalf of all persons in the Booking;
- You consent to our use of your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy;
- You are over 18 years of age and where there may be age restrictions in place, you declare that you and all members of your party are of the appropriate age
The Canopy & Stars online booking system enables Guests to make Bookings 24 hours a day. To confirm your booking, you must pay a 25% deposit (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of your check in date) and the entire Booking will be subject to the cancellation policy as outlined in clause 2 below. The Canopy & Stars telephone booking line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. When using the online enquiry form, for those Properties without online booking, 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 (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm). Online or email 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. Therefore, if possible, we do recommend that you book on the Canopy & Stars website using the online booking system.
1. Booking and payments
1.1 In order to confirm your chosen Booking, you must pay a 25% non-refundable deposit as required (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of the date of your check-in). The deposit is non-refundable as it covers costs incurred and services provided to enable your Booking. These include, but are not limited to, marketing and PR, property inspection fees, Owner management, booking management, credit card fees and customer service.
1.2 Your Booking is confirmed and a contract between you and the Owner will exist when we receive payment of the deposit and send you a booking confirmation on the Owner’s behalf. This Booking confirmation email will be sent within 24 hours and will contain the details of your Booking and of payments made and due. If you have not received your Booking confirmation email within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk). Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately. As we act only as booking Agent, we have no responsibility for any errors in any documentation except where an error is made by us.
1.3 Once the 25% deposit has been paid, the full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in. A reminder to pay your balance will be sent to you one week prior to this 10 week date, where applicable, by email. We automatically take the balance payment using the same card as used to make the deposit payment. It is your responsibility to advise us if we should use a different card and to contact us by telephone (0117 204 7830) to arrange for alternative payment method. If the automated balance payment does not successfully go through as there is a problem with your card, such as it is expiring, then we will contact you to try and take alternative payment. If you do not make any payment due to Canopy & Stars by the due date for payment and at the latest within 5 days of this date, then with regret, we will notify the Owner who will cancel your Booking and terminate their contract with you. In these circumstances, your rights to a refund are set out in clause 2.3 and 2.4 below. Please note that if you have paid in a currency that is different to the original pricing, we will not be able to guarantee the same conversion rate that was used to convert the deposit payment.
1.4 Except where otherwise advised or stated in the booking conditions of the Owner concerned, all monies you pay to us for a Booking will be held on behalf of the Owner(s) concerned.
1.5 Credit Card payments are processed via Elavon who provide merchants services facilities to Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd.
2. Cancellation by You
2.1 If you have to, or want to cancel or amend your Booking, this request must be sent to us by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk) and will be considered and responded to within two working days of receipt. Please ensure that you have received written confirmation of any changes to your Booking prior to travel. Whilst we will always try to help, we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met.
2.2 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your 25% deposit being forfeited. The deposit is always non-refundable as it covers costs incurred and services provided to enable your Booking.
2.3 All bookings are non-amendable and non-refundable within 10 weeks of your check in date. If you need to cancel your booking within 10 weeks, the total cost of the accommodation including the deposit will be forfeited. Cancellation should always be in writing to bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk.
2.4 If you need to cancel your booking at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, the 25% deposit will be forfeited. If the booking has been paid in full the balance will be returned to you, minus the 25% deposit. Refunds will be issued in the same form and ratio as the original payment was made. Therefore, if a Gift Voucher was used to book your stay, the refund will be back onto a new Gift Voucher at the same amount as originally used. Alternatively, if you paid in cash, your refund will be processed in the currency of the booking. Where this is different to the currency of the payment card, this will be converted at the current exchange rate on the day of the refund.
2.5 Cancellations made by you, at any time, may incur a £50 administration fee in addition to us retaining the non-refundable deposit. This represents the administration costs incurred by us on behalf of the Owner to deal with such requests.
2.6 If extreme weather prevents you from reaching your holiday, taking, or finishing your holiday, you are still subject to these cancellation terms as outlined in clause 2.3 above. We strongly recommend that you take out a travel insurance policy which covers this eventuality. In the event of the property becoming unavailable (such as due to fire or flooding), Canopy & Stars will endeavour to provide the Guest with suitable alternative accommodation, starting with any other accommodation that may be available with the same Owner of your Booking, or will refund all monies paid, or a proportion in the case of curtailment. The Agency cannot, however, pay any compensation or expenses as a consequence of such an event.
2.7 Cancellation insurance is available to purchase from many providers, but will be a third-party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way. You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party for UK holidays and you must take out personal travel insurance for international holidays, including for illness and cancellation due to Covid-19. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover is adequate for your needs, including cancellation and curtailment.
2.8 If you fail to check-in on your date of arrival your Booking will be cancelled and no refund will be due.
3. Amendments to your booking, requested by you
3.1 Amendments to your Booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time amendments may be treated as cancellation and our refund policy as detailed in clause 2.3 above may apply. All amendments are subject to availability and may incur a £50 admin fee detailed in clause 2.5 above.
3.2 If we can fulfil your request to amend your booking, any differences in price as a result of the amendment, will be paid by you in the case of an increase and refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price, e.g. amending your booking from low season to high season.
3.3 In the event that a date swap is offered, this will normally be agreed with a set timeframe to rebook and sometimes a credit against a future stay will be offered. The credit can only apply to a stay at the same space as originally booked.
3.3.1 If a date swap is offered, then the Agency Booking Terms and Conditions applied at the time of your original booking will still apply. Therefore, if your date was swapped within 10 weeks of the original check in date, the 10 week cancellation policy set out in clause 2.3 applies to your new stay, even if the new check in date is beyond 10 weeks.
4. Refunds
If a refund is issued it will be in the same form and ratio as the original payment was made. Therefore, if a Gift Voucher was used to purchase the original stay, the refund will be back onto a new Gift Voucher at the same amount as originally used.
5. Insurance
You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party for your holiday, including holidays in the UK. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover is adequate for your needs, including cancellation and curtailment for any reason. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday.
6. Changes and Cancellations by the Owner
We will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if the Owner needs to make a significant change to your confirmed Booking or to cancel your Booking. We will also liaise between you and the Owner to try and organise an alternative Booking offered by the Owner, or a refund but we will have no further liability to you.
7. Cancellations due to events outside of Owner’s control
An Owner may have to cancel a booking due to events outside of their reasonable control (see clause 22). In such circumstances, we will liaise between you and the Owner to try and organise an any alternative Booking offered by the Owner, or a refund but we will have no further liability to you.
8. Complaints & Procedure
We always aim to provide the best possible holiday experience, however, if you have any complaint or problems during your stay, please immediately notify the Owner during the stay itself, so that the Owner has the opportunity to resolve the problem at the time. If you do not follow this procedure, there will be less opportunity for the Owner to investigate and resolve your complaint and to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Delays may also mean that the amount of compensation you may be entitled to, may be reduced or negated.
Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also let us know of the problem as soon as possible by emailing info@canopyandstars.co.uk. We will aim to respond within 1 working day to acknowledge your email. We will then review your feedback and investigate the complaint. This may involve discussing your concerns with the owner, revising the website listing for inaccuracies, and reviewing previous guest feedback and internal inspection notes. This process can take time to complete, so please allow approx. 7 working days for a final response.
We also welcome you to fill in our feedback survey which will be sent to you via email the day after you check out. It is important for us to gather as much information as possible about the experiences our guests are having. This is what helps us support our Owner in fulfilling their potential and identifying if anything could be improved.
9. Our Responsibility for your Booking
Your contract is with the Owner and its booking conditions apply. As Agent, we accept no responsibility for the actual provision of the Booking. Our responsibilities are limited to making the Booking in accordance with your instructions and acting properly in accordance with our legal duties as an Agent. We accept no responsibility for any information about the Booking that we pass on to you in good faith. However, in the event that we are found liable to you on any basis whatsoever, our maximum liability to you is limited to twice the cost of your Booking (or the appropriate proportion of this if not everyone on the Booking is affected). We do not exclude or limit any liability for death or personal injury that arises as a result of our negligence or that of any of our employees whilst acting in the course of their employment.
10. Your Responsibilities
10.1 Please note that you have a contract with the Owner of the property. As such you are under a responsibility to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner whilst staying at the property with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their Property.
10.2 You are responsible for informing the Owner of any losses or damage to the property as soon as possible. Please note that you will be liable to pay the Owner for any losses or damage to the property caused by you or a member of your party (except reasonable wear and tear). Some Owners may also require a damage deposit. If so, this information will be provided on the website place page under ‘essentials’.
10.3 You must also leave the property by the check-out time specified on your Booking. 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 and/or refuse any future bookings from you. Please note that this would be without the right to any refund.
11. Pets
11.1 Not all properties accept pets. If you wish to take your pet on holiday, please advise us before booking and we can check whether pets are accepted at the property. You must obtain the prior consent of the Owner before taking any pets to the property. If you take a pet to a place that doesn’t allow pets, or you exceed the number of pets allowed at a place, the Owner has the right to refuse you to stay at the Property, and/or they may ask you to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period. Please note that this would be without the right to any refund.
11.2 A nightly charge may be made by the Owner for each pet and additional terms may apply, you will be notified of this at point of Booking. Please check these terms carefully before booking and arriving.
11.3 Please do not leave your pets alone or unsupervised in the property at any time during your stay. For the safety and comfort of your pet we request that Owners exercise due diligence at all times, especially where the property is located near a road/livestock. Canopy & Stars nor the Owner can accept responsibility for the safety of your pet.
11.4 If any guest has an allergy to pets, please be aware that Owners (and we) cannot guarantee that a pet has not stayed in a particular Property. We and Owners cannot accept responsibility for any suffering which may occur as a result of such animals having been present in a property.
11.5 We ask that all owners of pets keep their pet under control at all times and to be responsible for ensuring that they do not damage the Property, livestock or vegetation during the stay. You will be liable for any damage caused by your pet. Any damage is to be reported to the Owner immediately. Any additional cleaning required, that may incur an additional charge, will be at the Owner's discretion.
12. Special requests
If you have any special requests (for example dietary requirements, allergy, cots or room location), please let us know at the time of booking. We will pass on all such requests to the Owner, but unfortunately, we can't guarantee that they will be met and we will have no liability to you if they are not.
13. Maximum Numbers
Please note that except by prior arrangement confirmed in writing, only the number of persons specified on a booking confirmation may occupy a property. Most owners reserve the right to refuse admittance or revoke a Booking if this condition is not observed and you are unlikely to receive any refund.
13.1 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. As Agent, we will have no liability to you in these circumstances.
13.2 The Owner only supplies the Property for domestic and private use. You agree not to use the Property for any commercial, business or re-sale purpose, and the Owner has no liability to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity. If you do wish to use the Property for a commercial purpose, you must contact Canopy & Stars prior to confirming your booking.
14. Group Bookings
Not all Owners accept Bookings for a single sex group (for example, a stag or hen party). Guests wanting to make such a Booking should check with us beforehand to enable us to check whether the Owner is prepared to accept the Booking. We will then advise you accordingly. In event that an Owner does not accept this type of Booking then it is with regret, that the Booking may be cancelled, and cancellation fees may apply. It is the Guest’s responsibility to enquire with Canopy & Stars and/or check on our website beforehand to make sure that this type of Booking is permitted.
15. Pricing
15.1 Canopy & Stars reserve the right to amend advertised prices at any time on behalf of the Owner. We also reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices. Special note: changes and errors sometimes occur.
15.2 Rates are set per place in the currency specified by the Owner. Where this has been converted into the currency of your preference, until the payment stage this will be an estimation only, based on a recent exchange rate. The original rate will be displayed before you confirm your payment and you will be given the option of paying in your own currency at our guaranteed rate, or paying in your own currency and leaving the conversion and any associated fees to your card provider.
16. Information & Accuracy
The information and prices shown on this website are varied from time to time and may change between the time you first view a property and make a Booking. You should check that all the details are as you expect prior to making a Booking. It is always possible that, despite our best efforts, some of the properties (including the features and extras available) may be incorrectly described and/or priced. If we discover this is the case after you have made a Booking, we reserve the right to contact you with details of the correct information and/or pricing and will give you the option to:
(1) proceed with the Booking based on the correct information and/or pricing, which may require the payment of an additional amount by you
OR
(2) subject to availability, change your booking dates to dates when the pricing can be honoured and so no additional charge to you. In the event that a lower price can be offered for alternative dates then the difference would be refunded
OR
(3) cancel the Booking. If we do not receive your instructions within 5 days of contacting you, we reserve the right to cancel your Booking without liability to you.
17. 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 advertised holiday rental price. If the rate of VAT changes between the date of the Booking and the date of the stay, Canopy & Stars may adjust the rate of VAT that you pay, unless you have already paid for the Booking in full before the change in the rate of VAT takes effect.
18. Visa, passport and health requirements
Unless you tell us otherwise, we assume that all members of your party are British citizens who hold or will hold full British passports valid for the entire duration of the international Booking. Information on visa, passport and health requirements, where given and applicable, is so given on this basis. Requirements may change and you are therefore strongly recommended to check the up to date position with the Owner of the Booking, Passport Office, appropriate embassy or consulate or your doctor as applicable in good time before the commencement of your holiday. Prior to international travel it is your responsibility to check whether it is safe to travel by visiting the FCO website www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
19. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These terms and conditions have been drafted in accordance with and are governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any and all disputes arising out of these Agency Terms & Conditions.
20. Discrepancies
In case of a discrepancy between these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Agency Terms & Conditions shall prevail.
21. Validity clause
In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Agency Terms & Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Agency Terms & Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.
22. Events beyond an Owner or Agency’s control
If an Owner or Canopy & Stars is prevented or delayed from complying with any of their respective obligations under these Agency Terms & Conditions or a contract for a Booking due to events or circumstances beyond their reasonable control, the inability or delay in performing those obligations will not be treated as a breach of these Agency Terms & Conditions or a contract for a Booking. Examples of such events or circumstances include fire, flood and other acts of God, strikes, trade disputes, lock outs, restrictions of imports or exports, riot, accident, disruption to energy supplies, civil commotion, acts of terrorism or war, pandemic (including Covid-19), any national/local/regional government restrictions.
Thank you for wading through all the very boring, but very important stuff above.
Now the outdoors is calling, so go and get wild in nature!
Just so peaceful and relaxing, we absolutely loved everything. Our hosts were just so fantastic and helpful and just made the whole experience so much pleasurable. We shall come again.
27/10/2023