ARRIVING
Hart Lake Escapes is located on the very edge of York set back off the A64 road, which is accessed easily via car from all major routes. Access via public transport is extremely easy from all major mainline railway stations and connection via the Yorkshire Coastliner bus that stops right on the edge of the site. Great care must be taken when crossing the A64.
The hard stone drive taking you from the A64, sign posted ‘Sandburn Lodge’ is approximately 80m long allowing access in everything from small cars to large commercial vehicles (there is a minimum of 12ft wide between the gate posts) and is well lit via solar lights all year round.
Access is also available via bicycle with a major cycle path passing the site on the opposite side of the A64. Great care must be taken when crossing the A64.
The maximum speed on the driveway is 5mph, being mindful of guests, residents and wild animals when entering or leaving the drive in a vehicle.
Access to the carpark is well sign posted via a wooden five bar gate at the end of the drive and each hut has its own parking space highlighted with a slate name sign.
The car parking area is level and gravelled.
There is a ‘RING’ door bell on a wooden post at the edge of the path when exiting the carpark. Guests should ring this on arrival and one of the HLE team will greet them and show them to their hut, then explaining all functionality and features.
The paths are 1m wide lime stone and lead to each hut, with the furthest being situated approximated 100m from the car park, with a maximum change in height of less than 1m. Luggage trolleys are provided. Suitable footwear is recommended for safety.
There is high level lighting to and from the car park to the huts until 23:00. Torches are provided in the huts (under the sink) for all other times, if required.
Directions to site are supplied within the ‘Arrival Email’ distributed twice prior to a stay.
ACCESS TO THE SHEPHERD HUTS
Access to the Shepherd Huts is via three wooden steps with a fixed handrail. The front stable door opens outwards and is 740mm wide and there is a 75mm (approx.) raised door threshold. This doorway goes straight into the living area of the huts.
The whole living area is open-plan and on the same level with wooden flooring. It contains a king-sized transversal bed with side access, a small kitchen area with sink, open shelves, storage cupboards, fridge, two ring induction hob, kettle, toaster, slow cooker and dining/seating area with a table and two chairs. There is electric heating and a wood burner for your comfort.
To the right end of the hut there is an ensuite bathroom accessed via a 740mm door with shower cubicle, vanity unit with sink and flushing WC.
An electric boiler provides hot water and electricity is provided to various lights and sockets. Some sockets have USB chargers.
There is Wi-Fi to outdoor and indoor arears with smart TV’s in each hut. The 4G and 5G phone signal varies depending on your chosen network with Vodafone seemingly giving the best connection within the huts.
Each hut has an outdoor socialising area which includes dining table and two chairs, two Adirondack chairs/loungers, a cast iron stand for disposable BBQ’s and a wood fired hot tub. The hot tubs have thermal covers which can easily be removed and stored in the appropriate position by two adults. Access and egress to the hot tub is via two steps and great care should be taken when doing so, due to wet slippery surfaces.
THE GROUNDS
The Shepherd Huts are each located in their own secluded plot around a private lake in a one-acre woodland. Guests have exclusive access to this area but we strongly advise that if wandering off the provided paths that appropriate footwear (suitable for grass and woodland paths) be worn, as these areas can be wet and muddy at all times of the year.
The grounds are native woodland and contain many rare wild local flowers, bushes and plants. It is also home to bees, dragonflies and butterflies. Grass tracks are mown in the grounds as natural walkways, please try to walk on these to conserve the other habitat. These grass pathways can be uneven and slippery, when it has rained, or heavy dew has formed.
There are also two jetties situated on the edge of the lake affectionately known as the ‘Poop Deck’ and the ‘Quarter Deck’, the former featuring a teak bench with the latter holding a round table with seating for eight guests.
There is also an undercover 8m diameter beautiful octagonal decking area, ‘The Octave’ overlooking the lake with seating and tables for the enjoyment of the guests when socialising in larger groups is a requirement or to shelter from inclement weather.
