Buck's Coppice
Dorset, United Kingdom
- Cabin for 2 from £150 per night (read our low price promise)
- One king-sized bed and sofa bed suitable for two children
Overview
Ramble through ancient woods on the miles of the Jubilee Trail that crosses at the top of the country lane, then come home to lie on the suntrap deck and slide into the lake whenever you get too hot. The only visitors to this secluded spot, hidden in the depths of Dorset countryside, are a huge array of bird life, maybe deer, wild boar and if you're super lucky, visiting otters.
Mix up the walks in Hooke Woods and even a visit to the Hooke Park Architecture Centre, with trips to market towns and the cliffs and coves of the Jurassic coast, with beaches at Eype and Seatown overlooked by great pubs.
The chance to stay in the middle of a Site of Scientific Interest is rare, but after over 20 years living on the site in a caravan, Sid was granted permission to build this fabulous forest retreat. He did so with a considerate balancing of the comfort of nature and that of humans. The off-grid space draws its water from the lake with solar power and gas taking care of lighting, cooking and water heating. Any sense that this is “roughing it” is dispelled by the smart, understated style of the interior and the swish kitchen space, an aspiring chef’s dream. All this looking out upon the tranquility of the lake and the sea of greenery on your doorstep.
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 3 pm
- Check out: 10 am
- Buck's Coppice is self-check in. The owners will send detailed instruction prior to arrival with how to access the cabin
- Bring wellies, a torch, slippers and a swimming costume for wild swimming in the lake. Swimming is at your own risk! The large deck is fully fenced off from the lake with a swimming pool fence for safety
- In summer, on especially hot days, horseflies, midges and mosquitoes can be a nuisance around the lake. There is insect repellant in the bathroom cabinet you are welcome to use
- Kindling provided to get the fire going and a bucket of smokeless ovals
- Please take off your shoes at the door of the cabin
- 4G mobile phone signal outside cabin. No WiFi
- Sleeping arrangements
- One king-sized bed and sofa bed suitable for two children
Extra space available
Space for 1 baby no charge. please bring your own travel cot and equipment
Space for 2 children no charge. on a double sofa bed in the living room
Cooking
- Oven and gab hobs
- Fridge
- Kitchen sink for washing up
- Pots, pans, crockery and cutlery provided
- Drinking water is filtered from the lake and safe to drink
Washing
- Bathroom with flushing toilet and hot shower (water can take a minute to heat up)
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Woodburner (in colder, winter months may take a while to heat up the cabin)
- Free wood, kindling and fire lighters are provided
- Bed linen and towels provided
- Solar powered lighting inside the cabin. Motion sensor outdoor lighting
- 240v plug sockets
Entertainment
- Cards, Banagrams and Backgammon
Getting there
Buck's Coppice, Beaminster, Hooke, Dorset
Coordinates: 50.785611, -2.669389
Main entrance: ///floating.grit.reconnect
Please use the coordinates above or directions below to reach Buck's Coppice as there is no post code that can be used to reach the cabin.
By car
Head to Beaminster, Dorset. Upon arrival in Beaminster, reset your satnav for DT8 3PH. This will take you to the entrance of Hooke Park Architectural College. There is a red sign in the entrance. Do not enter Hooke Park, but carry on driving past this entrance on your right-hand side. You will pass two left hand turnings to Hooke.
You will now start to go down a hill. Take the first right, half way down this hill. Keep your eyes peeled as it isn’t signposted. It is almost like a slip way road that lifts off the road that you are travelling down. This is around half a mile from Hooke Park entrance. There is a house on the corner here. Keep going - it is now about a third of a mile to Buck’s Coppice. You will pass one gateway on your left after 100m. The road curves to the left and there is a forestry gateway on your right. Carry on. The road will enter the woods and go down into a dip. On the other side of the dip keep your eyes open for a gateway on your left-hand side. This is Buck’s Coppice. The gatepost is painted white on the top. If you reach a T Junction you have gone too far by about 100m or so.
The gate is secured by a padlock. Please use the tie/hook provided as when you let go of the gate it will slam shut very quickly which may damage your car. The owners will provide the combination for the padlock prior to arrival.
Parking is right next to the cabin.
On leaving Buck's Coppice, stop the engine when you are at the gate to listen for cars as visibility left and right is not amazing.
By public transport
Your own transport is advisable at Buck's Coppice due to the remote location, however the nearest train stations are in Maiden Newton and Crewkerne, with more frequent services from Crewkerne, a 20 minute drive away.
Food & Drink
Tea, coffee, sugar, salt, pepper and oil provided.
Local shops
The nearest shop is a Co-op in Beaminster, a 10 minute drive away and is open from 7 am to 11 pm daily. There are local shops here too.
Places to eat
Brassica - situated in Beaminster and according to the owners, the best restaurant in the area, using the finest of local produce. They do a brunch as well as dinner and it’s best to book.
Dorshi - located in Bridport and hidden down an alleyway in the centre of town, this has been getting good word of mouth locally for its adventurous Japanese fusion food.
Riverside Cafe - well known upmarket fish restaurant in West Bay.
The Three Horseshoes - situated in Powerstock in an idyllic Dorset valley and serving local food. The views from the rear terrace are superb.
Spyway Inn - on the slopes of Eggardon Hill in Askerswell, this is a really friendly local pub with home cooked good value, simple food and lovely views from the beer garden.
Wynyard’s Gap - pub particularly recommended for the view from the garden on a fine day.
The Lord Poullet Arms - located in Hinton St George, which is a little further afield. The village is stupidly picturesque and so is the pub with a delightful garden and fantastic food.
The Anchor Inn - in Seatown (7 miles away) two bars, outside terraces and cliff seating provide the perfect opportunity to come and enjoy the tranquility and views offered by this heritage coastline. Seafood, fresh local foods and ales. Excellent gastropub food.
The Hive Beach Café - in Burton Bradstock (on the beach) and 8 miles away from Buck's Coppice. Very popular seafood/fish café, ideal for coffee or lunch after a walk. On a sunny holiday day it gets extremely busy as it overlooks the beach – be prepared to queue or go early.
Watch House Café - located in West Bay, this used to be a greasy spoon but has been remade into a great café serving seafood and pizza (cooked in its own pizza oven) plus yummy cakes. It’s right on the beach but there are no views as such.
Rachel’s Kiosk - there are loads of kiosks serving seafood/burgers etc in West Bay but we particularly recommend Rachel’s for fresh fish/seafood dishes. It’s on right hand side of the pier close to the seaside car park (harbour side).
Seaside Boarding House - near Burton Bradstock, this is a more formal restaurant in the hotel of the same name just up the cliff from the Hive Beach Cafe. It’s owned by the former owners of the Groucho Club so attention to detail is obvious. A fun place to eat and drink cocktails. Their terrace looks directly out to sea – divine!
Soulshine Café -a really good place for brunch, excellent coffee and reading the papers in Bridport.
Red Brick Café - recommended locally for really good coffee and home cooked food. Located in the far corner of the Bridport antiques and vintage market on the Saint Michaels Trading Estate.
The Ollerod - located in Beaminster, upmarket restaurant serving small plates and an A La Carte menu which has been getting good reviews.
Activities
At Buck's Coppice
Go wild swimming in the lake.
Explore local footpaths. You can connect with the Jubilee Trail at the end of the lane which goes for miles across the county of Dorset.
Places to visit
Beaminster - Charming little town 10 minutes drive away. Your nearest place to get supplies. There is a post office, chemist, bakery, excellent butcher, fruit and veg shop (very fresh local produce), florist, hardware shop and a few boutiquey places for gifts. There is also a French patisserie!
Bridport is a bustling market town with a regular market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There is also a popular Farmers' Market on the second Saturday each month. Bridport is also known for its antiques and artistic community.
West Bay - Popular seaside village with a working port and shingle beach with the stunning Jurassic cliffs. People do swim but the drop off in the water is quick. Peregrine falcons can be spotted here. Please heed the warning signs and do not picnic/walk beneath the cliffs as they are constantly eroding and there have been numerous recent cliff falls! You may recognise the beach from the TV series Broadchurch.
The picturesque seaside town of Lyme Regis (11 miles away) is dominated by the Cobb - its famous 13th century harbour. It is the perfect place to visit for a day – browse the local shops, eat at one of the many restaurants, relax on the beach, take a fishing trip or play crazy golf.
Hooke Park Architectural College - Woodland site in Dorset and presents a 30 year history of experimental timber construction and rural architecture. The 150 hectare working forest is owned and operated by the AA and contains a growing educational facility for design, workshop, construction and landscape-focused activities. The Hooke Park woodland is open to the public through its rights-of-way. (Westminster Lodge was one of Sid’s first ever building jobs!)
Powerstock Common and Nature Reserve - This gem of a nature reserve supports an impressive list of rare and protected species amongst the intricate mosaic of unimproved wet and dry grassland, scrub, ancient woodland and small copses.
Kingcombe Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre - The nature reserve is managed as a traditional working farm, grazed by cows and sheep, without the use of pesticides, artificial fertilisers and other modern agricultural practices. The result is a patchwork of fields of unimproved flower-rich grassland, broken up by thick hedges, streams, ponds, ancient green lanes and wooded areas spreading up the valley either side of the River Hooke.
Mapperton House and Gardens - Wonderful Elizabethan stately home a 5 minute drive away with gorgeous gardens and a lovely café. Featured as Bathsheba’s home in the recent film adaption of Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd.
Eggardon Hill - A 10 minutes drive on the way to the coast. Iron Age hillfort with magnificent views across the Marshwood Vale to the coast. A fantastic walk can be made across the battlements.
Abbotsbury - Home to the stunning Abbotsbury Sub-tropical Gardens, a Swannery, Chesil Beach and St Catherine’s Chapel as well as the largest Tithe Barn in England and a children’s zoo and play area.
Outdoor & Active
Jubilee Trail - trail has paths nearby and criss-crosses the Dorset countryside from border to border. There are OS Maps in the cupboard next to the bathroom.
The Jurassic Coast covers 25 miles of coastline and has been designated a World Heritage Site – ranking it alongside the Grand Canyon and Great Barrier Reef as one of the natural wonders of the world. The 190 million year old rocks and cliffs ensure fantastic fossil hunting opportunities, with the beaches around Charmouth (8 miles) and Lyme Regis (11 miles) providing the ideal location.
Over 40% of Dorset has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In West Dorset you can lose yourself among the peace and tranquility of this unspoilt part of the country. There are nearly 300 coast and countryside guided walks to choose from and numerous leisurely pub strolls. If you choose to walk some of the South West Coast Path you'll be rewarded with some breath-taking coastal views.
Seatown - A lovely shingle beach, quieter than West Bay with fewer facilities although there is a fantastic pub recently voted Best Pub in England in The Independent.
Eype - A much more secluded beach accessed by a narrow road. No facilities at the beach although there is a pub 5 minutes uphill.
Meet your hosts
Meet Sid & Sandra
Sid was born in Dorset and is a carpenter by trade. He lived on the site of Buck's Coppice in a caravan for over 20 years, now living in London with his partner Sandra, who works in documentary film, and their son. His parents and family all live locally to Buck's Coppice and he and his family enjoy use of the cabin when it's not booked by guests. The stunning interiors of the cabin are down to Sid's craftsmanship!
Wildlife & Environment
Buck’s Coppice is situated in the heart of Hooke Woods, a forest which was historically a deer-hunting enclosure and is designated as ancient woodland. It forms part of Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is sited within an English farming landscape close to the market towns of Beaminster and Bridport and is a few miles inland from the Jurassic Coast – a UNESCO world heritage site.
The cabin is set in 6 acres of mixed woodland, with the Jubilee Trail, which goes for miles across Dorset, right opposite the end of the lane. The space is set on the side of a swimmable lake with a large deck built over the water. Local bird life include Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Black Cap, Flycatcher, Kingfisher, Tawny Owl, Jay and at the right time of year visiting waterfowl including Tufted Duck, Mallard, Little Grebe, Coot and Moorhen. You may also be lucky enough to spot deer, wild boar, foxes, badgers and even otters!
Buck's Coppice is built on a Site of Scientific Interest and is completely off-grid building. The cabin was completed in February 2016 with power generated by solar panels and stored in batteries for use when required. The cabin also has a diesel generator for times when excess electricity is required and features a wood burning stove for sustainable heat. Water is drawn from the spring-fed lake and filtered for washing and drinking (certified 100% safe to drink).
Our guests say...
We booked Buck's Coppice for our honeymoon and had a wonderful four nights there. Arriving felt like entering a fairytale - the cabin in the woods, the sparkling lake - it was perfect. We loved how quiet and secluded the spot was, it was perfect for a few days of truly getting away from it all. We spent most of the time at the cabin because it was so lovely. I swam every day in the lake and then warmed up by the woodburner. The place was beautifully decorated, comfortable and had everything we needed. The host had left helpful information and recommendations. It was the perfect honeymoon.
12/10/2020Libby
What an incredible stay at Sid's Buck's Coppice. It is without a shadow of a doubt one of the most beautiful places we have stayed in in our lives. The natural settings are stunning and incredibly peaceful, and the thought and patience that has gone into the house itself is incredible. Every detail has been thought out to make this a completely self-sustained place to stay. It is super cosy and we loved sitting out on deck, cosying by the fire, rowing and swimming in the lake. What a wonderful break. Sid was super helpful and we will definitely be going back when we get the opportunity. Tonnes to do down in Dorset and lots of things nearby. Cannot recommend enough. Edwin and Lulu
18/09/2020Edwin
We had a wonderful week at Bucks Coppice which exceeded all expectations. The setting is truly magical and to see the array of wildlife from the comfort of the deck knowing if it rained( it didn’t) we could move indoors and watch from the huge windows was a real treat. The interior of the lodge is kitted out to a very high specification with everything well planned and thought out. If you can tear yourself away there is a lot to do within a short distance: coast and countryside walks, pretty villages with good pubs, stunning gardens and National Trust. But for us the highlight was undoubtedly Bucks Coppice. Thank you Sid for giving us a memorable week ps wonderful night skies to be seen as no light pollution
06/09/2020Pauline
Amazing week at Buck’s Coppice. Completely secluded & private haven but with quick access to shops / restaurants. Beautiful inside & out. Our favourite ‘staycation’ so far. Will definitely be going back.
11/07/2020Tom
What a truly incredible stay! The gorgeous photos on the site didnt even do it justice in person. There is no one around and it feels like you have all of nature to yourself. The view of the lake is breath taking, and can be enjoyed from the huge bedroom windows as well as the living space. Even in grey rainy May the cabin was always full of light and never felt gloomy. The little woodburner keeps it surprisingly toasty, to the extent we had to open the doors to let out some heat more than once. The quality of the cabin itself is incredible! I'd hire Sid to come and fit out my own kitchen, and on top of the fantastic appliances we arrived to find the kitchen fully stocked with everything you could think of needing! Last shout out goes to the fabulous shower which beats even most hotels I stayed in! We honestly didnt want to leave, and will definitely be back soon!
08/03/2020Nikki
Love this place? Tell everyone!
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 Group of Companies, a majority employee owned business 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;
and
- 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 2.4.2 below. The Canopy & Stars telephone booking line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm. 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). 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 non-refundable deposit as required by the Owner of the Booking in question (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 will normally be sent out within 24 hours in the case of email and seven working days in the case of post and will contain the details of your Booking 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 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 a 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 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 may cancel your Booking and terminate their contract with you. In these circumstances, your rights to a refund are set out in clause 2.4.2. 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 and Amendment 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 one working day of receipt. You are also advised to confirm all changes to our Guest Experience Team by calling 0117 204 7830. 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 Any amendments to your Booking or cancellations made by you, at any time, may incur a £50 administration fee in addition to us retaining the non-refundable deposit as per clause 2.4.2. This represents the administration costs incurred by us on behalf of the Owner to deal with such requests.
2.3 Amendments and cancellations can only be accepted in accordance with the booking conditions of the Owner of your Booking. The Owner may charge the cancellation or amendment charges shown in their booking conditions (which may be as much as 100% of the cost of the Booking and will normally increase closer to the date of departure). The Owner may charge cancellation or amendment charges in accordance with its own booking conditions, however for the sake of convenience only, we have outlined the Owner’s charges at clause 2.4 and 2.5 below. Please note that these are the Owner’s own cancellation and amendments charges, not Canopy & Stars’, and therefore the Owner may vary their charges as they wish, without notice to us. The correct charges will be notified to you at the time of your cancellation or amendments. In the event of a cancellation your right to a refund is as per clause 2.4.2 below.
2.4 Owner’s General Cancellation Charges:
2.4.1 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your deposit being forfeited, as all deposits are non-refundable. Where a Booking has been taken with a deposit which is less than our standard deposit (25% of the total Booking Fee), the Guest will, upon cancellation, be liable to pay the difference between the reduced deposit and our standard deposit.
2.4.2 In the event of cancellation within 10 weeks of check in the total cost of the accommodation including the deposit is non-refundable. In some circumstances it may be possible to swap the stay to another date as per clause 2.5.5 below. Cancellation should always be in writing to info@canopyandstars.co.uk. The deposit is always 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.
2.4.3 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. Refunds 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.
2.4.4 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 2.4.2 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.
2.4.5 Cancellation insurance is available 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 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. 2.4.6 If you fail to check-in on your date of arrival your Booking will be cancelled and no refund will be due.
2.5 Owner’s General Amendment Charges:
2.5.1 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 2.4.2 above may apply. All amendments are subject to availability and may incur a fee which is at the Owner’s discretion (and is in addition to the Agency amendment fee as detailed in clause 2.2). Generally Owners will charge cancellation and amendment charges, the exact charges will be notified to you by the Owner at the time of cancellation and/or can be found in the Owner’s own booking conditions which are available from the Owner on request.
2.5.2 Differences in the total amount payable resulting from amendments to your Bookings will be refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price and paid by you in the case of increases in price.
2.5.3 In the event that 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.
2.5.4 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 via a Gift Voucher. Unless agreed otherwise, this Gift Voucher will only be redeemable with the same Owner as per the original Booking and Agency Booking Terms and Conditions would apply.
2.5.5 If a date swap is offered then normal Agency Booking Terms and Conditions would apply on the new date and Booking.
3. 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.
4. 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 20). 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.
5. Complaints
Because the contract for your Booking is between you and the Owner, any queries or concerns should be addressed to them. We always aim to provide the best possible holiday experience, however, in the event that you have any complaint or problems during your stay, please immediately notify the Owner as during the stay itself, so that the Owner has the opportunity to resolve the given problem at the time. Please also let us know of the problem as soon as possible by emailing info@canopyandstars.co.uk so we are aware too and can support you and the Owner with resolving anything. If you do not follow this procedure there will be less opportunity for the Owner to investigate and resolve your complaint and so make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Delays may also mean that amount of compensation you may be entitled to may be reduced or negated. Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also contact us as we appreciate all feedback. It is important to us and the Owner to know that you’ve enjoyed your stay or if anything could have been improved.
6. Pricing
6.1 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.
6.2 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Pets
9.1 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.
9.2 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.
9.3 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.
9.4 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.
9.5. 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 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.
10. 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 will 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.
11. 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 Booking you chose to purchase. 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.
12. 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. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday.
13. 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.
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. 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.
16. Your Responsibilities
16.1 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.
16.2 During the period of Covid-19 or any other pandemic it is also your responsibility to ensure that you are healthy and safe to travel and that you respect the safety of the Owner and any other guests by conforming to social distancing and other government guidelines relating to your stay.
16.3 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 will also require damage deposits.
16.4 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. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner.
16.5 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.
16.6 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, please contact Canopy & Stars.
17. 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.
18. Discrepancies
In case of a discrepancy between these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Agency Terms & Conditions shall prevail.
19. 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.
20. 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.
We booked Buck's Coppice for our honeymoon and had a wonderful four nights there. Arriving felt like entering a fairytale - the cabin in the woods, the sparkling lake - it was perfect. We loved how quiet and secluded the spot was, it was perfect for a few days of truly getting away from it all. We spent most of the time at the cabin because it was so lovely. I swam every day in the lake and then warmed up by the woodburner. The place was beautifully decorated, comfortable and had everything we needed. The host had left helpful information and recommendations. It was the perfect honeymoon.
12/10/2020