Terms and Conditions

House

The house can accommodate groups of up to 19 (1 x 8 bedded room, 1 x 9 bedded room and a 2 bedded room. It has a well-equipped kitchen, gas cooker and hobs, microwave, fridge-freezer, hot and cold water, toilets, shower and washing facilities. Cooking is by Propane Gas, heating is from an open fire in the lounge and electric lighting is powered from storage batteries and inverter, which are charged by solar power. Recently, a wind turbine has been installed in our efforts to make the cottage fully sustainable. The use of natural sheep fleece installation in the barn and a composting toilet are in the pipeline. A fully automatic generator provides extra power when batteries are getting low.

Bunks have covered mattresses but hirers need to provide their own sleeping bags and pillows, domestic linen such as towels and tea towels and consumables such as toilet paper and cleaning agents to supplement a small supply.

A barn adjoins the house. This currently contains a sleeping platform and fire and should primarily be used for drying wet clothes and other equipment. Mattresses must not be taken from the beds and set down anywhere else, such as the lounge downstairs.

Cut wood is stored at the end of and behind the house. A log splitter and kindling axe are hung on the stall in the barn. Under no circumstances should wood be split or cut in the house. The rare flagstone floor has been recently damaged this way. Use the large tree trunks in the wood preparation area behind the house. If using the fire pit or the outdoor cheminea, collect dry, seasoned wood from the surrounding cleared areas. There are log saws and loppers in the barn to help you. Please don't use prepared wood which is for use in the wood burners indoors. There is coal for use inside, too.

The accommodation is let as one complete unit and cannot be booked in separate parts.

Access to the valley is limited. The route is five miles along forest tracks, whose condition varies with the seasons. Care needs to be taken on forest tracks. Access is via the Kidlandlee Road to Clennell Street or by the Whiteburn. Access by two wheel drive vehicles with ample ground clearance is possible with careful driving.

The Whiteburnshank Centre is in the heart of some of Northumberland's finest walking country. There are many bridleways and footpath routes leading into the Coquet and Breamish Valleys and to the Border Ridge. The area is ideal for mountain biking and in winter for cross-country skiing. There is an abundance of wildlife including deer and heron. It is an area being used more by photographers and artists.

Camping

Camping is only allowed within the fenced boundary of the Whiteburnshank property itself. The cost is £2 per person per night, payable with booking. The Whiteburnshank Trust cannot give permission to camp anywhere else and not allowed by the landowners.

It is advisable to check with Tilhill Forestry on 01665 510273 to find out if there are any activities scheduled in the area which may conflict with any walks you may have planned.

Notes:

1. The adult taking responsibility for the hiring must be 25 or over and must remain with the group while they are at Whiteburnshank.
2. Dogs are only allowed by prior arrangement with the Trust.

 

Damage, Accidents and Repairs

 

Repairs to Whiteburnshank are the responsibility of The Whiteburnshank Trust unless caused by the negligence of the hirer. Repairs must not be carried out without their authority. Any damage must be reported to the Trust as soon as possible. Damage, accidental or otherwise, caused during the residence of the hirer is the responsibility of the hirer, who must agree to pay on demand..

Cleaning

Groups must clean the property before vacating. As the cottage is run as a non profitable charity, we expect hirers to leave it as they would wish to find it. A checklist is available on our website. This should be printed by each hirer, completed when vacating the property and returned. This helps us identify problems which can be dealt with quickly.

Should it be necessary for further cleaning to be carried out, we will invoice you for the costs involved. When vacating the centre, the Hirer must remove all rubbish. Please ensure the grounds are free of litter, gates and doors to fuel stores are all closed.

Do not use chemical cleaning agents down in the toilets.

Loss of use

The Whiteburnshank Trust cannot be responsible for non-fulfilment of the booking due to unforeseen circumstances.

Cancellation Policy:

Cancelled more than 6 weeks before hiring: Loss of deposit only

Cancelled more than 4 weeks (but less than 6 weeks) before hiring: 50% of fees payable

Cancelled less than 4 weeks before hiring: 75% of fees payable

We recommend that you take out some form of cancellation insurance.

If a booking is cancelled less than 6 weeks before the start of the hire and the centre can be re-let to another group the original hirer will lose their deposit plus an additional £10 admin charge.

Use of Quad Bikes and Motorcycles

Our lease of Whiteburnshank explicitly prohibits the use of Quad Bikes and Off Road motorcycles during the period of rental or occupancy. Any party breaking this condition may have their rental terminated immediately with no refund. It also puts our future use of the Centre at risk.
Please advise the booking secretary if you witness any contravention of this rule

Electrical System

The electrical system must not be tampered with under any circumstances. Any person found tampering with the settings will receive an invoice for any repair costs.

Forest Operations

The cottage is situated in the heart of productive forestry land. All advice and warning signs should be adhered to. Heavy machinery and lorries can encountered on approach roads and busy stretches of track can be disrupted during harvesting.