Good quality bicycles are available from us, should you require them. we also have 2 child seats and a childs tandem bike. We do have some helmets, but you may prefer to bring your own to get the correct fit. Let us know if you will wish to use the bikes and the ages of any children in order that we can prepare them. We provide cycle locks and expect guests to take care of the bicycles, and lock and store the cycles safely while in their care. Guests would be held liable for replacement,  if the bicycles, seats or helmets, are lost, damaged or stolen through negligence.  A small charge (£5 per bike)  is made to cover the cost of preparation, upkeep and tyres.

The cottage does not have a telephone land-line but the mobile phone reception is usually very good. It is usually possible to use a lap top computer in the cottage with our wireless broadband connection (acccess code available from us). However, this is the countryside and broadband reception is less reliable and  the speed can be a lot slower than in towns and cities!.

If you need to use the telephone in an emergency please come to the house and use ours.

We are happy to arrange babysitting for parents of young children if you would like to have an evening out.

Having four children of our own (nearly all grown up now!) we consider ourselves to be very child friendly and understand the difficulties in travelling with children. The cottage has lots of equipment for young children e.g. stair-gate, child loo seats, potty, bottle warmer, cutlery and crockery, child steps, books and games to name a few!! Nothing is too much trouble; just ask we may have it! We also have a range a outdoor toddler toys outgrown by our children, little bikes, pedal cars, dolls pram, see-saw and sandpit etc.We keep them in a garage, just ask if your children would like to use them.

On the paddock meet Bill and Ben, the miniature ponies!they always very happy to eat to occasional apple or carrot! You are welcome to bring your own horse or pony, we have ample grazing, stabling and there are lots of bridleways.

We really like dogs and want to continue accepting them, but we have had some difficult experiences, so we have to have a few rules. You must refer to, agree to and sign our Terms and conditions on pets, before bringing a dog to the cottage.We make a charge of £10 per dog per stay (2 dogs absolute maximum) for the extra cleaning involved. In bringing your dog to the cottage you agree to the charge, which is payable direct to us. You will find that most cottages which accept dogs make a charge and often it is far more than ours. The cottage garden is totally enclosed (4 ft high fencing and sheep fencing behind the hedges) and providing the gates are closed it would be very difficult for a dog to escape.

We have a gas barbeque available for guest use.

We have a pond (securely fenced and gated ) in the paddock. You are welcome to walk around or sit on the bench by the pond.  It is usually a very peaceful place, but please, for their own safety, do not allow any unsupervised children near the pond.

On the paddock directly behind the cottage garden we keep a variety of animals usually the minature ponies,Bill and Ben, occasionally cattle or our pet sheep Bertie and his 3 lady friends. Please do not go on to the paddock if animals are present as they are wild animals and can be unpredictable with strangers.

Bertie loves apples and carrots and will come up to the gate to be fed! But mind your fingers, he's old, but still has teeth!

We usually have the wood burning stove set up for you to light when you arrive. It is not difficult to use and creates a lovely glowing log fire, without the smoke and sparks of an open fire. We are completely converted and have two wood burners in the house and one in Chris's office. Wood is available from the woodshed on the main drive or the open barn on the cottage drive, ask one us to carry it for you to prevent injury. Remember not to let children play on wood piles as they could become unstable and may cause injury.

Ash from the grate can be scattered in the garden or on the compost heap when it is cold.

Please use the fireguard to prevent injury and let the fire go out before going to bed