TERMS & CONDITIONS – Athelas

Please ensure you read and fully understand these booking terms and conditions. Laneside holidays who own and operate Athelas can be contacted by the following means for any queries

Owner: Katy McCabe

Tel: 01947 897615 or 07815595685

Email: lanesideholidayswhitby@gmail.com

Bookings, Deposits & Payments

  • A booking is confirmed when we have received the required payment and issued written confirmation of your holiday dates. At this point, a contract is formed between you (the lead guest) and Laneside Holidays, the owners and operators of Athelas.

  • The lead guest is responsible for ensuring that everyone included in the booking is aware of and agrees to these Terms & Conditions.

  • A deposit of £20 per night booked is required to secure your reservation. This must be paid within 48 hours of making your booking unless otherwise agreed. Bookings made less than 14 days before arrival must be paid in full.

  • Your deposit is refundable if you cancel at least 14 days before your scheduled arrival date. After this point, the deposit becomes non-refundable.

  • We will normally send a reminder for your outstanding balance approximately 10 days before arrival. Full payment must be received no later than seven days before your arrival date.

  • Once the final balance becomes due, the full booking cost is payable and is non-refundable if you cancel, subject to your statutory rights.

  • If your final payment is not received by the due date, we reserve the right to cancel your booking. Any cancellation charges will be applied in accordance with the cancellation terms below.

  • Where a booking includes The Lórien Spa, the spa package cost forms part of the total holiday price and is subject to the same deposit, balance payment and cancellation conditions as the accommodation.

  • Please ensure you are happy with these payment and cancellation conditions before booking. We strongly recommend taking out suitable travel insurance to protect against unforeseen circumstances.

Cancellations & Refunds

All cancellations must be made in writing by email to lanesideholidayswhitby@gmail.com. The date we receive your cancellation will determine the applicable cancellation charges.

Our cancellation policy is as follows:

  • 14 days or more before arrival: Any payments made will be refunded in full.

  • Between 7 and 13 days before arrival: Your deposit will be retained, but no further payment will be required.

  • Less than 7 days before arrival: The full cost of your booking remains payable and is non-refundable, subject to your statutory rights.

We understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise and will always consider exceptional situations at our discretion. However, refunds outside the cancellation terms above cannot be guaranteed.

We strongly recommend that guests arrange suitable travel insurance to cover illness, emergencies, travel disruption or other circumstances that may prevent them from taking their holiday.

Cancellations by Laneside Holidays

We would only cancel a confirmed booking where circumstances beyond our reasonable control prevent us from providing your accommodation.

Should this happen, we will contact you as soon as possible and refund all payments made to us for the affected booking.

Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights or excludes any liability that cannot legally be excluded.

Occupancy, Visitors & Guest Conduct

  • Athelas is an adults-only holiday cottage, accommodating a maximum of two adults aged 18 or over. We do not accept bookings including children or infants.

  • The lead guest must be at least 18 years old. We do not accept hen or stag parties, parties or events.

  • If you would like to invite visitors to Athelas during your stay, please obtain our permission in advance. Additional overnight guests are not permitted.

  • Guests are expected to treat Athelas, its facilities, our neighbours and the surrounding property with care and consideration.

  • Please keep noise to a reasonable level, particularly between 11pm and 8am, to preserve the peaceful environment enjoyed by everyone at Laneside.

  • We reserve the right to take appropriate action, including terminating a stay without refund where legally justified, in the event of serious or repeated breaches of these conditions, threatening or abusive behaviour, or conduct that significantly affects the safety, comfort or enjoyment of others.

  • The accommodation must not be sublet, transferred or made available to anyone other than the guests included in the confirmed booking without our prior written agreement.

Pet Stays

We are delighted to welcome well-behaved dogs to Athelas, subject to the following conditions:

  • All dogs must be declared and agreed with us at the time of booking. A charge of £10 per dog, per stay applies.

  • Dogs are welcome in the accommodation, but please do not allow them on the bed, sofa or other furniture.

  • Dogs must not be left unattended in the cottage at any time.

  • Please clean up after your dog, both inside the property and in the surrounding outdoor areas, disposing of waste responsibly.

  • An outside tap and dog towels are provided for cleaning muddy paws and coats before entering the cottage.

  • Stair gates are provided to help manage where dogs can go within the accommodation.

  • Guests are responsible for ensuring their dogs are kept under control and do not cause disturbance, damage or nuisance to others.

  • Where additional cleaning is required due to excessive dog hair, soiling or dogs having been on the bed or furniture, an additional cleaning charge of up to £50 may apply, reflecting reasonable cleaning costs incurred.

  • Guests are responsible for the reasonable costs of repairing damage caused by their dogs, beyond normal wear and tear.

We ask all guests bringing dogs to respect these conditions so that Athelas remains a lovely, welcoming place for everyone, including our four-legged visitors.

Damages, Breakages & Property Care

We take great pride in Athelas and want every guest to enjoy the same high standard of accommodation. We do not normally request a security deposit and instead trust our guests to treat the cottage and its contents with care and respect.

  • Guests are responsible for any damage, breakages or loss caused by themselves, their pets or members of their party, excluding reasonable wear and tear.

  • Please report any accidental damage, breakages or maintenance issues to us as soon as possible, preferably during your stay, so that we can arrange repairs or replacements promptly.

  • We reserve the right to recover the reasonable costs of repairing or replacing damaged or missing items. Where significant damage directly prevents us from honouring subsequent bookings, we may also seek to recover reasonably foreseeable and evidenced financial losses, subject to applicable law.

  • Please leave all furniture, furnishings and equipment in their original locations. Items provided for use at Athelas must not be removed from the property.

  • Please ensure all doors are locked and windows closed whenever the cottage is left unoccupied.

  • We encourage guests to help us conserve energy by switching off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances when leaving the property.

  • Athelas should be left in a reasonably clean and tidy condition. Where exceptional cleaning is required beyond normal changeover cleaning, we reserve the right to recover reasonable additional cleaning costs.

  • Guests are responsible for returning all keys as instructed at departure. Where keys are lost or not returned, we may charge the reasonable cost of replacement keys or necessary lock changes.

  • Smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited inside Athelas. Guests will be responsible for reasonable additional cleaning or repair costs arising from a breach of this condition.

  • Candles and other naked flames are not permitted inside the cottage, with the exception of the wood-burning stove, which must only be operated in accordance with the instructions provided.

  • The wood-burning stove must be used responsibly and never left burning unattended.

  • Please park on the designated gravelled driveway, ensuring that sufficient space remains available for at least four vehicles at all times. Please do not obstruct access for other guests or the owners.

We understand that accidents happen, and we appreciate guests being honest with us if something goes wrong. Our aim is always to resolve matters fairly and reasonably.

Arrival, Departure & Check-Out

Check-in is from 3pm on your arrival date, unless an earlier arrival has been agreed with us in advance.

Check-out is by 10:30am on your departure date. This allows us sufficient time to thoroughly clean and prepare Athelas for our next guests.

We kindly ask guests to respect these times, particularly when we have same-day changeovers.

  • Late check-out must be agreed with us in advance. Unauthorised late departures may incur a charge of £10 per half-hour, where reasonably necessary to cover additional costs or disruption.

  • Before leaving, please ensure that all personal belongings have been collected.

  • Please remove any leftover food from the fridge and cupboards.

  • Wash and put away any used crockery, cutlery and cooking equipment.

  • Empty the bins into the appropriate waste containers provided.

  • Switch off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances.

  • Close all windows and securely lock the cottage.

  • Return the keys to the outside key safe before departure.

We don’t expect guests to carry out a full clean before leaving, but we do appreciate Athelas being left reasonably tidy and ready for our housekeeping preparations.

Thank you for helping us keep everything running smoothly for our next arrivals!

Maintenance, Facilities, Liability & Complaints

Property Access & Maintenance

  • We reserve the right to access Athelas when reasonably necessary for essential maintenance, repairs, safety inspections or emergencies.

  • Except in an emergency, we will endeavour to provide reasonable advance notice and arrange access at a convenient time wherever possible.

  • Guests must inform us promptly of any faults, damage or maintenance issues that arise during their stay so that we have an opportunity to resolve them.

Facilities & Interruptions to Services

  • We make every reasonable effort to ensure that all facilities, appliances and services at Athelas are maintained in good working order.

  • Occasionally, unforeseen equipment failures or interruptions to electricity, water, heating, internet or television services may occur.

  • Where issues arise, we will make reasonable efforts to arrange repairs or restore services as promptly as practicable.

  • We cannot guarantee uninterrupted availability of services beyond our reasonable control. Any entitlement to a refund or other remedy will depend on the circumstances and your statutory rights.

Personal Belongings & Vehicles

  • Guests are responsible for taking reasonable care of their personal belongings and vehicles during their stay.

  • We cannot accept responsibility for loss, theft or damage to personal property or vehicles unless caused by our negligence or breach of legal duty.

  • Please ensure that Athelas is securely locked whenever you leave the accommodation unattended.

Problems & Complaints

  • If you experience any problems during your stay, please contact us as soon as possible so that we have the opportunity to investigate and put matters right.

  • We will always endeavour to resolve genuine concerns promptly and fairly.

  • Where possible, complaints should be raised during your stay. However, this does not affect your statutory rights to raise concerns after departure.

Our Responsibilities

  • We will take reasonable care to provide Athelas as described and maintain the accommodation and its facilities to an appropriate standard.

  • Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

  • These terms do not affect your statutory consumer rights.

The Lórien Spa – Packages & Access

Athelas offers guests the choice of a cottage-only stay or a stay including access to The Lórien Spa, our private, covered hot tub retreat.

  • Spa access is not automatically included with a booking at Athelas. Access is only provided where a spa-inclusive package has been specifically booked and confirmed, or a spa add-on has been purchased separately.

  • Guests booking cottage-only accommodation are not permitted to use The Lórien Spa unless they have arranged and paid for spa access with us in advance.

  • All spa bookings are subject to our separate Lórien Spa Guest Agreement & Conditions of Use, which sets out important safety requirements, guest responsibilities and conditions of access.

  • Before spa access details are provided, the lead guest must confirm in writing that they have read, understood and accepted the Spa Guest Agreement & Conditions of Use on behalf of everyone included in the booking.

  • Spa access is exclusively for the guests named on the confirmed spa booking. Visitors and other persons are not permitted to use the facilities.

  • Guests must follow all spa safety instructions and operating guidelines provided. We reserve the right to suspend or withdraw spa access where reasonably necessary due to unsafe use, serious breaches of the Spa Agreement or concerns about guest safety.

  • In the unlikely event that the spa becomes unavailable due to an unexpected fault, essential maintenance or circumstances beyond our reasonable control, we will contact affected guests as soon as practicable and discuss appropriate arrangements or remedies, taking account of the circumstances and their statutory rights.

  • The Lórien Spa is a separate facility from the cottage accommodation, and its availability and use are governed by the package purchased and the applicable Spa Agreement.

We want everyone who chooses to enjoy The Lórien Spa to have a wonderfully relaxing experience, and these conditions help us maintain a safe, peaceful and enjoyable retreat for all our guests.