Frequently Asked Questions

The Longhouse is one large building split into 3 rental properties. The Hayloft, Farmhouse and Cottage.  The Lakehouse sits in its own grounds with a forest ¼ of a mile down a private track so is very much a private retreat.

The Lakehouse is set in its own private grounds on a 120 acre rural estate.  Access is along a ¼ mile driveway.

The Farmhouse, Cottage and Hayloft each has its own outside patio space with barbecue and outside furniture.  There is a shared yard and gardens for all to use with benches, chairs, and tables.

• Bed linen and towels
• Tea towels, washing up sponge, cloths, washing up brush, washing up liquid
• Sanitiser and bathroom cleaner
• Mop, bucket and hoover
• Laundry liquid and drying rack
• Ironing board and iron
• Toilet roll and kitchen roll
• Tin foil and cling film
• Salt, pepper and cooking oil
• Coffee pods, tea bags and sugar

We are very much a retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and situated in some very peaceful surroundings. Because of the proximity of other guests in the Hayloft, Farmhouse and Cottage we don’t allow parties when renting individual properties.

We do allow parties and celebrations at the Longhouse, when all the properties are rented by the same guests.  Please get in touch for prior to booking to arrange this.

Due to its location The Lakehouse is ideal for parties and celebrations.  This is only for guests staying at Laythams.  The Lakehouse can be hired as a venue for larger parties.  Please get in touch for our venue hire costs and terms.

We don’t allow music to be played outside the property as this is a shared space with other guests.  Music inside the holiday lets should be kept to a low volume and turned off by 10pm.

The Farmhouse and Lakehouse have a 3-night minimum stay.  The Hayloft and Cottage has a 2-night minimum stay.

We strongly recommend you buy travel insurance as we can’t cover all cancellations or booking amendments.  

Please get in touch to discuss your individual accessibility needs and we can help you decide which holiday let may be suitable for your stay.

EE works best and then 3.  Phone signal is intermittent or does not work at all for most other providers.  

WIFI calling works well in the holiday lets if you have this service on your phone.  

We create WhatsApp groups for guests so they can keep in touch before and during their stay.  WhatsApp calling works when connected to the WIFI.

The Lakehouse has a landline phone for use in emergencies

The Farmhouse, Cottage and Lakehouse have washing machines.  We leave you eco laundry liquid for use in the washing machines.  Please do not use anything else except eco-friendly liquids or powders as they have implications for our septic tank!

Yes, you can have visitors.  Please let us know if you’re expecting visitors and how many people are coming.  We want you to be able to spend time with family and friends who are not staying here, but we need to agree numbers beforehand as this has an implication on our other guests and costs.  Visitors can stay overnight if they do not exceed the maximum number of guests in each property.

Farmhouse 8 – 1x double.  1x kingsize.  2x single.  1x kingsize sofa bed

Cottage 5 – 1x kingsize.  1x single.  1x kingsize sofa bed

Hayloft 2 – 1x kingsize

Lakehouse 7 – 3x superking.  1x single

We don’t allow any more guests per holiday let than the maximum capacity.  You’re not able to bring airbeds or sleep on sofas or camp in the garden!

Each property had its own barbeque.  You must provide fuel for this.  Please do not burn logs in barbeques or use them as firepits.  This will incur an extra cleaning charge of £25 taken from your damage deposit.

We don’t allow fires or fire pits or outside fires.

There is room for lots of cars at The Lakehouse.  Parking is on a shale and cars can park directly outside the front door.

There is room for two cars to park in front of each holiday let.  Please only park in front of your holiday let.  Additional parking is available to the right-hand side as you drive into Laythams.  Any additional cars over the 2 should be parked here.  You’re more than welcome to park all your cars here, to take full advantage of the outside space in front of your holiday let.  Information on where to park your cars is included in the check in video, we send you.

Each holiday let has a travel cot and highchair.  Please get in touch if you require more than one.  We don’t provide bedding for the travel cot, so you’ll need to bring this with you.

You can order a supermarket delivery, but you must be at your holiday let to receive it.  We don’t accept supermarket deliveries on your behalf.

The address for deliveries to The Longhouse is:

1 Laythams Farm

Back Lane

Slaidburn

BB7 3AJ

The Lakehouse doesn’t have a postal address.  Guests have had varying degrees of success receiving a delivery.  We’re happy to help with information for this but can’t accept deliveries on your behalf.

You’ll need to either have it sent to the above address, and be here to collect it, or provide extra directions to The Lakehouse when you book the delivery.  Please contact us for a description of where The Lakehouse is.  

The damage deposit is £150 for The Farmhouse, Cottage and Hayloft and £350 for The Lakehouse.  This is collected at point of booking and returned within a week of check out.

Check in is between 5pm and 10pm and check out 10am for The Farmhouse, Cottage and Hayloft (self-check in available)

Check in is between 5pm and 7pm and check out 10am for The Lakehouse.

Directions and full check in information is included in your booking confirmation.  Keysafe codes and a check in video are sent viaWhatsApp for The Framhouse, Cottage and Hayloft.  

Keys for The Lakehouse can be collected from The Shippon at Laythams Longhouse.  We'll need 15 minutes on check in to show you around The Lakehouse.  Directions and check in information is included in your booking confirmation.  

 We set up WhatsApp groups ahead of check in, for any questions you may have before and during your stay.

Check out is no later than 10am.  Late check outs will incur an extra charge if not by prior arrangement.  Please leave keys in key safes on check out or return them to The Shippon if you’ve stayed at The Lakehouse.

Please ensure that:

All rubbish is removed from the properties and put into outside bins.

All crockery and kitchen utensils have been washed and put away 

Barbeques are emptied into the ash bins

Fires are emptied into the ash bins

Anything else that has been moved is returned to its original place.  

We will make deductions from your damage deposit for any extra cleaning time completing these tasks.  Our standard rate for each task is £20 but we withhold the right to charge more if appropriate. 

We will strip the beds and clean, but you are responsible for leaving the holiday lets tidy and as you found them. 

We provide enough logs, kindling and firelighters for 1 or 2 fires.  Additional logs, kindling and firelighters are £5 per 40l bucket.

We don’t have provision for charging electric vehicles at the moment.

Clitheroe is the nearest train station.  There is no public transport provision to our address or Slaidburn/Newton in Bowland.  You will need to get a taxi.  We recommend a car if you want to explore the area, although we have had guests who have used public transport and taxis to get here and had a wonderful holiday!

We love welcoming dogs at Laythams and The Cottage, and The Farmhouse are pet friendly properties.  We charge £35 per pet per stay, with a maximum of 2 pets per property.  Please let us know ahead of arrival if you’re bringing your pet and we’ll arrange payment.  We accept pets at The Lakehouse and Hayloft by prior arrangement.  Please contact us to discuss this before you book.

The Cottage has a tap for dog washing on the patio and The Farmhouse can use the tap outside The Shippon (1st property as you enter the yard).  We also have a small stock of old towels and are happy to give you some to dry your dog off. (Please return the towels to us dirty as we wash them in a separate machine)

In the properties that accommodate dogs, we will have a food bowl and water bowl in the kitchen drawers.

We have some fairly strict rules that apply to dog owners and this is one of those occasions we dislike the most – laying down the law!

Without exception Your dog or dogs must -

• Be on a lead and under control before they leave the front door of the rental property.
• Always be accompanied on a lead by the owner, while outside the rental property (within our yard and gardens)
• Be kept off all beds, bedding, chairs, sofas and cushions within the rental property.  (If not, this may result in deductions from your damage deposit)
• Not be left unaccompanied in the holiday let for any period of time.
• Adhere to the countryside code when out and about

We know it sounds tough, but there are good reasons – 

• We regularly have guests who are not keen or are even frightened of dogs.
• We’ve had several incidents where guests have lost control of their dogs resulting in them killing or injuring our hens.
• If a hen is killed or injured, we can rule out your dog, and are better able to pinpoint and take action against the predator responsible (for example, stoats can be a problem if left unchecked!)
• You’re unable to clear up after your dog effectively if it’s left unsupervised.
• Unattended dogs inside properties could cause noise disturbance for our other guests.
• Unattended dogs inside properties may cause damage and go on beds and furniture.

If we have to step in and ask you to adhere to these rules, it will be once. After which, we’ll ask you to kennel your dog locally or leave it with someone back home.