Nuthatch Retreat — House Manual

House Manual

If anything is unclear, call Rod or Nemia (contacts at the end).

Getting Here & Arrival

Driving Directions

Use Google (search Nuthatch Retreat, Blakeney) or what3words ///expert.bother.completed.

  • From main road: take the second driveway on the left (signposted Nuthatch Retreat).
  • Postcode route: to GL15 4AJ, continue uphill away from Blakeney, pass a cream house on the right, then turn right onto a single-track lane. We’re the second driveway on the left, signposted.

Public Transport

  • Train: Lydney (≈5 miles / 10 mins) on the Gloucester–Cardiff line (Chepstow, Caldicot, Severn Tunnel Jn, Newport). London via Newport/Gloucester; Birmingham via Gloucester/Cheltenham. Transfers possible via The Robin bus.
  • Bus: No.72 (ask for Ayleford Turn). Or book The Robin (phone/website/app) to Brain’s Green/Ayleford Turn.
  • Bike: ~40 mins from Lydney; ~1h40 Gloucester; ~1h50 Chepstow. Shelter/lock-up available.
  • Fly: Bristol (40 mi), Cardiff (60 mi), Birmingham (75 mi).

Check-in / Check-out

  • Check-in from 3pm. Please share ETA the day before.
  • Check-out by 11am. Later departures sometimes possible by prior arrangement; unauthorised late check-out incurs a £30 fee.

Parking & Charging

Open the gates and park on the gravel. Please shut the gate at night to deter deer and free-roaming sheep. When leaving, turn in the drive or reverse down and turn at the bottom. Avoid parking in the private layby on the main road.

EV Charging

  • Golden charge point on wall to the far right of the entrance. Bring your own cable.
  • £20–£30 requested per full charge (battery-size dependent). Tell us if you charge and we’ll send a PayPal link.

Keys

Front-door key in the keysafe left of the door (black cover). Pull flap down, move the central clear switch, enter code in any order, twist knob to open; close and relock after use. Code: B0137.

Patio-door key should remain in the lock during your stay. Please leave it there on departure.

Wi-Fi Access

  • Network: VV Eero
  • Password: Stanley75

During Your Stay

House rules

  • No pets (allergen-free space).
  • No smoking or vaping indoors; no candles/open flames inside. If smoking outside, do so away from the building and dispose responsibly.
  • Supervise children in the terraced garden and around the outdoor bath.
  • This is a peaceful spot — please no loud/amplified music after 11pm (movies/normal listening are fine).

On arrival

Pre-ordered hampers/treats will be on the counter/in the fridge, plus complimentary local coffee and kitchen basics (salt, pepper, olive oil, spices, tea, sugar).

Honesty bar

Locally reared sausages/bacon (and sometimes burgers/chops) may be in the hallway-cupboard freezer. Let us know if you take any — we’ll send a PayPal link.

Before you leave

  • Leave things tidy; set the dishwasher if needed.
  • Waste: black bin (general), green bin (recycling), small black caddy (food) — all in the driveway.
  • Lock patio (leave key in lock) and front door; return the main key to the keysafe.

Hallway (Utility) Cupboard

  • Washer-dryer (see manual in the folder).
  • Freezer, iron, airer, cordless vacuum, spare fan, cleaning materials (please return items after use).

Heat, Water & Light

  • UFH schedule (cooler months): typically 6:30–23:30. Living areas target ~21°C; bedroom ~18–18.5°C. Adjust per room (↑/↓, then press A to confirm). Reverts at next programme period.
  • Bedroom 2 (if booked): electric UFH + radiator on main circuit (use TRV). Default ~18.5°C; adjust on thermostat (wakes with ON; use ▲▼).
  • Hot water: bathroom sensor circulates hot water; kitchen may take longer — stepping into the bathroom helps trigger the pump.
  • Fuse box: behind the front door (hallway, opposite coat hooks).
  • Stop-cocks: in the utility cupboard (use bathroom stool to reach). Call us first if possible.

Electrical Outages

Rural power cuts are rare but possible (e.g., fallen trees). If power fails:

General — Emergency & Health

  • Police: 999/112 emergency, 101 non-emergency. Nearest station: 5 High St, Lydney GL15 5DP.
  • Fire / Ambulance: 999. Use postcode GL15 4AJ; search “Nuthatch Retreat”.
  • NHS 111 for non-urgent advice.
  • First-aid kit: vanity unit under bathroom sink.
  • GP: Blakeney Surgery — 01594 510225 (call 8am for same-day emergencies).
  • Minor Injuries: Forest of Dean Community Hospital, Cinderford GL14 3HY.
  • A&E: Gloucester Royal Hospital (GL1 3NN) or Royal Gwent (southbound).
  • Dentist: BUPA Dental Care 01594 845718, Central Surgery Lydney 01594 841368.
  • Pharmacies: 33 and 41/43 Newerne St, Lydney GL15 5RA.

In the Event of a Fire

  • Smoke detectors: main living space, hallway, second bedroom (linked where applicable). Heat sensor in hallway.
  • No CO₂ sensor — there’s no gas on site. Reset sensors by pressing the centre.
  • Main exits: front door (twist knob), patio doors (key left in lock), bedroom windows (open wide).
  • Fire blanket + multi-purpose extinguisher under the kitchen sink.
  • Prioritise safety: evacuate to the main gate on the gravel driveway and call 999 (GL15 4AJ).

Bedroom

  • Electric blind: white wall control (left of bed).
  • Windows open wide for air and emergency egress; external dew can form — long-handled squeegee in utility.
  • Corner cupboard houses UFH manifold (no access required).
  • Yoga/exercise mats: in corner cupboard.

Bathroom

  • Towel radiator: hold bottom button for a 2-hour cycle (red pulse). On/off cycles: 45°C (yellow) → 60°C (red) → off.
  • Mirror: press square button to toggle; hold to change warm/cool.
  • Night sensor light detaches for torch use.

Kitchen

  • Extractor: hold ↑ 2–3s to raise/on; hold ↓ 2–3s to lower/off.
  • Bins: kitchen + recycling under sink; driveway bins — black (general), green (recycling), small black caddy (food).
  • Recycling: cans, plastic bottles, glass, foil, paper, cardboard, batteries. Not collected: yoghurt pots, some plastic trays.
  • Cleaning: leave tidy; supplies in utility cupboard. Pop the dishwasher on when you go.
  • Kids’ crockery/picnic ware: lower cupboard in room divider.

Living Area

Lighting

  • Multi-switch panel (corridor): kitchen overheads, undershelf, pendants, corner lamps.
  • Panel by patio: overhead spots, shelf lights, patio lights.
  • Dimmers: left of window seat; touch-switch lamp on room divider.

Blinds

Window-seat blackout blind has a stop set just above the base cushion. Remove throw cushions to close fully, or press the central “my” button to stop before contact. Projection blind stops automatically.

Audio-visual

See quick guide by the amplifier.

  • Music: amp on → select CD. Bluetooth: hold BT receiver power 3s (pairing); pair with BluMe HD. Two devices can pair simultaneously.
  • Film & TV: lower screen (close curtains first if preferred); amp on → projector on; select TV; use Chromecast. Nuthatch profiles for Netflix & BBC iPlayer available; sign into personal apps as needed.

Garden

Three levels: top patio from the living space, middle lawn with outdoor bath, lower wilder area with BBQ/firepit. Planting encourages biodiversity beside Forestry land.

Disclaimer

  • Please don’t walk/stand on bark-covered beds.
  • Low fence marks a ~6ft drop from gabions to lawn — supervise children.
  • Oak sleepers can be slippery in winter — use the gravel portion.

Outdoor furniture

Lounger and armchair cushions are by/inside the patio door (stored in winter in the outdoor cupboard right of the oriel). Spare dining chair(s) under the bike shelter.

Deep Soak Bathtub & Firepit

Outdoor bath

  • Hot & cold taps. Hot-only will almost fill the tub but may deplete the tank and be very hot — mix to taste. Use long wooden spoon to press pop-up plug and stir for even heat.
  • Switches for tub/step lights are the large grey ones nearby.
  • Children must not be left unattended.

Firepit

  • Starter logs, kindling, firelighters, gauntlets in plastic box (store behind gravel area outside the window seat).
  • How-to: stack ~20cm kindling square; twist firelighter(s) in middle; lean logs against; light. Guide: firepitsuk.
  • Sustainably made charcoal: Dean Heritage Centre (Soudley). Extra logs/kindling from us (£4) or Blakeney One-Stop (6a High St). S’mores ideas: BBC Good Food.
  • BBQ tools: lower kitchen drawer; oil grill with silicone brush; wipe down when cool. Leave ash in place (okay to rebuild on embers).

Pets & Wildlife

No pets, to keep the space allergen-free. Our cat Buca may nose around the patio — please don’t encourage him indoors.

Wildlife is part of life here: you may hear wild boar in nearby woodland or see deer by the fence and crossing roads at night — please drive carefully. Free-roaming sheep are normal; it’s a long-standing Forest tradition (“commoning”).

Other regulars include squirrels, woodpeckers, lizards, slow worms, bats, owls, nuthatches, goldfinches and butterflies. Keep doors closed when unattended and avoid leaving food out.

Wanders & Wonders

Walks from the door range from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Borrow the OS map or try these:

  • 30-min Ayleford Farm loop (rope swing; wild garlic in spring): route link
  • 1-hour woodland/ridge loop (views towards the Severn): route link
  • 1–2 hr Wenchford/Soudley loops: route link

Short drives: Mallards Pike, Soudley Ponds, Beechenhurst; also New Fancy, Speech House Woodland, Woorgreens Nature Reserve, Spruce Ride (some sites charge for parking).

Within 15–30 mins: Puzzlewood, Symonds Yat, Old Tintern Station, Devil’s Pulpit/Tintern Abbey view, Offa’s Dyke, Beechenhurst & Sculpture Trail.

With Children

  • Puzzlewood — ancient woodland with family activities.
  • Perrygrove Railway Adventure — train rides and play areas (best for under 10s).
  • Clearwell Caves — historic cave system with tours.

See our website for more in-depth ideas.

Food & Drink

Local shops & supplies

Blakeney: One-Stop (6a High St) for basics, logs, kindling; Blakeney Chip-In (order online/delivery); The Cock Inn (ales; food varies).

Lydney: Tesco, Co-op (with Post Office), Lidl, independents (including zero-waste shops).

Food recommendations

  • Hips Social, Lydney — family-run café (burritos, salads, burgers, bakes). hipssocial.co.uk
  • Hips Harbourside — café pod at Lydney Harbour (toasties, coffee, cake).
  • The Railway Inn Tandoori, Newnham — 01594 781580.
  • The Globe, Alvington — pub grub, big garden (GL15 6BA).
  • The George, Newnham — community café (light lunches, cake, coffee).
  • Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Clearwell — relaxed fine dining/afternoon tea.
  • Severn & Wye, Chaxhill — fish restaurant, smokery counter, deli, homewares. severnandwye.co.uk
  • Bespoke Brewery, Littledean — rustic taproom; regular foodie pop-ups.
  • The Forest Bakehouse — excellent bread, pastries, coffee.
  • Leaf Creative — café among mature planting; pop-ups/supper clubs.

Drinking Spots & Tap Rooms

  • The Forest Brewery — Lydney Park Estate (The Old Workshop, GL15 6BU).
  • Bespoke Brewery — see above (Littledean).
  • Coinros Garden Centre / Taurus Crafts — occasional taproom events.

Final Notes & Contact

Thank you for choosing Nuthatch Retreat — have a peaceful stay.