We look forward to you visiting us at Hermiston Guesthouse in the scenic Lake District. When planning your stay, please become familiar with the following policies. If you have any questions regarding our Cumbria accommodation, please feel free to contact us for more information.
Arrivals are between 4.00pm and 6:30pm. Please call or email us in advance if you plan to get here before 4.00pm or after 6:30pm so that we can be there to welcome you. Departures are requested by 10:00am.
Hermiston is a smoke-free guesthouse: Cigarettes of any type (including e-cigarettes), cigars, and candles are not permitted in the guest rooms, in the public areas or on the terrace. Please respect this aspect of our home.
Takeaways and meals are not permitted in the guest rooms.
A cleaning fee of £100 is charged to guests who ignore this.
Guests over 16 are welcome to stay. However, as much as we love children, our setting is not appropriate for babies or young children and therefore we do not accept children.
We do not accept pets.
Guests Health and Safety at Hermiston COVID 19
Reception area – All guests to confirm no symptoms of COVID or contact with anyone with signs on arrival. Asked on departure to contact Hermiston immediately should they display symptoms within 14 days of leaving.
Registration cards to have full contact details and names of all room occupants and next location to enable tracing if required.
Disinfect door handles at least twice (multiple times)daily.
Hand gel in reception for guests.
Maintain social distancing and guests to be reminded that social distancing is in operation on the premises and the need for hand washing and use of hand gel on entering the building.
Signage in reception to remind of social distancing and hygiene.
Remove photos and leaflets temporarily.
One way system entering the building via the reception and exiting via rear door in guest lobby and via side of the building.
Credit/debit card payments to be taken via our online payment system either registered by guests prior to arrival or read out by them and input by staff on check out. Receipts to be emailed to guests
If staff help guests with luggage, they will maintain social distancing and either take it to the room before the guest arrives there or knock on the door, step back and leave it in the doorway. After handling luggage, staff will wash their hands or use a hand sanitiser.
Room keys will be left on the outside of the room doors for ready for arrivals and for collection and disinfecting by staff on departure.
Dinning room – Disinfect door handles at least twice daily (multiple times).
Tables positioned to enable social distancing measures to be observed.
Breakfasts staggered to allow no more than three tables at one time to enable social distancing.
Buffet removed and all guests served cereals, juices etc individually to their tables. Disposable gloves worn at all times by server.
All tables and chairs disinfected immediately after each use with separate disposable cloths.
Hand Gel provided for all guests to be used on entry to the dining room.
Entrance to & guest lounge – Disinfect door handles at least twice a day (multiple times).
Disinfect sofas, tables twice daily.
Maintain social distancing and discourage guests congregating in the lounge - restrict to one room at a time.
Signage to remind of the need to maintain social distancing and hygiene.
Guest stairs – Disinfect handrails at least twice daily (multiple times). Place mirror on mid-landing to allow guests to see anyone coming up the stairs, avoiding potential pinch point ( staggered breakfasts will assist with this).
Signage to remind of the need to maintain social distancing and hygiene.
Ist floor terrace – Disinfect door handles at least twice daily (multiple times).
Signage to remind of the need to maintain social distancing and hygiene.
Wipe tables and chairs with sanitiser after each use.
Maintain social distancing and discourage guests congregating in the lounge or terrace - restrict to one room at a time.
Guest bedrooms – Disinfectant wipes for each room to allow guests to wipe down any handles or surfaces or items brought in from outside.
Signage to remind of the need to maintain social distancing and hygiene.
Cleaning to take place only when guests have vacated the room.
All hand contact surfaces will be disinfected daily. Staff will use the following check list of all the touch points
- Light switches
- Bedside tables
- TV Remote control
- Hair dryer handles
- Wardrobe and bedside cabinet door handles
- Kettle handle and lid
- Room door and window handles – inside and out on leaving the room.
Replace all cups, glasses etc daily to be placed in the dishwasher as kitchen directive.
Biscuits, tea coffee sugar and milk supplied in sealed packets.
All the above to be undertaken after each check out AND deep cleaning including opening the room for airing, washing of fleeces and cushion covers between each arrival and spray disinfectant on carpets and curtains.
Bathrooms – All surfaces deep cleaned and disinfected daily. Shower mats removed and provided only on request. All hand contact surfaces to be disinfected daily to include:
- Taps
- Toilet seats and handles.
- Replace glasses to be placed in dishwasher as kitchen directive.
Working in the kitchen
Although it is very unlikely that coronavirus is transmitted through food, as a matter of good hygiene practice anyone handling food will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This will be done as a matter of routine, before and after handling food, and especially after being in a public place, blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Use detergent and then on cleaned surfaces, 1000ppm chlorine bleach solution for disinfecting which kills the virus before and after service.
Dishes to be washed in hot soapy water then into the dishwasher for rinsing at a temperature above 60 °C.
Gloves and mask to be worn while prepping, cooking and serving food.
All food to be cooked to order for individual tables to avoid any potential cross contamination.
Any food handler showing COVID symptoms will not be at work. The guesthouse will close until both owners have self isolated as per government guidelines.
Suspected coronavirus cases
Suspected COVID cases and guest self-isolation
Guests showing signs of C-19 whilst staying at Hermiston are required to get a test. The result of this test must be shown to the owner. If positive then the guest must immediately leave if this is reasonably possible. If for any reason that it is not, and self-isolation is required to take place at Hermiston, then all fees for all bookings affected by this self-isolation will be borne by the guest.
If the guest shows acute symptoms has breathing difficulties or their life is at potential risk, medical help will be sought immediately. Where a guest is unable to check out, then the following guidelines will be followed:
- The guest must remain in their room and not visit any public spaces including the reception, lounge or dining room .
- Arrangements will be made for meals / food to be provided to the room via room service.
- Food will be served with disposable plates and cutlery, nothing is to be returned to the kitchen but place in a double black sack for disposal- kept in the room until departure.
- Guests must request service or assistance remotely via text or telephone.
- No cleaning or housekeeping services will be provided during the stay. Extra provision will be supplied outside of the room door to minimise contact for tea/ coffee and shampoo/ toilet roll etc. All supplies to be disposed of in black sack on departure.
- Outside visitors will be restricted to medical personnel only.
- If the fire alarm sounds, normal evacuation procedures should be followed, and the guest will be advised to leave and and proceed to the fire assembly point, supported and isolated from other guests.
- Disposable gloves will be used whenever there is contact with an item the guest handled. Ensure those responsible for the removal of the guest’s waste, at a minimum, wear disposable gloves.
- Remote checkout will avoid the need for checkout via the reception.
Cleaning after a suspected contamination
Follow government guidelines.
Leave the room secure and unoccupied for 72 hours to significantly reduce the risk of the virus surviving on surfaces. Do not allow anyone to go in - lock the door.
Wear appropriate protection such as disposable gloves and masks. Deep clean with soapy water and then a1000ppm bleach solution and remove all items into a black sack for laundry. Steam clean mattress, curtains and carpet.
Clean all touch points such as grab-rails and door handles. Dispose of any cloths, disposable PPE and mop heads by double bagging and keeping secure for 72 hours before disposing in the general rubbish. • After cleaning, and after removing PPE and bagging up waste, wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, and dry them with a paper towel. Dispose of paper towel appropriately.
Your reservation is made with Hermiston Guesthouse and represents a legally binding contract between us. We will require a valid credit/debit card to secure the booking, however we do not collect payment until check-out.
Group bookings of three or more rooms whether made as a single or individual reservation will require a non-refundable, non transferable deposit of 50% of the total reservation.
A two-night minimum stay is required for all weekdays, weekends, holidays and any special events, which fall in the middle of the week. Bank holiday weekends may require a three-night minimum.
Weekend rates apply to Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and holidays. Rates are subject to change.
Guests showing signs of C-19 whilst staying at Hermiston are required to order a test. The result of this test must be shown to the owner.The guest must immediately leave if this is reasonably possible. If for any reason that it is not, and self-isolation is required to take place at Hermiston, then all fees for all bookings affected by this self-isolation will be borne by the guest.
Payment must be made prior to departure for all outstanding balances. We accept Mastercard, Visa, debit/ credit cards and cash as forms of payment.
We are a small guesthouse and are adversely affected by last minute cancellations. For this reason our cancellation policy is strictly enforced.
A minimum of 14 days notice of cancellation or amendment of any reservation is required to avoid a cancellation charge as detailed in your confirmation. Cancellation within 14 days of the booking or non-arrival will be charged equivalent to 50% of your reservation total value with a minimum of one nights stay. We will however make every endeavour to re-let the room. If the room can be re-let to the full value of the cancelled booking there will be no charge.
In order to avoid this undesirable situation we would strongly advise you to arrange holiday insurance cover.
We regret that in the event of a delayed arrival or early departure there can be no credit for room nights or meals not taken during your stay. We reserve the right to cancel a booking with a full refund after confirmation has been received. We also reserve the right to terminate your stay without being liable for any refund or compensation when discomfort or distress is caused to other guests or the terms of our general policies are broken. Whilst we endeavour to supply your first choice of accommodation we reserve the right to change the room if and where necessary. There will be no extra charge in the event of an upgrade.
A 14 day cancellation policy applies to all group bookings of three or more rooms whether made as a single or individual reservation. Notice of less than 14 days will be charged for the entire group for the entire stay. Deposits for group bookings are not transferable and non-refundable.
Where Hermiston Guesthouse is unable to accommodate guests, such as fire, flood, war, pandemic, epidemic, animal epidemic such as blue tongue and foot and mouth or any other causes beyond our control, a transfer of dates within 12 months at no extra cost or a refund, less any charges incurred by Hermiston Guesthouse such as via OTAs, credit card refund charges or chargebacks will be offered.
As part of our commitment to reducing our environmental impact, we take the following steps:
- • All our rooms use energy saving bulbs.
- • We reduce energy and water consumption wherever practical
- • We buy locally wherever we can and encourage our guests to reduce food waste by providing portion options.
- • The heating is adjusted with energy consumption in mind with thermostat controls in all guest rooms.
- • We provide secure cycle storage and offer local collections to accommodate the needs of those using public transport.
- • We use local labour and materials where available to reduce CO2 and help the community.
- • We buy in bulk to save on unnecessary packaging were possible.
- • We use online systems and paper-free bookings where possible to reduce our ink and paper consumption.
The Lake District’s majestic and unspoilt landscape can only be preserved through a commitment to sustainable tourism and we believe that everyone should be able to enjoy this incredible part of the country for many years to come.
This accessibility statement does not contain personal opinions as to our suitability for those with access needs, but aims to accurately describe the facilities and services that we offer all our guests.
Hermiston Guesthouse House is a bed and breakfast in the village of Braithwaite situated in the Lake District, 4 miles from the market town of Keswick. The nearest railway station to Keswick is Penrith, on the West Coast Main Line, a distance of 17 miles. There is a regular bus service, which takes about 40 minutes, that connects Penrith railway station with Keswick Bus Station.
National Express provides Rapide Services from London Victoria to the Lake District which take approximately 6 1/2 hours.
The guesthouse in situated at the bottom of the hill with a short walk of approximately 400 yards to the nearest pub. There is a bus stop opposite where the No X4 and X5 bus stops coming approx. every 30 minutes from Cockermouth and Keswick.
There are several local taxi companies that service the area.
We have 5 bedrooms available, 2 on the ground floor, 3 on the first floor.
The Guest House postcode is CA12 5RY which can be entered into Google maps (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps) along with your post code to gain directions especially if you’re visiting by car.
We look forward to welcoming you. If you have any queries or require any assistance please phone us on 01768 778190 or email hello@hermiston-keswick.com
Car Parking and Arrival
Our accommodation is ready by 4.00pm but may be available earlier on request.
We have 5 marked car parking spaces in front of the Guesthouse. Please park considerately. There are 2 steps into the guest house and this is well lit at night with outside lighting along the drive and the porch. Owners will make every effort to greet guests on arrival, assist them with their luggage and show them to their room. Level access is available via the rear of the property to the guest lobby area through a 73cm door way.
Welcome Area
The front door, which is 91cm wide, leads into the reception area. There is a chair available which is 48cm high. The floor is carpeted and the area is even and well lit with overhead lighting. The door has an external bell for attention.
The front door is locked at night and when the owners are not on the property. Guests are provided with a key to this door along with their room key. The key is left in the door at night.
Guests will be shown to their bedrooms as well as the location of the guest lounge and dining room.
Public Areas – Breakfast Room
The breakfast room is situated on the ground floor on the level from the reception via a door 81cm wide. There is short pile carpet and the area is well lit with ceiling lighting and lamp.
There are five tables each with two chairs 48cm high.
Access to the guest lounge and bedrooms is via a doorway 71cm wide with a slight downward slope floor 30cm long x 3cm drop with a gap of 77cm between the sofa and bookcase at the entrance to the lounge.
We are able to cater for a variety of dietary requirements, please advice us when making a booking.
Breakfast is served from 8.00am until 9.00am, you can help yourself from the buffet to fruit salad, cereals, yogurts and juices. Your cooked breakfast is served to you at the table.
Public Areas – Guest Lounge
There are two leather sofas and a tub chair as well as two chairs and a table. The sofa heights are both 44cm high, the tub chair is 43cm and the two chairs are both 50cm high. The lounge is carpeted and well lit with overhead lighting and lamps. There is a log burner for occasional use especially in the winter.
The lounge leads directly to the first ground floor bedroom with a door width of 74cm (Latrigg)
The lounge leads to the ground floor guest lobby via a door 71cm wide. This gives access to the second ground floor bedroom, (Whinlatter) which has a door width of 74cm, the stairs to the first floor bedrooms and access to the rear door of the property which is 73cm wide.
There are seven stairs to the stair landing and a left hand turn to a further seven stairs to the first floor bedrooms. Each stair is 19cm high and there is a handrail on the right hand side.
Bedrooms
Hermiston Guesthouse has two rooms, which are flexible regarding layout as either twin or king rooms, one on the ground floor and one on the first floor. All bedrooms have en-suite shower rooms.
The fire alarms in all the bedrooms have warning lights as well as audible sounders.
The height of the beds from the top of the mattress to the floor is listed below for each of the rooms:
Latrigg – 54cm
Whinlatter – 62cm
Blencathra – 60cm
Skiddaw – 58cm
Grizedale – 58cm
All our bedrooms are bright and evenly lit with bedside lamps also in each room.
All of our rooms offer the following:
Short pile carpet.
All bedrooms have digital TV with subtitles and Freeview.
A hair dryer.
Individually controlled radiators.
Lined waste bins.
Complimentary tea and coffee making facilities and biscuits.
Chair.
The bedrooms are not suitable for wheelchair use.
Ensuite Shower-rooms & Toilets
Bathroom doors have an average opening of 83cm.
All bedrooms are en-suite with WC, step in shower (12cm high except Whinlatter which has a larger shower and a 14cm step) and hand basin which is 78cm high.
Toilets are 39cm high.
Complimentary toiletries are provided.
Bath towels, hand towel and bath mat are provided.
Additional Information
Free WiFi is available throughout the Guest House
Drying facilities are available.
Flasks can be filled if required.
Evacuation procedures are in our welcome pack in the bedrooms. We are happy to come to your room and assist you with evacuation if required.
There is a full fire risk assessment in place. Fire extinguishers are fully serviced and smoke alarms tested weekly.
The nearest shopmobility is in Carlisle, at level two, The lanes, Car Park, Lowther Street, Carlisle CA3 8NX
The nearest General Hospital with an A&E unit and walk in NHS are in Workington or Carlisle.
The nearest doctors surgery is 4 miles away at The Castlehead Medical Centre, telephone 01768 772025 (24 Hours).
We can offer a selection of nearby attractions and suggest places to eat, we also have publicity leaflets available in reception.
Contact Information
Address: Hermiston Guest House, Braithwaite, Keswick, CA12 5RY
Telephone: 01768 778190
Mobile: 07715 103 922
Email: hello@hermiston-keswick.com
Web: www.hermiston-keswick.com
Hours of opening: All year round normal check in from 4.00pm to 7.30pm and check out by 10.00am. Other times by arrangement.