Dumbledore at Wilderness Wood | Treehouse in East Sussex | Canopy & Stars
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Come and stay in Wilderness Wood – a working community of artists, gardeners, wood-workers, builders and designers who collaborate with local families, schools and groups – and are now Community Champions here at Canopy & Stars. Their work includes experiences, events and apprenticeships, in particular for families who seek an alternative to the traditional schooling system. The tree cabins were built with timber from Wilderness Wood and crafted by a team of talented designer-builders. The craftmanship surrounds you as you wander through your handmade tree cabin, admiring its simplicity and beauty. And, whatever the weather, step out onto your under-cover balcony to marvel at the beauty of the natural world that the space is built into – woodland, hills and South Downs beyond.
Spend your days exploring the woodland and its seasonal flora and fauna. You can walk five minutes to the old-fashioned local drinking hole in the village – or drive ten minutes for delicious pub food in the Blackboys Inn, Hurstwood, or Middle House. All visitors to Dumbledore are offered the opportunity to get involved with the work of looking after the woodland – either by joining one of the working parties (on Wednesday and Saturday mornings) or there is a list of suggestions of other ways you can help out in your own time. Then when the day’s exploration, or creative endeavours are over, retire back to the comfort of your tree cabin where you can cook up a delicious meal on the wood burning stove or hang out by the firepit below until sundown – and head to bed in the stunning loft.
Read more
Essentials
The important stuff
Check in: 2 PM
Check out: 10 AM
Please note that the second bed is on the mezzanine, which is an open space to the living area
Owners strongly advise checking in before nightfall where possible, or please bring a torch if arriving after dark
Level access from central car park along a woodland trail (not lit), marked by letters of the alphabet. The tree cabins are at Signpost D
Approx. 250m from car park
Wheelbarrow available for luggage
300m away from other buildings onsite, close to Yaffle
Unlimited firewood provided for indoor stove. BBQ wood for outdoor fire is available to purchase for £5 a crate
Phone signal depending on provider
Plug sockets (USB)
Wifi available if necessary in The Barn
Calm Labrador dog that lives in the host's onsite house
The owners think the space works at its best for two adults, or two adults and their children, as the layout is open plan.
There is sleeping space for a 3rd child aged 6 or under on mezzanine floor if guests bring their own mattress/bedding at no extra charge. Please call 0117 204 7830 to book.
Sleeping arrangements
2 x King-sized beds (one in bedroom and one on the mezzanine)
Extra space available
Space
for 1 baby
no charge.
- please bring own cot. Not ideal for toddlers as there are lots of stairs and a woodburning stove.
Space
for 2 children
no charge.
- sleeping in king size bed on the mezzanine
Cooking
Esse wood burning stove as primary cooking provision, with a large hot plate and a single oven
Induction hob
A range of sizes of pots and pans and a kettle, all compatible for use either on the wood burning stove or on the induction hob
Each tree cabin has its own fridge with integrated freezer compartment
BBQ with grill and tongs
Washing
Bathroom with flushing toilet, shower, sink, and "wet-room" floor. Separately accessible from both bedrooms
In addition, there is a separate Bathhouse for campers, located near the main camping field, with two showers and two compost toilets
Eco-friendly shampoo and soap provided
The hot water is generated by a back boiler in the wood burning stove. There is also an immersion coil in the tank, for hot water provision during summer months (when guests might prefer not to light the stove)
Heating, lighting & bedding
Towels and bed linen provided (100% cotton)
Woodburner
Electric lighting
Entertainment
Enjoy walks into the surrounding woodland and nearby villages
Cards and board games
Small selection of books in the tree cabin and a wider selection to borrow from in the barn
Radio
Wifi available in The Barn if needed
Home Team onsite to assist with your visit and answer any questions
Read more
Travel & Parking
There is a car park with space to manoeuvre
The space is a couple of minutes walk from the carpark along a woodland trail. There are cat's eyes lights on the path until you get close to the cabin which has a movement sensor light
The path to the space is well maintained and has a slight incline
There are no steps leading up to Dumbledore
Space & Site Access
There is a slight incline on the approach to Dumbledore
The doorways measure 1 metre
The bedroom, bathroom and living area are on one level. There is a second bedroom and reading room up stairs
Mobility Aid
There is a wet room with a shower and toilet
There are grab rails in Dumbledore bathroom
The mirror in the bathroom is full length
There is no TV, but there is a radio
Shower chair is provided
Assistance dogs are welcome
Colin's Cars is a local taxi company that provide wheelchair accessible transport. Please contact the host for more details
Getting there
Wilderness Wood, Hadlow Down, East Sussex, TN22 4HJ
Find your way to the village of Hadlow Down on the A272 and look for the big wooden sign with metal lettering. Please note, if you use sat-nav it might send you to the village hall.
By Public Transport
The closest train station is Buxted. This is 10 minutes’ drive to Wilderness Wood. Or you can walk across the fields which takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Contact the owners for more information.
Owners strongly advise checking in before nightfall where possible, alternatively please bring a torch if arriving after dark.
Read more
Food & Drink
At Wilderness Wood
Cooking basics are provided including olive oil, local apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, starter amount of coffee and breakfast tea bags
There is a onsite shop at The Hatch with local treats available to purchase:
The coffee is provided by a local roastery called Lindfield Coffee - who source the beans ethically. Wilderness Wood then grind the beans by hand onsite
Apple juice is from Oast Farm - a nearby orchard and farm shop - which guests can visit and buy supplies
Chocolate by Rowdy and Fancy - a local small chocolate enterprise
Herbal teas made by the resident herbalist - Katy of Wise Herbs
Cakes and biscuits made by local and excellent bakery - Flint Owl - plus guest chefs on site
Apple cider vinegar by Bignose and Beardy - local cider makers - a great community enterprise
Occasionally available: seasonal cordials, local kombucha, local ice-cream, wines from the local vineyard Beacon Down, cider from Bignose and Beardy, beers by the closest brewery Only With Love and wood- fired pizzas from the cookhouse in the woods
Local Shops
Oast Farmshop, 3 miles
Buxted Village Shop, 2 miles away (basic supplies only, guests can walk here)
Local supermarkets deliver to this site
Local supermarkets located in Crowborough, Uckfield and Heathfield
Pubs & Restaurants
The Hurstwood, High Hurstwood - family-run gastro-pub, outstanding cuisine. 10 minute drive or you can walk there from the cabins on footpaths through fields and woodland.
Blackboys Inn, Blackboys - reasonably priced food in a charming countryside pub with inglenook fireplaces. Walkable down a quiet country lane in about 45 minutes
Middle house, Mayfield - good pub food in a lively little town, about a 10 minute drive
The Griffin Inn in Fletching - locally well-known gastro-pub with outstanding cuisine, 20min drive
Read more
Activities
At Wilderness Wood
There is a mile long trail around the edge of the wood with a wonderful swing - popular with all ages
A varied programme of activities, courses and working parties throughout the year including: green woodworking, arts and crafts, foraging walks, tree and flower and fungi ID walks, woodland stewardship, carpentry and building working parties, dancing and music and forest school activities, Qi Gong, meditation, and seasonal parties.
The Barn - Communal space where there are books, games, maps, wifi and friendly home-team to talk to
Things To Do
Local towns to visit include: Lewes (25 minute drive), Tunbridge Wells (25 minute drive), and Brighton with its famous beach and pier (50 minute drive - or short drive and bus ride from Uckfield)
Barcombe Mills - River with boats to hire and local pub The Anchor Inn
Wakehurst - Royal Botanical Gardens Kew has an extraordinary living collection of exotic trees and woodland plants spans over 500 acres at Wakehurst
Charleston -Charleston is a gem of an arts-and-crafts house and garden in the heart of the South Downs National Park in East Sussex, UK
Glyndebourne – world-famous opera house in the countryside! Dress up and take a picnic
Outdoors & Active
Walks - There is an amazing network of public footpaths connecting us to all the local villages, which are generally very quiet. You can drive to the South Downs (20 mins) and walk along that wonderful route with views to the sea. You could also drive to Ashdown Forest (20 mins) and visit the home of Winnie the Pooh.
Beachy Head - is closest good coastal walk along the cliffs or there are various places you can swim in the sea between Hastings and Brighton
National Trust Sheffield Park and Garden - acres of landscaped garden and lakes, surrounded by historic parkland and woodland, particularly amazing in the autumn
Read more
Meet your hosts
Meet Emily and Dan
The couple had been searching for a woodland where they could make beautiful structures and build a community as an alternative to school for their children. After 5 years of travelling across much of Europe, they found Wilderness Wood! Dan is an architect who loves actually making what he designs, and Emily is a researcher who makes projects happen. Together Emily and Dan have three children, Frank, Nina and Xandi - and a dog called Chica. The woodland is shared with a resident home team (about 15 people) who live onsite. There is also a community of families who occasionally visit, and help look after the woods and bring to life creative projects.
Dumbledore and Yaffle are the culmination of years of dreaming, travelling, planning and hard work. The chestnut frames and big balconies are inspired by a vernacular chestnut grainstore structure called an horreo, which the family found on their travels in Asturias and Galicia in Northern Spain. All the timber for the structures is sourced from the local woodland - thinnings which are cut not just to provide valuable materials but also for the benefit of the woodland eco-system. The interiors have been lovingly created by a team of young designers/builders. The bowls, spoons, cups, tiles, coasters have all been created by members of all ages of all ages. The pottery and the wooden products in the cabins are all made onsite.
Community Champions
As well as engaging with the local community having regular local visitors and a longer term ‘home-team’ Wilderness Woods also works closely with other organisations to benefit wider communities. They continue to develop new relationships in order to work more with schools from cities to give more young people meaningful experiences of a woodland and the chance to contribute rather than just visit.
The woodland is in the High Weald AONB with gorgeous views to the South Downs (a National Park). The site has solar panels, harvest rain-water where possible, and all the heating is wood-fired. This is also a community project with 250 member families who come to help out and enjoy the woodland throughout the year. The team also work with local schools and other community groups to host other peoples' initiatives in the woodland - and take some of the craft activities out into the community.
Wildlife and the Environment
Wilderness Wood is a 60 acre woodland with a mixture of chestnut coppice, conifers and big oaks and beeches around the edges of the wood. In spring to summer there are wood anenome, bluebells and foxgloves and other spring flowers along the edges of the rides and lanes nearby the woods - you can also sometimes spot some more rare flora such as spiked rampion and orchids. In autumn through to winter there are chestnuts, acorns, holly berries and hazel catkins. In terms of fauna, you might see the following: rabbits, deer, badgers, squirrels, fox, snakes, bugs, bats, butterflies, dragonfly and newts around the wetlands area.
The woodland is in the High Weald AONB with gorgeous views to the South Downs (a National Park). The site has solar panels, harvest rain-water where possible, and all the heating is wood-fired.
Come and stay in Wilderness Wood – a working community of artists, gardeners, wood-workers, builders and designers who collaborate with local families, schools and groups – and are now Community Champions here at Canopy & Stars. Their work includes experiences, events and apprenticeships, in particular for families who seek an alternative to the traditional schooling system. The tree cabins were built with timber from Wilderness Wood and crafted by a team of talented designer-builders. The craftmanship surrounds you as you wander through your handmade tree cabin, admiring its simplicity and beauty. And, whatever the weather, step out onto your under-cover balcony to marvel at the beauty of the natural world that the space is built into – woodland, hills and South Downs beyond.
Spend your days exploring the woodland and its seasonal flora and fauna. You can walk five minutes to the old-fashioned local drinking hole in the village – or drive ten minutes for delicious pub food in the Blackboys Inn, Hurstwood, or Middle House. All visitors to Dumbledore are offered the opportunity to get involved with the work of looking after the woodland – either by joining one of the working parties (on Wednesday and Saturday mornings) or there is a list of suggestions of other ways you can help out in your own time. Then when the day’s exploration, or creative endeavours are over, retire back to the comfort of your tree cabin where you can cook up a delicious meal on the wood burning stove or hang out by the firepit below until sundown – and head to bed in the stunning loft.
Please note that the second bed is on the mezzanine, which is an open space to the living area
Owners strongly advise checking in before nightfall where possible, or please bring a torch if arriving after dark
Level access from central car park along a woodland trail (not lit), marked by letters of the alphabet. The tree cabins are at Signpost D
Approx. 250m from car park
Wheelbarrow available for luggage
300m away from other buildings onsite, close to Yaffle
Unlimited firewood provided for indoor stove. BBQ wood for outdoor fire is available to purchase for £5 a crate
Phone signal depending on provider
Plug sockets (USB)
Wifi available if necessary in The Barn
Calm Labrador dog that lives in the host's onsite house
The owners think the space works at its best for two adults, or two adults and their children, as the layout is open plan.
There is sleeping space for a 3rd child aged 6 or under on mezzanine floor if guests bring their own mattress/bedding at no extra charge. Please call 0117 204 7830 to book.
Sleeping arrangements
2 x King-sized beds (one in bedroom and one on the mezzanine)
Extra space available
Space
for 1 baby
no charge.
- please bring own cot. Not ideal for toddlers as there are lots of stairs and a woodburning stove.
Space
for 2 children
no charge.
- sleeping in king size bed on the mezzanine
Cooking
Esse wood burning stove as primary cooking provision, with a large hot plate and a single oven
Induction hob
A range of sizes of pots and pans and a kettle, all compatible for use either on the wood burning stove or on the induction hob
Each tree cabin has its own fridge with integrated freezer compartment
BBQ with grill and tongs
Washing
Bathroom with flushing toilet, shower, sink, and "wet-room" floor. Separately accessible from both bedrooms
In addition, there is a separate Bathhouse for campers, located near the main camping field, with two showers and two compost toilets
Eco-friendly shampoo and soap provided
The hot water is generated by a back boiler in the wood burning stove. There is also an immersion coil in the tank, for hot water provision during summer months (when guests might prefer not to light the stove)
Heating, lighting & bedding
Towels and bed linen provided (100% cotton)
Woodburner
Electric lighting
Entertainment
Enjoy walks into the surrounding woodland and nearby villages
Cards and board games
Small selection of books in the tree cabin and a wider selection to borrow from in the barn
Radio
Wifi available in The Barn if needed
Home Team onsite to assist with your visit and answer any questions
The space is a couple of minutes walk from the carpark along a woodland trail. There are cat's eyes lights on the path until you get close to the cabin which has a movement sensor light
The path to the space is well maintained and has a slight incline
There are no steps leading up to Dumbledore
Space & Site Access
There is a slight incline on the approach to Dumbledore
The doorways measure 1 metre
The bedroom, bathroom and living area are on one level. There is a second bedroom and reading room up stairs
Mobility Aid
There is a wet room with a shower and toilet
There are grab rails in Dumbledore bathroom
The mirror in the bathroom is full length
There is no TV, but there is a radio
Shower chair is provided
Assistance dogs are welcome
Colin's Cars is a local taxi company that provide wheelchair accessible transport. Please contact the host for more details
Find your way to the village of Hadlow Down on the A272 and look for the big wooden sign with metal lettering. Please note, if you use sat-nav it might send you to the village hall.
By Public Transport
The closest train station is Buxted. This is 10 minutes’ drive to Wilderness Wood. Or you can walk across the fields which takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Contact the owners for more information.
Owners strongly advise checking in before nightfall where possible, alternatively please bring a torch if arriving after dark.
Cooking basics are provided including olive oil, local apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, starter amount of coffee and breakfast tea bags
There is a onsite shop at The Hatch with local treats available to purchase:
The coffee is provided by a local roastery called Lindfield Coffee - who source the beans ethically. Wilderness Wood then grind the beans by hand onsite
Apple juice is from Oast Farm - a nearby orchard and farm shop - which guests can visit and buy supplies
Chocolate by Rowdy and Fancy - a local small chocolate enterprise
Herbal teas made by the resident herbalist - Katy of Wise Herbs
Cakes and biscuits made by local and excellent bakery - Flint Owl - plus guest chefs on site
Apple cider vinegar by Bignose and Beardy - local cider makers - a great community enterprise
Occasionally available: seasonal cordials, local kombucha, local ice-cream, wines from the local vineyard Beacon Down, cider from Bignose and Beardy, beers by the closest brewery Only With Love and wood- fired pizzas from the cookhouse in the woods
Local Shops
Oast Farmshop, 3 miles
Buxted Village Shop, 2 miles away (basic supplies only, guests can walk here)
Local supermarkets deliver to this site
Local supermarkets located in Crowborough, Uckfield and Heathfield
Pubs & Restaurants
The Hurstwood, High Hurstwood - family-run gastro-pub, outstanding cuisine. 10 minute drive or you can walk there from the cabins on footpaths through fields and woodland.
Blackboys Inn, Blackboys - reasonably priced food in a charming countryside pub with inglenook fireplaces. Walkable down a quiet country lane in about 45 minutes
Middle house, Mayfield - good pub food in a lively little town, about a 10 minute drive
The Griffin Inn in Fletching - locally well-known gastro-pub with outstanding cuisine, 20min drive
There is a mile long trail around the edge of the wood with a wonderful swing - popular with all ages
A varied programme of activities, courses and working parties throughout the year including: green woodworking, arts and crafts, foraging walks, tree and flower and fungi ID walks, woodland stewardship, carpentry and building working parties, dancing and music and forest school activities, Qi Gong, meditation, and seasonal parties.
The Barn - Communal space where there are books, games, maps, wifi and friendly home-team to talk to
Things To Do
Local towns to visit include: Lewes (25 minute drive), Tunbridge Wells (25 minute drive), and Brighton with its famous beach and pier (50 minute drive - or short drive and bus ride from Uckfield)
Barcombe Mills - River with boats to hire and local pub The Anchor Inn
Wakehurst - Royal Botanical Gardens Kew has an extraordinary living collection of exotic trees and woodland plants spans over 500 acres at Wakehurst
Charleston -Charleston is a gem of an arts-and-crafts house and garden in the heart of the South Downs National Park in East Sussex, UK
Glyndebourne – world-famous opera house in the countryside! Dress up and take a picnic
Outdoors & Active
Walks - There is an amazing network of public footpaths connecting us to all the local villages, which are generally very quiet. You can drive to the South Downs (20 mins) and walk along that wonderful route with views to the sea. You could also drive to Ashdown Forest (20 mins) and visit the home of Winnie the Pooh.
Beachy Head - is closest good coastal walk along the cliffs or there are various places you can swim in the sea between Hastings and Brighton
National Trust Sheffield Park and Garden - acres of landscaped garden and lakes, surrounded by historic parkland and woodland, particularly amazing in the autumn
The couple had been searching for a woodland where they could make beautiful structures and build a community as an alternative to school for their children. After 5 years of travelling across much of Europe, they found Wilderness Wood! Dan is an architect who loves actually making what he designs, and Emily is a researcher who makes projects happen. Together Emily and Dan have three children, Frank, Nina and Xandi - and a dog called Chica. The woodland is shared with a resident home team (about 15 people) who live onsite. There is also a community of families who occasionally visit, and help look after the woods and bring to life creative projects.
Dumbledore and Yaffle are the culmination of years of dreaming, travelling, planning and hard work. The chestnut frames and big balconies are inspired by a vernacular chestnut grainstore structure called an horreo, which the family found on their travels in Asturias and Galicia in Northern Spain. All the timber for the structures is sourced from the local woodland - thinnings which are cut not just to provide valuable materials but also for the benefit of the woodland eco-system. The interiors have been lovingly created by a team of young designers/builders. The bowls, spoons, cups, tiles, coasters have all been created by members of all ages of all ages. The pottery and the wooden products in the cabins are all made onsite.
Community Champions
As well as engaging with the local community having regular local visitors and a longer term ‘home-team’ Wilderness Woods also works closely with other organisations to benefit wider communities. They continue to develop new relationships in order to work more with schools from cities to give more young people meaningful experiences of a woodland and the chance to contribute rather than just visit.
The woodland is in the High Weald AONB with gorgeous views to the South Downs (a National Park). The site has solar panels, harvest rain-water where possible, and all the heating is wood-fired. This is also a community project with 250 member families who come to help out and enjoy the woodland throughout the year. The team also work with local schools and other community groups to host other peoples' initiatives in the woodland - and take some of the craft activities out into the community.
Wildlife and the Environment
Wilderness Wood is a 60 acre woodland with a mixture of chestnut coppice, conifers and big oaks and beeches around the edges of the wood. In spring to summer there are wood anenome, bluebells and foxgloves and other spring flowers along the edges of the rides and lanes nearby the woods - you can also sometimes spot some more rare flora such as spiked rampion and orchids. In autumn through to winter there are chestnuts, acorns, holly berries and hazel catkins. In terms of fauna, you might see the following: rabbits, deer, badgers, squirrels, fox, snakes, bugs, bats, butterflies, dragonfly and newts around the wetlands area.
The woodland is in the High Weald AONB with gorgeous views to the South Downs (a National Park). The site has solar panels, harvest rain-water where possible, and all the heating is wood-fired.
Lovely holiday in a beautiful woodland setting. Quiet and dark at night. Really peaceful and relaxing.
12/11/2024
Neill
Nice surroundings and the cabin was well crafted. Great welcome from Dan which was very much appreciated.
06/08/2024
Rebecca
It was a beautiful place to stay, with a warm welcome and incredible surroundings. A perfect place to switch off and reset.
11/06/2024
Glenn
Loved it here! Took my 8 year old nephew for a short stay - we loved exploring the woods, having campfires and generally going wild for a while! The cabin is heated by the woodburner which took a bit of getting used to. The upstairs sleeping space stayed lovely and warm. The bedroom and bathroom less so by the morning (we visited in April)! Beds were comfy, kitchen had everything we needed. Owners and staff were super friendly. Great location to explore the Bluebell Railways and Sheffield Park. The nearby Oast Farm Cafe and farm shop was great too. We will be coming back!
16/04/2024
Elizabeth
Was the most magical stay, I spent my 22nd birthday there and enjoyed every moment! Will definitely be coming back here again.
09/02/2024
Mackenzie
I stayed for three nights in early December with my wife. It was a wonderful time in a cosy cabin and we both enjoyed ourselves a lot.
05/12/2023
Jim
Absolutely divine! Was like a fairy tale. Beautiful views, stunning cabin, lovely friendly people, lots to do and we can get involved with the woodlands and community. A precious place to stay, sacred and divine. Loved every moment, thank you!
24/11/2023
Sammy
It was absolutely magical - we loved it so much!
10/11/2023
lidewei
Wow is all I can say. Beautiful cabin, beautiful location. The website honestly does not do it justice, we were all open mouthed when we walked in. I loved seeing the skills used to build and craft the cabin and lots of the things inside it too. The simplistic living was so good and refreshing. Lighting the fire to heat the cabin, provide the hot water and cook too, was just brilliant. Sitting out on the balcony on a crisp morning under a blanket, coffee in hand and a good book was just beautiful. The quietness was so refreshing and the views were a thing of beauty. And the day it rained, to hear the raindrops on the leaves around you was music to your ears. Overall a lovely stay and I am already planning our next visit.
22/08/2023
Blu
Our stay was beyond wonderful. The tree house exceeded expectations in every possible way. The craftsmanship in the build is just wonderful and the whole place is just magical. To wake up in the morning and be amongst the trees and hear the birds is just lovely. The cabin is filled with everything you need, although basic, it is enough. The bedding is lovely, everything is clean and cosy. There are games to play and endless woods to walk in. We had three days to fill and the time just disappeared. We had no technology, only paints, books, each other to talk to and games to play. It was just perfect.
15/08/2023
sue
Our stay at the Dumbledore tree house cabin exceeded our expectations. We were given privacy at check in, the decor inside matched the ethos of Canopy and Stars and the location. The views of the tops of the trees from the upstairs bedroom window were amazing. A nice area inside with plenty of space for our family of 5. The forest is so inspiring and the cabin full of “wows”. Thank you!
08/08/2023
Bruna
We chose the tree house because we wanted to stay close to nature and the treehouse looked like a magical place to come to with our 3 young children
01/08/2023
Kerry
Beautifully hand crafted cabin with lots of details like stick hooks, green woven ballustrade, Japanese slatted bathroom floor and hand made tiles. Really lovely experience. We took a pottery lesson on site and visited Lewes and Standen House. The kids, age 10 and 13 loved it but would have been happier if there had been better mobile coverage. We played cards and drew instead and they loved the giant swing.
18/07/2023
Sarah
Wonderful stay in a quirky building in a lovely wood.
02/06/2023
Kevin
A short stay Friday to Sunday as 2 couples with 2 dogs. Easy location to get to and great facilities and opportunities once we had arrived. The wettest March on record so the woodland was quite muddy. In better weather and during the summer months there would be lots to enjoy, especially as regards being outdoors.
31/03/2023
Jacqueline
What a treat to leave the car at home and take the train on a little adventure to this woodland hub - a community of like-minded folk, a stones throw from London. The chalk board next to the cafe spoke of a host of fun activities from green woodworking to meditation and forest school. A short walk from the hub of the village hidden in the trees, we found the two beautiful crafted treehouses - welcomed in by a warm fire and dappled sunlight through the trees, the cabins were full of creative touches and cosy corners - I wished I was staying the night! With a little spare time I walked the woodland trail, had a go on the 'big-kids' swing and browsed the woodland floor fungi. What a perfect wild retreat - I can't wait to go back.
11/11/2022
Tessa, Canopy & Stars
Reviews
Lovely holiday in a beautiful woodland setting. Quiet and dark at night. Really peaceful and relaxing.
12/11/2024
Neill
Nice surroundings and the cabin was well crafted. Great welcome from Dan which was very much appreciated.
06/08/2024
Rebecca
It was a beautiful place to stay, with a warm welcome and incredible surroundings. A perfect place to switch off and reset.
11/06/2024
Glenn
Loved it here! Took my 8 year old nephew for a short stay - we loved exploring the woods, having campfires and generally going wild for a while! The cabin is heated by the woodburner which took a bit of getting used to. The upstairs sleeping space stayed lovely and warm. The bedroom and bathroom less so by the morning (we visited in April)! Beds were comfy, kitchen had everything we needed. Owners and staff were super friendly. Great location to explore the Bluebell Railways and Sheffield Park. The nearby Oast Farm Cafe and farm shop was great too. We will be coming back!
16/04/2024
Elizabeth
Was the most magical stay, I spent my 22nd birthday there and enjoyed every moment! Will definitely be coming back here again.
09/02/2024
Mackenzie
I stayed for three nights in early December with my wife. It was a wonderful time in a cosy cabin and we both enjoyed ourselves a lot.
05/12/2023
Jim
Absolutely divine! Was like a fairy tale. Beautiful views, stunning cabin, lovely friendly people, lots to do and we can get involved with the woodlands and community. A precious place to stay, sacred and divine. Loved every moment, thank you!
24/11/2023
Sammy
It was absolutely magical - we loved it so much!
10/11/2023
lidewei
Wow is all I can say. Beautiful cabin, beautiful location. The website honestly does not do it justice, we were all open mouthed when we walked in. I loved seeing the skills used to build and craft the cabin and lots of the things inside it too. The simplistic living was so good and refreshing. Lighting the fire to heat the cabin, provide the hot water and cook too, was just brilliant. Sitting out on the balcony on a crisp morning under a blanket, coffee in hand and a good book was just beautiful. The quietness was so refreshing and the views were a thing of beauty. And the day it rained, to hear the raindrops on the leaves around you was music to your ears. Overall a lovely stay and I am already planning our next visit.
22/08/2023
Blu
Our stay was beyond wonderful. The tree house exceeded expectations in every possible way. The craftsmanship in the build is just wonderful and the whole place is just magical. To wake up in the morning and be amongst the trees and hear the birds is just lovely. The cabin is filled with everything you need, although basic, it is enough. The bedding is lovely, everything is clean and cosy. There are games to play and endless woods to walk in. We had three days to fill and the time just disappeared. We had no technology, only paints, books, each other to talk to and games to play. It was just perfect.
15/08/2023
sue
Our stay at the Dumbledore tree house cabin exceeded our expectations. We were given privacy at check in, the decor inside matched the ethos of Canopy and Stars and the location. The views of the tops of the trees from the upstairs bedroom window were amazing. A nice area inside with plenty of space for our family of 5. The forest is so inspiring and the cabin full of “wows”. Thank you!
08/08/2023
Bruna
We chose the tree house because we wanted to stay close to nature and the treehouse looked like a magical place to come to with our 3 young children
01/08/2023
Kerry
Beautifully hand crafted cabin with lots of details like stick hooks, green woven ballustrade, Japanese slatted bathroom floor and hand made tiles. Really lovely experience. We took a pottery lesson on site and visited Lewes and Standen House. The kids, age 10 and 13 loved it but would have been happier if there had been better mobile coverage. We played cards and drew instead and they loved the giant swing.
18/07/2023
Sarah
Wonderful stay in a quirky building in a lovely wood.
02/06/2023
Kevin
A short stay Friday to Sunday as 2 couples with 2 dogs. Easy location to get to and great facilities and opportunities once we had arrived. The wettest March on record so the woodland was quite muddy. In better weather and during the summer months there would be lots to enjoy, especially as regards being outdoors.
31/03/2023
Jacqueline
What a treat to leave the car at home and take the train on a little adventure to this woodland hub - a community of like-minded folk, a stones throw from London. The chalk board next to the cafe spoke of a host of fun activities from green woodworking to meditation and forest school. A short walk from the hub of the village hidden in the trees, we found the two beautiful crafted treehouses - welcomed in by a warm fire and dappled sunlight through the trees, the cabins were full of creative touches and cosy corners - I wished I was staying the night! With a little spare time I walked the woodland trail, had a go on the 'big-kids' swing and browsed the woodland floor fungi. What a perfect wild retreat - I can't wait to go back.
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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!
Lovely holiday in a beautiful woodland setting. Quiet and dark at night. Really peaceful and relaxing.
12/11/2024