FAQs

FAQs and Access statement

Introduction

The Dick Turpin Cottage is a self-catering cottage set in twenty acres near Clun in Shropshire. The building has two storeys. The ground floor is not part of the accommodation: it holds two open areas used for storage, waste and refuse collection, log storage, dustbins and an electric clothes dryer. The cottage itself is reached by a flight of steps up to the front door.

We have tried to give as much detail as possible here, including measurements, so you can decide before you book whether the cottage will suit you. If anything is missing, please telephone or email and we will answer honestly. We look forward to welcoming you.

Before you arrive

  • Full details are on our website: www.dickturpincottage.com
  • Bookings and enquiries can be made by telephone or email.
  • We normally reply to enquiries the same day.
  • There is no booking fee when you book with us directly rather than through a listing site.
  • An information folder is available in the cottage in 14 point type, and can be provided as audio on request.

Prices, deposits and cancellation

  • The nightly rate is £110 based on a seven night stay. A three night stay is £425, which works out at £141 a night. Prices are reduced from time to time.
  • The shortest stay we accept is three nights.
  • You can arrive on any day of the week, though Saturday suits us best.
  • A deposit of one third is taken at the time of booking. The balance is due six weeks before the start of the stay.
  • There is no damage or security deposit.
  • We accept card, bank transfer and cheque.
  • Cancellations: Full refund if cancelled  prior to 90 days of arrival. After that date, refund can be subject to certain costs incurred.

Getting to the cottage

The drive

  • The drive up to the cottage has recently been resurfaced with stone and gravel.
  • It is a steep hill. Many ordinary cars have managed it without difficulty, and there is a warning about it in the welcome pack.
  • In heavy snow a four wheel drive vehicle would be needed. We clear the drive as soon as we can.

Parking

  • There is a car parking space next to the steps leading up to the cottage.
  • The surface is loose gravel and slopes towards the cottage.
  • From the car space to the front door is approximately 5 metres.

Steps to the front door

  • There are 10 steps up to the cottage door.
  • Each step is 30cm deep, 20cm high and 120cm wide.
  • There is a wooden handrail on the right hand side.
  • There is no alternative step-free route into the cottage.

Public transport

  • The nearest bus stop is in Clun, 1 mile from the cottage.
  • The nearest railway stations are Knighton, 6 miles, and Craven Arms, 10 miles.
  • Taxis are available at the stations.
  • The nearest public toilet is in the car park in Clun, 1 mile from the cottage.

Arriving and leaving

  • Arrival is officially from 4pm. If the cottage is ready earlier, for example by midday, we let arriving guests know so they can come sooner.
  • Please leave by 10am on your day of departure.
  • We normally tell guests where the key will be left. If we are in, the door will be open.
  • If you expect to arrive late or after dark, please let us know beforehand.
  • We are normally in the main house while guests are staying. We usually come out to welcome people and are happy to help with luggage or anything else that is needed.

Main entrance and hallway

  • The front door is 83cm wide, hinged on the right, and opens into a hallway. The keyhole is 130cm from the ground.
  • There is a threshold of 18cm at the front door.
  • Inside the front door is a corridor 120cm wide and 320cm long, leading to the door into the main room.
  • The door into the main room is 75cm wide.
  • Two further doors off the corridor are both 68cm wide. One leads to a cloakroom with a WC and wash basin, 170cm x 135cm. The other leads to a storage area 95cm x 135cm containing the hi-fi and the washing machine.
  • Once you are through the front door there are no steps between the hallway, the main room, the bedroom, the bathroom and the kitchen. Everything is on one level.
  • There is one step from the cottage out into the garden.

Main room

  • The main room is open plan with a dining area and a wood burning stove. The room measures 5.50m x 5.50m.
  • There is a clear floor space of 3.75m x 1.80m.
  • Flooring is polished wood with two loose rugs.
  • The dining table is 67cm wide, 182cm long and 73cm high. It has a leg at each corner, with 61cm from the floor to the lowest point of the table. There is at least 75cm of free space around the table on three sides, and all the furniture can be moved.
  • There are 4 dining chairs with padded seats and no arms. There are a further 2 chairs with arms in the bedroom if they are needed.
  • Seating is one double sofa and two easy chairs with arms.
  • There is a flat screen smart television with a remote control, a separate DVD player, and a stereo with CD and DAB radio.

Bedroom

  • The bedroom door is 63cm wide.
  • There is a double bed. It can be made up as two singles, but this cannot be done without help, so we ask for a week or two of notice and preferably more.
  • There are two chairs with arms in the bedroom.
  • There is a flat screen television in the bedroom. It is not a smart television.

Bathroom

  • The room measures 3.70m x 2.20m.
  • The door is 67cm wide.
  • The bath is 59cm high and 153cm long.
  • The shower has a threshold of 30cm. The shower door is 66cm wide.
  • The toilet seat is 43cm high. There is 20cm of space to the left of the toilet and 42cm to the right.
  • The sink is 86cm high and measures 37cm x 50cm.
  • Flooring is wood.
  • There are no grab rails in the bathroom or beside the WC.

Kitchen

  • The room measures 3.00m x 2.75m.
  • The door is 74cm wide.
  • There is free space in the kitchen of 2m x 1.42m.
  • The lowest oven shelf is 42cm from the floor when the oven door is open.
  • The sink is 91cm high and measures 40cm x 50cm.
  • The highest shelf in the refrigerator is 86cm from the floor.
  • The kitchen also has a microwave, a freezer and a dishwasher. Coffee is made with a french press rather than a machine.

Heating, bedding and what is provided

  • There is gas central heating. The wood burning stove in the main room is in addition to it, not instead of it.
  • Logs are included in the price.
  • Bed linen, duvet covers, pillowcases and towels are provided.
  • Toiletries are provided.
  • Towels for walking or outdoor use are not provided as standard but can be made available if you ask.
  • A complimentary welcome hamper is provided. It normally includes a bottle of wine, milk, tea, coffee, bread, butter or margarine, eggs, oranges, cheese, marmalade, jam, and biscuits or cake. Contents may vary.

Telephone and internet

  • There is free wifi. It is usually fairly reliable. The fibre connection reaches Clun and is being upgraded to the cottage.
  • Mobile reception is good for the main networks and we have had no complaints from guests about it.
  • There is no telephone in the cottage. The payphone mentioned in the 2013 statement has been removed.

The grounds

  • The cottage sits in twenty acres of wild woodland. The paths through it are only suitable for strong walkers.
  • Some of the land is working land.
  • The garden is not shared with the main house.
  • There are several places to sit outside, in the garden and at the rear of the cottage.
  • There is livestock nearby which can be heard from time to time.

Nearby

  • The nearest shop for milk and basics is 1 mile away.
  • The nearest pub is 1 mile away. It is not an easy walk.
  • The nearest petrol station is in Craven Arms.
  • The nearest supermarket is Tuffins in Craven Arms.

Suitability, pets and children

  • The cottage is not suitable for wheelchair users, and we would not recommend it to anyone with limited mobility. There are 10 steps up to the front door with no alternative route, the bedroom door is 63cm wide, and the shower has a 30cm threshold. We would rather say so plainly than have someone book and struggle.
  • We do not accept dogs of any kind.
  • We do not accept children, because of the working farm nearby and the steep drops in the grounds. We do accept babies, but please bring your own equipment.
  • The cottage is non smoking throughout.

Contact us

  • Telephone: 07977 129836
  • Email: rogerwren69@gmail.com
  • Website: www.dickturpincottage.com

Feedback

We welcome your feedback so we can keep improving. If you have any comments about the cottage or about this statement, please telephone 07977 129836 or email rogerwren69@gmail.com.