Fforest Farm

fforest access statement

The Access Statement for fforest Camp in Cilgerran is an honest description of the current situation, which we hope will enable potential guests to make a decision as to how we meet their needs.

Navigating the site

• fforest farm has a very natural setting that fits into the existing landscape, like a small village with accommodation and venue locations spaced apart over an area of 20 acres or so within the 200 acre estate. We have designed the venues to be accessible to all with wide entrances, level thresholds, ramps, level areas around venues and designated drop off areas for vehicles. Guests attending weddings and events at fforest can make arrangements to be driven to drop off points at the lodge and farmyard areas. (The utility vehicles used by our staff are not appropriate for carrying passengers and cannot be used for this purpose.)

• The natural terrain results in sloping pathways, some of which are quite steep. Owing to the topography of the site, fforest cannot ensure that all pathways and access routes are navigable for visitors with mobility issues without assistance.

• The lodge, where staff are based, is a single storey building providing level access and circulation to all areas accessible to the public. Assistance may be required to enter the lodge via the large patio doors on the terrace.

• Access to the lodge area from all accommodation is down a steep drive with a gravel surface. A drop off point is located adjacent to the lodge, lodge barn and Bwthyn pub.

• There are pathways, covered in either gravel or wood bark, to all accommodation types wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. We cannot guarantee that these will be easily accessible to those with mobility issues during or shortly after periods of wet weather.

• All domes, katacabins, bell tents and shacs are on raised wooden decks. A ramp can be provided to some units by prior arrangement with lodge staff.

• All accommodation decks, terraces and the shower / wc blocks have a wooden decking floor.

• There are wooden steps leading down to the Giant Hat Tipi from the lodge area. Alternatively, the Giant Hat Tipi can be accessed from a sloping public footpath near the quarry.

• The lodge barn is split level. Both levels can be accessed via large sliding doors from the outside ramped decking.

• There is gently sloping access between the lodge, lodge barn and Bwthyn pub.

• There is a drop-off point by the lodge which may be used by disabled guests by prior arrangement with lodge staff.

• There is ramped and level access in the area around the cedar barn. The cedar barn has level access throughout and a wide entrance. There is a drop-off point by the cedar barn which may be used by disabled guests.

• Reasonable efforts have been made to minimise the impact for visitors with mobility issues with respect to access to water, recycling and fire collection points. Paths are not paved and therefore those with mobility issues may have difficulty with access during or shortly after periods of wet weather.

• Open water in publicly accessible areas is not fenced off.

• Main pathways and access points are dimly lit during the hours of darkness. Bright lights are not used as the surrounding area is a natural habitat for a variety of wildlife which could be disturbed and possibly displaced by such lighting.

Parking and vehicle access

• fforest has ample parking for disabled guests’ vehicles in the main car park. There are no marked bays and no spaces specifically designated for disabled guests. There is an unpaved pathway of a few hundred metres from the main car park to the lodge reception area.

• At the main car park, assistance is available for luggage on arrival and departure at normal check in and check out times (detailed in the Welcome Pack) during the main season and for weddings and events.

• Guests staying in the farmyard area can park in the small crog loft car park or by Ty Fforest in the farmyard, close to their accommodation. The cedar barn is located close to Ty Fforest, the crog lofts and the garden shacs.

• For the safety of our guests, including children and pets, vehicle access through the site is kept to a minimum. Parking in the fields adjacent to the accommodation is not permitted. It may be possible to park closer to the accommodation during your stay, but this must be by prior arrangement with the lodge.

Bathroom Facilities

• There are two shower and wc blocks with allocated shower rooms or bathhouses: one for the dome / katacabin / bell zones and one for the garden shacs. Domes 1 to 4 each have a private bathhouse a short walk away which features a bath with a shower above, wc and a changing area with a bench .The garden shac block features a large accessible shower / wc room. There is an additional shower block near the lodge. Access to all shower / wc blocks is via steps or a ramp.

• Dome 5 has a private outdoor en-suite shower room. Onsen domes 6 to 9 have an indoor ensuite shower room and outdoor open shower and sunken bath. All are accessed via a raised wooden deck.

• The hill shacs have an indoor wc and outdoor open shower on a raised wooden deck. The hill shacs are accessed directly from a long raised wooden deck offering good access. The hill shac kitchen / dining areas are accessed through wide double sliding doors.

• Ty Fforest farmhouse has 5 bedrooms each with a private wet room, all situated on the first floor. These are accessed via the original wide staircase which has a handrail. There are no lift facilities. The ground floor of the house has level access throughout. Access to the main living space and dining area is through large double doors. There is a cloakroom with WC in the entrance hall. None of the farmhouse facilities are specially adapted.

• The crog lofts have private wc and shower facilities at ground floor level. The crog lofts are sited in an old converted farm building. Access to the bathroom may be restrictive for wheelchair users because of the layout of the ground floor space.

Sleeping arrangements

• The following accommodation features standard height twin / king size beds at ground level (raised wooden deck):

• Hill shacs
• Garden shacs

• Ty Fforest bedroom Coed features a standard height double bed (on the 1st floor accessed by a wide staircase)

• The following accommodation features full size standard height cabin (bunk) beds:

• Crog lofts (at ground level)
• Ty Fforest bedroom Cwtch (on the 1st floor)

• The following accommodation features low-level king size futon beds:

• Crog lofts (on a mezzanine accessed by narrow wooden stairs with a handrail)
• Ty Fforest bedrooms Cariad, Cae and Calon (all on the 1st floor)
• All domes (onsen, bathhouse and treetop)
• Bell tents
• Katacabins

• Crog loft 4, in addition to a 1st floor king size futon, has a standard height double bed at ground level. This bed is set in an alcove with walls on 3 sides and is only accessible from the foot of the bed.

360° tours of all accommodation are available on our website https://www.coldatnight.co.uk/

Communications

• Mobile phone network coverage is limited in and around the camp. Some networks may offer no or intermittent signals, while others offer a full signal. Please check with your network provider for up-to-date information on network coverage. There is access to guest wifi and a strong 4G signal. Our postcode is SA43 2TB.

• There is a landline phone at the lodge. This is not for public use and is only accessible for emergencies during lodge opening hours (these vary depending on season and the nature of your stay).

Additional information

• Well-behaved dogs, including assistance dogs, are very welcome and are permitted to stay in fforest accommodation.

• Breakfasts, when included, are normally served at the lodge barn. A breakfast hamper may in special circumstances be delivered to your accommodation by prior arrangement with the lodge.

• Our kitchen caters for allergies and special dietary requirements. Advance notice is required for weddings and events. We will liaise with your hosts to request that this information is captured.

• fforest and the surrounding area is a wonderful source of sensory stimulation: sound (birdsong, bellowing deer, fast-flowing water, rustling leaves), smell (woodfire, wet leaves, bluebells), touch (wood bark, plants and flowers).

If you have any concerns, please contact fforest to ensure that we satisfy your precise needs prior to booking