It looks like you're using an old web browser that we no longer support, so some parts of the site may not work as well as they should and you won't be able to make a booking. Please update your browser (view more details) to make sure you get the best experience.
With its traditionally painted poles and a big crown wheel in the roof to look up at the stars, Kushti has a traditional feel. The cosy wood burner is the centrepiece, the futon sofa is covered with soft fluffy rugs to snuggle into, the yurt is fully furnished with vibrant Indian and Asian textiles and it’s all finished off with bits and pieces collected by Charles and Lisa over their travels. The bright colours are complemented by the wildflowers around you – at the right time of year, the woods bloom with bluebells, orchids and wild garlic and there will always be woodland animals to see.
Everything is carefully designed to minimise its environmental impact, from the locally sourced charcoal available for your BBQ to the water-saving shower, which you can find in the shared washroom 50m through the woods. Speaking of shared facilities, you might want to pop into the Finnish-style sauna to sweat away your troubles, so be sure to book in for the chance.
In the autumn, Charles and Lisa can always put on custom courses to suit you – choose from woodcraft, beekeeping or forest bathing. Just down the road you can play pooh sticks at the real Pooh Bridge, home of AA Milne!
Forest Garden only take individual bookings for each space so no group or full site bookings are possible
Read more
Essentials
The important stuff
Check in: 4 PM
Check out: 10 AM
No group reservations are permitted
Children and young adults under 25 are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult over 25
Please bring wellies, torch, towels and flip flops to wear on your way to the wood-fired sauna
A private wood-fired sauna with two cold showers are available to hire - contact owners directly to book at £20 per person/per hour. Minimum 2 people / maximum 4 people
There is a deep pond on site. Children must be supervised at all times
Firewood, charcoal and kindling can be purchased on site. Alternatively, guests can bring non-toxic firewood or forage wood from the site
To protect the peace and tranquillity of the woodland, acoustic music is permitted until 10pm
There is a plug socket in the shower block (phone chargers only)
There is no Wifi but strong 4G mobile phone signal is available
Sleeping arrangements
One king size bed and one single bed
Extra space available
Space
for 1 baby
no charge.
Babe in arms only. Please bring own travel cot.
Kids & Pets
Space for one additional child under 5 may be available, please email bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk to book and specify the age of your child when enquiring.
Cooking
Kitchenette equipped with a double ring gas hob (please bring matches or a lighter) and a cool box
Cooking utensils, glassware and crockery provided
Firepit BBQ and grill
Weber charcoal BBQ
Washing
Shared shower block 50m from the yurt, with electric heated water, sink and two shared flushing toilets
Please bring your own towels or hire a towel for £5
Please bring toiletries
Heating, lighting & bedding
Full set of bed linen provided for one bed only. For other beds, guests will need to bring their own full set of bedding. Alternatively guests can hire extra bedding and linen for £35 per set upon arrival
The main source of heat comes from the wood burner
Electric lighting
Entertainment
Wood-fired sauna available to hire
Playing cards
Board games such as backgammon, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders
What3Words: ///reform.puts.bets - What3Words is a new more accurate version of a postcode. This will take you directly to the main gate where you need to park so we recommend using this in your Sat Nav, but always remember to look at the owners’ directions too!
By train
The nearest train station is East Grinstead station (2.5 miles), from here guests can get a taxis to Forest Garden.
The nearest bus stop is in Ashurstwood (1 mile)
Please contact your hosts upon booking for taxi information.
By car
Follow the Sat Nav and signposts to Ashurstwood. Drive down through the village and continue for ½ mile, following the road round the sharp right hand bend where the road sign reads ‘Shovelstrode Lane’. The road then straightens out for 300m and you Forest Garden Shovelstrode will be on your right hand side, marked by a post and rail fence and a large carved wooden sign. Please park in the car park as you enter and collect a wheelbarrow beside the clay oven. Please close the gate behind you and keep it shut at all times.
A wheelbarrow will be provided.
Read more
Food & Drink
At Forest Garden
A large container of drinking water as well as tea and sugar is provided. You're welcome to purchase Forest Garden's very own honey, jams, apple juice and eggs when available.
Local shops
Ashurstwood (1.5 miles) has a general store for the basics, as well as a highly recommended butcher.
Forest Row (2 miles) has more choice. There is a Tesco Express, Co-op, Seasons Organic Vegetables, with a biodynamic farm shop at Tablehurst Farm just outside.
East Grinstead (2.5 miles) has Sainsburys, Waitrose and Aldi supermarkets.
Alternatively you could order groceries online to arrive when you do, or if you'd like Lisa and Charles to take the delivery in for you in advance please contact them to see if this is possible.
Places to eat
The Hatch at Colemans Hatch (4.8 miles) - serves excellent food for lunch and dinner and is child friendly, offering a lovely outside area to sit in and great views of Ashdown Forest.
Gravetye Manor (7.6 miles) - a beautiful place to visit and highly recommended food.
The Fountain Inn (3.7 miles) - a lovely little pub in a very pretty village called Cowden. Good food, child friendly and a nice outside area to eat in.
The Red Lion (7.4 miles) - very good for a lunch after a walk in Ashdown Forest.
Forest Garden offer various seasonal activities and experiences including woodwork and beekeeping courses as well as forest bathing, massage and sauna sessions. Just get in touch with the owners directly after booking to get involved.
There is a 'pirate ship' climbing frame for children to play on.
Your hosts can also host traditional tea parties for groups of minimum 6 people at £15 per head.
When it's open, have a browse of Forest Garden's little shop, which sells a miscellany of interesting things collected by Lisa and Charles, as well as some of Forest Garden's own produce.
Places to Visit
Forest Row (2.6 miles) – visit the market on the first Saturday of the month.
Hever Castle (8.7 miles) - known for being the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. It hosts many activities for little ones including sword and shield making, and a complete feature with a maze.
Sheffield Park (10 miles) - a stunning National Trust garden.
Bluebell Railway (3.2 miles) - travel through the countryside on an old steam train from East Grinstead through to Sheffield Park.
Tunbridge Wells (11.5 miles) - historic estates, gardens and family friendly activities just an hour away from London.
Outdoor & Active
Weir Wood reservoir (4.3 miles) – for anyone that enjoys sailing and fishing.
Ashdown Forest (5.8 miles) - walk along this ancient area of open heathland.
Pooh Bridge (7.9 miles) - home of the famous writer AA Milne, of Winnie the Pooh fame. Be sure to also visit the Pooh Corner tea room and shop afterwards.
Eridge Green (13.2 miles) - very popular rock climbing spot.
Read more
Meet your hosts
Meet Lisa and Charles
The property has been Lisa’s family home since 1971. Charles and Lisa created Forest Garden Shovelstrode in 2011 as a place where people could come and stay in a beautiful woodland retreat as well as take part in a wide range of courses in traditional craft. Charles and Lisa share a passion for living a more sustainable lifestyle and showing people various ways of lowering their own carbon footprint.
Situated three miles away from the Ashdown Forest, Forest Garden Shovelstrode is set in 6 acres of land, 3.5 acres of which is ancient woodland. Historically it formed part of John of Gaunt’s hunting park and was originally known as Anderida Forest. The yurts and cabin are nestled in the magical woodland, where there is evidence of ancient iron pits. On an old disused paddock a ‘Forest Garden’ is being created. This is based on the oldest form of permaculture, planting within seven layers of the canopy, from lower root zone to upper tree canopy to produce perennial vegetables, fruit, nuts, oils and resins. The project is well underway and, after two years of soil preparation with nitrogen fixing and mineral accumulating plants, the third ‘shrub’ layer is expected to be planted during the spring of 2014. The Forest Garden is built on the edge of a large, deep wildlife pond which backs on to the edge of the ancient woodland.
Wildlife & Environment
The wildlife pond has encouraged a plethora of dragonflies, frogs and newts to thrive. There are also two beehives on site for the ‘Introduction to beekeeping’ courses. Guests have frequently seen deer and rabbits in the wood and are able to enjoy the sound of birds including owls, buzzards and woodpeckers from morning to night. A large heron frequently visits the pond.
The woodland is rich with wildflowers including bluebells, orchids and wild garlic to name a few. In the autumn a plethora of mushrooms can be found and guests can enrol on a ‘Mushroom foraging’ course in October which also includes a site visit to Ashdown Forest.
There are several SSSI sites within a few miles of Forest Garden Shovelstrode.
The yurts and cabin are lit by solar powered fairy lights and tea lights and a roaring open pit fire outside complete the idyllic setting. A cosy wood burner inside keeps guests toasty warm on chilly evenings.
With its traditionally painted poles and a big crown wheel in the roof to look up at the stars, Kushti has a traditional feel. The cosy wood burner is the centrepiece, the futon sofa is covered with soft fluffy rugs to snuggle into, the yurt is fully furnished with vibrant Indian and Asian textiles and it’s all finished off with bits and pieces collected by Charles and Lisa over their travels. The bright colours are complemented by the wildflowers around you – at the right time of year, the woods bloom with bluebells, orchids and wild garlic and there will always be woodland animals to see.
Everything is carefully designed to minimise its environmental impact, from the locally sourced charcoal available for your BBQ to the water-saving shower, which you can find in the shared washroom 50m through the woods. Speaking of shared facilities, you might want to pop into the Finnish-style sauna to sweat away your troubles, so be sure to book in for the chance.
In the autumn, Charles and Lisa can always put on custom courses to suit you – choose from woodcraft, beekeeping or forest bathing. Just down the road you can play pooh sticks at the real Pooh Bridge, home of AA Milne!
Forest Garden only take individual bookings for each space so no group or full site bookings are possible
Children and young adults under 25 are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult over 25
Please bring wellies, torch, towels and flip flops to wear on your way to the wood-fired sauna
A private wood-fired sauna with two cold showers are available to hire - contact owners directly to book at £20 per person/per hour. Minimum 2 people / maximum 4 people
There is a deep pond on site. Children must be supervised at all times
Firewood, charcoal and kindling can be purchased on site. Alternatively, guests can bring non-toxic firewood or forage wood from the site
To protect the peace and tranquillity of the woodland, acoustic music is permitted until 10pm
There is a plug socket in the shower block (phone chargers only)
There is no Wifi but strong 4G mobile phone signal is available
Sleeping arrangements
One king size bed and one single bed
Extra space available
Space
for 1 baby
no charge.
Babe in arms only. Please bring own travel cot.
Kids & Pets
Space for one additional child under 5 may be available, please email bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk to book and specify the age of your child when enquiring.
Cooking
Kitchenette equipped with a double ring gas hob (please bring matches or a lighter) and a cool box
Cooking utensils, glassware and crockery provided
Firepit BBQ and grill
Weber charcoal BBQ
Washing
Shared shower block 50m from the yurt, with electric heated water, sink and two shared flushing toilets
Please bring your own towels or hire a towel for £5
Please bring toiletries
Heating, lighting & bedding
Full set of bed linen provided for one bed only. For other beds, guests will need to bring their own full set of bedding. Alternatively guests can hire extra bedding and linen for £35 per set upon arrival
The main source of heat comes from the wood burner
Electric lighting
Entertainment
Wood-fired sauna available to hire
Playing cards
Board games such as backgammon, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders
What3Words: ///reform.puts.bets - What3Words is a new more accurate version of a postcode. This will take you directly to the main gate where you need to park so we recommend using this in your Sat Nav, but always remember to look at the owners’ directions too!
By train
The nearest train station is East Grinstead station (2.5 miles), from here guests can get a taxis to Forest Garden.
The nearest bus stop is in Ashurstwood (1 mile)
Please contact your hosts upon booking for taxi information.
By car
Follow the Sat Nav and signposts to Ashurstwood. Drive down through the village and continue for ½ mile, following the road round the sharp right hand bend where the road sign reads ‘Shovelstrode Lane’. The road then straightens out for 300m and you Forest Garden Shovelstrode will be on your right hand side, marked by a post and rail fence and a large carved wooden sign. Please park in the car park as you enter and collect a wheelbarrow beside the clay oven. Please close the gate behind you and keep it shut at all times.
A large container of drinking water as well as tea and sugar is provided. You're welcome to purchase Forest Garden's very own honey, jams, apple juice and eggs when available.
Local shops
Ashurstwood (1.5 miles) has a general store for the basics, as well as a highly recommended butcher.
Forest Row (2 miles) has more choice. There is a Tesco Express, Co-op, Seasons Organic Vegetables, with a biodynamic farm shop at Tablehurst Farm just outside.
East Grinstead (2.5 miles) has Sainsburys, Waitrose and Aldi supermarkets.
Alternatively you could order groceries online to arrive when you do, or if you'd like Lisa and Charles to take the delivery in for you in advance please contact them to see if this is possible.
Places to eat
The Hatch at Colemans Hatch (4.8 miles) - serves excellent food for lunch and dinner and is child friendly, offering a lovely outside area to sit in and great views of Ashdown Forest.
Gravetye Manor (7.6 miles) - a beautiful place to visit and highly recommended food.
The Fountain Inn (3.7 miles) - a lovely little pub in a very pretty village called Cowden. Good food, child friendly and a nice outside area to eat in.
The Red Lion (7.4 miles) - very good for a lunch after a walk in Ashdown Forest.
Forest Garden offer various seasonal activities and experiences including woodwork and beekeeping courses as well as forest bathing, massage and sauna sessions. Just get in touch with the owners directly after booking to get involved.
There is a 'pirate ship' climbing frame for children to play on.
Your hosts can also host traditional tea parties for groups of minimum 6 people at £15 per head.
When it's open, have a browse of Forest Garden's little shop, which sells a miscellany of interesting things collected by Lisa and Charles, as well as some of Forest Garden's own produce.
Places to Visit
Forest Row (2.6 miles) – visit the market on the first Saturday of the month.
Hever Castle (8.7 miles) - known for being the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. It hosts many activities for little ones including sword and shield making, and a complete feature with a maze.
Sheffield Park (10 miles) - a stunning National Trust garden.
Bluebell Railway (3.2 miles) - travel through the countryside on an old steam train from East Grinstead through to Sheffield Park.
Tunbridge Wells (11.5 miles) - historic estates, gardens and family friendly activities just an hour away from London.
Outdoor & Active
Weir Wood reservoir (4.3 miles) – for anyone that enjoys sailing and fishing.
Ashdown Forest (5.8 miles) - walk along this ancient area of open heathland.
Pooh Bridge (7.9 miles) - home of the famous writer AA Milne, of Winnie the Pooh fame. Be sure to also visit the Pooh Corner tea room and shop afterwards.
Eridge Green (13.2 miles) - very popular rock climbing spot.
The property has been Lisa’s family home since 1971. Charles and Lisa created Forest Garden Shovelstrode in 2011 as a place where people could come and stay in a beautiful woodland retreat as well as take part in a wide range of courses in traditional craft. Charles and Lisa share a passion for living a more sustainable lifestyle and showing people various ways of lowering their own carbon footprint.
Situated three miles away from the Ashdown Forest, Forest Garden Shovelstrode is set in 6 acres of land, 3.5 acres of which is ancient woodland. Historically it formed part of John of Gaunt’s hunting park and was originally known as Anderida Forest. The yurts and cabin are nestled in the magical woodland, where there is evidence of ancient iron pits. On an old disused paddock a ‘Forest Garden’ is being created. This is based on the oldest form of permaculture, planting within seven layers of the canopy, from lower root zone to upper tree canopy to produce perennial vegetables, fruit, nuts, oils and resins. The project is well underway and, after two years of soil preparation with nitrogen fixing and mineral accumulating plants, the third ‘shrub’ layer is expected to be planted during the spring of 2014. The Forest Garden is built on the edge of a large, deep wildlife pond which backs on to the edge of the ancient woodland.
Wildlife & Environment
The wildlife pond has encouraged a plethora of dragonflies, frogs and newts to thrive. There are also two beehives on site for the ‘Introduction to beekeeping’ courses. Guests have frequently seen deer and rabbits in the wood and are able to enjoy the sound of birds including owls, buzzards and woodpeckers from morning to night. A large heron frequently visits the pond.
The woodland is rich with wildflowers including bluebells, orchids and wild garlic to name a few. In the autumn a plethora of mushrooms can be found and guests can enrol on a ‘Mushroom foraging’ course in October which also includes a site visit to Ashdown Forest.
There are several SSSI sites within a few miles of Forest Garden Shovelstrode.
The yurts and cabin are lit by solar powered fairy lights and tea lights and a roaring open pit fire outside complete the idyllic setting. A cosy wood burner inside keeps guests toasty warm on chilly evenings.
Absolutely beautiful place..felt the tension and cares floating away as we opened the gate to this lovely family property...the hosts were welcoming and so helpful ..but equally absolutely allowed us to enjoy the space and nature..loved it and would 100% recommend
13/04/2022
Jenny
The site and the yurt itself were absolutely lovely. The toilets and showers were kept clean. The yurt is positioned quite near the path and most of the other cabin occupants need to pass that way to get to the shower block, car park etc. As many of the occupants had young children, this meant there was some (happy) noise most of the time. Same with being next to the large lawn area where kids played football until it was dark. But this did not upset us in any way, as everyone was having a great time! We lit the stove in the cabin and used the fire pit outside, all very cosy. Also cooked dinners, no problem. We'd like to make our summerhouse at home look more like the inside of the yurt, with lovely cushions, rugs, soft furnishings and candle-lit lamps!
13/08/2021
Fiona
Wonderful stay with my 2 young daughters, staying at the Kushti Yurt at Forest Garden. The Yurt was magical inside with all the candles and ethnic decor a bit like an 'Aladdin set'. We paid the supplement for the futon so plenty of space for all of us even though its normally for a couple. Communal area clean tidy and gardens really beautiful with lots to do locally. Lisa was the perfect host - great prearrival communication, attentive, helpful onsite and available to respond to my naïve questions about outdoor living! :-)
Travel wise we came by train with Taxi £12 to site, we then used the same taxi driver for local day trips like Groomhouse Palce and Bluebell Railway, plus used Tescos Online who delivered directly to the entrance of our yurt. So you don't need a car if you can get to East Grinstead station. We had a great time and will be back, perhaps for the Bee keeping course.
Thank you!
Shaff, Alia and Hannah X
06/08/2021
Shaff
It was nice and peaceful, and well located, with loads of great things to do nearby in East Sussex. Despite the bad weather we enjoyed a cosy stay - the wood burner worked a treat.
07/06/2019
Brendan
Absolutely wonderful! The yurt was beautiful, location ideal & very relaxing. Lisa & Charlie are the perfect hosts. We hope to return
17/05/2019
Jane
What do you get when you combine the perfect forest setting, with the coolest themed yurts in England and the friendliest and most accommodating host? An absolute winner is what you get. If you're looking for a real experience, to get away from it all and spend some high quality time with a partner/friends - then Forest Garden is the best place to do it! We have already been back once and will be back again for sure!
15/02/2019
Nathan
We had a lovely stay. Even though it was cold outside, the fire kept us cosy. Our hosts were very friendly and welcoming, and left us to it, which was great as we felt like the place was ours!
27/12/2017
india
We had a lovely few nights staying in Kushti. It was a beautiful cosy yurt with absolutely everything you could possibly need. We had lovely walks around the surrounding areas and delicious marshmallows over an over fire.
10/09/2017
Sophie
We had a very relaxing Easter weekend at Kushti. Forest Garden is a great place looked after with a lot of love by Lisa and Charles.
14/04/2017
Lucy
We really enjoyed staying at Kushti- a perfect getaway from the city and cosy once you get the fire going!
03/03/2017
Ellie
Lisa and Charles were extremely nice, accommodating and helpful. The yurt, grounds, amenities and surrounding area were perfect - just what we wanted. Would highly recommend.
24/02/2017
Sam
My family and I had a fantastic stay in the Kushti Yurt. Both venue and the Yurt itself were a joy to stay in. The owners and staff were friendly and helpful and we all thoroughly enjoyed cooking on the BBQ and eating while sitting out by an open fire. The Yurt was amazing and our two boys aged 4 and 6 loved it. I would definately go again.
28/07/2015
Steven
We spent a weekend at Kushti yurt with our ten-month-old baby and had a fabulous time. It was raining when we arrived but it's so cosy in the yurt that didn't matter at all! On the second day, we enjoyed cooking on the fire pit and sitting outside til late at night.
24/07/2015
Claudia
Absolutely wonderful. Easy check-in, good communication from the owner and a beautiful Yurt in a tranquil and relaxing setting.
07/06/2015
Paul
My daughters and I loved our short stay in Kushti. The grounds are beautiful. When we were not in our beautiful yurt or out exploring the Ashdown Forest we were chilling by the very pretty and quite large pond. Lovely memories of my daughter sat by the upturned boat painting while I read and listened to the bird song. At night, with the wood burning stove on it was so cosy. The yurt was lit by what seemed like hundreds of candles and fairy lights. Even the spooky sounds of the wildlife made it more exciting. The yurt was so beautifully decorated and came with everything we needed; gas stove, plates, cutlery, tea bags, salt and pepper etc. We cooked on the fire pit outside and it was just a very short walk to sink area where fairy liquid and drying up towels were provided. My daughters loved making huts in the wooded area, eating smores by the fire and playing with the owners very lovely dogs. We did lots of walking in the Ashdown Forest, visited Pooh Bridge in the 100 acre wood, hired a rowing boat out and would have rented bike's out from just down the road if we would have had time. Kushti would also be very romantic without children. I will definitely be coming back.
25/05/2015
Jo
The yurt was a beautiful hideout for an evening of not doing a lot. It rained the entire night but a couple of games of snakes and ladders by the wood burner kept us entertained. The facilities are perfect and only a short (squelchy) walk from the yurt.
19/02/2015
Emma
"We had a wonderful time and would definitely like to stay again. Best thing was the hospitality of Lisa, the location, the comfort of the yurt."
25/05/2014
Sinead
"Absolutely loved it! I don't think we've been that relaxed for quite a while. The location was brilliant - close enough to get to and to go visit nearby attractions, but secluded enough to be private. The yurt was fantastic and very cosy with the stove going. Hope to return in the not to distant future."
02/05/2014
Matt
Reviews
Absolutely beautiful place..felt the tension and cares floating away as we opened the gate to this lovely family property...the hosts were welcoming and so helpful ..but equally absolutely allowed us to enjoy the space and nature..loved it and would 100% recommend
13/04/2022
Jenny
The site and the yurt itself were absolutely lovely. The toilets and showers were kept clean. The yurt is positioned quite near the path and most of the other cabin occupants need to pass that way to get to the shower block, car park etc. As many of the occupants had young children, this meant there was some (happy) noise most of the time. Same with being next to the large lawn area where kids played football until it was dark. But this did not upset us in any way, as everyone was having a great time! We lit the stove in the cabin and used the fire pit outside, all very cosy. Also cooked dinners, no problem. We'd like to make our summerhouse at home look more like the inside of the yurt, with lovely cushions, rugs, soft furnishings and candle-lit lamps!
13/08/2021
Fiona
Wonderful stay with my 2 young daughters, staying at the Kushti Yurt at Forest Garden. The Yurt was magical inside with all the candles and ethnic decor a bit like an 'Aladdin set'. We paid the supplement for the futon so plenty of space for all of us even though its normally for a couple. Communal area clean tidy and gardens really beautiful with lots to do locally. Lisa was the perfect host - great prearrival communication, attentive, helpful onsite and available to respond to my naïve questions about outdoor living! :-)
Travel wise we came by train with Taxi £12 to site, we then used the same taxi driver for local day trips like Groomhouse Palce and Bluebell Railway, plus used Tescos Online who delivered directly to the entrance of our yurt. So you don't need a car if you can get to East Grinstead station. We had a great time and will be back, perhaps for the Bee keeping course.
Thank you!
Shaff, Alia and Hannah X
06/08/2021
Shaff
It was nice and peaceful, and well located, with loads of great things to do nearby in East Sussex. Despite the bad weather we enjoyed a cosy stay - the wood burner worked a treat.
07/06/2019
Brendan
Absolutely wonderful! The yurt was beautiful, location ideal & very relaxing. Lisa & Charlie are the perfect hosts. We hope to return
17/05/2019
Jane
What do you get when you combine the perfect forest setting, with the coolest themed yurts in England and the friendliest and most accommodating host? An absolute winner is what you get. If you're looking for a real experience, to get away from it all and spend some high quality time with a partner/friends - then Forest Garden is the best place to do it! We have already been back once and will be back again for sure!
15/02/2019
Nathan
We had a lovely stay. Even though it was cold outside, the fire kept us cosy. Our hosts were very friendly and welcoming, and left us to it, which was great as we felt like the place was ours!
27/12/2017
india
We had a lovely few nights staying in Kushti. It was a beautiful cosy yurt with absolutely everything you could possibly need. We had lovely walks around the surrounding areas and delicious marshmallows over an over fire.
10/09/2017
Sophie
We had a very relaxing Easter weekend at Kushti. Forest Garden is a great place looked after with a lot of love by Lisa and Charles.
14/04/2017
Lucy
We really enjoyed staying at Kushti- a perfect getaway from the city and cosy once you get the fire going!
03/03/2017
Ellie
Lisa and Charles were extremely nice, accommodating and helpful. The yurt, grounds, amenities and surrounding area were perfect - just what we wanted. Would highly recommend.
24/02/2017
Sam
My family and I had a fantastic stay in the Kushti Yurt. Both venue and the Yurt itself were a joy to stay in. The owners and staff were friendly and helpful and we all thoroughly enjoyed cooking on the BBQ and eating while sitting out by an open fire. The Yurt was amazing and our two boys aged 4 and 6 loved it. I would definately go again.
28/07/2015
Steven
We spent a weekend at Kushti yurt with our ten-month-old baby and had a fabulous time. It was raining when we arrived but it's so cosy in the yurt that didn't matter at all! On the second day, we enjoyed cooking on the fire pit and sitting outside til late at night.
24/07/2015
Claudia
Absolutely wonderful. Easy check-in, good communication from the owner and a beautiful Yurt in a tranquil and relaxing setting.
07/06/2015
Paul
My daughters and I loved our short stay in Kushti. The grounds are beautiful. When we were not in our beautiful yurt or out exploring the Ashdown Forest we were chilling by the very pretty and quite large pond. Lovely memories of my daughter sat by the upturned boat painting while I read and listened to the bird song. At night, with the wood burning stove on it was so cosy. The yurt was lit by what seemed like hundreds of candles and fairy lights. Even the spooky sounds of the wildlife made it more exciting. The yurt was so beautifully decorated and came with everything we needed; gas stove, plates, cutlery, tea bags, salt and pepper etc. We cooked on the fire pit outside and it was just a very short walk to sink area where fairy liquid and drying up towels were provided. My daughters loved making huts in the wooded area, eating smores by the fire and playing with the owners very lovely dogs. We did lots of walking in the Ashdown Forest, visited Pooh Bridge in the 100 acre wood, hired a rowing boat out and would have rented bike's out from just down the road if we would have had time. Kushti would also be very romantic without children. I will definitely be coming back.
25/05/2015
Jo
The yurt was a beautiful hideout for an evening of not doing a lot. It rained the entire night but a couple of games of snakes and ladders by the wood burner kept us entertained. The facilities are perfect and only a short (squelchy) walk from the yurt.
19/02/2015
Emma
"We had a wonderful time and would definitely like to stay again. Best thing was the hospitality of Lisa, the location, the comfort of the yurt."
25/05/2014
Sinead
"Absolutely loved it! I don't think we've been that relaxed for quite a while. The location was brilliant - close enough to get to and to go visit nearby attractions, but secluded enough to be private. The yurt was fantastic and very cosy with the stove going. Hope to return in the not to distant future."
Our weekly newsletter delivers a burst of green to your inbox. You'll be the first to find out about our hand-picked places to stay, receive some fantastic offers and gain an insight into the inner-workings of the collective Canopy & Stars brain (don't say we didn't warn you).
And, as ever, we promise never to share your details with anyone else.
We will never pass your personal information on to any third parties, which is why we don't ask you whether or not we need your permission to do so! Find out more about our Privacy Policy.
Thank you for signing up
One more thing, we need to confirm your email address just to make sure we only send our newsletter out to those who really want it.
To do this, please click the link in the confirmation email we just sent you.
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!
Absolutely beautiful place..felt the tension and cares floating away as we opened the gate to this lovely family property...the hosts were welcoming and so helpful ..but equally absolutely allowed us to enjoy the space and nature..loved it and would 100% recommend
13/04/2022