Pre-arrival Infomation

Guest Information

For emergencies and major problems please text 07475734441. We are a internet based business and everything you may need can be found either on our website, below or via google.

Balloons and Banners                                                                                                                                    We reserve the right to charge for damage caused by drawing pins, blue and white tack to walls. You may stick to woodwork only and not our white walls. We will charge your card for stains and smudges to walls.

Arrival and Departure
We will do everything possible to make sure you enjoy your stay but if you have any concerns or problems please call us on 07475 734441 office hours please (part time, we return all calls). You may check in from 4pm and our preferred arrival time is between 3pm to 5pm (or earlier by arrangement), this is dependent on departing guests. If you intend to arrive later please let us know and always email us your ETA a few days before arrival (please include your date of stay). Please note we may not meet you on your arrival, your cottage will be open and keys inside, someone will try to call to see you, this is not guaranteed. We do not accept change over of guests, you may not have some of your party leave and be replaced by different guests. Only persons on the booking form are allowed to stay here and use our facilities. We reserve the right to charge for extra guests even after you have departed and will always do so. We allow visitors within reason, please ask. Departure is strictly before 10am on your departure day to allow for cleaning, we may charge your card if you leave really late as this affects arriving guests. Your cottage must be left as you found it, we will charge for extra cleaning if the cottage is left unsatisfactory.

What’s in your cottage                                                                                                                                       Our cottages and service is basic 3 star self catering, we provide all towels (except pool towels), linen (beds are made) and only a few start up essentials such as a couple of dishwasher tablets, a couple of bin bags and toilet rolls in all toilets, these may not last for your stay. All cottages have cutlery and basic “pots and pans etc” expected in a self catering cottage, please bring everything you need, there is a large Spar close by which sells everything you may need. Please note we are not available to supply or service you throughout your stay except for emergencies and hot tub maintenance. Free unlimited 4g Wi Fi internet is in all cottages, please do not expect super-fast inner city speeds due to our location. Please note we do not provide any soap, you may wish to bring sanitising hand soap. All keys are left in your doors. Please separate all rubbish for recycling, this is collected by us Mon Wed and Fri from outside your cottage.

Hot Tubs, Pool, Snooker room.
Hot tubs are included for all cottages, except on some budget deals. Our hot tubs seat around 6 persons, they are private to your cottage and you may adjust the temperature to your liking. Please note the price includes one fill and one heat, we can add chemicals to keep the water clear but it’s highly recommend to shower before using it, we cannot change the water during your stay if you contaminate it due to the time it takes to heat and the costs involved, you must keep it topped up to just above the lights, there is a hose nearby. You must replace the cover to avoid limit the high heating costs. To respect to other guests they may not be used after 10.30pm. They may not be suitable for some guests due to medical conditions (if in doubt please seek independent advice) There is also a hot tub in the pool area (indoor) and which is free. Please read the hot tub instructions in your cottage. The pool is open from 10am to 10pm,  (closed between 6 and 7pm for maintenance). The switch for the cover is on the left as you enter (next to the “do not leave this cover off” sign) this cover must be replaced properly, as if left off it causes condensation damage and heat loss, someone will come to see you if you leave this off as it affects other guests enjoyment. There is no music or glass allowed in the pool building.

Our Facilities                                                                                                                                                   

We can provide logs and kindling for £35 per week or £20 for part week, these need to be pre-booked via email (winter only). You do not need to light the fire as all cottage have underfloor heating. Our fishing lake is private but free to guests (anglers only and it must be pre booked) and is stocked with coarse fish and trout, its catch and release only. Please close all gates and keep away from the back edge of the lake as this is reserved for wildlife, dogs must be on a lead for the same reason. There may be a boat at the lake, this is strictly private. We have 2 BBQ’s between 6 cottages, (not available in the winter) they are free to use. You must share and organise with other guests on site yourself, we can not help if someone else has or is using them. They must be left clean (if not we may charge your card), if unsure you are welcome to bring your own. We have a couple of travel cots and high chairs, these are free but limited, they must be pre booked via email. Sorry we do not allow fireworks due to animals and other guests pets,

Security and Damage

We require a valid credit/debit card with available credit as a security/damage deposit. We will take a pre-authorisation payment of £150 to £400 per cottage from this card (depending on the cottage), which will be returned to your card (up to 7 days, depending on your bank) after departure unless there is damage, however caused. When booking a cottage and supplying us with this card, you are agreeing to this and also agree that we may charge this and any other amount, to the card, for damage, however caused, during your stay. We have CCTV everywhere, we do not monitor or watch this but will rewind it if there is a issue.

Pets

We accept small and medium dogs only at a cost of £30 per pet. This can be paid on arrival and is to cover the extra cleaning and work we have found this creates. Pets are strictly not allowed on the furniture, upstairs and cannot be off the lead within the area of the cottages. As have many children staying here, guests must have a bag in hand to pick up after their pets if within the cottage area. We need to be very strict on this due to toxocara and other diseases passed onto children through dog faeces. We are set in 60 acres and have no problems with pets being off lead outside the area of the cottages so long as they are not a threat the sheep etc. This is a great place for pets but we need simple respect and courtesy to other guests and our beautiful cottages. Dogs are strictly not allowed to be locked in the cottages while the guests are out, unless in a suitable box/cage. they are not allowed to let out to roam.

Young Groups

We advertise as a quiet family retreat and our other family guests will be expecting this. Whilst we do take parties of young people and have had many in the past without problems, we must try to keep everyone happy. This is a very beautiful place with BBQ, picnic tables etc, as well as the pool, sauna, hot tub and snooker room. We expect all guests to be considerate to the other guests as well as us, so we always advise any young parties with no children before they come, that; if its peace, tranquility, beautiful countryside and a relaxing get together, this is the place for you. If it’s for a wild, up all night party, drinking heavily, with loud music, it is not for you and you should not book. We live on site and reserve the right to terminate any stay, without refund, if guests are spoiling someone else’s holiday or disrespecting our beautiful property, I am sure you understand. We also may need an extra security deposit from high risk groups, if unsure please ask.

Winter conditions

When experiencing very cold winter conditions. We will endeavor to keep our private 1/2 road open but this can prove difficult in snow and icy conditions as we do not have the facilities to grit this road every day We do have a jcb for heavy snow but its not good on ice. Be prepared to leave your car near the bins and walk up. We will always try to be available on Friday to help with a 4×4 but not Saturday or Sunday, if you get stuck and we can’t help you will need to contact a recovery service. We suggest that you do not try to go out in a car before 1pm (we are south facing) our road is always much better in the afternoon.
Please park with care and do not obstruct the road in any way as we need room to maneuver our JCB.
We can not be held responsible for damage or injury however caused.
Please help us help you ;
It is essential to replace pool and hot tub covers asap, under no circumstances should these be left off. Please top up your hot tub as if it goes cold we can’t help. Please do not leave windows open and heating on in your cottage as this will take heat away from other the cottages, if warm please turn the heating down. It is very common to see a cottage with their windows open, heating on full and the cottages either side starting to cool down. Cottages Brancepeth, Raby Durham and Farmhouse have logs fires. Logs sticks and firelighters can be pre ordered prior to arrival (fee payable) we can not deliver them over a weekend as we do not staff Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
Our contact number is 07475734441 Mon to Fri 9-5pm and for emergency’s only over a weekend.
In the unlikely event of a power cut we will supply torches lanterns and camping stoves, as this is beyond our control any compensation will need to be addressed to NEDL. We have never had a power cut for more than  8 hours so the pool and hot tub temperatures have never been unaffected.

To find us;
We have a dedicated page with extra info https://bowleescottages.com/find-us/

Thanks
Tony and Vivien Smith.