Our full terms and conditions can be found here.
Our deposits are 20% of the total property cost, before any additional extras are added. Additional extras will be included in the balance payment. All deposits are non-refundable.
We accept most methods of payment. Unfortunately, we cannot accept payments using AMEX.
The remaining balance is required 8 weeks before your stay. If you wish to pay your balance in advance, simply log into our secure online payment system with your booking reference number here.
With our easy flexible payment option, you can split the cost of your stay into manageable payments when it suits you.
Please note that the total cost of your stay must be paid 8 weeks before arrival.
Terms and conditions apply.
We understand things can change. Sometimes a booking may be made in haste, or an unforeseen circumstance may arise. Our terms and conditions provide comfort that we will cancel your booking and refund any monies paid less any unrecoverable commitments made to external suppliers and card surcharges (if applicable).
We would recommend to all our guests to take out separate cancellation insurance.
All cancellations are required to be in writing to Habitat Escapes. On receipt of the cancellation, Habitat Escapes will seek to re-let the Property for the period of the booking. If we succeed in re-letting the property for the whole of the period booked, we shall refund an amount equal to the money paid, less the administration fee per week or part thereof booked. Where Habitat Escapes is unable to re-let the property at all, monies paid by the guest shall be forfeited to Habitat Escapes.
We cater for a variety of group holidays, ranging from 2- to 6-bed properties, sleeping up to 12 guests. If your group requires more than 1 property, our group bookings team will be able to assist in finding you the perfect place to stay. Simply call us on 0333 241 6616 to discuss your requirements.
Our bookings team are on hand to help create the perfect special event or occasion, just send an email to stay@habitatescapes.com with the details or call us on 0333 241 6616.
Whilst many of our properties accommodate larger parties, we do not accept stag or hen party bookings on either of our estates.
Our dedicated housekeeping team will provide each property with a few cleaning and toiletries for your stay. There will be washing up liquid, a sponge, tea towel and a toilet roll per bathroom.
Your welcome pack from Habitat Escapes will contain a small amount of tea, coffee, sugar and milk. Bed linen and towels for the property are provided – these are not to be used at the swimming pools.
Please note, items such as salt and pepper and oil are not provided but may be left in the property by prior guests/homeowners.
All our properties are lovingly kitted out by individual owners so the offering for each house is unique. For any special requirements please contact the Habitat Escapes team.
We offer a range of option extras for your stay, from logs for the fire and BBQ charcoal to necessities your little ones like a travel cot and highchair.
These can be added at the point of booking, alternatively please email stay@habitatescapes.com and we will be happy to add these to your booking for you.
7 days before your arrival, we will email you with the security code for the main entrance gate as well as instructions for the key, which is held at the property in a key safe.
Check-in from 4pm
Check-out 9am
We want all our guests to enjoy celebrations with us; however, due to the nature of our Estate locations, fireworks, BBQs and Chinese lanterns are strictly prohibited from both Silverlake and Lower Mill Estate.
Please note that while fireworks are prohibited at our Estates, we cannot be held responsible for firework activities in and around the surrounding area. Please bear this in mind when booking your stay during anticipated periods of firework usage such as Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve, especially when bringing pets.
If you encounter any problems during your stay, please let us know immediately so that we can address the problem and ensure you have everything you need for a relaxing stay.
We offer a discount of 5% on stays for our NHS Heroes. Simply book your stay online and email stay@habitatescapes.com from your NHS email within 48 hours of booking and we will apply the discount for you.
NHS discount cannot be combined with any other promotional discounts/offers.
You can buy a gift card to the value of your choice by emailing stay@habitatescapes.com or calling 0333 241 6616. Gift cards can be purchased for either Lower Mill Estate or Silverlake Estate and are valid for 12 months*.
*Please note, vouchers are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. Vouchers can only be used against properties managed by Habitat Escapes and cannot be used as payment for any of the Estates facilities, spa treatments, shop or restaurant items.
Spa treatment vouchers are also available to purchase for Lower Mill Estate Spa by emailing spa@lowermillestate.net or calling 01285 862640.
Lower Mill Estate Spa
Monday - Sunday 1000-1700
Ballihoo Restaurant
Mondays - Saturday 0830 - 2200
Sunday 0830 - 1700
The Pizza Shack
Saturdays only 1600-2100
Activity Hub
Monday - Sunday 1000 - 1600
Opening hours are subject to change throughout the year in line with our peak and low seasons.
Hurricane Spa
Sunday to Thursday 1000-1700
Friday and Saturday 1000-1800
Hurricane Terrace Bar
Monday to Thursday CLOSED
Friday 1600-1900
Saturday 1200-1900
Sunday CLOSED
Activity Hub
Monday to Sunday 1000-1600
Opening hours are subject to change throughout the year in line with our peak and low seasons.
Lower Mill offers an award-winning on-site resident’s spa featuring Europe’s first outdoor eco-pool as well as two 20m heated pools – one indoor and one outdoor, steam room, sauna, gym, a restful reading lounge and treatment room.
Ballihoo restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is also the Ballihoo Marketplace, providing a selection of essential groceries and sustainable, local items.
If you’re looking for adventure, our Activity Hub has a range of activities on offer.
Lower Mill Estate is ideally situated in the heart of the Cotswolds with plenty for you to see and do. For information on the local area surrounding Lower Mill Estate click here.
All Habitat Escapes properties have access to the spa facilities. Our Swimming pools do not need to be pre-booked, but it is advisable to check with our spa staff to see how busy the pools are on arrival.
To book spa treatments please click here or contact the spa on +44 (0) 1285 862 640.
Opening hours are subject to change throughout the year in line with our peak and low seasons.
Due to safety restrictions about water temperature, water sports equipment is not available for use between November and April.
When going on the water in your own craft, it is a safety requirement that all water users wear a certified and correctly fitted buoyancy aid. You will also need to have proof of appropriate third-party liability insurance, to a limit of £1 million.
For more information, please click here.
Whilst the lakes are open you are welcome to swim in them. As we do not have any lifeguards on duty, these will be at your own risk and you will be required to wear a buoyancy aid whilst you swim.
For more details on free swimming in the lakes, please visit the team at the Activity Hub or give them a call on +44 (0)1285 719960.
Our locations are ideal for you and your furry friend! Both our estates have a great range of dog-friendly accommodation. For more ideas on dog-friendly activities and things to do nearby, visit here.
To maintain a safe and natural environment, there is one (unless told otherwise) allocated parking space per property. If there are several cars in your party, please park in visitor spaces (marked V) or overflow car parks throughout the site. Please ensure all cars display parking permits whilst on site. We do also offer communal electric charging points which are located around the estate.
Our onsite restaurant Ballihoo is all on one level and offers indoor and alfresco dining as a well-disabled toilet. The Spa have mobility aids so all guests can enjoy the facilities; please get in touch with the Spa Team for further information.
Given the nature of the estate, the footpaths can often be uneven and undulating, however, most paths around the estate have a smoother surface. If you have any specific requirements, please contact us as we will be happy to help.
There is a Co-Op less than a 10-minute drive from Lower Mill Estate. There is a Waitrose and a Tesco extra 12 minutes miles from our site. Lots of local supermarkets also deliver to the estate.
Please note that smoking is not permitted anywhere on-site.
Bus routes and train information is subject to change so we recommend taking a look at the service provider’s website to confirm your final travel arrangements.
The nearest station to Lower Mill Estate is Kemble, it is a 10-minute drive from the estate.
New for 2024, all Habitat Escapes bookings at Silverlake Dorset now include bike and water sports equipment hire. Other session-based activities are chargeable and require booking in advance.
Simply visit the Activity Hub between 1000-1200 daily to collect equipment and enjoy for up to 4 hours. Each guest is allowed one piece of equipment at any one time and is subject to availability.
For more information or to speak to a member of the team, please email stay@habitatescapes.com.
Our swimming pool no longer needs to be pre-booked, but it is advisable to check with our spa staff to see how busy the pools are on arrival.
To book treatments for the spa, please email hurricane@silverlakedorset.com or call +44 (0)1305 819 909.
Opening hours are subject to changes throughout the year in line with our peak and low seasons.
Our locations are ideal for you and your furry friend! Both our estates have a great range of dog-friendly accommodation. For more ideas on dog-friendly activities and things to do nearby, visit here.
At Silverlake, the on-site resident’s spa – Hurricane Spa features an outdoor 20m heated pool, roof terrace, sauna and gym, along with relaxation lounge and treatment rooms, where you can pamper and indulge yourself to your heart’s content.
Our Hurricane Terrace has far-reaching views across the estate and serves a selection of drinks, light bites, and cocktails. There is also an outdoor pizza shack, serving hand-made pizzas on Saturday evenings.
If you’re looking for adventure, our Activity Hub has a range of activities on offer.
Silverlake, Dorset is ideally situated near the Jurassic coastline offering plenty for you to see and do. For information on the local area surrounding Silverlake click here.
Our onsite restaurant Hurricane Terrace is on the first floor, but there is a lift from the Spa for access. Offering both indoor and alfresco dining, it benefits from stunning views across the estate. The Hurricane Spa has mobility aids so all guests can enjoy the facilities; please contact the Spa Team for further information.
Given the nature of the estate, the footpaths can often be uneven and undulating, however, most paths around the estate have a smoother surface. If you have any specific requirements, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to help.
There is a Co-Op and Premier shop a few minutes’ walk from Silverlake. There is a Tesco superstore 6 miles from our site. Lots of local supermarkets also deliver to the estate.
Feel free to relax in your property and order a takeaway from a local eatery. Not all restaurants will deliver to the estates, so please check
Don't forget to order our delicious stonebaked pizzas from Hurricane Terrace
Please note that smoking is not permitted anywhere on-site.
Bus routes and train information are subject to change so we recommend taking a look at the service provider’s website to confirm your final travel arrangements.
The nearest station to Silverlake is Moreton, it is a 5-minute drive from Silverlake.
Dorchester South and West is just a 15-minute drive from Silverlake.
Due to safety restrictions about water temperature, water sports equipment is not available for use between November and April.
When going on the water in your own craft, it is a safety requirement that all water users wear a certified and correctly fitted buoyancy aid. You will also need to have proof of appropriate third-party liability insurance, to a limit of £1 million.
For more information, please click here.
Whilst the lakes are open you are welcome to swim in them. As we do not have any lifeguards on duty, these will be at your own risk and you will be required to wear a buoyancy aid whilst you swim.
For more details on free swimming in the lakes, please visit the team at the Activity Hub or give them a call on +44 (0)1285 719960.
When we are setting up your property to be listed on our website, we ask our homeowners to notify us via email of any dates they wish to use themselves. If during the year you wish to release any dates for guest bookings or if you wish to book any further available dates for your own use you can do so by emailing our owner’s services team via owner@habitatescapes.com or by telephoning us on 0333 241 6616.
Accidents happen, so we take a £500 security deposit against each guest booking. Our housekeeping team completes an in-depth departure check after each booking and notifies us of any damages that are new to the property. We can then charge the guests for any relevant damages. We have a recharge threshold where we only charge guests for damages over £25.00 + VAT. Any breakages below this are considered general wear and tear of the property.
As outlined in our guest booking terms and conditions in the event of any cancellation made by the guest, Habitat Escapes will seek to re-let the property for the period of the booking. If we successfully re-let the property for the whole of the period booked, the original guest shall be refunded less an administration fee of £40.00 plus VAT per week or part thereof booked. If we are unable to re-let the property, the guest shall forfeit all monies paid to date.
If a guest booking is made before an owner booking request is made, the original guest booking takes priority.
Habitat Escapes manages the customer service for all your guest bookings making sure to keep them hassle-free for you. As the owner, your contact will solely be with Habitat Escapes. Any feedback we receive, positive or negative, we will discuss directly with you.
When a booking is made you are sent an automated booking confirmation email with the booking reference, arrival and departure date. Each month we also send you a forward booking report alongside your monthly owner statement.
The amount varies based on a few factors, most notably the style and size of the property, the quality of the furnishings, the time of year etc. If you would like to find out more about how much your property may achieve on the rental market, please contact us at owner@habitatescapes.com where one of our owner specialists will be happy to discuss this with you.
Your facilitation fee also depends on the style and size of your property. Please contact our owner’s team and we can visit your property to discuss this with you.
Gas Safety Certificate, Fire Risk Assessment
PAT Testing of electrical items over 12 months only
EICR (Electrical Installation Certificate Report)
Electrical Safety Certificate
Annual Boiler Service
Air Source Heat Pump (if applicable)
Chimney Sweep (if applicable)
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
Landlord Holiday Rental Insurance
