Access Statement

Owl Cottage is the only holiday cottage we operate and has exclusive use of the garden and grounds in which it is set. It is a traditional oak framed Sussex barn-style building with vaulted ceilings and level access throughout.

The Cottage sleeps six people in three bedrooms.

Information from the brochure / website can be provided in large print.

To book, please contact us by phone on 07551 555779 or by email on owlcottagerentals@gmail.com

Emergency numbers:

07551 555779 (Don)

07849 604004 (Carolyn)

Owl Cottage Accessible Holidays
3 Delbury Cottages
East Grinstead Road
North Chailey
Lewes
East Sussex
BN8 4DD
07551 555779

www.owlcottagerental.co.uk

Arrival and Car Parking Facilities

• Check in is after 3pm on arrival day and check out is by 10am on departure day unless otherwise agreed in advance.
• On arrival you will be greeted by Don and / or Carolyn and given a tour of the cottage to familiarise yourselves with the facilities (subject to Social Distancing requirements).
• Access to the car park is from the drive shared with 1-3 Delbury Cottages - please drive slowly and bear slightly right at the top of the shared tarmac drive and then to the left through the wrought iron gate – you will see Owl Cottage ahead of you. The parking area can easily accommodate 3 cars and is a grid system with gravel infill, to provide a stable, wheelchair-friendly surface.
• The entrance to the Cottage is via a sandstone paved terrace, with a shallow ramp from the parking area to the terrace. There are PIR lights to illuminate the drive and path.
• The holiday let is single storey with level access throughout and has been constructed to the M4(2) standard.
• All light switches throughout are at a height of between 900 and 1200mm. Power sockets are at 400 – 550mm above floor level, apart from in the kitchen area.
• All internal doors have a minimum clear opening width of 820mm.
• Animals are not allowed in the Cottage, apart from Registered Assistance dogs – please advise when booking, so we can confirm this.

Main Entrance and Hall

The Oak front door (890mm wide) leads into a spacious entrance hall, tiled with large, non-slip tiles. There is a coat and umbrella stand and further coat hooks. The living room, bedrooms and main shower room lead off the hall.

The minimum width of the corridor to the master bedroom is 1.2m.

Living Room

The Living Room is 7.2m x 5.6m and is open plan with a kitchen / dining area. There is a wood burning stove on a low plinth. Bifold doors open onto the terrace. There is a three-seater sofa and a two-seater sofa, together with an armchair. The living room area also has a nest of tables, large central rug and TV cabinet. The large flatscreen Smart TV has integrated Freeview. The floor rugs can be removed if required. There are two central chandeliers and table / standard lamps to provide variable lighting.

The Living Room has various board games and local tourist information. There is information on wildlife, local history and walks, and local ordnance survey maps, as well as a range of fiction and non-fiction books.

The fully-equipped kitchen has a washer/drier, dishwasher, accessible electric oven and hob, and a microwave. The hob is ceramic, not induction (due to the concerns about the safety of induction hobs for those with pacemakers). The units are dark grey with a lighter granite work surface, which is 870mm high. The electric hob and associated workspace has clear space underneath which is 610mm deep and 1360mm wide. All plates, cutlery and utensils are at an accessible height. The single electric oven is set at a height of 700mm (base) and 1180 (handle); the oven door is fully retractable. The fridge and freezer are integrated with two fridge shelves and a drawer between 1100mm and 1300mm. There is at least 1100mm clear space in front of all kitchen units. A fire blanket and extinguisher are located on the wall near the sink.

Bin bags, washing powder, dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, tea towels, dish cloths, tin foil, cling film, etc. are provided.

There is an oak extendable table and chairs that seats 6. The table is 760mm high with a clear underspace height of 720mm. If you would like the table extended, please ask.

Bedrooms

All bedrooms have USB charging points.

The floors are tiled, with rugs that can be removed if preferred.

Master Bedroom:

Located at the end of a short corridor (minimum width 1.2m) this is a large double room (4m x 3.4m) with en suite. The room is double aspect and has a Kingsize bed, bedside tables with lamps either side of the bed, wardrobe with 1 drawer, chest of drawers and dressing table with mirror. There is a 24 inch Smart LED TV. The en suite (2.3m x 1.9m) has non-slip flooring and a bath with shower over, heated towel rail and mirror. There is a slight difference in the floor level (15mm) which is accommodated in the threshold strip.

Second Bedroom:

The accessible bedroom (4.3m x 3.5m) has a pair of electric adjustable 3ft single beds (maximum weight 22st evenly distributed), one of which is a carer's bed. Both beds have medium pressure relief mattresses. There is a dressing table with a clear underspace height of 0.65m and a single wardrobe with a lowered rail. There is a 24 inch Smart LED TV. A portable hoist can be hired by prior arrangement with a national hire company, to suit individual requirements.

Leading from the bedroom is an en suite accessible wetroom (2m x 1.7m), which is tiled with non-slip mosaic tiles. The shower head is adjustable. There is a small 500mm basin with lever tap and clear under space. Above the basin is a heated mirror with a shaving light and there is a horizontal grab rail on the righthand side. The toilet has left side transfer and the toilet seat is 450mm high. There is a grab rail on the right of the toilet and a vertical rail to the left of the shower. There is an adjustable shower chair with arms and, if preferred, a perching chair is also available on request.

Third Bedroom:

The third bedroom (4m x 3.1m) is located to the right as you enter Owl Cottage. The room has a Kingsize four poster bed, bedside tables with lamps either side of the bed, a wardrobe with two drawers and a dressing table with a small mirror.

Bathroom

The separate bathroom (1.98m x 2m) is located just across the hall from the third bedroom and consists a low threshold shower, WC and basin. The flooring is non-slip. There are no grab rails in the bathroom. There is a slight difference in the floor level (10mm) which is accommodated in the threshold strip.

Outside

There is a paved terrace with views through trees to a private fishing lake. There is no access to the lake, but fishing permits are available by prior arrangement; the lake is stocked with Common and Mirror Carp, Skimmers, Bonus Bream and Roach. The terrace is divided into upper and lower areas, with a gentle slope between the two on one side of the raised beds, and a step on the other side. The raised beds include herbs and salad plants, which you are welcome to pick. There is a barbecue area, a small orchard and lawn. There are benches, a table and chairs. 

Additional Information

• WiFi is available
• Mobile phone reception is good.
• Registered Assistance dogs are welcome by prior arrangement, but we are unable to accept pets.
• We are happy to take delivery of any hired equipment or your groceries, by arrangement - please let us know the expected time of delivery. Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsburys deliver to the Cottage.
• The cottage is, of course, no smoking (including vaping), but smoking is allowed in the grounds - please make sure all cigarettes are extinguished and dispose of butts in the metal container provided.
• Terms and conditions can be viewed on the website and are available in large print.
• The kitchen bin has two compartments: for general rubbish (yellow) and recycling (green).  There is a separate food waste bin.
• Please note we do not have a medical waste disposal facility. We are not on mains drainage, so only the "3 P's" (pee, poo and paper) should be flushed!
• A floor plan is available on request.

Local Doctor: Mid Downs Health Centre, Marbles Road, Newick BN8 4LR Tel: 01825 722272

Local dentist: North Chailey Dental Care, Station Road, North Chailey BN8 4HD 01825 724694

Accessible equipment hire: Various national companies, including Independent Living: Standaid & Hoist Rental | Product | Independent Living

Public Transport

Please note public transport is limited and realistically you will need access to a car. The closest train station is Plumpton which is about 10 minutes by car. Trains run into London Victoria every two hours or more often at peak travel times. Alternatively, Haywards Heath has a faster and more frequent service to Victoria (15 minutes’ drive). The journey takes approximately 50 minutes and train times can be found on nationalrail.co.uk To travel by train in style, the Bluebell Steam Railway now connects with the mainline service at East Grinstead.