Frequently Asked Questions
... you will be contacted by your house manager the day before and will be welcomed at your property by your house manager once you have settled in. You will already have everything you need for a seamless check in experience. Check in is 4pm, however, we will do our upmost to have you in somewhere between 2 - 4pm. We will keep you updated and advise when you will be able to access your property thoughout the day. You are more than welcome to come to the Estate earlier, from midday, and have lunch at Ballihoo, or simply go for a walk and explore your new surroundings.
... your house manager remains your first point of contact and should any issues arise we pride ourselves in a timely reaction to resolve issues during your stay wherever possible using our trusted partners on the estate, or if not possible during the stay we monitor to closure for the next guest.
... check out on a Monday or Friday is strictly 10am. Standard check out on a Sunday is also 10am. However, we do have a Late Sunday Check Out option available which would allow you to stay in your property until 6pm - making the most of the last day of your break. If this interests you then please email us at Bookings@LakesideSpaHolidays.com. Detailed check out instructions will be in your property upon arrival and you will also receive a message from us the day prior to departure.
... you are able to get a food delivery direct to your property from all major supermarkets. You would of course need to be resident at your lodge to take delivery of your shopping. When ordering, please remember to list your lodge number and the village in which your lodge is located (e.g. 95 Howells Mere Lodge), and the full address including the Estate postcode (GL7 6BG). This will be within your 'Guest Portal' upon booking. N.B: If you just put the lodge name, your delivery may not be succesful. We DO NOT recommend having any other deliveries; including Amazon or Royal Mail.
... we provide 1 x bath towel for each guest that you have indicated on your booking confirmation. Alls beds in the property will be fully made and ready for your arrival. NB. that there will not be a bed linen change during your stay and that you must provide your own towels for use at the Spa and for your hot tub if you have one at your property. 2 x tea towels are also provided in your property upon arrival. There will be at minimum 1 x hand towel in each bathroom.
... yes, children of all ages are most welcome in the luxury Spa facility.
You will have rental access to the Spa and swimming pools included in your stay with us. For opening times: CLICK HERE
Please contact the Spa for all further information. Tel: 01285 862 640. Email: spa@lowermillestate.net
... please contact the Spa directly as prices and treatments do vary according to season and any promotions that may be running at any given time (01285 862 640). You can pre-book treatments a few months in advance, but we would always recommend doing so early to avoid disappointment as they are often fully booked each weekend. Please call or email the Spa to book your treatments (spa@lowermillestate.net).
To view the latest Spa Treatment Brochure: CLICK HERE
... Ballihoo market, located outside the Ballihoo restaurant entrance, stocks the essentials on a zero-waste basis, and also offers other goodies such as home-made chutneys, conserves, sauces, stocks, fine wines, local cheeses, produce grown from the Estate's very own allotments and berries & herbs, grown and foraged from the estate. A Co-Op (2 miles) in the village of South Cerney & a 24-hrs Tesco Extra in Cirencester (4 miles) - Tesco, Kings Meadow, Crickdale Road, Cirencester. GL7 1NP, are the two closest 'big' shops.
... please only park in your designated parking space, marked with your house number on a silver plaque. If there are several cars in your party, please park in visitor spaces (marked 'v') or in one of the overflow car parks. Please do not park in any other property's parking space. Please contact the Lower Mill Estate office if someone is in your space. Ensure all cars display parking permits whilst on the Estate. Download and Print your Parking Permits.
... Lower Mill Estate does offer a couple of EV charging points on the Estate. Charges may vary. Please be considerate of other users and your time parked at these chargers. Please DO NOT use EV chargers that are private and belong to individual owners/properties.
... use of the lakes on Lower Mill Estate is free of charge. All users on the water must wear a life vest at all times. You are more than welcome to bring your own water sports equipment such as canoes, kayaks, SUPS, or you can hire from the onsite provider The Activity Hub (also see our 'Activities' page). Motorised equipment/craft is not allowed. The Estate is a nature reserve first and foremost so certain lakes will be closed for periods of the year due to nesting birds - including Somerford Lagoon. Clearwater & Howells Mere Lakes are open all year round. Swillbrook is an area of Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) so is closed to guests at all times.
... fishing is allowed on certain lakes. For all up to date information and rules, please contact the Lower Mill Estate office - 01285 869 184
... a travel cot can be provided for you in your property. N.B. that due to health and safety we are unable to provide any bedding for the travel cot, or a mattress that is thicker than the 'wrap around base' the cot comes with. For your reference, the approx. size of the assembled travel cot is 60-65 cm x 95-100 cm. A highchair can also be made available to you during the booking process.
... if your property has a log burner then you can pre-order logs to be in your lodge upon arrival. Please contact us at Bookings@LakesideSpaHolidays.com for all details. Logs can be ordered at the time of booking or added and paid for directly at a later date through your unique 'guest portal'.
... day visitors to the Estate and property may be permitted with our prior consent, at our discretion, provided that the total group (including visitors) does not exceed the maximum occupancy of the Property.
... there are a number of taxi companies in and around the area. Please ‘Google’ firms close to the nearest town of Cirencester. N.B. it is best to book in advance and prices will appear as quite expensive due to the remote nature of the Estate.
... your WiFi password for the duration of your stay will be in your 'Guest Portal' upon booking. It is also in the property upon arrival. Super Fast Fibre is now installed, but please do try and see a little bit of the nature reserve too ;)
... click on the following link to get your bearings prior to arrival and to see where everything is: Lower Mill Estate Map Overview
Lakeside Spa Holidays: 01285 615 615
Lower Mill Spa: 01285 862 640
Ballihoo Clubhouse: 01285 840 181
- For Ballihoo Table Reservations: CLICK HERE
The Activity Hub: 01285 719 960
Post Code: GL7 6BG (Lower Mill Estate)
Lower Mill Estate office: 01285 869 184
... we do not provide a detailed inventory for each property.
As with any self-catering accommodation, you can expect to find the standard items in your lodge:
- kitchen crockery / cutlery / pans, etc
- television
- microwave oven
- washing machine
- dishwasher
- fridge and freezer
- iron and ironing board
- clothes horse
- vacuum cleaner
- we do not supply hairdryers, so please bring your own if this is particularly important to you
To assist on your arrival, we provide the following items to get you going:
- a loo roll in each bathroom
- washing up liquid
- 4 x dishwasher tabs
- dishcloth and / or scourer
- 2-3 black bin bags
- 2 x tea towel
- hand soap for all sinks / basins
N.B. none of our properties have air conditioning and not all have fans provided.