Tod
Scotland, United Kingdom
Brucefield Estate
- Our low price promise from £145 p/n
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Bothy
Sleeps 2
- One super-king bed or two single beds (access via a 2m ladder)
Overview
Perched amongst the swaying Scots pine of Brucefield Estate, Tod is as outrageously stunning as its sibling bothy, Brock. Stand on its wraparound deck, and you’ll feel the fresh Scottish breeze whipping past, as wildlife, including red squirrels, flit through the canopy, whirl in the air or bound from tree to tree. Look back towards the space, and you’ll see the light drench the luxurious Scandi-Scot interior through the giant picture windows. To hang out with the locals, go in search of the many farm shops nearby for local ingredients to craft up in your well-equipped kitchen. But if you’ve come to enjoy seclusion, to wander through woodland to listen to birdcall and explore the forest as shafts of light blast through the treeline – then those thousand acres are all yours to explore.
The interior is no happy coincidence of décor, it’s consciously created with immaculate attention to detail. The materials are eco-sourced and meet the highest standards. They prove that functionality, beauty and practicality can all be achieved through the lens of eco-luxury. So, lie back in the bespoke furniture, take rejuvenating rainfall showers you never have time for at home, and hire a private chef for the evening – because this is the guilt-free luxury stay you’ve been looking for.
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 4 PM
- Check out: 10 AM
- Please note that access to the sleeping gallery is via a 2.3m ladder
- 40m (1 min walk) from other bothies, and 150m from the Estate Office
- Parking is 20m from bothy. Hosts will be available to help carry luggage
- Tracks are not fully lit. Only some garden lighting
- Host lives onsite 600m from bothy
- Please bring with you walking shoes/ wellies, waterproof jacket, and in winter torches & cosy slippers. If you would like to use the fire pit, please bring BBQ charcoal and firelighters
- Firewood is provided for the wood burning stove in the bothy during the winter. For the firepit outside, please purchase baskets of firewood, kindling & firelighters for £20 each
- Standard plug sockets and Wi-Fi
- Patchy phone signal inside bothy. Better signal in the car park and elsewhere on estate (depending on network)
- Upon booking, please leave a note to owners in case you prefer twin bed setup instead of king size. Also, please inform owners of any dietary restrictions or allergies
Sleeping arrangements
- One super-king bed or two single beds (access via a 2m ladder)
Extra space available
Space for 2 pets from £40 per pet per stay . Well behaved dogs only as this is a working farm with livestock
Cooking
- Kitchen equipped with a Bosch combi steam oven which hosts say is perfect for rice, potatoes, poached eggs and veg
- Induction hob
- Under-counter fridge with small freezer compartment
- Cafetiere
- Toaster
- Kettle
Washing
- Private and beautifully tiled bathroom inside the bothy
- Wash-hand basin
- Rain-head shower
- Flushing toilet
- Local organic skincare products provided including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand wash and body lotion
- Hot water tank with 180L capacity
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Egyptian cotton bed linen is provided, with luxurious duvets made from recycled bottles to give the effect of down and these are also locally made in Fife in Scotland
- Danish Morso wood burner
- Underfloor heating in bathroom and kitchen
- Bathroom towel radiator
- Electric lighting with cosy LEDs
Entertainment
- Binoculars provided for birdwatching
- Books
- Explore the 1000 acres of mixed woodland and farmland onsite
- Maps of local walking routes are provided
Site & Space
- There is a ladder that provides access to the sleeping gallery. The ladder is approximately 2.3m in height
- The surrounding terrain is woodland
- The doorway is wide enough for wheelchair users and has sliding doors
- There is a wet room with a rainhead shower which has level access
- There is a mirror but it cannot be lowered
Travel & Parking
- There's space around the parking area to manoeuvre a wheelchair however, there is a slight gradient to the ground
- Hosts can provide details for local taxi companies who provide wheelchair accessible transport
- The estate can be reached using the traffic-free cycle route (NCN764; mostly tarmacked, available parking to access the route at the estate) which joins other sustans networks including Round the Forth NCN76
- The track to the bothy from the parking area is a gravel/type 1 vehicle width track of 20 to 40m length but it is in woodland so there will be uneven/rough parts.
- The local farm shops and the Japanese Gardens are wheelchair accessible. The guest information booklet includes local attraction websites which are best checked for accessibility information
Mobility Aid
- Please let the owner know if you’re bringing an assistance dog
Getting there
Brucefield Estate, Forestmill, FK10 3QF
What3words: ///surnames.barefoot.still
Please call hosts on (+44 1259 690013) 15 mins before arrival so they can meet you at the parking area when you arrive.
**If you use public transport or cycle, Brucefield Estate will provide a complimentary tree planting experience using pottiputki style, with full explanation and assistance on how to properly plant your tree. They use native trees like Scots pine.**
By Public Transport
Alloa train station is 6 miles from Brucefield Estate. Taxis must be pre-booked (please contact host for details), or if you bring your own bicycle it is a 25min cycle.
By Bike
Brucefield Estate is directly on the National Cycle Network Route 764, also known as the West Fife Way, which is an almost fully traffic-free route along the well-kept railway path between Dunfermline and Alloa. Winding through tranquil, open countryside, the route connects to National Cycle Network Routes 1 and 76 (Round the Forth).
From Alloa train station it is a 25min cycle.
By Car
Set your satnav to FK10 4EB. When you reach the Gartarry roundabout take the A907 towards Dunfermline and reset your satnav to FK10 3QF. Shortly after a wooded double bend, turn left down a small road (Brucefield Road). Pass a bright yellow cottage on the left and at the next T junction turn left, and then take the left fork. The parking for the bothies will be on your left hand side at a drystone dyke entrance.
Food & Drink
At Brucefield Estate
Complimentary welcome pack is provided with local honey, alongside sourdough bread, speciality tea and locally roasted Bom Jesus coffee
As a special experience, the estate offer a woodland picnic trail complete with hamper, firepit, blankets which you’ll find following a red ribboned route of hanging birch discs with your special phrase written on – and for you to take home afterwards.
Afternoon teas, celebratory cakes, two or three course dinners and a whole lot more can be pre-ordered (please provide at least 48 hrs’ notice and one week's notice for dinners) from Polly’s Pantry (see Brucefield Estate guest section)
A private chef specialising in Scottish experiences is available for booking: Choose from a hosted 7-course fine dining menu or a roast-over-coals experience. Private chefs get booked up early therefore several weeks’ notice is likely but please contact host to discuss dining options
Local Shops
Morrisons, 6 miles
Local supermarkets deliver to the estate including Waitrose and Sainsbury's
Saline Farm Shop & Café - Also stock their own lamb: call to pre-order specific cuts. Delicious lamb burgers etc. Lovely 25 minute cycle road along quiet country roads (bikes available for hire), car 6 mins
Pubs & Restaurants
The Forager - Gastropub with a menu designed by Michelin-starred chef Dean Banks is dog-friendly with courtyard area. Reservations recommended. Dollar, 15 mins by car
Café No. 44 - Lovely café in Dollar, 15 mins by car
Red Lion Inn - Good pub serving lunch and dinner, bar is dog friendly. Culross, 15 mins by car
Activities
At Brucefield Estate
Tours offered including a Wildlife & History tour and no-dig tree planting (all year round), bat walks or pollinator monitoring (summer only) - these should be booked directly with the estate office at the time of booking your stay or a minimum of 48 hrs beforehand
A yoga treat is in-store: take time to truly relax by booking a private Hatha or Restorative yoga session with Jemma – contact the host on booking
Explore trails through 1000 acres of semi-ancient Scots Pine, birch and oak woodland and farmland onsite
Maps of local walking and cycling routes are provided. The NCN Sustrans route 764 runs through the estate
Places to Visit
The Market at Solsgirth Home Farm - Every second Saturday and Sunday of the month. Market with food, drinks, produce, arts, crafts, street food, and demonstrations about the environment and nature preservation
Dollar, 6 miles - a picturesque town, particularly up West Burnside. Continue farther to the Dollar Museum (open weekends only), and for a woodland glen take the path up the Dollar Glen Walk open all year), and you’ll also come across Castle Campbell (interior temporarily closed). View the splendid Doric façade of Dollar Academy (grounds open all year) designed by architect William Playfair in the 1820s
Culross, 7 miles - probably one of the finest examples of 17th and 18th century burgh towns in Scotland, a must-see sight and location of many an Outlander TV series. Bought by the National Trust for Scotland in the 1920s, the winding streets and buildings have been conserved ever since. Visit the home of the leading industrialist of the day Culross Palace (open daily 10am to 4.45pm). Have a cuppa and cake at the Culross Pottery and Gallery
Visiting local towns and cities - Relax and take the train by going from Alloa station (10 mins by car or 25mins by bicycle) or by car... Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, St Andrews, and Stirling are all within easy reach (1hr or less)
Outdoors and Active
The Ochils hill range is popular for half and full day walks with Kings Seat and the Ben Cleuch circuit both well known. The climb of King's Seat is a particularly majestic hill route (648m). Along the hillfoots there are several stunning small glens to explore: Dollar Glen (which starts in this attractive little town) and Alva Glen being particularly noteworthy
Whether you’re into gravel, MTB or road cycling there are routes for you and the estate also hires out TREK all-terrain bicycles. From cycling through the tall Scots Pines of the Devilla Forest, visiting historic sights such as the Wallace Monument, brunch at the local farmshop café or just pottering around on the traffic-free cycle track if you haven’t cycled in a while there’s lots on offer. Being situated right on the NCN764 gives access to the wider area and you can download leisure routes tried and tested by the team at Brucefield Estate
The team can also put you in touch with cycling guides for gravel biking and longer distance touring, mountain biking from beginner to advanced including navigational skills, and even riding from the top of Munros and mountain racing.
Other possibilities include pony trekking in the hills (April to September), playing golf (35 mins to world famous Gleneagles or 1 hr from St Andrews), or brown trout fishing... there are plenty of places all within 30 minutes’ drive. Ask hosts for further details
Meet your hosts
Meet Victoria and the Brucefield Estate Team
It's long been a dream of Victoria and team to establish an eco-tourism hideaway and it's taken over 10 years. Brock was started and the aim to create a cosy den in the woods that was contemporary with the highest standards of insulation, light and bright and built entirely of timber. Victoria, a biologist by background, has a passion for combining history & wildlife with contemporary and environmentally responsible building design to the delight of guests.
Ania will be your on-site host who looks after guests from arrival to departure and can organise afternoon teas to be delivered or suggest outings, when he's not otherwise engaged in preparing forest walks.
Wildlife and the Environment
Over the last four years, Brucefield Estate has worked with independent ecologists, to collate data to achieve a baseline demographic of most of the flora and fauna found. This has been fundamental for them to put together a 10-year wildlife plan which aims to protect and enhance the biodiversity on the estate, and which guests can take part in from pollinator assessments, bat walks to tree planting.
The large veteran trees, some over 300 years old, with all their crevices and cracks offer valuable habitat for not only insects but also their prey such as woodpeckers and bats.
The wetlands support an outstanding assemblage of invertebrate species including the Near Threatened small pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies (Boloria selene). Several Nationally Scarce species have been recorded such as the little spine-palp spider (Allomengea vidua), a woundwort-eating weevil (Thamiocolus viduatus), and a wetland beetle (Quedicus fulvicollis). Plants are also an exceptional feature at Brucefield Estate, with 418 vascular plants (plants with distinguishable roots, stems and leaves), and 151 bryophytes (mosses and liverworts).
Several species are Nationally Scarce including the moss (Ulota calvescens) and liverwort (Calypogeia integristipula). The arable field margins support several species that are of local and national conservation status including corn marigold (Glebionis segetum), corn spurry (Spergula arvensis) and hairy buttercup (Ranunculus sardous).
The Brucefield Estate manage an SSSI on the land which is called Craigmad Wood (approx 28 ha). This includes a lowland heath (6 ha) that is managed with cattle to increase the proportion of growth/pioneer phase heather, increase particular species of grass and lichens. The site also has semi-ancient oak trees and the gorge along the Bluther burn has many interesting species. Guests are very welcome to ask about the 10-year wildlife plan.
Reviews
Fantastic private location with great views from the porch. Rustic scandi feeling hut which is well insulated and nice and bright with the big windows. Lovely tiled bathroom and big super king bed so we had a great sleep. The estate has a really interesting walk with ancient Scottish and Nordic pines and beech trees too which provided a scenic early evening walk.
18/09/2024Tom
We loved our stay. The bothy is perfectly thought out in terms of location and facilities that are provided within the accommodation. We were greeted by Graeme when we arrived and he showed us to the bothy and mentioned a couple walks nearby we could take our dogs. We loved the quirkiness of the accommodation but also a level of luxury in terms of the very comfy large bed, lovely toiletries provided and local bread, honey etc that was left for us too.
09/08/2024Claudine
Loved our stay, great location that was quiet and peaceful.
08/07/2024Tad
My partner and I stayed at The Tod. We initially booked for 3 nights, but later requested to stay an additional night because we loved it so much there. The setting is beautiful and peaceful & you are not overlooked. Tod Highlights: - The organic toiletries (smelled great!) - The welcome loaf of sourdough - The tea and coffee from the Wee Tea Company - The comfiest duvet and pillows in a bed that makes you feel like you're sleeping in a treehouse - The refreshing shower with good pressure & heated towel rail - The team's welcoming and friendly approach - The view from the sofa (especially loved sitting there having a slow breakfast) We didn't get time to do the trails & it felt the wrong time of year for us to light either fire, but that just gives us something to look forward to on a hopeful return trip! It also makes us think there's no bad time of year to come. Our Local Highlights - We ate at the local restaurant and cocktail bar, The Aviary, one night in nearby town, Dollar. The staff were very friendly & they kindly made me a cocktail without fuss. - We got pizza from the recommended pizzeria - delicious! - Edinburgh was a cultural, friendly delight. Thank you so much ☺️
07/06/2024James
A beautiful location and the cosiest cabin stay. Everything was thought out and of extremely high quality. Our host Dawid was great; really helpful and great communication throughout. We had the best time exploring this gorgeous area of Scotland, and the Brucefield Estate is a lovely hub to come back to at the end of an adventure. The log burner was a fantastic essential on the cold, rainy nights.
01/04/2024Beth
Booking Terms
Canopy & Stars low price promise
Book with us in confidence knowing you won’t find that place cheaper elsewhere. All of the prices we display are set and matched by our Owners. (In this world of foreign currency, we do have to say 'subject to exchange rates' for some of our European places.)
What does ‘from price’ mean?
Our ‘from price’ is based on a four night stay in low season and designed to help you to compare different prices across our collection. Some of our Owners vary their nightly rates and check in days throughout the year, so it may differ from the rate quoted below the calendar. It is quite common (although by no means universal) for places to charge a little more in peak season or for shorter stays, to cover changeover costs. Consider booking longer stays during the cooler months if you’re looking for the lowest nightly rates.
Agency Terms & Conditions
Except where otherwise specified, we Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd (Company No 09088366) of Merchants House, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RW act only as an Agent in respect of all bookings we take and/or make on your behalf. As an Agent we act as an intermediary between you and the owner (‘’Owner’’) of the holiday accommodation (‘’Property’’) you will be staying in. We help to arrange reservations and bookings between you and the Owner and take payments from you on behalf of the Owner.
We are only arranging a contract between you and the Owner for hire of the Property and for any other services or arrangement you purchase from the Owner (the “Booking”). This means the legal contract for the Booking is between you and the Owner despite the fact that a payment for the Booking has been made to the Agent. Your contract for the Booking is not with Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd (Canopy & Stars).
Canopy & Stars is part of the Sawday’s family of companies, a majority employee owned business, 24% owned by a charitable trust and a B Corp. We accept no liability in relation to any contract you enter into in relation to Bookings or for the acts or omissions of any supplier(s) or other person(s) or party(ies) connected with any Booking.
When making your Booking we will arrange for you to enter into a contract with the Owner, as detailed in clause 1.2 below. Your Booking is subject to these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other specific booking conditions of the relevant Owner(s) you contract with. The Owner’s booking conditions may limit and/or exclude the Owner’s liability to you.
You may decide to make more than one Booking at the same time. The price charged in total for more than one Booking will always equal the prices charged separately for each individual Booking. All Bookings are available to be purchased separately at the same price as they are when more than one Booking is made. This means that any multiple Bookings do not constitute a package as defined in the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992.
By making a booking, you agree that:
- You have read these Agency Terms & Conditions and agree to be bound by them;
- The lead name on the Booking will be the person responsible for the Booking and shall be responsible for paying the deposit and the full price, for making any amendment and cancellation requests and for the payment of any additional charges. The lead name accepts these Terms & Conditions on behalf of all persons in the Booking;
- You consent to our use of your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy;
- You are over 18 years of age and where there may be age restrictions in place, you declare that you and all members of your party are of the appropriate age
The Canopy & Stars online booking system enables Guests to make Bookings 24 hours a day. To confirm your booking, you must pay a 25% deposit (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of your check in date) and the entire Booking will be subject to the cancellation policy as outlined in clause 2 below. The Canopy & Stars telephone booking line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. When using the online enquiry form, for those Properties without online booking, please allow 24 working hours for us to contact you by telephone to confirm the Booking. If we are unable to reach you by phone, we will attempt to contact you by email. We will contact you during Canopy & Stars working hours (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm). Online or email enquiries will be dealt with in the order they are received, but please be aware that we cannot guarantee reservation of your selected dates until the receipt of suitable payment. Therefore, if possible, we do recommend that you book on the Canopy & Stars website using the online booking system.
1. Booking and payments
1.1 In order to confirm your chosen Booking, you must pay a 25% non-refundable deposit as required (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of the date of your check-in). The deposit is non-refundable as it covers costs incurred and services provided to enable your Booking. These include, but are not limited to, marketing and PR, property inspection fees, Owner management, booking management, credit card fees and customer service.
1.2 Your Booking is confirmed and a contract between you and the Owner will exist when we receive payment of the deposit and send you a booking confirmation on the Owner’s behalf. This Booking confirmation email will be sent within 24 hours and will contain the details of your Booking and of payments made and due. If you have not received your Booking confirmation email within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk). Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately. As we act only as booking Agent, we have no responsibility for any errors in any documentation except where an error is made by us.
1.3 Once the 25% deposit has been paid, the full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in. A reminder to pay your balance will be sent to you one week prior to this 10 week date, where applicable, by email. We automatically take the balance payment using the same card as used to make the deposit payment. It is your responsibility to advise us if we should use a different card and to contact us by telephone (0117 204 7830) to arrange for alternative payment method. If the automated balance payment does not successfully go through as there is a problem with your card, such as it is expiring, then we will contact you to try and take alternative payment. If you do not make any payment due to Canopy & Stars by the due date for payment and at the latest within 5 days of this date, then with regret, we will notify the Owner who will cancel your Booking and terminate their contract with you. In these circumstances, your rights to a refund are set out in clause 2.3 and 2.4 below. Please note that if you have paid in a currency that is different to the original pricing, we will not be able to guarantee the same conversion rate that was used to convert the deposit payment.
1.4 Except where otherwise advised or stated in the booking conditions of the Owner concerned, all monies you pay to us for a Booking will be held on behalf of the Owner(s) concerned.
1.5 Credit Card payments are processed via Elavon who provide merchants services facilities to Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd.
2. Cancellation by You
2.1 If you have to, or want to cancel or amend your Booking, this request must be sent to us by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk) and will be considered and responded to within two working days of receipt. Please ensure that you have received written confirmation of any changes to your Booking prior to travel. Whilst we will always try to help, we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met.
2.2 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your 25% deposit being forfeited. The deposit is always non-refundable as it covers costs incurred and services provided to enable your Booking.
2.3 All bookings are non-amendable and non-refundable within 10 weeks of your check in date. If you need to cancel your booking within 10 weeks, the total cost of the accommodation including the deposit will be forfeited. Cancellation should always be in writing to bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk.
2.4 If you need to cancel your booking at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, the 25% deposit will be forfeited. If the booking has been paid in full the balance will be returned to you, minus the 25% deposit. Refunds will be issued in the same form and ratio as the original payment was made. Therefore, if a Gift Voucher was used to book your stay, the refund will be back onto a new Gift Voucher at the same amount as originally used. Alternatively, if you paid in cash, your refund will be processed in the currency of the booking. Where this is different to the currency of the payment card, this will be converted at the current exchange rate on the day of the refund.
2.5 Cancellations made by you, at any time, may incur a £50 administration fee in addition to us retaining the non-refundable deposit. This represents the administration costs incurred by us on behalf of the Owner to deal with such requests.
2.6 If extreme weather prevents you from reaching your holiday, taking, or finishing your holiday, you are still subject to these cancellation terms as outlined in clause 2.3 above. We strongly recommend that you take out a travel insurance policy which covers this eventuality. In the event of the property becoming unavailable (such as due to fire or flooding), Canopy & Stars will endeavour to provide the Guest with suitable alternative accommodation, starting with any other accommodation that may be available with the same Owner of your Booking, or will refund all monies paid, or a proportion in the case of curtailment. The Agency cannot, however, pay any compensation or expenses as a consequence of such an event.
2.7 Cancellation insurance is available to purchase from many providers, but will be a third-party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way. You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party for UK holidays and you must take out personal travel insurance for international holidays, including for illness and cancellation due to Covid-19. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover is adequate for your needs, including cancellation and curtailment.
2.8 If you fail to check-in on your date of arrival your Booking will be cancelled and no refund will be due.
3. Amendments to your booking, requested by you
3.1 Amendments to your Booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time amendments may be treated as cancellation and our refund policy as detailed in clause 2.3 above may apply. All amendments are subject to availability and may incur a £50 admin fee detailed in clause 2.5 above.
3.2 If we can fulfil your request to amend your booking, any differences in price as a result of the amendment, will be paid by you in the case of an increase and refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price, e.g. amending your booking from low season to high season.
3.3 In the event that a date swap is offered, this will normally be agreed with a set timeframe to rebook and sometimes a credit against a future stay will be offered. The credit can only apply to a stay at the same space as originally booked.
3.3.1 If a date swap is offered, then the Agency Booking Terms and Conditions applied at the time of your original booking will still apply. Therefore, if your date was swapped within 10 weeks of the original check in date, the 10 week cancellation policy set out in clause 2.3 applies to your new stay, even if the new check in date is beyond 10 weeks.
4. Refunds
If a refund is issued it will be in the same form and ratio as the original payment was made. Therefore, if a Gift Voucher was used to purchase the original stay, the refund will be back onto a new Gift Voucher at the same amount as originally used.
5. Insurance
You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party for your holiday, including holidays in the UK. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover is adequate for your needs, including cancellation and curtailment for any reason. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday.
6. Changes and Cancellations by the Owner
We will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if the Owner needs to make a significant change to your confirmed Booking or to cancel your Booking. We will also liaise between you and the Owner to try and organise an alternative Booking offered by the Owner, or a refund but we will have no further liability to you.
7. Cancellations due to events outside of Owner’s control
An Owner may have to cancel a booking due to events outside of their reasonable control (see clause 22). In such circumstances, we will liaise between you and the Owner to try and organise an any alternative Booking offered by the Owner, or a refund but we will have no further liability to you.
8. Complaints & Procedure
We always aim to provide the best possible holiday experience, however, if you have any complaint or problems during your stay, please immediately notify the Owner during the stay itself, so that the Owner has the opportunity to resolve the problem at the time. If you do not follow this procedure, there will be less opportunity for the Owner to investigate and resolve your complaint and to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Delays may also mean that the amount of compensation you may be entitled to, may be reduced or negated.
Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also let us know of the problem as soon as possible by emailing info@canopyandstars.co.uk. We will aim to respond within 1 working day to acknowledge your email. We will then review your feedback and investigate the complaint. This may involve discussing your concerns with the owner, revising the website listing for inaccuracies, and reviewing previous guest feedback and internal inspection notes. This process can take time to complete, so please allow approx. 7 working days for a final response.
We also welcome you to fill in our feedback survey which will be sent to you via email the day after you check out. It is important for us to gather as much information as possible about the experiences our guests are having. This is what helps us support our Owner in fulfilling their potential and identifying if anything could be improved.
9. Our Responsibility for your Booking
Your contract is with the Owner and its booking conditions apply. As Agent, we accept no responsibility for the actual provision of the Booking. Our responsibilities are limited to making the Booking in accordance with your instructions and acting properly in accordance with our legal duties as an Agent. We accept no responsibility for any information about the Booking that we pass on to you in good faith. However, in the event that we are found liable to you on any basis whatsoever, our maximum liability to you is limited to twice the cost of your Booking (or the appropriate proportion of this if not everyone on the Booking is affected). We do not exclude or limit any liability for death or personal injury that arises as a result of our negligence or that of any of our employees whilst acting in the course of their employment.
10. Your Responsibilities
10.1 Please note that you have a contract with the Owner of the property. As such you are under a responsibility to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner whilst staying at the property with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their Property.
10.2 You are responsible for informing the Owner of any losses or damage to the property as soon as possible. Please note that you will be liable to pay the Owner for any losses or damage to the property caused by you or a member of your party (except reasonable wear and tear). Some Owners may also require a damage deposit. If so, this information will be provided on the website place page under ‘essentials’.
10.3 You must also leave the property by the check-out time specified on your Booking. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period and/or refuse any future bookings from you. Please note that this would be without the right to any refund.
11. Pets
11.1 Not all properties accept pets. If you wish to take your pet on holiday, please advise us before booking and we can check whether pets are accepted at the property. You must obtain the prior consent of the Owner before taking any pets to the property. If you take a pet to a place that doesn’t allow pets, or you exceed the number of pets allowed at a place, the Owner has the right to refuse you to stay at the Property, and/or they may ask you to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period. Please note that this would be without the right to any refund.
11.2 A nightly charge may be made by the Owner for each pet and additional terms may apply, you will be notified of this at point of Booking. Please check these terms carefully before booking and arriving.
11.3 Please do not leave your pets alone or unsupervised in the property at any time during your stay. For the safety and comfort of your pet we request that Owners exercise due diligence at all times, especially where the property is located near a road/livestock. Canopy & Stars nor the Owner can accept responsibility for the safety of your pet.
11.4 If any guest has an allergy to pets, please be aware that Owners (and we) cannot guarantee that a pet has not stayed in a particular Property. We and Owners cannot accept responsibility for any suffering which may occur as a result of such animals having been present in a property.
11.5 We ask that all owners of pets keep their pet under control at all times and to be responsible for ensuring that they do not damage the Property, livestock or vegetation during the stay. You will be liable for any damage caused by your pet. Any damage is to be reported to the Owner immediately. Any additional cleaning required, that may incur an additional charge, will be at the Owner's discretion.
12. Special requests
If you have any special requests (for example dietary requirements, allergy, cots or room location), please let us know at the time of booking. We will pass on all such requests to the Owner, but unfortunately, we can't guarantee that they will be met and we will have no liability to you if they are not.
13. Maximum Numbers
Please note that except by prior arrangement confirmed in writing, only the number of persons specified on a booking confirmation may occupy a property. Most owners reserve the right to refuse admittance or revoke a Booking if this condition is not observed and you are unlikely to receive any refund.
13.1 The Owner reserves the right to sue the guest for any loss, damage or injury caused to the Owner, the Property or to other guests and/or their property. As Agent, we will have no liability to you in these circumstances.
13.2 The Owner only supplies the Property for domestic and private use. You agree not to use the Property for any commercial, business or re-sale purpose, and the Owner has no liability to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity. If you do wish to use the Property for a commercial purpose, you must contact Canopy & Stars prior to confirming your booking.
14. Group Bookings
Not all Owners accept Bookings for a single sex group (for example, a stag or hen party). Guests wanting to make such a Booking should check with us beforehand to enable us to check whether the Owner is prepared to accept the Booking. We will then advise you accordingly. In event that an Owner does not accept this type of Booking then it is with regret, that the Booking may be cancelled, and cancellation fees may apply. It is the Guest’s responsibility to enquire with Canopy & Stars and/or check on our website beforehand to make sure that this type of Booking is permitted.
15. Pricing
15.1 Canopy & Stars reserve the right to amend advertised prices at any time on behalf of the Owner. We also reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices. Special note: changes and errors sometimes occur.
15.2 Rates are set per place in the currency specified by the Owner. Where this has been converted into the currency of your preference, until the payment stage this will be an estimation only, based on a recent exchange rate. The original rate will be displayed before you confirm your payment and you will be given the option of paying in your own currency at our guaranteed rate, or paying in your own currency and leaving the conversion and any associated fees to your card provider.
16. Information & Accuracy
The information and prices shown on this website are varied from time to time and may change between the time you first view a property and make a Booking. You should check that all the details are as you expect prior to making a Booking. It is always possible that, despite our best efforts, some of the properties (including the features and extras available) may be incorrectly described and/or priced. If we discover this is the case after you have made a Booking, we reserve the right to contact you with details of the correct information and/or pricing and will give you the option to:
(1) proceed with the Booking based on the correct information and/or pricing, which may require the payment of an additional amount by you
OR
(2) subject to availability, change your booking dates to dates when the pricing can be honoured and so no additional charge to you. In the event that a lower price can be offered for alternative dates then the difference would be refunded
OR
(3) cancel the Booking. If we do not receive your instructions within 5 days of contacting you, we reserve the right to cancel your Booking without liability to you.
17. VAT
Many of the Owners of properties in the Canopy & Stars portfolio are not registered for VAT in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable, the tax is included in the advertised holiday rental price. If the rate of VAT changes between the date of the Booking and the date of the stay, Canopy & Stars may adjust the rate of VAT that you pay, unless you have already paid for the Booking in full before the change in the rate of VAT takes effect.
18. Visa, passport and health requirements
Unless you tell us otherwise, we assume that all members of your party are British citizens who hold or will hold full British passports valid for the entire duration of the international Booking. Information on visa, passport and health requirements, where given and applicable, is so given on this basis. Requirements may change and you are therefore strongly recommended to check the up to date position with the Owner of the Booking, Passport Office, appropriate embassy or consulate or your doctor as applicable in good time before the commencement of your holiday. Prior to international travel it is your responsibility to check whether it is safe to travel by visiting the FCO website www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
19. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These terms and conditions have been drafted in accordance with and are governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any and all disputes arising out of these Agency Terms & Conditions.
20. Discrepancies
In case of a discrepancy between these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Agency Terms & Conditions shall prevail.
21. Validity clause
In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Agency Terms & Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Agency Terms & Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.
22. Events beyond an Owner or Agency’s control
If an Owner or Canopy & Stars is prevented or delayed from complying with any of their respective obligations under these Agency Terms & Conditions or a contract for a Booking due to events or circumstances beyond their reasonable control, the inability or delay in performing those obligations will not be treated as a breach of these Agency Terms & Conditions or a contract for a Booking. Examples of such events or circumstances include fire, flood and other acts of God, strikes, trade disputes, lock outs, restrictions of imports or exports, riot, accident, disruption to energy supplies, civil commotion, acts of terrorism or war, pandemic (including Covid-19), any national/local/regional government restrictions.
Thank you for wading through all the very boring, but very important stuff above.
Now the outdoors is calling, so go and get wild in nature!
Fantastic private location with great views from the porch. Rustic scandi feeling hut which is well insulated and nice and bright with the big windows. Lovely tiled bathroom and big super king bed so we had a great sleep. The estate has a really interesting walk with ancient Scottish and Nordic pines and beech trees too which provided a scenic early evening walk.
18/09/2024