Level access from the driveway leads to a large entrance hall offering both stairs and a lift to the first floor and access to the family room, the kitchen/dining/living room and the cloakroom/utility room.  

The spacious open plan kitchen/dining/living room includes everything you could need for a comfortable, home-from-home, holiday and the floor-to-ceiling sliding patio doors that span the entire room, offer an unrivalled view across the decking and garden to the private pontoon and lake beyond.

The dining table seats up to 10 and the well fitted kitchen has seating at the breakfast bar for up to three guests.  The living area includes an electric log burner for cosy nights in, a smart TV with anti reflective screen, and has ample seating with a large L-shape sofa and two easy chairs (not shown in photographs).  

An separate 'snug' room, includes a sofa and footstool, together with another large screen anti-reflective TV.  

Upstairs there are five bedrooms all ensuite and all with access to an outdoor balcony. The master bedroom has a superking size bed, large fitted wardrobes, an ensuite shower room and a private outdoor terrace where guests can sit and enjoy the breathtaking views.   The second bedroom has a king size bed, fitted wardrobes, an ensuite shower room and a balcony offering views to the front while the third bedroom has a zip & link super king size bed that can be two singles if required. This  bedroom has a private balcony to the rear and a bathroom with shower over.  The layout of the third bedroom means the ensuite bathroom can be used as a family bathroom or as an ensuite for the bedroom depending on guests' own requirements.  Two further bedrooms are designed as accessible bedrooms each with adjustable beds, hoist systems and accessible ensuite wet rooms.  One bedroom has a double bed and a single bed, while the other has a small double and a single bed. Both of these rooms have access to the balcony.

Outside there is a large deck spanning the length of the house, with an outdoor dining table that seats 10.  Two large sofas and four chairs and coffee tables allow for plenty of relaxed seating and a large Weber gas BBQ is available for guests' use.  The garden is fully fenced in and there is a jetty providing direct lake access.

Check in is from 4pm. Check out is at 10am.

The property is self-catered. The house is fully equipped with cutlery and crockery. A complimentary welcome pack that includes locally produced jam, teabags, hot chocolate sachets, coffee, sugar, biscuits and a pint of milk will be provided for your arrival as will a starter kitchen pack including a bin liner, dishwasher tablets, a teatowel, sponge and washing up liquid.  One toilet roll per bathroom is also provided to ensure you are equipped on your first day.

Bed linen, hand and bath towels are also provided. If you suffer from allergies please contact the office for further information.

Kitchen appliances include: Siemens combi oven and warming drawer, Siemens full oven, Siemens extra large fridge/freezer, Semens under counter freezer, Nespresso compatible coffee machine and milk frother, 4 slice toaster, Siemens dishwasher and an induction hob with downdraft extraction. The property has a water softener system and there is an additional full height Bosch fridge/freezer in the utility room.

Please note there are no stairgates fitted at this property.  

There is a gas barbeque at this property.  

Sorry but no pets are permitted in this property.

An EV charging point is located at the property and included in the property rental.

Two travel cots and two highchairs are available for £10 per set (one cot and one highchair), subject to availability. Please advise at the time of booking. Guest to provide their own linen and mattress for a travel cot.  The travel cot mattresses each measure 90cm x 62cm.

Please note all our properties are non-smoking. Smoking is not permitted on the deck or balconies at this property.

This property is subject to a £500 refundable damage deposit.

Accessibility statement prepared by the owner of:

The Lake House, 37 Shepperd’s View, Silverlake, Dorset

Accessibility Information

Overview

Our house has been designed to cater for two of our children who are wheelchair users with Muscular Dystrophy, rather than to comply with Part M Building Regulations throughout. This accessibility statement describes the house from a physical access perspective so that you can decide whether it will work for you. Please let us know if any of the QR code links are not working at kathryn.newnham@gmail.com

We have made no specific provision for visual and auditory impairments. Unfortunately we are unable to accept service dogs or any other animal due to severe allergies in our family.

Downstairs

Level parking on a resin bonded gravel free driveway area with step free access to the front door.

External Key  Safe : Beside front door at height 1450mm. Please request assistance during booking if this is too high to access.

Front door: There is a slight bump over the threshold (15mm). Clear opening of 1010mm. Touch sensor in hallway to electronically unlock the door from the inside but it still needs to be pulled open.

Downstairs floor: level throughout with level hard tiled floor.

Doorway widths (clear opening in mm):

Utility room 790

Downstairs WC 790

Kitchen / Dining / Living 980

Lounge 915

Kitchen:

No adaptations to cooking and sink / worktop area although we have kept all main use crockery, cutlery etc at a reachable height.  Wheelchair accessible breakfast bar (height to underside 885mm, depth 600mm, total width 2400mm). The dining table height to underside is 670mm and elephant feet can be requested if not already in place which raise the underside to 720mm. The sofa area is rug free with open space for wheelchair users. The TV is on a moveable bracket to it can be angled towards guests as appropriate.

The sliding doors to the decking are relatively heavy so some guests might need support to open and close them. There is a level threshold across the opening of all sliding doors in the house

The decking is reinforced and should be suitable for users of large powerchair up to 275kg (including user). For any guest with a higher combined chair / user weight please contact us with details in advance of your stay to discuss whether you would be able to use the decking safely.

The Lounge has no rugs and one sofa can be moved to allow more space in the room for wheelchair guests. The TV can be angled as appropriate.

There are no adaptations to the downstairs WC or utility room.

Lift:

From the ground floor there is an Aritco HomeLift Access platform lift to access the first floor. The one touch call button is on the lift itself and also in the frame of the kitchen door at height 860mm. The lift has a weight limit of 410Kg ad is a push and hold lift button. The doors open automatically (they should not be pushed or pulled manually). The lift doors have a clear opening of 900mm and the dimensions of the platform are 1100mm wide x 1480mm long.

UPSTAIRS

The lift door opens on to a wood floor landing and hallway. Please attempt to remove any stones in the tread of wheelchair tyres as they will damage the floor.

Bedroom 3 – Adapted bedroom with en-suite wetroom

Hinged bedroom door (clear width 870mm)

Bedroom light (switch)/ bathroom light (no touch sensor) at height 865mm

Touch operated bedside lights

Hard wooden floor and level threshold in to bathroom

Electric profiling hospital Bakare Impulse Quad bed (Small double width 120cm) with 2 flip down side rails on each side that cover the length of the bed. Please request in advance if the rails / covers are needed. Profiling beds represent an entrapment and crushing risk for small children so please supervise them appropriately.

The mattress is a Bodyshape Ortho Memory Foam Mattress described by the vendor as “Firmer and more supportive”. (NB if you are reliant on this particular mattress being in place please check that it hasn’t been changed.

There is an additional single bed (mattress 190cm x 90 cm) which can be stored vertically in the room for additional floor space or can be used by a carer / second guest. When this bed is in use, access to the balcony door is restricted. Otherwise the level threshold balcony can be accessed by guests with combined wheelchair weight up to 275kg. Please note though that it is quite a narrow balcony  (740mm) and guests should not exit if there is insufficient space for their chair.

There is an Invacare Robin ceiling track hoist on an H track covering most of the room and a transfer rail through into a bathroom H track. This is specialist equipment and we accept no responsibility for anyone using the hoist.  Please bring your own sling and ensure the hoist remains on charge when not in use. The Invacare Robin is twin tape hoist rather than a spreader bar. If you are not used to this, please take care to keep control of the tapes to avoid collision damage to the user or bathroom tiles and windows.

The hoist has an internal battery but should be put on charge at the end of every day.                                                                     

The User manual for the lift is located in the file of instructions for the house.

To use the transfer rail from bedroom to bathroom:

• Line up the moveable hoist rail with the transfer rail with the hoist at least 2 feet away from the join
• Feel the magnet engage to join the 2 tracks together when they are lined up
• Slowly approach the transfer rail and a light will go green on the transfer rail (you will be able to see this in the bathroom mirror)
• As you continue the 2 silver levers should rotate on the transfer rail to lock the hoist onto the transfer rail.
• Proceed onto the bathroom track and slowly keep moving away from the transfer rail until you hear the 2 silver levers rotate to lock the hoist on to the bathroom rail.
• Push the rail away from the magnet lining it up with the transfer rail and use the hoist within the bathroom as you wish.
• To return repeat the steps.
• If the levers do not turn move back away from the join until the lights come on and try again. Make sure the magnet is engaged

En-suite 3

In the en-suite the toilet is a standard height of 560mm with drop down rails of 660mm width that are height adjustable between 560 and 800mm. To lower the toilet rails vertically squeeze the button on the outside of the rail , lift slightly and then lower. To lift them simply slide them up.

The flooring is Polysafe wetroom suitable anti-slip vinyl .

Shower has lowered controls and a grab rail.

There is a shower stool in the bathroom. A shower chair may be available on request (please check).

The Armitage Shanks Contour 21 Accessible basin has a leg clearance height of 740mm at the front reducing to 690mm at the drainage pipe which is 370mm inset from the front.

The basin tap works on a motion sensor tap with a manually adjustable temperature lever on the side.

Bedroom 4 -Adapted bedroom with en-suite wetroom

Sliding bedroom door (width 960mm) – note this is quite a heavy door and some guests might need assistance. On the inside the handle is in the middle of the door to allow wheelchair users to reach it -please take care not to trap fingers in this handle when opening the door as it will slide into the door pocket.

Sensor Bedroom and bathroom light switches height 860mm

Hard wooden floor and level threshold in to bathroom  with anti slip vinyl flooring

Electric profiling hospital Centrobed Arctic Turning Bed (Large singe width 106cm). (NB this does not include automatic turning). See instructions manual in the green folder. Profiling beds represent an entrapment and crushing risk for small children so please supervise them appropriately.

The mattress is a Laybrook high pressure relief custom made FIRM foam mattress with waterproof cover and mattress protector. For guests it is usually topped with a  5cm memory foam topper which you can ask in advance to be removed.

There is an additional standard single bed.

Level threshold balcony door (see bedroom 3)

There is an Invacare Robin ceiling track hoist (see description for bedroom 3)

The en-suite is as per bedroom 3 except for the following

• Electric shower
• the toilet is a height of 450mm with drop down rails of 740mm width that are height adjustable between 570 and 795mm.
• The basin has an initial leg clearance height of 780mm  reducing to 700mm at the drainage pipe which is inset 320mm from the front edge

Wider estate

Tarmac roads to access facilities or explore the other “villages” (clusters of houses).

Stony paths to go on walks and access the other lakes – Sophie finds them bearable in an Invacare TDX SP2 power chair. Matthew finds them too uncomfortable and painful in a Sango Dietz powerchair.

The Hurricane Spa has a lift to the bar and terrace. The pizza shack has a tarmac path. The nearby Yurt has an approx. 3 inch threshold and double doors – we are requesting a threshold ramp to make this space more wheelchair accessible. Inside there are rugs on the floor – we haven’t been able to test yet how well the flooring works. There is hoist access to the outdoor pool which is maintained at 30 degrees. Its best to ask for the Spa to be advised in advance of your stay if you will need the pool hoist; so that they can check it is working and the staff on duty know how it works. There is an accessible changing room.

There are plans to develop a wheelchair accessible hard sloping jetty into one of the lakes to allow for anyone who has an adapted kayak, paddle board etc. We will update this page when that is completed.

Surrounding Area

We have so far visited:

• The Walled garden and café
• Sculptures by the lake
• The promenade at Weymouth
• The Brewery development at Dorchester

We are still in the process of exploring wheelchair accessible locations ourselves so if you come across anywhere that worked well , please note it in the visitors book and we’ll compile a summary.

Visit Dorset also accessibility information available online.

Fire evacuation

We hope this will not be applicable to you during your stay. Rental guests should be taken through a fire evaluation at the beginning of their stay.

There are smoke detectors throughout the property plus heat detectors in key rooms downstairs.  There is emergency lighting in the landing / hallway of the first floor. Under the kitchen sink is a fire extinguisher and in the kitchen drawer there is a fire blanket.

In the event of fire do not use the lift as it could stop working while you are between floors.

Under the bed in the adapted bedrooms is an evacuation sledge which can be used to take a non-ambulant person downstairs in an emergency.

The balcony keys of bedrooms 3, 4, and 5 include a second key which is to the door at the end of the balcony near the stairs. Whilst this provides an alternative exit route, there is a step up into this doorway and it is narrow -  the evacuation sledges may need to be used.

The bedroom doors are 30 minute fire rated.

Please note that it is because of the potential for some of our guests to have mobility issues that we have mandated the following to reduce any risk of fire:

• No candles
• No naked fires
• Cautious use of the gas BBQ bearing in mind that the decking is wooden
• An electric log burner rather than a real one
• Induction hob
• No gas supply to the property (Air source heat pump and solar panels instead)
• No smoking within the property or on the wooden decking

If you have any questions that are not covered by this document please ask Habitat Escapes and we’ll endeavour to get the information for you.

Thank you and enjoy your stay!

The following information will help you to find The Lake House (SV37) on your arrival at Silverlake.  Owing to current building works, these are temporary directions to avoid construction areas.

Finding your Property
After you pass through the two gates into Silverlake follow the road past Beaumont Village and look for the a right turn for Shepperd's View. 

Turn right and then follow the road (ignoring the first left turn) and take the second turn left.  Before you come to the end of the road, take a right turn over an unpaved section and immediately left onto a tarmac road.  Follow this road until you come to a left turn towards The Knoll.  The Lake House is the house facing the road entrance.  There is ample parking for up to 4 cars in front of the property.  

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