Walden Lodge
Vale of Glamorgan, United Kingdom
Hide at St Donats
- Our low price promise from £138 p/n
-
Cabin
Sleeps 2 /
Extra space for 2 adults
- Double bedroom on the ground floor
Overview
Walden Lodge is a calming, bright space that invites you to unwind and reflect. As you lounge on the porch looking out to sea or settle into the deep sofa by the wood-burner, the peace just washes over you. This is no accident either. Owners Paula and Tom designed, created and furnished the cabin to express their twin loves of the Welsh countryside and the inspiring thinking of transcendentalists Emerson and Thoreau. Everything from the big windows that let sunlight pour in and frame the stunning Glamorgan coast, to the carefully-chosen local artwork and the fire pit outside, go to make a space perfect for taking a deep breath and thinking about what you really need in life. Your time here flows without friction - throw back the wide doors of the ground floor double bedroom and pad across the lounge, into the kitchen or even straight into the shower in the bathroom. Upstairs, the second bedroom, with a double bed and a raised single bunk, is a quiet, contemplative retreat.
There's no shortage of things to do in the local area, you’ll be ready for days on the 88 cycleway through Wales, surf lessons at Dunraven Bay or cliff top walks and exploring hidden coves on the Glamorgan Heritage Coastline. When your appetite kicks back in, ask Paula and Tom for recommendations of their favourite haunts, from Michelin Rosette and 14th century pubs, to the local that brews and bakes its own beer and bread. From the second you see the Thoreau quote etched on the door, to the moment you sadly wave goodbye to your private corner of Wales, you’ll get a glimpse of a completely different way of life.
Winner of the 2016 Visit Wales Gold Award for Glamping Accommodation
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 4PM
- Check out: 10.30 AM
- Please bring walking boots and waterproofs
- Wood and charcoal available at additional cost payable directly to owners
- WiFi
- Phone signal is available depending on the network
- The cabans are approx. 20 metres from each other
- Group bookings cannot be accommodated
- As hide is a tranquil site the owners ask guests not to play amplified music in or outside accommodation and to keep noise to a minimum after 10pm.
Sleeping arrangements
- Double bedroom on the ground floor
Extra space available
Space for 2 adults from £20 per adult per night Double bed and single bunk bed in upstairs bedroom
Cooking
- Fan oven and induction hob
- Cookware and serving equipment provided
- Fridge/freezer
- Dishwasher
- Fire pit
Washing
- Bathroom with hot walk-in shower, flushing loo and basin
- Hairdryer
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Bed linen and towels provided
- Wood burner
- Electric lighting
- Plug sockets in cabin
- Radiators in bathroom and both bedrooms
Entertainment
- WiFi in the cabin
- Board games
Getting there
Hide at St Donats, Tresilian Wood, Dimlands Road, St Donats, Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, CF61 1ZB
What3Words: ///adventure.lyrics.firming - What3Words is a new more accurate version of a postcode. This will take you directly to the car park where you will then be able to follow signs to your cabin
By train
The nearest train station is in Llantwit Major, a 5-minute drive away. Bridgend train station is also nearby, a 30-minute drive. From either station you can take a taxi or a bus (see below).
By bus
The number 303 bus travels from Bridgend station via Hide at St Donats to Llantwit Major and vice versa. Just let the driver know that you want to stop at ‘George V’ stop.
The owners are able to pick up guests. From Llantwit Major for £8, Cardiff Station for £30 or from Cardiff Airport for £20.
By car
From London and the East
Leave the M4 at Junction 33 (Cardiff West and Airport) and at the first major exit, take the A48 towards Bridgend. From near Cowbridge, follow the (Atlantic College/St Donats Castle) signs. At Pentre Meyrick, turn left and follow the road to Llantwit Major. Just before Llantwit Major, the route is sign-posted (Atlantic College/St Donats) to the right at a roundabout. Continue on the B4265 for approximately one mile. Turn left at the staggered junction (sign-posted Atlantic College/ St Donats Castle) and follow the narrow farm road. At the next T-junction, turn left and continue past the college entrances, there is a sharp bend, continue. After 600m the entrance to Tresilian Wood is on the left. Follow the driveway to the top, the Visitor’s Car Park is directly in-front. The reception is on the far end of the large building.
From The West
Leave the M4 at Junction 37 and follow the signs to the A48, heading for Bridgend. In Bridgend turn off the A48 to the right and onto the B4265 (Ewenny Road) towards Llantwit Major. Pass through Ewenny, St Brides Major and Wick. Two miles from Wick there is a sign-post (Atlantic College/St Donats Castle) to the right at a staggered junction and follow the narrow farm road. At the next T-junction, turn left and continue past the college entrances, there is a sharp bend, continue. After 600m the entrance to Tresilian Wood is on the left. Follow the driveway to the top, the Visitor’s Car Park is directly in-front. The reception is on the far end of the large building.
Food & Drink
At Hide at St Donats
Milk, tea and coffee are provided, as well as basics such as salt and pepper.
Breakfast croissants are available to order for morning delivery to your accommodation. Order by 6pm the night before along with your preferred delivery time. Includes four croissants, butter and marmalade - £6.50 per couple.
Local shops
Co-op in Llanwit Major (2 miles)
Butcher - Farmers Pantry in Llanwit Major
Waitrose in Cowbridge
Butcher – I.G Nicholas, Cowbridge (closed Monday)
Deli – Elephant and Bun Kitchen, Cowbridge (closed Monday)
Farmers’ Market, Cowbridge - 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month
Places to eat
Horseshoe Inn, Marcoss (1.5 miles) - a traditional country pub set in the tranquil village of Marcross in the Heritage coast area of the vale of Glamorgan
The Old Swan, Llanwit Major (1.5 miles) - dating back to the 12th century, The Old Swan is the hub of the local community. Alongside the traditional pub bar, with its roaring fire and oak beams, you’ll find a newly refurbished restaurant area, light, airy but still sympathetic to the pubs heritage. Blackboard menus offer traditional pub food as well as ever changing daily specials, whilst the bar serves an impressive selection of local guest ales from a variety of brewers. There is a large, sunny, very popular beer garden for warmer days
Lamb and Flag (3.5 miles) - a country pub in the heart of the village of Wick. High quality food, real ales & roaring log fires
Carne Arms (5 miles) - an award-winning pub and restaurant built circa 1612 and located in the village of Llysworney
Forage Restaurant/café & Farm shop - offers customers, high quality seasonal food. There is an emphasis on supplying local, Welsh produce with much of the meat and vegetables coming from Penllyn Estate itself. There is a butcher onsite and you will find many other deli and pantry items too, including cheese, cakes, bread and beverages. The restaurant serves food to takeaway or eat in and the Forage chef is renowned for his delicious dishes using locally sourced ingredients. The coffee at Forage is second to none, using the local, Coaltown Coffee beans
Harry’s Bar (6.7 miles) - Whether you’re in for a quick coffee, craft ale or gin and bite to eat with friends or here for an evening meal Harry's Bar will do their utmost to accommodate your every need. They have a variety of scrumptious food to choose from, guests are loving the Celtic Pride Steaks, local lamb and seafood dishes. Their Chef exudes passion into every creation, big or small
Oscars, Cowbridge (6.7 miles) - if you like your classic contemporary cooking with a dash of the unexpected, Oscars is the place. From baba ghanoush to big burgers, superfood salads to super-cured serrano, local craft ales to craftily concocted cocktails, Oscars dishes up an array of plates with a little bit of cheek, each time
The Penny Farthing, Cowbridge (7 miles) - a charming, relaxed, casual and yet seeped in Georgian elegance, the Penny Farthing is a restaurant located on Cowbridge High Street, opposite The Bear Hotel. A warm welcome awaits you at our Dickensian window seats, intimate alcoves or beside our indoor well
Rocket & Rye (6.8 miles) - beautiful, simple plates, proper ingredients and proper cooking, achieved by nurturing sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships with the local community and its producers
Elephant & Bun, Cowbridge (7 miles) - a family- run deli situated at the heart of the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan market town Cowbridge. Wonderful fresh, mainly Welsh produce cooked a prepared on the premise responding tom seasonal changes and our customers tastes
Hare and Hounds (8 miles) – an award-winning pub and restaurant quality food and drinks in relaxed and informal surroundings
Activities
At Hide at St Donats
Striking coastal and countryside walks are on hide’s doorstep; 10 minutes' walk to the Jurassic coastline and across the road is the Wales Coastal Path, 2 minutes
Guests can enjoy beautiful views across the Bristol Channel to Somerset and the North Devon coast
hide has two bikes that can be borrowed
Places to visit
Historic buildings and museums are close by, including St Donat’s Church
Visit one of the many castles nearby including Castell Coch, Caerphilly Castle, St Quentin's Castle and Cardiff Castle.
The Royal Mint (20 miles) - since opening in 2016, The Royal Mint Experience has become one of the top-rated tourist attractions in South Wales. The guided tours give you unprecedented access to The Royal Mint and its history. Go behind the scenes to discover a whole world of coinage and experience history at The Royal Mint Experience
National Museum of Cardiff (20 miles) - situated in the heart of Cardiff’s elegant civic centre, it houses Wales’s national art, geology and natural history collections as well as major touring and temporary exhibitions
St Fagans National History Museum (17.2 miles) - from Celtic times to the present day St Fagans is one of Europe’s leading open–air museums and Wales’s most popular heritage attraction
Cowbridge (7 miles) - a lovely little market town with great independent shops, pubs & restaurants
The Church St Cadoc Llancarfen (8.2 miles) – one of the best examples of medieval wall painting in the United Kingdom. The church of St. Cadoc at Llancarfan is the focus of this small and charming village in the heart of Vale of Glamorgan. The village sits 8 miles from St Donats. Directly opposite the Church you can stop for lunch is the Fox and Hounds Pub & Restaurant
Llantwit Church (1.8 miles) - the ancient and sacred site we now call Llanilltud was the cradle of 'Celtic' Christianity and that Llanilltud's story is one of the greatest untold stories in Welsh History. It is a grade I listing building, or building of exceptional interest, and has been called both the "Westminster Abbey of Wales” for its unique collection of carved stones and effigies, and "the most beautiful church in Wales."
Outdoor & Active
Walking - Just across the road from Hide is one of the access points (George V Gate) to the The Glamorgan Heritage Coast. This striking path stretches fourteen miles from Aberthaw to Newton along the coastline of South Wales. Between these two points is an astonishing variety of coastal scenery, including jurassic coastline, extensive sand dunes, river estuaries, rocky bays and long sandy beaches
Cycling - The National Cycle Network (NCN88) route 88 cycleway is a mixture of on and off road routes throughout south Wales
Surfing - Porthcawl Surf School and surf hire is based at the WaterSport Center at Rest Bay, Porthcawl. On their website you can find all information relating to surfing in Porthcawl and book onto our surf lessons and you can also check out the current surf conditions on their beach webcam!
Horse Riding - Riding a horse on a wide open beach near the lapping fringe of the sea is a dream for many people. At Ogmore Farm this dream is a reality, every day
Pen-y-Fan (61.9 miles) - the highest point in Southern Britain, stands proudly flanked by Corn Du and Cribyn. From Fan y Big looking west towards the Beacons you can get the most stunning views in the whole area.
Meet your hosts
Meet Paula & Tom
A journey of discovery that began in America has come full circle and found fruition in the Welsh Countryside. Hide hosts Paula and Tom went in search of understanding of Transcendentalism and brought the wisdom they gained back to the home of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, one of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s inspirations.
Hide combines Tom’s talents and expertise with Paula’s interest in the arts to create a unique Welsh retreat, where guests can relax and enjoy beautiful surrounds in style. Every aspect of the site has a story to tell - from the tulip trees in the woods to the delightful works by Welsh artists.
Tom’s skills come from work with a leading green oak timber frame company, building architecturally acclaimed homes throughout the UK. He later joined a partnership designing and making Welsh ‘Cabans’ and is the mind behind the spaces at Hide at St Donats.
Paula’s interest in art and poetry is lifelong. She was born in Ireland, but moved to Wales as a child with her family, where she attended Art College and went on to have a varied and successful career based in London, ending up in International sport. In 2010, needing a change, she retrained as a Pilates teacher and returned to Wales, which is where she met Tom.
In Hide at St. Donats, they have created a perfect fusion of her art and his craft, a unique retreat in an enchanting seven-acre woodland setting at Tresillian Wood in the folds of the beautiful coastline of the Vale of Glamorgan.
Wildlife & Environment
Hide at St Donats is on the Glamorgan Heritage Coastline with striking coastal and countryside walks on the Hide’s doorstep and beautiful views across the Bristol Channel to Somerset and the north Devon coast. Expect to see a range of wildlife including rabbits, squirrels, hedgehogs and over 18 different species of nesting birds on site.
Reviews
It's hard to do Waldon Lodge justice, but it was absolutely perfect. What a beautifully built cabin, it felt really modern, clean, light, airy, with a wonderful curation of Welsh touches. The perfect hideaway for reading, watching wildlife from the windows and venturing out in the gorgeous surrounding scenery. The cabin is well equipped, high quality bedding, comfortable bed, warm, great shower. We stayed for 4 days and would absolutely stay again. It's clear that a lot of love has gone into it. The hosts were absolutely lovely. Helpful and friendly. They've got a great knowledge of the area and can help with ideas for walks and places to visit.
10/04/2023Eleanor
We loved our stay at Walden Lodge. It’s in a great location, beautiful setting and provides a very comfortable place to cosy up in. The lodge and entire site have been very thoughtfully designed to maximise rest and tranquility and to minimise stress. Hosts Paula and Tom are very welcoming and helpful, which sets the tone for a really enjoyable stay. They also offered plenty of information about the local area which made exploring effortless. Plenty of coastal walks with a great selection of pubs at the end of them and a local bus service running back- ideal! There’s also a good variety of surf beaches within a short drive.
31/10/2022Anna
Accommodation was superb, peaceful and tranquil, great walks, the hosts really helpful
27/09/2021Nigel
Simply perfect, location, the lodge was beautiful, practical and comfortable. It would have been impossible not to feel relaxed the moment you stepped in.
02/08/2021Alec
We had a perfect relaxing stay in Walden Lodge. Paula and Tom have thought of every detail to make it stylish and comfortable. We loved watching the wildlife in the meadow from the balcony during breakfast. Nobody is overlooked by another unit on the site. It is very special. Paula gave us all the local information we needed when we arrived. Walks along the clifftops from the Lodge allowed stunning views of the coast and beaches. There are places to eat in Llantwit Major and Cowbridge or you can cook at home, and you do feel at home. There is lots to do in the local area. Thank you soo much Paula and Tom.
05/07/2021Sharon
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!
It's hard to do Waldon Lodge justice, but it was absolutely perfect. What a beautifully built cabin, it felt really modern, clean, light, airy, with a wonderful curation of Welsh touches. The perfect hideaway for reading, watching wildlife from the windows and venturing out in the gorgeous surrounding scenery. The cabin is well equipped, high quality bedding, comfortable bed, warm, great shower. We stayed for 4 days and would absolutely stay again. It's clear that a lot of love has gone into it. The hosts were absolutely lovely. Helpful and friendly. They've got a great knowledge of the area and can help with ideas for walks and places to visit.
10/04/2023