Blog

Our New Website

Dear Trimstone Manor Friend

Phew! We have enjoyed one of the busiest booking days for the cottages since we arrived here!  There is very little self-catering left for the summer now and it is the case wherever you search.  However, we still receive random enquiries for groups of thirty or forty for the height of the summer… and occasionally a budget which won’t even stretch to camping but hey ho… please think about your big party a year in advance!

We have enjoyed our first holiday guests and lovely to see them and some great comments too, thank you.  We have also provided our first cream tea of the season as well – yippee!  It is weird with the social distancing and great care however but there we are – we can’t change that can we!  So a few things to share with you!

First, if you are vulnerable or worried about a short stay anywhere, in the Hotel we are likely to always have rooms which have been vacant for the necessary period of days before someone stays.  So if you contact us for a last minute booking, we can tell you if we have a room available and we can confirm that it has not been occupied for the necessary isolation time.  This means you would have your key, in your door and no interaction with anyone else whilst you have your break – how’s that?  We can check-you-in remotely and process all that is necessary according to a careful protocol too.

Second, if you are still looking for self-catering accommodation, still ask us even if online it appears nothing is available.  You never know what we may be able to do as a bespoke solution for you and your family!  Please don’t delay either as you will be disappointed if you do.

Third, our refurbished Parkland Caravan is now available so whilst it is not a cottage, not starred and we are not trying to promote it as such, it is a low cost option which could suit some ideally.  It has all mod-cons and mains toilet and shower and gas cooking, etc as well and a lovely vista over our amenity field.

There have to be rules ☹.  At the moment our facilities are still not available.  This includes the Pool, Sauna, Games Room and the Gym.  They will not be available in a week either.  We have some procedures and a health declaration for guests to sign before arrival too.  You can enjoy the outside of course, including chatting to the poultry, peafowl and emus!  The gardens and grounds are here as well and the ‘play’ Tennis Court and children’s trampoline.  There is walking and cycling from the door as well of course!  It is a bonus that we are never ‘crowded’ compared to larger holiday park and hotels where that is impossible to avoid.

We don’t know when our facilities will be open.  We want them to be available as soon as possible but have to be realistic with guests before booking.  We are now providing breakfasts and cream teas but cannot offer any lunch time snacks or evening meals.

As I have shared before, if you book anywhere it is on the understanding that if the facilities are not available then that does not vary your contract and you must plan your holiday based upon whatever else you will enjoy here.  So, if, as we all hope, facilities will be fully open for you as ‘normal’ then that is a great bonus!  If anyone offers their facilities ‘today’ then they are fibbing or misleading you…  of course, if for all the wrong reasons a total lockdown arises again and no-one can go on holiday then that is a different matter but none of us even wants that.

We look forward to having a really lovely summer, welcoming our many returning and new guests.  We want you to have a great time and a great and well-deserved holiday too!

OUR NEW WEBSITE

Have a look and see – what do you think!  It is developing constantly but there are any more pictures for you to enjoy as well!  www.trimstone.co.uk.  Well done to Aidan for designing thus – they become more complicated all the time and more information which can be shared.  Direct booking with us is encouraged, especially as we can often offer better terms than available online through agencies which charge their commissions too.

THE FASTEST WIFI

We have the fastest holiday accommodation wifi in the whole area!   We are fully fibre-optic for better business effectiveness.   This is a super, unique fibre optic link direct to the local Exchange with Ubiquity ‘Enterprise Grade’ equipment.

We were slower than most of the Country but now faster speeds than 99% of everyone else!  We have always believed in free wifi – whether residents or the cream tea or coffee visitor. Holidaymakers need reliable and speedy internet.  When I am away, I need to work and others do too.  For entertainment – or for their children, it is important and we make no access restrictions on broadband width for guests either!

This is not only for tourists but for business guests too.  The wifi and mobile signals nearby are pretty poor (check before you book!) and not reliable so the frustration for some trying to work won’t be found here.  We shall also be open for conference facilities too when we can, so imagine streaming presentations – no interruptions or slow speeds – plus reliability and your delegates having great, free wifi.   The facility will encourage more guests (even out of season for those escaping for work projects to enjoy the surroundings too) but more morning coffees and afternoon teas as these guests have direct free access too.

So come, stay and see.  Average Broadband download speeds in the UK are 46.2mbps and upload speeds of 6.2mbps. Trimstone’s speed is 300Mbps download and 30mbps upload.  Our internet means you can download an Ultra HD film (70gb) in 31 minutes compared to 3.24 hours on the average speed.

Philip & Helen Milton