Coronavirus Update 

Updated 12th October 2020

We are delighted to have opened again to guests on 4th July. We conducted a thorough risk assessment of our site before re-opening and made some changes to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests and staff here at Blackdown Yurts. We ask that guests please read the information contained in their pre-arrival email that arrive a week ahead of your stay and adhere to the relevant government guidance at the time of your stay. Further information can be found here: government guidance on what you can and can't do

One of the most recent changes is the Rule of Six - not a problem if you are hiring just one of our yurts as the maximum occupancy of any one unit is six. However, socialising in groups more than six became illegal in England on Monday 14th September so you should bear this in mind if travelling with friends or family in more than one yurt. The communal barn is unavailable for socialising but is available for access to fridges and electrical points for charging devices. 

Before coming to stay at Blackdown Yurts please check what restrictions are in force in your local area as some may prevent you from travelling out of the area on holiday. A useful website is www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-restrictions-areas-with-an-outbreak-of-coronavirus-covid-19#areas-with-local-restrictions 

If you have any concerns about your stay under the new regulations please contact Katie via email or phone to discuss your options.

We will continue to update this webpage and inform subscribers to our email newsletter of any changes. To subscribe please click here.

​We have been certified "Good to Go" by Visit England and are following self-catering industry guidance on required cleaning standards. We will be using Envirosafe virucidal disinfectant on all touch points and surfaces after cleaning, including misting mattress protectors and bed throws. All linen will be changed between guests including pillow protectors. We will not be providing blankets or hot water bottles this year. Should you wish to bring your own bedding please let Katie know at least 24 hours before your stay.

​This year each yurt will have its own private shower-room for the exclusive use of its guests and, as before, you have your own private composting toilet beside your yurt. Please ensure your party only uses the bathroom allocated to your yurt to avoid potential cross-contamination between guests. Sanitiser is provided at the entrance to the bathroom area and the outer door will be left open during the day (when dry) so you won't need to touch the door handle at all. 

We have sourced four smaller fridges with iceboxes so each yurt now has its own rather than sharing two larger fridge-freezers. Please ensure you only use the fridge labelled with you yurt's name. Each yurt has been allocated two iceblocks (again labelled with each yurt's name). These should be in the freezer compartments on arrival. Feel free to take one and place it in the coolbox at your yurt to keep essentials cool then switch out the blocks when necessary. Because the barn is the only place with electricity we are keeping it open but request that you only use it to access the fridges, or the power points for charging devices. 

Sanitiser is provided at the entrance to the barn and there are also hand-washing facilities with hot water and soap both there and in each yurt's private bathroom. Please ensure you wash your hands frequently when on site. 

We have been working hard while closed to make the camp kitchens at the yurts more sturdy and practical so that you need not use the communal kitchen in the barn if you would prefer not to. Each now has a washing up area on the side of the camp kitchen as well as bespoke fitted cupboards for storage inside. ​

​We really hope that these changes will give you every confidence to come to our little hidden valley where seclusion, space and fresh air are in abundance. Take a look at this lovely review we received recently that shows how appreciative our guests are of our efforts to ensure your safety and comfort here at Blackdown Yurts. 

If you have any questions about our measures to reduce risk of coronavirus or about your booking then please don't hesitate to contact us via phone or email.

What about Local Lockdowns?

We are following guidance from the Professional Association of Self Caterers (PASC) a body we are a member of via our sister holiday business Halsbeer Farm holiday cottages. If your area is subject to a local lockdown you may still able to travel to us on holiday (subject to what local restrictions are in force where you live).

​If you are able to travel out of a local lockdown area on holiday your party should comprise only one household. If our area is subject to a local lockdown (which it isn't currently) then we are allowed to remain open but the same rule will apply, only one household can stay per unit and they are not allowed to meet with any other families while they are here.

If you are not sure whether local lockdown applies to you please check the government website https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-restrictions-areas-with-an-outbreak-of-coronavirus-covid-19. (Please note this is for England but there are links to the other countries in the UK on that webpage.) Again if you have any concerns about local lockdown and its impact on your stay here please contact Katie by email or phone.