Terms and Conditions

It is important that you read this information before making a booking with us.

Online Bookings

To book online follow the links through from the cottage search, either from the cottage icon picture or the full details. Fill in the secure booking form with your details etc, making sure you have read our booking terms and conditions. Please note that when you submit a booking via our online reservation system you will receive an automatically generated booking summary by email to the email address you provide in the booking form. This does not form a contract between us. A contract shall only arise when your booking is subsequently confirmed in writing via a letter of confirmation sent to you by post or email.

Telephone Bookings

To book by telephone, please ring us on +44 (0)15394 41765. You are able to make a provisional booking over the phone. We will hold it for you for up to 24 hours. If you are paying by cheque, please advise so we can extend the provisional booking to allow for postage time. Please make the cheques payable to ‘The Coppermines’ and write the booking reference number on the back on the cheque.
FOR ALL TELEPHONE BOOKINGS – YOU MUST READ AND AGREE TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS VIA EMAIL OR BOOKING FORM.

Short Breaks

In cottages with Friday changeover day, you can book full weeks Friday to Friday or full weeks Monday to Monday. You can also book
Weekend Breaks – 3 nights – Friday to Monday
Midweek Breaks – 4 nights – Monday to Friday
(Please note that short break availability can differ according to particular cottages and particular weeks)

Booking Terms and Conditions

1. Booking
To make a booking or confirm a provisional booking, please:

(a) Complete the booking form;

(b) Pay a deposit (non-refundable) of 33% of the booking total per cottage per week (or stay, if less than a week).Bookings within ten weeks (70 days) of arrival require full payment of the accommodation cost at the time of booking.

(c) There is no charge for payment by credit cards, debit cards or cheques. Cheques should be made payable to “The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages Ltd.”.

(d) Customers should satisfy themselves through reading our descriptions that the cottage they choose is suitable for their needs.

(e) The contents of our web site and brochures have been prepared in good faith. We will advise you of any significant changes at the time of booking or as soon after as possible if you have already booked. We cannot accept any responsibility for any minor or insignificant inaccuracy contained within the description or information. The printed brochure content is correct at the time of publication. All the latest up-dates and any changes are contained in the current content of our web-site.

(f) The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages does not warrant and is not responsible for the accuracy of any verbal information given as statements made by it’s employees or agents.

(g) If you have any special requests you must advise us in writing at the time of booking. Although we will endeavour to attend to any reasonable request no guarantees can be given that any request will be met.

(h) Please note that for all stag and hen party bookings that a security deposit of £20 per person is applicable. This will be returned following stay on the basis no damage has occured.

(i) Low Occupancy Discounts. Please note that guests who receive a low occupancy discount upon booking will have access to 1 bedroom/bathroom per 2 people only. If more bedrooms/bathrooms are required guests will be required to increase number of people on booking accordingly (e.g. if 2 bedrooms and bathrooms are required guests will need to select “4” guests to have access to 2 bedrooms).

2. Confirmation

Following receipt of your deposit and booking form, confirmation of the reservation will be sent out to you by email (or post upon request). Arrival instructions and directions will be sent to you via email (or post on request) upon payment of your balance.

3. Payment of Balance

The balance of your accommodation cost is payable no later than 70 days before the date of arrival. Cheques should be made payable to “The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages Ltd.”. If you fail to pay the balance of your accommodation cost at the prescribed time we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled. In this event the full amount of accommodation costs will remain payable by you. If we are able to re-let the property, you will still forfeit your deposit, but at our discretion the balance of the accommodation costs may be waived.

4. Agency

(a)The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages arrange bookings of properties as agents for the owners of such properties. When you book a property with The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages you enter into a contract with the owner of that property. The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages are responsible for the administration of your booking, but do solely on behalf of and as agents for the owner.

(b)Due to the fact that guests have the option to leave their property locked or unlocked under no circumstances can The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages be held responsible for guests belongings whilst guests have the use of any property. Any valuables left at the property are left at your own risk. It is essential and your responsibility to ensure that all doors and windows a closed and locked when leaving the property unattended. We strongly advise that you take out adequate travel insurance prior to the commencement of your holiday.

(d) We do not accept responsibility for the failure of public services such as water, gas, electricity, plumbing, sewerage systems, telephone and broadband internet services, or unforeseen breakdowns of domestic and mechanical equipment such as boilers, plumbing and heating systems (but in such an event we will make every effort to effect repairs as early as possible).

(e) Whilst we make every effort to ensure that all appliances, fixtures and fittings are in working order at the beginning of your stay we cannot be held responsible for non working items found (including wi-fi where specified), but would always make every effort to effect repairs as early as possible once they have been reported directly to our office.

(f) Please note that some of our properties are extremely old and suffer from dust and cobwebs in unusual places and more prevalent than is sometimes normal.

(g) Hot Tubs (where applicable). You will have exclusive use of a hot tub for the duration of your stay. We aim to prepare all hot tubs ready for guest arrival, however for the benefit of all users we must comply with very high Health and Hygiene standards when servicing and maintaining our hot tubs. In the event of the hot tub needing a full service following a departure, we cannot guarantee the water in the hot tub will be hot enough for use the first night of your arrival.

5. Cancellation

Direct bookings: All cancellation notifications must be given in writing. If your cancellation notice is received at any time prior to the final balance becoming due (i.e. more than 70 days before arrival), the deposit will be forfeited but the balance of the accommodation cost will not be payable. If your cancellation notice is received after the final balance is due or has been paid (i.e. less than 70 days before arrival) the full amount of accommodation costs will remain payable by you. If we are able to re-let the property for the entire duration of your cancelled booking (and we shall make every effort to do so) all monies paid will be refunded, less the deposit and administration costs. To claim your refund you must contact us directly within 7 days of your initial planned departure date.

We therefore strongly recommend you take out adequate holiday insurance.

XCover Booking Protection

XCover third party booking proection is offered at the time of booking when placing an online booking. It remains your responsibility to arrange for and check the adequacy of any insurance cover. Information here: XCover

XCover covers cash, credit or debit card payments only. Unfortunately XCover cannot cover payments made with credit notes or gift vouchers.

Please note you have 7 days from the time of taking out XCover booking protection in which to cancel it. To offset the administration costs of cancelling XCover booking protection, we make a charge of £10.00. Any changes made by us on your behalf must be confirmed to us in writing.

6. Changing Dates and Cottages

We recognise that sometimes customers have to change their booking date or cottage due to other commitments, and we will endeavour to help where possible. To offset the administration costs of changing databases and sending new receipts etc., we make a charge of £30.00 per change. Any changes made by us on your behalf must be confirmed to us in writing.

Changes to your arrival and/or departure dates and/or cottage/s are subject to conditions and as such must be requested no later than 70 days prior to date of arrival. Please note, all changes are subject to the property owner’s and management discretion.

Winter Bookings

During the months of December, January, or February each year we recognise that snow may occasionally cause you not to be able to get to your cottage. In Coniston, The Coppermines has its own snow clearing machinery, diggers and gritters which have been on call throughout the Winter. If you are unable to drive to your cottage due to heavy snow on the ground, and would miss your much anticipated break with us, we are prepared to move your booking to a forward date of a similarly advertised price/value, at the same cottage. This special offer is only available for holidays taken in December, January or February each year and only if deep snow on the ground prevents you from physically driving to the cottage, or to within a reasonable walking distance from it We strongly advise you carry holiday insurance to mitigate any other losses.

7. Your Responsibilities

(a) Arrivals & Departures – The cottages are available from 5:00pm on the day of arrival, and must be vacated by 09:30am on the day of departure, unless otherwise stated on your booking confirmation. However, please note that, where possible, we do our utmost to ensure our guests can check in as early as possible. Should your cottage be available any earlier than 5pm, you will be sent an email on the day of your arrival advising that your cottage is ready for check in.

Occasionally, due to circumstances beyond our control, your cottage may not be available for you to check-in by 5pm, in such circumstances we will endeavour to make your cottage available for you to check-in as soon as possible thereafter.

(b) Good Housekeeping – The cottages are cleaned, checked and fresh bed linen and, in most instances, towels supplied before your arrival. Cots and high chairs are available for hire if pre-booked.

Please report any defect or shortage to us immediately, in order that the problem can be solved as quickly as possible. As our housekeeping staff are always short of time, all guests should leave the accommodation very clean and tidy, and pay at our office for or replace any damaged items incurred during their stay.

Any damage caused resulting in extra cleaning, repair or replacement will incur a charge payable. We ask that guests report any damages caused during their stay to us asap.

(c) Security Deposits – We reserve the right, at our discretion, to ask for a good housekeeping deposit, or if we incur extra costs as a result of your stay, to charge your credit/debit card for those costs incurred, on or after your departure. If you intend to organise a function (eg. wedding or party) at the property you must seek prior permission from us. Additional charges and/or a security deposit may be required at our discretion.

(d) Noise and Behaviour – You are responsible for the correct and decent behaviour of all members of your party for the duration of the booking and for maintaining acceptable levels of noise at the property and within the grounds and vicinity of the property particularly between 10.00pm and 08.00am. In the event of you or any member of your party breaching this responsibility, we reserve the right to ask you to vacate the property and the contract will be terminated with immediate effect without refund or compensation

(e) Occupancy – Our properties only accommodate the number of people as the beds listed allow. Due to extra wear and tear resulting from the over use of all areas, extra people may not normally be accommodated except by written permission. We do not allow the use of the cottage by people staying nearby in campervans, caravans or tents. We inspect the cottages regularly.

(f) Pets – Pets are welcome in most of our cottages (except where noted) at a charge of £5 per pet per night, for the full duration of your booking. This charge will be added to your booking according to the number of nights booked, regardless of how many nights a pet is present. They must not be allowed upon furniture, upstairs or in bedrooms, or left alone, without you in the cottage, so as not to annoy your neighbours. In consideration of subsequent guests removal of dog fouling from the grounds and gardens of the property is essential. (Please note that we cannot warrant that the grounds and gardens of any of our properties are fully enclosed and due to the possible proximity of livestock we recommend that dogs are kept on a lead within the boundaries of a property including the garden).

(g) Smoking – Smoking is strictly prohibited in all of our cottages

(h) Candles and Tea-lights – The use of candles and tea-lights is prohibited in all of our cottages, except during a power outage.

(i) Charging of Electric Vehicles, including bikes, scooters, etc. – The charging of electric vehicles, bikes, scooters, etc., from our cottages is strictly prohibited, unless by prior arrangement from The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages, or where a specific EV charging point has been provided for use by guests. Electric vehicle charging requires protected circuits in cottages and may draw a much higher current from the cottage which could cause damage or fire and may invalidate cottage insurance. This is a serious fire safety issue. Please contact us for details of local charging points.

(j) Complaints – All complaints must be made to us during your stay. We can only consider and attempt to rectify complaints made to us whilst you are staying at the cottage.

(k) Vehicles and access – Where access considerations exist, The Coppermines endeavour to make these clear within a property’s listing. Vehicles are driven to and parked at our properties at the owner’s risk and The Coppermines Lakes Cottages are not liable for any damage incurred to vehicles either during your stay or on your arrival and departure.

The Coppermines Lakes Cottages

Social Media

The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages retain commercial rights over any media shared with us on any of our social media channels.

8. Copyright

All images and text on any or all of our media are our property or property we hold as agents. No images or text should be used elsewhere or copied without our expressed permission. This condition applies to all our images and text from our creation in 1982 to all dates in the future.