Withy Bed Camp - Dorset, United Kingdom
Stock Gaylard
- Camp for 14 from £130 per night (read our low price promise)
- 2 sleeping yurts with 1 double, 2 singles & single futon, 1 yurt with 4 single futons
Suitable for children of all ages
Pets welcome
Children and up to two dogs welcome. Please keep dogs out of the sleeping yurts.
Down a farm track, just above the small stream and just around the corner from the deer park you’ll find the three sturdy yurts on a raised wooden deck that make up Withy Bed Camp. It's a good ten minute walk from, well, anything at Stock Gaylard, so you have the camp and its surrounds all to yourself. Owners Andy and Josie had these yurts built (using the estate’s very own ash) by a local furniture maker, who also made all the bespoke furniture. The yurts contain cosy rugs and notoriously comfy beds, and there is a kitchen on one side and a seating area on the other where you can relax together or get out a board game. The whole camp faces west so whether you're lying in bed or toasting marshmallows over the fire, you'll get the best of the sun setting below the Dorset horizon. There's a compost loo and outdoor shower just on the edge of the deck and don't miss the opportunity to give the “bath under the stars” a go though – you’ll even get to heat your own bathwater in the wood-fired heater.
It's a good 5-10 minute walk from, well, anything at Stock Gaylard, so you have the camp and its surrounds all to yourself - in fact there are 1800 acres of land to explore, including the deer park and beautiful mixed woodland, and there's plenty of wildlife to spot - just from your camp you’re likely to see roe deer grazing between the wood and field edges. The local area offers a whole range of activities, from more traditional rural activities like fishing and archery to the less traditional paintballing.
Our guests say...
Stacey
A group of 9 of us were down in Dorset for a friend's wedding. We had such a lovely time at Withy Bed Yurts and the location was great - we were only 15minutes drive from the wedding venue and close to a few small supermarkets for BBQ supplies! We also drove down to the coast one day and that was brilliant. The yurts are really cosy, nicely decorated, comfy beds, great little fire pit area and easy to use BBQ. No one used the bath but we all agreed the shower was great. Outdoor toilet was fine for a few days! Wendy was really helpful and very sweet, the shower broke at one point and she has someone down within literally 5 minutes and it was fixed straight away. We would absolutely come back! Thank you!
14/07/2017Hannah
family get-together in three well equipped,beautifully constructed yurts.Solar powered 'fridge and lights ,which added a touch of magic,Gas cooker and shower and fun of heating our own water with wood supplied to bathe under the stars.Comfy beds,bird song, songs around the camp fire,lovely walks.
03/07/2017angela
What a wondeful site! Having two yurts for sleeping in and one for socialising made it very restful for everyone - those who wanted to sleep half the day in the exceedingly comfortable beds and those who wanted to play board games and charades around the fire into the night (there was a lot of both!) were all accommodated. There are gorgeous views all around as the Sun is setting, and walks to local pubs which are very worth doing. Everyone had a peaceful, sociable time (and the most wonderful baths in the open air) and would really love to come back. Thank you!
14/04/2017Pippa
We had the most wonderful time. Granted, the weather was definitely on our side but the situation and accommodation were equally satisfying. Great attention to detail, total seclusion and a very warm welcome.
07/04/2017Jemima
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Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: from 4pm
- Check out: before 10am
- The site may differ slightly to the photos - some alterations have been made to the general layout of the camp and the decking enlarged to allow for an additional third sleeping yurt to be added for the 2018 season.
- Sleeping arrangements
- 2 sleeping yurts with 1 double, 2 singles & single futon, 1 yurt with 4 single futons
Extra space available
Space for 1 baby no charge.
Space for 2 pets no charge. Please keep dogs out of the sleeping yurts.
Kids & Pets
Children and up to two dogs welcome. Please keep dogs out of the sleeping yurts.Cooking
- Small gas hob, BBQ and open fire
- Solar powered fridge
- Washing up sink with mains water
Washing
- Outdoor hot shower and bath
- Compost toilet
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Gas fire in living yurt
- Solar lighting
- Bed linen provided but please bring your own towels
- The bedroom yurts are insulated for warmth
- Single power point for charging a phone
Entertainment
- Selection of games, jigsaws, books, maps and nature guides
Activities
At Stock Gaylard
There are 1800 acres of land to explore at Stock Gaylard, with each camp enjoying its own privacy, with lovely walks and woods on the doorstep.
Places to Visit
You'll be sent a comprehensive list of things to do, places to visit and contact details before your stay, but here's a taster of what there is to do in the area...
Sturminster Mill, Sturminster Newton - working water mill
The Tank Museum, Bovington
Monkey World, Wareham
Longleat Safari Park & House, Warminster
National Trust properties including:
Corfe Castle
Stourhead
Brownsea Island
Burton Bradstock
Cerne Giant
Hardy’s Cottage
Kingston Lacy
Studland Beach
Outdoor & Active
Whatever outdoor activity you want to try, you can probably find it near Stock Gaylard. There's paintballing, quadbiking, clay pigeon shooting, dirt buggies, archery, hot air ballooning, fishing, paragliding...
Andrew and Josie will provide you with more information before you arrive.
Festivals & events
25th & 26th August 2018 - The Oak Fair is a country fair in Dorset celebrating trees and wood, conservation & countryside crafts
Food & Drink
At Stock Gaylard
Stock Gaylard is self-catering, and all cooking equipment is provided.
For an especially local dinner, Stock Gaylard's very own wild venison from the park and estate, as well as fresh eggs, are available from Andy & Josie during your stay (or take some home with you!)
Approximate prices:
Steaks £4.50 - £5.50
Sausages (Pack 6) £5.00
Large Burgers (Pack 4) £5.00
Shops
Gold Hill Organic Farm shop, Blandford
The Udder Farm Shop & Café, Manor Farm
There's a highly recommended family-run supermarket as well as several other small shops in Stallbridge, 3.5 miles away. Alternatively, there's a co-op, greengrocer, butcher, bakery and much more in Sturminster Newton, also 3.5 miles away.
Pubs & Restaurants
The Green Man, Sturminster Newton - pub grub and beer garden
The Antelope Inn, Sturminster Newton
The White Hart, Bishops Caundle - fresh local food
Trooper Inn, Stourton Caundle - only on Fridays when they do fish & chips before 8pm
For special occasions
Plumber Manor Hotel, Sturminster Newton
The Green Restaurant, Sherborne
Meet your hosts
Stock Gaylard Estate is a small, traditional estate of about 1800 acres, including 300 acres of oak woodland, 80 acres of common land and an 80 acre deer park with a small lake. Owners Andrew and Josie lived for a number of years in East Africa where they first discovered that camping can actually be comfortable! This inspired them to create a place where two families could camp together in comfort, in the beautiful surroundings at Stock Gaylard.
Wildlife & environment
Conservation and preservation are at the heart of everything done at Stock Gaylard, and the unspoilt environment you see today combines modern dairy farming with a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest. There are a number of conservation projects running on the estate including the habitat restoration of Lydlinch Common in order to promote both the nightingales and marsh fritillary butterfly. The estate has a number of barn and tawny owls and up to 20 species of butterflies can be spotted over the summer months on the many conservation headlands, fields and hedgerows around the farms.
Getting there
Stock Gaylard, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2BG
By train
The nearest train station is Sherborne, 7 miles away. Taxis can be arranged, the station is just a 15-minute drive away and there is a Sainsbury's by the train station if you need to pick up supplies on the way!
By car
Stock Gaylard is 13 miles from Yeovil to the west and Shaftesbury to the east. Katy will send you detailed directions to your camp when you book.
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. Sawday’s Canopy & Stars is part of the Alastair Sawday’s Group of Companies. We accept no liability in relation to any contract you enter into or for any services or arrangements you purchase (“Booking(s)”) or for the acts or omissions of any supplier(s) or other person(s) or party(ies) connected with any Booking. For all Bookings, your contract will be with the supplier of the Booking in question, and in most cases this will be the owner of the property you’ll be staying at (“Owner(s)”). When making your Booking we will arrange for you to enter into a contract with the Owner of the Booking. Your Booking with us is subject to these Agency Terms & Conditions and any 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 with us 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;
- 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. A Booking is confirmed on receipt of a 25% non-refundable deposit for all Bookings with check in dates of more than 10 weeks away. For all Bookings that have a check in date of less than 10 weeks before check in, payment for the Booking will be required in full and the entire Booking will be non-refundable. 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).
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 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. We automatically take the balance payment using the same card as used to make the deposit payment. It is your reponsibility 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 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 we have been unable to take payment after two weeks of the balance due date, then with regret, we will notify the Owner who may cancel your Booking.
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 Alastair Sawday’s Publishing Co. Ltd who provide merchants services facilities to Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd.
2. Cancellation and Amendment by You
2.1 Any cancellation or amendment 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 Customer Services Department 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 Amendments and cancellations can only be accepted in accordance with the booking conditions of the Owner of your Arrangements. 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 Arrangements 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 2.3 and 2.4 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.
2.3 Owner’s General Cancellation Charges:
2.3.1 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your deposit being forfeited, as all deposits are non-refundable.
2.3.2 All monies paid for a holiday (deposit and balance) are non-refundable within 10 weeks before check in date.
2.3.3 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.
2.3.4 Cancellation insurance is available but will be a third party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way.
2.4 Owner’s General Amendment Charges:
2.4.1 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 are subject to availability and may incur a £30 adminstration fee.
2.4.2 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.
Special note: Generally Owners will charge the above cancellation and amendment charges, however we must stress that these are a guide only and charges may differ from those shown here depending on the Owner. 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.
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 Arrangements or to cancel them. We will also liaise between you and the Owner in relation to any alternative Booking offered by the Owner but we will have no further liability to you.
4. Complaints
Because the contract for your Booking is between you and the Owner, any queries or concerns should be addressed to them. In the event that you have any complaint about your stay, please notify the Owner as soon as possible. If you don’t 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. Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also contact us as we appreciate all feedback. It’s important to us and the Owner to know that you’ve enjoyed your stay or if anything could have been improved.
5. Pricing
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. 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 ad 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.
7. 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.
8. Pets
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. A nightly charge may be made by the Owner for each pet and additional terms may apply.
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 advertised holiday rental price.
10. 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 Arrangements 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.
11. Insurance
You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance you purchase is adequate and appropriate for your particular needs. Please read your policy details and take them with you on holiday.
12. Special requests
If you have any special requests (for example dietary requirements, 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. 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.
14. 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.
15. Your Responsibilities
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. 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. 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. 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. As agent, we will have no liability to you in these circumstances.
16. 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.
17. Discrepancies
In case of a discrepancy between these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Agency Terms & Conditions shall prevail.
18. 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.
Had a fabulous time. Our hosts were really helpful and the lovely cake on arrival settled us in.
11/08/2017