COVID & Useful Info

Covid Information & A-Z of useful information below:

Scroll down page for A-Z of items provided at your property, information on River Cottage, Taxis, Lyme Regis Parking, Walking, Cycling, Buses & Cream Teas

COVID:  open again from 1st April 2021

IF ANOTHER GOVERNMENT LOCK DOWN or TIERS 3,4,5 prevent you travelling or us opening on the booked dates of your holiday we will offer a credit note for the sum of money already paid to put towards another date to be taken within 365 days.  *Any occasional 1 night stays booked will be refunded as our usual term is a minimum stay of 3 nights.  The address given on your booking form is the only one used for Covid Cancellations.

You may cancel for any reason up to 2 weeks prior to arrival there is a refund less 10% admin fee.  Cancel within 2 weeks of arrival and a refund only if property relet less 10% admin fee.  Our general T&Cs are on our web site under the ‘booking’ drop down menu & can also be read at time of your online booking.

CONSIDER TRAVEL INSURANCE:  Please consider taking out insurance just as you would if going abroad and check specifically what the policy offers you.

CLEANLINESS: We are accredited through PERSONAL INSPECTIONS from Quality in Tourism’s ‘Safe, Clean & Legal’, plus a 5 Start Hygiene rating with East Devon Council  who have inspected our hot tubs, plus Visit England’s Covid Clean ‘Good to Go’ accreditation.  We use anti viral BS EN1276 cleaning materials and a sanitiser is also provided at the property for your use if required.  NHS information is at property if you develop Covid symptoms during your stay.

HOT TUBS: We use a chlorine sanitiser with regular checks carried out.  See our Access Guide for full Hot Tub information.

SOCIAL DISTANCING AND PRIVACY ON SITE: All accommodation is detached, private and secluded with own key box, own hot tub, own garden, parking area & own entrance.

I am available 24/7 by phone or in person if requested.  We follow Social Distancing.
I have a track record of happy guests if you read our Trip Advisor Reviews (see web site) and many comment on the cleanliness of the property.
I look forward to your stay.  Usually a minimum 3 night stay, peak times may be longer, with payment in full on booking please. Booking now, The Retreat Secure Online Bookings  &  Acorns Apartment Secure Online Booking .

After the A-Z below see further down page for information on River Cottage HQ Cookery School, Dining & Kitchen, Taxis, Cream Teas, Parking in Lyme Regis & Local Millers Farm Shop.

A-Z for Holiday Property and their contents below

Access Key safe box code and directions emailed to you prior to arrival.

Accessibility See Access Guide on web site to ensure we suit your access requirements

Accidents First Aid kit & medical numbers at each property. Please report any accidents to Joy.

Adult Only (sleeps 2) Acorns & Retreat

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)  all properties are set in an AONB

Arrival Time welcomed from 3pm – 8pm, departures by 10.00am please

Assistance your host Joy is contactable 24/7 during your stay.

Bathrobes (and flip flop sandals for Hot Tub) provided & spare swim wear if required.

Bedding  Duvet with sheet and blanket in cupboard. Retreat – King brass bed, Acorns – Double brass bed.

Book Direct with us – no booking fee – agencies charge you a booking fee.

Breakfast Hive Beach Cafe at Burton Bradstock, Watch House at West Bay, SWIM Cafe Lyme Regis – all sea views.

Broadband Wi Fi unlimited, fast, complimentary, available in Acorns & Retreat

Bus First Bus Service X53 & X51 meet the London train at Axminster hourly on to Lyme Regis – stops at pub at end of road.

Cancellation if you cancel: please see Terms & Conditions

Cantilever huge 2.7m x 2.7m cantilever umbrella over Acorns Hot Tub for rain or sun. Set in a sheltered area but not to be used in wind.  Retreat has a wide roof pagoda shelter over hot tub.

Car Hire  Practical Car & Van Hire Tel: 01297 553700  www.practical.co.uk they will collect you from station.

Central Heating in Acorns & electric radiators in both Retreat and Acorns, plus flame effect fire in each.

Champagne, Balloons & Baskets of Flowers can be ordered for delivery from the licensed The House of Flowers on 01297 444743.

Children regret this is adult only accommodation.

Cleaning We clean after your departure.  Please ensure washing up done, dishwasher empty and furniture back in it’s place.

*Extra cleaning if required if departure process unreasonably ignored and property left in a “state” @ £20 per hour.

Coffee, Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine & selection of pods, Cafetiere, Fair trade instant coffee & tea sachets

Cool Fans in summer with remote control plus sheet & blanket at each property.

Complaints  I am happy to do my best to rectify any problem.

Countryside all properties view gardens, fields & copse in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Cycling The immediate area not suitable for cyclists – only nearby nature reserve and villages.

Damage Please report at the time so I can get a repair for you and following guests.  Please let me know – I don’t bite.

Departure by 10.00am please.  Please put furniture back in its place washing up done & put away.  Recycling box provided.

Dogs  regret no pets in Acorns or Retreat.  Only Assistance Dogs i.e. guide and hearing dogs most welcome.

DVDs good selection provided in Retreat with books & magazines.  Acorns has a Smart TV.  Roberts Retro Radio in each.

Duvet duvets & bedding provided with all linen & towels. Some feather items.

Dressing Gowns (and slippers for Hot Tub) provided

Electric Car Charger Type 2 at Hedgehog Corner

Epilepsy Please note one of the choices in the Hot Tub light sequences is ‘disco’ flashing lights.

Extras included  tea towels, washing up kit, condiments, cooking & olive oil, kitchen & loo rolls, foil,  dishwasher & laundry tabs,

Fake Tan you may not use hot tub if using fake tan.  All other lotions & make up must be showered off before use as it stains hot tub.

Farm Shop  Millers Farm shop 1 mile away at Kilmington on the A35

Fire Feature fire in each property with effect flames and remote control.

Food Shopping Millers Farm Shop, Kilmington 1 mile away, Tesco in Axminster 3 miles away. Online delivery see Groceries below.

Flowers & Champagne can be delivered by local licensed florist The House of Flowers 01297 444743

Fully Equipped all with every appliance, all linen, towels, including washer drier & dishwasher per property.

Garden Furniture all properties have garden furniture, cushions, recliners, summer parasols.

Groceries online orders for delivery AFTER your arrival 3pm & let me know.

Groups Regret we do not permit both properties to be booked by a group together.

Hair Drier in each property, iron & board.

Hanky Panky please respect our Hot Tubs they are very shy.

Heating Central heating +electric rads + feature fire in Acorns + feature fire, Electrical heating in Retreat + feature fire.

Hedgehog Corner EX13 5SU is where Acorns Garden Apartment & The Retreat Cottage are based.

High Viz Jacket & Torch for walk to pub at each property as no pavement or street lights.  See taxis below for River Cottage.

HOLIDAY INSURANCE: please take it out in case you cancel ie. are ill, bereavement etc.

Host Joy your host is contactable 24/7 either at Reception or by phone – numbers in information book

Hot Tubs chlorine sanitiser, heated to 38c full information  Access Statement.We even carry a spare hot tub should it ever be needed!

Hunters Lodge Inn within 3 mins walk.  (01297 33286) Book meals in advance to avoid disappointment.

Hygiene We have Quality in Tourism’s Accreditation for ‘Safe, Clean & Legal’

Hygiene for Hot Tubs we have the Council’s 5* Hygiene Rating which included a Hot  Tub inspection.  Chlorine sanitisers used.

Ice frozen ice tray for freezer.

Information Joy a true local is a font of local knowledge.

Insurance Please consider holiday insurance in case you have to cancel.

Iron & Board at each property and clothes rack for swim wear (washer drier too), hair drier, toiletries, robes & slippers.

Joy your host is on call 24/7. Land Line & Mobile number in your property & at main reception.

Jurassic Coast 5 minutes drive away including South West Coastal Path.

Keys details of Key Safe Box Code emailed prior to arrival – you must bring code with you!

Kitchen Roll condiments salt & pepper, olive oil, cooking oil, foil, cling film, washing up kit, tea towels provided

Left items an increasing problem!  £5 P&P pro rata on Royal Mail.

Linen all beds made up with all linen, tea towels, towels provided.

Lyme Regis Events  Events in Lyme Regis and What’s On in Lyme 

Loo Roll 2 rolls provided.

Market Bridport, Saturday and Wednesday Market

Mint pick fresh mint from kitchen patio at Acorns and outside sitting room window for Retreat

Mobility see Access Statement.  Acorns is best for those with limited mobility.  Retreat has flight of steps.

No Smoking inside property.  Fine outside in garden/terrace only please.

Parking at property ample safe well lit private parking close to all properties

Parking in Lyme Regis busy at peak times, Holmbush Car Park £8 all day, sea facing £1.40 per hour.

Pets regret no pets only Assistance Dogs.

Picnic all properties have a cool bag, ice blocks & plastic utensils for a picnic.

Post Office minutes away sells papers and groceries. Just past the pub over the new crossing.

Pub 3 mins walk The Hunters Lodge Inn (01297 33286) torch & high viz vest provided as no pavement or lighting.  Book meals in advance.

Rain  Acorns has a huge cantilever umbrellas (2.7m x 2.7m ) to cover for rain or sun. Note the pedal at floor level to rotate it!  Retreat has wood roof pagoda.

Radio Roberts Retro in each property.

Recycling box provided.

Refreshments tea, coffee, milk sachets on arrival.

Restaurants web site has list of eating out & places to visit.  Book restaurants in advance.

River Cottage we are one of the closest 1.5 miles – numbers below. River Cottage  Walking not recommended as no pavement or lighting.

River Cottage Kitchen  River Cottage web site

Robes (and slippers/slip ons for Hot Tub) provided

Sea and Coast The World Heritage Jurassic Coast is 5 minutes drive from your accommodation.

Sensor lighting outside lights are all on sensors

Sheet and Blanket if your duvet is too warm – sheet & blanket kept in your wardrobe

Shower:  anti slip mats at all properties. You must shower before using hot tub

Smoking No smoking inside properties or when in the Hot Tub.  OK outside.

South West Coastal Footpath see their web site for great coastal walking SW Coastal Footpath

Spare Hot Tub should it ever be needed.

Steps see access statement for descriptions.  3 easy risers to Acorns patio and 10 easy risers to Retreat.

Store Cupboard: oil, olive oil, salt, pepper, herbs, milk, teas, coffee, coffee pods, biscuits.

Sun reflects off the hot tub water and can cause sunburn if precautions not taken use Cantilever umbrella for Acorns tub.

Sun lotion  (any body lotions) severely damages hot tub filter & tub, HSE insist you must shower before using tubs.

Swim wear bring your own swim wear for use in Hot Tub.  We do have spares if you’ve forgotten yours.

Taxi Terry’s Taxi 01297 443167 (07502 262206) Go Eco Cabs 01297 445444, Causley Cabs 01297 642011.

Terms & Conditions see full details at Terms & Conditions

Tissues provided

Toiletries, hand & body wash, shower hat +  hair grips for use in Tub.

Toilet Rolls  2 provided

Torch at each property for walk to pub with high viz jacket provided as no pavement. Emergency torch by Retreat steps too.

Towels  towel set per person and Hot Tub towels with tub sandals provided.  Tea towels etc. all provided.

Train Hourly service (journey 2.45 hours) from Waterloo to Axminster: see www.southwesttrains.co.uk

TVs  Roberts Retro Radio, SMART 43″ TV with DVD in both Acorns & Retreat

Umbrella in wardrobe.  Also summer Parasol & garden

Walking the South West Coastal Path from Lyme Regis or Charmouth.

Wi Fi complimentary unlimited fast wi fi with Smart TVs in Acorns & Retreat.

Wine Cooler a 21 bottle wine cooler in Retreat.  (Acorns has a larger fridge freezer).

River Cottage – we are one of the closest accommodations 1.5 miles

River Cottage HQ at Park Farm on Trinity Hill (1.5 miles).

Please consider driving or taking a taxi as no pavement or street lighting.  Please do not walk there.

River Cottage Kitchen Bistro dining in Axminster town centre (2.5 miles approx).  Discount voucher for our guests at property.

One of the cheapest RETURN Taxi fares from any local accommodation in the area – see below

All meals out (local pub, Celebrity Chef Mark Hix’s Oyster and Fish House, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall’s River Cottage) and taxis should be booked well in advance to avoid disappointment

Taxis

Book in advance to River Cottage HQ .

Terry’s Taxi 01297 443167 (07502 262206)

Go Eco Cabs 01297 445444

Causley Cabs 01297 642011

Axminster Taxis: 01297 34000 Axminster Taxi

Parking in Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis:  Holmbush Car park (long hill incline to car park) at the top of Cobb Road is £8.00 all day and a very short walk to The Hix Restaurant.  Sea Front Car Parks £1.40 per hour.

The Cobb Car parks have blue badge parking but are £1.40 an hour in the day time for all users – based on level ground – no hills.

Woodmead Road car park  (small hill incline to car park)

Park early (before 10.30am) at peak times i.e. weekends, public holidays, school holidays, sunny days.

Hix’s ‘Oyster and Fish House’ 10% discount – voucher at property on arrival.

Other Information:

Cycling & Walking

The South West Coastal Path can be accessed easily at Lyme Regis (Holmbush Car Park) or Charmouth (from the car park).   We do not recommend walking or cycling to Lyme Regis as the main road is busy, bendy and hilly.  Both activities are safely undertaken on a nearby Nature Reserve or villages.  We do not recommend walking to River Cottage as no pavement or street lighting.

The local pub The Hunters Lodge (01297 33286) is some 500 yards along the road but note no pavement or street lighting – we provide luminous jackets and torches at your property.

Breakfast out

Award Winning Hive Beach Cafe at Burton Bradstock opens 10am(25 mins drive), sister cafe The Watch House at West Bay opens 10am (20 mins drive), SWIM Cafe Lyme Regis, opens early (5 Mins drive) – all with sea views.   At weekends for Hive and Watch Cafe’s so get there just before 10am – such is their fame for fab food.  All have web sites.

Whats on in Lyme Regis

There are several web sites for the seaside town of Lyme Regis

Axminster Railway and the X51 and X53 Bus

There is no taxi rank at the Axminster station so book a taxi to meet you or catch the X51 bus from outside the station to our local pub, Hunters Lodge just minutes from us. Be aware there is no pavement or street lighting from bus stop to us. The X51 bus stops at our local pub The Hunters Lodge before continuing into Lyme Regis. From Lyme Regis you can catch the X53 bus which goes all along the famous UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast from Bournemouth to Exeter and vice versa. You can purchase a get on/get off ticket.

Millers Farm Shop along A35 at Kilmington

Run by Malcolm Miller and his family, Millers Farm Shop has been growing and selling locally sourced produce for over thirty years. The shop is an Aladdin’s Cave of local food. Some of the vegetables are grown on the farm, the rest are provided by local suppliers passionate about good quality food. Fresh fruit and vegetables are locally sourced and colourful arrays of seasonal plants are available. You can find Lyme Bay fresh fish, beef, pork and lamb from local farms, local milk and cream, cider from Lyme Bay Winery and Perry’s Cider Mill and sample a variety of local cheeses. Also very popular with customers are the mouth watering array of breads and pastries, along with an impressive selection of teas, coffees and juices.

Cream Teas

We love the view from the deck at the end of the garden of the Alexandra Hotel in Lyme Regis or the garden at The Old Black Dog in Uplyme on the road to Lyme Regis.