Situated on the 157 mile North Downs Way and half a mile from the Pilgrims Way

just north east of Maidstone in Kent

The ideal base for Horseriders, Cyclists, Walkers and Caravans touring Kent, visiting London or as a Long Distance Trail Stopover

Accommodation Open all year

PLANS

Floorplan Flint Barn

Floorplan Flint Lodge

New Bunkhouse barn floor plan

Plan of Coldblow Farm

Coldblow Farm - Background
Coldblow Farm – Our Accommodation
Contacts
Bookings
How To Find our accommodation in Kent
Flint Cottage
Flint Barn
Flint Lodge
Small Bunkhouse Barn
Large Bunkhouse Barn
Camping Paddock
Local Places of Interest
Local Pubs for Lunchtimes or Evenings!
Maps for Novice Walkers - Go Exploring!
Catering Services
Charges for 2013
Health & Safety Terms & Conditions

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Coldblow Farm - Background Thurnham, Maidstone Kent ME14 3LR

Coldblow Farm is believed to have been named during Saxon times.  It is situated 600 feet above sea level on top of the Kent Downs in the South East of England in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  Although the farm is situated in the Heart of Kent we are still only an hour’s drive from London and if you are thinking of visiting the 2012 Olympic and venues east London is an easy drive from here.

The views from the farm and local footpaths and bridleways are stunning.  The farm today has 32 acres including nine acres of ancient woodland, which is graded as Special Nature Conservation Value.

The 157 long distance trail: The North Downs Way, runs along the southern boundary of the farm and the Pilgrims Way is just a short distance away. The farm is in a lovely area of countryside with an excellent network of footpaths.  For horseriders there is good hacking on public bridlepaths, byways and Trot’s toll rides.  Even the country lanes are relatively quiet!  For carriage drivers the local roads are driveable with care although there are some steep hills so passengers may have to dismount!

Our Accommodation at Coldblow Farm

We have a range of self catering holiday or short break accommodation options:
Flint Cottage – sleeping 2
Flint Barn – sleeping 6
Flint Lodge – sleeping 8-10
Small Bunkhouse – sleeping 10
Large Bunkhouse – sleeping 41

Each building can be booked separately or together to accommodate larger groups.  Total bed spaces 69 and if you have a few more than this there are sofa beds in the Cottage, Barn & Lodge or we can provide folding ‘Z’ beds.  Early booking is essential if hoping to accommodate a large group.

Plus a Camping Paddock for Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes for members of the Camping & Caravan Club, may be closed during winter or wet conditions.

Contact Us:
Coldblow Farm, Coldblow Lane, Thurnham, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3LR
Tel: 01622 730439

E.mail: bookings@coldblowfarm.co.uk

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Bookings Office Line: 01622 730439.  Open 9 am to 2 pm Mon– Fri. At other times please leave a message or e-mail: bookings@coldblowfarm.co.uk

In emergency or difficulty with the above number:

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How to find our accommodation

Address for Satellite Navigators:
Coldblow Farm, Coldblow Lane, Thurnham, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3LR
Do Not use Sat Navs if towing or driving coach or lorry - see below:

From the M20 from Dover Port or Channel Tunnel: if towing or driving a coach or lorry DO NOT use Junction 7.  Leave the motorway at junction 8 (Leeds Castle) and follow signs to Maidstone A20.  After joining the A20 carry on for approx. one mile and look for first turning on right just after a Garden Centre on right.  Turn right, road is called Roundwell.  Then take first right again into Water Lane.  Go to end of Water Lane, passing under 3 bridges.  You will pass entrance to Cobham Manor Equestrian Centre on your right.  At the little staggered crossroads go straight over into Coldblow Lane.  The last section of road is single track and is steep uphill but you only have another half mile before Coldblow Farm's entrance is first property on the right.

From the M20 Junction 7 & via Detling Village: only use this route if travelling by car (not towing):  leave the M20 Motorway at junction 7 and take the first exit left on to the A249 (in the direction of Sheerness and Detling). Very soon after joining the A249 move into the right-hand/fast lane so that you can turn right/east into Detling Village. Take care crossing the other carriageway.  Follow the lane up into the village passing the village Church on your left.  Just after the village shop (now closed) look for a narrow turning on the right, the Pilgrims Way, opposite the Cock Horse Pub. Turn right here in the direction of Thurnham.

After one mile, at Thurnham, the Black Horse Pub should be on your right, go straight across the crossroads signposted to Hucking. Take the next left-hand turning, a staggered crossroads into Coldblow Lane, signposted to Hucking. Coldblow Farm is half a mile up the steep hill, the first farm on the right.

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Flint Lodge – Sleeps 8-12 . Prices for 7 nights from £995 (low season), £1090 (high season). Short breaks from £795.
Low season Sept –May       High season June - August
Spacious, well equipped self catering holiday or short break accommodation. The Lodge is entirely on the ground floor and tiled through.  Four twin bedrooms including 2 bedrooms able to accommodate 3.  En suite wet rooms to 3 bed rooms and access to shower room for 4th bedroom from corridor.  Sofa bed in sitting area.  Three rooms with en suite wet rooms, with accessibility features.
Open plan kitchen and dining area, with induction hob, oven, fridge freezer.  Tiled floors throughout.  French doors lookout to a paved patio area and views of the surrounding fields
Ample car parking.  Children welcome.  Prices include linen and utilities. 
Weekly or Short Break Charges: Prices for 7 nights from £995 (low season), £1090 (high season). Short breaks from £795
Low season Sept –May       High season June - August
Flint Lodge has been constructed with a wide range of visitors in mind and we have sought to include a number of unobtrusive accessibility features.
Flint Lodge incorporates the following accessibility features:

• Single-storey building
• Wide doors throughout with hand rails along central corridor
• Living Room has double-width and triple-width opening French doors to the east and south elevations
• Call cords from wet rooms
• Tiled throughout all rooms with under floor heating
• Electric light switches, wall sockets & appliance controls are readily accessible, and can be reached by most people from a seated position
• Kitchen features split level work surfaces with low & higher level sink and draining areas
• 3 x large wet room / bathrooms all spacious enough to be fully accessible by wheelchairs and one large enough for shower trolley
• Wet Rooms have fitted handrails
• Range specialist equipment available – please ask for list
• Bosch Induction Hob fitted at lower level
• Fire & Security alarm system

*If you have a particular requirement that is not on the list, e.g. bath/bed hoist, please contact us in good time as we can recommend local hire company. 

Outside

• Firm, level brick paved surface by front door
• Flat brick paved area for parking 2-3 cars or 2 mini-buses
• Brick paved path around front and side of lodge
• Front door-threshold only about 40 mm high, wide front door into entrance hall

Landscaped Courtyard Garden

• Access from Living Room is through the east or south facing French doors over a 40 mm threshold
• Large patio and path around front of lodge is paved with brick paved paths
• Landscaping proposed will include raised flower beds and scented flowers, herbs & shrubs
• Views across our own and adjacent farmland
• The garden area is fully fenced and gated in to keep dogs and children from wandering!

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Flint Barn – Sleeps 6 - 8 Prices for 7 nights from £700 (low season), £800 (high season). Short breaks from £500.
Low season Sept –May       High season June - August

This Barn was formerly known and offered as a Camping Barn.  The harsh winter of 2010/11 with heavy snowfall required the roof to be replaced.  We have now totally refurbished the Barn to provide ‘cottage’ style accommodation to sleep 6+ with a range of accessibility features similar to the Flint Lodge.

All on ground floor and tiled throughout the accommodation comprises two spacious twin bedrooms with good sized en suite ‘wet rooms’.  The third bedroom has bunk beds and en suite shower room.  The kitchen, dining & living area is open plan and has a large patio door leading out to a sheltered paved area.

Prices for 7 nights from £700 (low season), £800 (high season). Short breaks from £500.
Low season Sept –May       High season June - August

Flint Cottage self catering holiday cottage – Sleeps 2+2 Prices for 7 nights from £225 (low season), £170 short breaks.
The flint walls of this former stable for farm horses are believed to be 300 years old.  We planned (12 years ago) to make it part of the former Camping Barn - the original Kent peg tiled roof fell in so we refurbished it to a higher standard and it is now a studio style cottage! Flint Cottage has undergone a furnishing makeover (April 2011) and we think it’s very pretty inside.  It is partially joined on one wall to the former Camping Barn shortly to be opened as Flint Barn.  Flint Cottage can be booked independently or as an extra to the other Barns or Lodge.  It has exposed flint walls and beams inside and is open plan.  On the ground floor is the living area with quality sofa bed, table and chairs and a kitchen area in one corner.  There is a television and radio/music player.  Heating is from two large radiators and a log burner. Also on the ground floor is a shower room with electric shower, washbasin and toilet.  Up some steep narrow ‘paddle’ stairs (not suitable for small children or infirm) is a small loft/mezzanine floor area with two single beds.  Outside is a private patio with bar-b-q and seating.  This area faces east so catches the sunrise and sunset. The Cottage is ideal for two people.  Clean dogs and cats welcome!  The price includes all linen, electricity and central heating.  Initial supply of logs provided.
Prices for 7 nights from £225 (low season), £170 short breaks.	Flint Cottage photos courtesy Chris Sims/RRAZOR
Prices for Cottage, Barn & Lodge include linen & all utilities

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The Small Bunkhouse – Sleeps 10

This Barn has housed many occupants over the years: pigs, horses, goats and in the year 2000 we saw our last few lambs born in there!  Now fully refurbished to provide simple budget accommodation for small groups!  The price includes all electricity and heating (twice daily), but showers are on a coin meter.

Sleeping - this barn has 3 bunkrooms, two to sleep four people, one small room sleeping two.  Each bunk bed is provided with a mattress and pillow.  You need to bring sleeping bag and pillow cover. 

Eating - There is a farmhouse style kitchen fully equipped with all cutlery, crockery and cooking pans and utensils.  In the kitchen are ample cupboards & workspace, plus fridge, microwave, kettle, toaster, electric oven.

Heating - There are radiators in each room. The heating is timed to come on twice a day.  All day (& night) heating is subject to a £10 (£20 for 24 hrs) daily surcharge. 

Showers - A partition with lockable door leads to one end of the barn, which provides separate men's and ladies toilets, showers and washing rooms.  Showers are on a coin meter: 50 or 60p.

Wet Clothing - Adjacent to the shower rooms is an area for drying wet clothes with hanging space and a coin operated washing machine & tumble dryer.

The Large Bunkhouse Barn - Sleeps 41

This barn is more like a Youth Hostel!  At each end of the main barn are two dormitory style sleeping rooms.  In each of these four main sleeping rooms are bunk beds to sleep 8 people.  The Main Barn, without the extension, can sleep up to 32 people.  The price charged includes all electricity and twice daily heating but showers are on a coin meter.

In early 2006 we built a small extension to provide a few extra sleeping spaces especially for Teachers and Youth Leaders in order to comply with recent legislation. There is also a fully tiled wet room.  We hope the entrance to this new extension is a little more Accessible for Wheelchairs.  For larger groups, you can also book the Extension (3 rooms sleeping 3, 2 and 4) to give you 41 Total Bed spaces!

Sleeping - In each of the bunkrooms each bunk bed has a mattress and pillow.  You will need to bring a sleeping bag and pillow cover.  Linen hire packs (duvet, bed linen & towels) can be arranged at £10 per set per person per stay but advance warning is essential. Each bunkroom has a radiator.

Eating - In the centre of the barn is a large Dining Area & Kitchen with tables and chairs to seat 41.  There is also a large T.V. screen with video player.  In this Dining area is a Double Kitchen with two of everything: electric cookers, microwaves, fridge/freezers, toasters.  There is plenty of workspace and cupboards containing all the cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils.

Showers, Washing, Toilets - At each end of the main barn are the two Shower Rooms: in each of these are two showers, two W.C.'s, two washbasins.  The Showers are on a 3 x 20p. Coin meter.  The new extension has a 'wet room' with Washbasin, W.C. and Shower.

Camping Paddock:
At one end of our Sheep Field is a Camping Paddock.  We can take up to 5 Caravans or Motorhomes for Camping & Caravan Club Members and any number of Tents.  There are electric hook-ups to the Paddock and a water supply tap. Open fires are not allowed but safe Bar-B-Q’s can be used by your tent or caravan.  Please do not place them directly onto the grass as this can cause a fire. 

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Local Places of Interest

We are fortunate to have some great places to visit within walking distance:

Our own riding centre: Coldblow Equestrian Centre on the farm!

For art and craft enthusiasts is This Art of Mine just a mile along our lane at Little Budds Farm.  The studio is open for all sorts of drop in sessions so visit: www.thisartofmine.co.uk for full info.  A wide variety of activities: T shirt painting, mug decorating up to a range of more elaborate items for young or old with little or no talent or more than that!  Everyone who has visited the studio have been delighted with the experience.  Booking essential for large groups.
The Woodland Trust owns 580 acres (200 ha) of the Hucking Estate nearby to preserve the ancient woodland and plant new woodland.  A walks route leaflet is available from our farm office.  The Hook & Hatchet Pub is ideally placed for thirsty visitors to the Hucking Estate walks.  Or, you could leave the non walkers in the pub garden!
Thurnham even has its own Castle, although there are not many stones left because many of the village cottages are reported to have been built from the castle stones!  Kent County Council purchased 26 hectares of former woodland just a short walk west of Coldblow.  The land is KCC’s youngest country park with an accessible trail.  The park is home to the remains of Thurnham Castle.  Full info from:
Almost on the doorstep of the farm, walkable but beware you have to cross the A249 dual carriageway, is the Kent County Showground with a year round calendar of events. Then Detling, Thurnham and Hucking Churches

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Local Pubs for Lunchtimes or Evenings

The nearest Pub to Coldblow is the Hook & Hatchet just over half a mile (one kilometre) across fields and quiet byways and short section of quiet lane. 2 miles by road, in the little hamlet of Hucking.  We recommend also The Cock Horse at Detling, and the Dirty Habit at Hollingbourne.  Both can be reached by walking the North Downs Way or Pilgrims Way.  Further pubs in Bearsted Green & Hollingbourne.

Fish & Chips from Bearsted on the A20, just 2 miles from Coldblow and opposite a Tesco Express shop and petrol/fuel open until midnight.

Maps
We have the local Explorer OS Maps with Public Rights of Way: footpaths, bridlepaths & byways hi-lited and recommended walking routes or destinations.  These are available for £1 hire in a carrying case - £10 returnable Deposit.  Please ask on arrival.

Catering Service Now Available – we can recommend a few local caterers if you do not wish to cook!  Alternatively we would recommend a local company who will deliver fabulous ready cooked meals here so check out: www.cookfood.net  Many of the groups staying here regularly order deliveries from the local supermarkets.
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Large Bunkhouse – 41 Beds - £16 p.p.p.n. for groups of 24 plus

Small Bunkhouse - 10 beds - £16 pppn groups 6+ only weekends unless vacant week before.

Price Negotiation – If you are booking the bunkhouses for more than 3 nights, midweek, we can discuss a discount on the prices or allow you to ‘spread out’ i.e. less people per room or include linen packs.

Cleaning/Damage Deposit  £100 payable on booking for each building. 

Linen Packs for Bunkhouses: £10 per set must be ordered in advance.  Bed made up/stripped £5   Late order fee £5 extra.

Heating supplement £10 per day, £20 all day and night (see below). 

Showers - All showers in Bunkhouse Barns are on coin meters (3 x 20p or 1 x 50p)
 
Bunkhouse Barns are provided with bunk beds with mattresses, mattress protector cover and a pillow with cover.  Please bring a Sleeping Bag & Pillow Cover.  

Prices include electricity and heating which comes on twice daily.  All day/night heating supplement £10 per day, £20 all day and night. 

Linen Hire - it is normal practice to bring your own sleeping bags for bunkhouses.  If you cannot bring your own you may, with enough notice, be able to hire from our small emergency store: sheets, duvet, pillow covers and towel at £10 per person, per stay.  If you require beds made up and stripped at the end of your stay the charge is £5 per person.  Please Note Carefully! We require AT LEAST a week's notice and payment in advance.  If you turn up late at night without sleeping bag we will charge an additional 'late fee' of £10 per person to unlock the cupboard and sort it all out.  Scouts Motto = Be Prepared!

CAMPING PADDOCK PRICES Caravans/Motor Campers/Tents – per night
Camping Paddock is for Camping & Caravan Club Members Only
you can pick up a membership pack to join on arrival

Per Pitch - £13 per pitch inc. 2 people & car (no electric)

Electric Hook-Up Pitches: £16 inc. £3 allowance for elec. metered at cost

£5 per additional adult          £3 children/young people 3-14, under 3’s free

One Person Small Tent Pitch - £6 on foot, £7 with bicycle, £8 with car

Full Health & Safety Policy on Request, but Most Important:

Please ensure that members of your group do not stray into prohibited areas of the farm.  There are “No Campers” signs.  Unless you have horses here you may not visit the stables or horse fields.

Fire Safety precautions will be explained to the group leader on arrival.

No Smoking in any of the Barns or Vicinity of the Buildings (all cigarette butts must be placed in the sandbins provided)

Bar-B-Q Safety – DO NOT USE firewood, ONLY proper charcoal.  No lighter fuel.  Please do not place disposable bar-b-q’s directly on to the grass – this can cause a fire.  NO OPEN FIRES.

Please keep away from/out of all Farm Buildings and do not enter Fields other than the Camping Paddock.

The gate by the road must be kept Closed during hours of darkness - this is as much for your safety and security but also for our animals.

Car Parking - do not block access to the front of Barns for fire engines/emergency vehicles.

Terms & Conditions
PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY

BOOKINGS & PAYMENT  Dates only held on receipt of a £100 Booking Fee per Barn.  Full payment (less the Booking Fee plus the Damage, Cleaning & Noise Disturbance Deposit) is required 8 weeks in advance of the dates of your stay.  Most credit cards accepted, online bank transfer or cheque payment.   Cancellations subject to a charge. Refunds are calculated from the day that written notice is received by Coldblow Farm.

LINEN HIRE
It is normal practice to bring your own sleeping bags and towels when staying in Bunkhouses.  If you are unable to do this, we can hire out linen packs (sheets, duvet, pillow case and towel) but you will need to make up and strip your beds.  Please give at least one weeks’ notice.  Linen is provided in the Flint Cottage, Barn & Lodge.

ARRIVAL

Please telephone Coldblow Farm to confirm time of arrival on 01622 730439. Arrival MUST be after 4pm unless a special arrangement has been made.

At busy times groups often follow straight after each other, even Sundays, and the Barns must be cleaned and safety checked between groups. Departure MUST be before 10:00am unless you have made an alternative arrangement.

Before leaving the accommodation, please check that your group has left the barns clean and tidy (See Rules & Conditions below) and return the keys.

Drivers of Mini buses/coaches/towing/: DO NOT APPROACH FROM JUNCTION 7 of the M20 -  See full info above.

DAMAGE, CLEANING & NOISE DISTURBANCE CALL OUT DEPOSIT

To help us and other Barns under the YHA & Independent Hostel Association schemes keep prices low, visitors are asked to do their own tidying, washing up and sweeping the floor.  Hire charges for Bunkhouses are much lower than hotels to reflect the fact that groups are expected to clean up after their stay.   In other words please stick to the philosophy “leave the Barn as you find it”.  Sadly, some groups interpret this in different ways (!) in which case we will deduct various costs from the Deposit (see Rules & Conditions).

Damage/Cleaning/Noise deposit amounts: 
£100 - for the Bunkhouse or Flint Cottage, Barn or Lodge
£250 – Stag/Hen Parties, Youth Groups, University/College Groups, (some excepted)

Please note: The accommodation is checked before and after each stay during the Cleaning process.  Providing damage etc has not occurred during your stay; the damage/cleaning deposit will be returned to you in the week following your stay. Please see the section ‘Rules & Conditions” below for further details.

RULES & CONDITIONS
It is an absolute condition of Booking that you and your entire group adhere to the following:

No responsibility can be accepted for any personal possessions left on the premises either during or after your stay.  We will, however, endeavour to return to you any items left behind if you advise where to send to & pay p&p.

Damage Deposits Your deposit will be returned less any deductions for the following:

• cutlery/crockery not washed up properly and put back inside cupboards or moved from one building to another;
• rubbish not bagged up and taken to the rubbish collection area outside
• breakages or loss of any fixtures, fittings or equipment including crockery, cutlery etc., damage to paintwork (please do not stick notices on painted walls);
• vomit in the toilets/showers or toilet paper fights;
• litter, dirt or mess or beer/wine spilt on floors or outside Barns;
• cigarette stubs dropped on the ground outside;
• lights left on after your departure; lost keys, missing pillows

All repairs & replacements charged at purchase cost plus £10 per hour for labour.

FIREWORKS or Open Fires are NOT ALLOWED due to proximity of farm animals, horses and vulnerable buildings.

RESTRICTED AREAS - Some areas of the farm are strictly out of bounds.  Please adhere to 'no entry to campers' signs.  This rule must be adhered to for your safety and important insurance reasons.  You may also set off a security alarm for which there is a £25 call out charge at night.

BAR-B-QUES - We do provide mobile bar-b-ques but these must be used with utmost care.  Please DO NOT burn anything but proper charcoal in them.  If it is very windy we may ask that you do not use the Bar-b-ques due to the risk of fire.  Ensure that there is both a sand bucket and bucket of water nearby.

DOGS - Must be kept on a lead and under strict control at all times.  We have free range chickens and several farm cats.

VISITORS – Due to insurance and health & safety restrictions and parking availability, we can only accommodate the number of persons that you have paid for in your group i.e. if you are planning on bringing ‘day visitors’, who will leave in the evening, you will need to book extra ‘beds’ for these persons even if they will not be staying for the night.

CANDLES – Due to fire safety restrictions you must not burn candles of any sort.

HEATING - The central heating in all Barns is on a timer and is set to come on for a few hours in the morning and evening during cold periods.  If you require additional heating we can switch it over to 'Constant' but we will require £10 supplement per 12 hours due to the huge increases in oil prices.  If, on the other hand, you are too warm please turn down the thermostatic valve on each radiator before opening windows. 

SMOKING - Smoking is not allowed inside any of the Barns.  If you wish to smoke please do this outside and put cigarette ends in the sand bins provided - not on the ground.  The cost of picking up dog ends will be deducted from your deposit.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL - If we have any suspicion that you or members of your group are using drugs or are consuming so much alcohol that they are a danger or nuisance to themselves, members of your group or other people staying here we will not hesitate to ask your group to leave immediately and may also call the Police.

Minors – We cannot accept unaccompanied minors (i.e. persons under the age of 18).  A parent or legal guardian in loco parentis must accompany all persons under the age of 18 at all times during their stay.

Please return all keys given to you on arrival.