Access Statement for the Stables

Introduction

The Stables Cottage is a renovated Cotswold stone barn which lies adjacent to Ashtree Farmhouse located near the village of Buckland in Oxfordshire. It is situated in a rural area and a car is essential.

Pre-Arrival

• The cottage is found off the A420 at Buckland next to Carswell golf & Country Club. There is white signpost ‘Ashtree Farm’ at the top of the drive. There is a 350 metre private track which has a tarmac surface.

• The Farmhouse is located through a lighted wooden gate. The cottage is situated adjacent to the farmhouse down a gravelled driveway.

• There is a telephone in the cottage with Wi-Fi internet access.
• Information on the layout of the cottage is clearly described on the website.
• Bookings and enquiries should be made by email, fax or by telephone or online.
• Directions can either be emailed or faxed on request, a map is linked on the website or directions can be posted with the confirmation.
• The nearest railway station is Didcot Parkway or Oxford Station both are about 20 minute drive.
• The nearest airport is London Heathrow which is approximately a 90 minute drive.
• There is an informative general information folder in the cottage.

Arrival & Car Parking Facilities

• There are plenty of car parking spaces approximately 50 metres from the cottage. The car park for the cottage is situated down the driveway passed the front of the Stable Block to the back of the property.
• Cars can be driven to/from the entrance to facilitate unloading luggage and ease disembarkation of the elderly etc.
• After disembarkation cars can be moved to the parking space nearby.
• The surface of the area to/from the car park is gravel. There is no hard standing; gravelled paths are throughout the access area. There is rear access to a vehicle once it is parked.

Main Entrance

• There are 2 steps at the door of the cottage entrance, both 5” high and 12” deep. The front door is a standard external door width (33”).
• There are no guests pets allowed at Ashtree Farmhouse or the Stables Cottage.
• There is plenty of lighting outside the cottage for late arrivals.
• The reception hall which has limestone tiled flooring has a WC. There is 1 step of 5” into the sitting room area through a door 29” wide and one step (7”) into the kitchen area through a 4' arch. The staircase leads off the hall and is 30” wide at its narrowest point. There is a steep curve at the top of the staircase.
• There are 2 further doors off the hallway both 29” wide one to downstairs cloakroom and the other the door to the ground floor bedroom

Hall, Stairs, Landing, etc

• In the hall cupboard there is a fire extinguisher and an ironing board and tool kit with torch.
• The entrance hall floor is tiled with natural limestone tiles.
• The staircase which has 13 steps is carpeted with deep piled carpet and has a steep bend after 11 steps.
• the stairway to the upstairs bedroom is off the main hall way. There is one handrail which measures 30” in height to the right of the staircase.
• the hallway is very well lit.
• All doors leading from the hallway are standard 29” wide.
• There is a WC in the hall way and a cloak cupboard.
• The step leading to the living area is 7” high.

Sitting room

• the living room floor is spacious and carpeted in natural coir throughout with 2 oriental rugs.
• The lighting is supplied by spotlights to the vaulted ceiling and table lamps.
• There is a wood burning stove with a log basket.
• There are 2 sofas and 3 occasional chairs.
• There are French doors to the rear of the room which open out onto a grassed and paved private patio.
• There is a large archway which leads to the kitchen area via 1 step which measures 9

WCs

• There is a WC for general use in the ground floor hallway.

It has a door which is 29” wide. It measures approx 8’ x 6’.

Kitchen

• The kitchen is reached via a 7” step through a 4ft archway. The kitchen floor is tiled with limestone tiles. There is a dining table and chairs for 4.

The work surfaces are laminate. There is a hob/fan oven/microwave/ fridge/freezer and dishwasher.

• The hob is powered by LPG gas.
• The floor of the kitchen is limestone tiled.

• It is fully equipped with fitted units

• There is plenty of good lighting in the kitchen and under the units.

• There are no doors leading to the outside via the kitchen.
• There is a fire extinguisher on the wall and a fire blanket in case of fire.
Instructions on the use of all kitchen appliances are kept in a green folder.

• The décor is contrasting light and airy with 2 windows.

• There is a table and 4 chairs.

Laundry

• The laundry room is adjacent to the cottage about 40 paces from the front door over the gravel driveway. It is reached through large stable doors which have a small 4” step.
• There is a washing machine and tumble dryer for guests use.
• There is a sink and WC.

Sauna

• There is a sauna and relaxation room adjacent to the cottage reached over the gravel drive about 20 paces from the front door.
• There are 2 steps which lead to 5' wide French doors. The steps are 8” and 4” respectively.
• The flooring in the relaxation suite is wood laminate and has an occasional oriental rug. There are 2 loungers and 2 chairs with coffee making facilities and stools.
• The sauna itself is through a 27” wide door glass door. The flooring is tiled in limestone. There is a shower and sink. Through the glass door is the sauna which is approx 8ft by 7ft.
• Safety instructions on the use of the sauna are located at the entrance.
• There is a fire extinguisher to the left of the front doors beside the French doors.
• There is a separate WC with sink directly off the relaxation room.
• Lighting is mood enhancing

Outdoors

• There is a private patio for guests use in the walled garden which is reached through the French doors. It is paved. There are occasional furniture items such as table and chairs and umbrella. There is no outside lighting at the back of the cottage. There is no WC outside

Bedrooms

• The bedrooms have limited suitability for wheelchair use. They have narrow doors 27”-29” widest point. The bedrooms have deep piled fitted carpet throughout. There is no TV in any of the bedrooms.
• There is a fire escape velux window in the first floor bedroom.
• The first floor bedroom has a vaulted ceiling.
• There are fire alarms on the landing and in the hallway.
• The downstairs bedroom and ensuite have 27” to 29” wide doors.
• Both bedrooms have dimmer lighting. There is good contrast in the décor.
• The duvets and pillows are feather. The bed linen is Egyptian cotton.
• The bedrooms and living areas are all non smoking throughout.
• No dogs or pets are allowed in the Stables accommodation.

Bathrooms and WC

• The WC in the hallway is central to the accommodation. It has a free standing basin and is approx. 8’ x 6’.
• The large ground floor bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with a standard sized bath with a power shower attachment which is thermostatically controlled. Rubber bath mats are provided as safety features. There are adequate fitted cupboards and a heated towel rail. The wash basin is integral to the units with h/c taps
• The floor surface of the bathroom is limestone tiled.
• The door width is 29” into the ensuite.
• The decor is white and light with halogen lighting in the ceiling.
• The Private bathroom on the first floor is exclusively for use by occupants of the first floor bedroom. It has a vaulted ceiling with a velux window. It has a limestone tiled floor. The bath is standard sized with a hand shower attachment. The basin is free standing with h/c taps. There is a heated towel rail.

Grounds and Gardens

• The garden at Ashtree is large and formal of approx. 2 acres. The patio area used for guests in the cottage is in the walled garden behind the cottage which is paved over a grassed paths. The footpaths around the property are mainly gravel with some flagstone paths.
• There is a large deep pond facing west which lies adjacent to the main farmhouse.

Additional Information

• Mobile phone reception is reasonable. There is a public telephone in the Cottage for guests use.
• There is broadband and Wifi in the cottage which works really well.
• There is a non smoking policy throughout the accommodation
• We regret that no dogs are allowed at Ashtree as there are 2 resident dogs in the farmhouse and a cat who resides in the stable block.
• Ashtree is situated in an open rural area with lovely views and is surrounded on all sides by open countryside.
• There are 2 smoke detectors in the cottage with a number of fire extinguishers.

Address:

The Stables
Ashtree Farm
Buckland
Faringdon
Oxon SN7 8PX

Telephone: 00 44 1367 870540
Fax: 00 44 1367 870541
Email: info@ashtree-farm.co.uk
Website: www.ashtree-farm.co.uk

Future Plans

• Look at areas where access could be improved

• Improve lighting at the rear patio area

Contact Telephone and Email Address

We welcome your feedback to help us continually improve if you have any comments please phone 01367870540 or email info@ashtree-farm.co.uk

Created: 8 March 2009