Welcome to Raffer Yem at Crowdy Hall! What you need to know ahead of your stay.

LIVING LIFE UNPLUGGED & OFF-GRID

Welcome to Crowdy Hall!

Here’s to living off-grid and escaping away from it all. You’ll be staying in Raffer Yem, our original bespoke wood-framed cabin, complete with private decking, fire pit, and west-facing view.

Most of our guests tell us that living simply without some of our familiar creature comforts is hugely rewarding, but being prepared definitely counts too. We’d love for you to really enjoy your time here and as you’ll be self-checking-in and staying in a remote setting, we thought we’d share with you some important information about your cabin….

Ahead of your arrival, please CLICK HERE to watch the short explainer videos offering all the essential knowledge, so you can enjoy and get the most out of your time off-grid.

We hope that living a simple life for a chapter can help us remember to appreciate the small things and perhaps declutter the mind a little along the way. Feel free to leave your phone in a box or drawer for as much of your stay as you care. Why not keep the to-do list light and let lighting the fire, boiling the kettle or going for a wander outside come rain or shine, be the main activities of your visit*

*However…if that all sounds too minimal, fear not there’s plenty to see and do, in and around the area.

Be sure to bring appropriate footwear ideally boots for your walk to your cabin. Be prepared to get involved, collecting your firewood, lighting a fire when warmth is needed. Oh and please, do take your boots off before entering your cabin, thank you!

CLICK HERE to see a DETAILED WALKTHROUGH MAP OF CROWDY HALL*

The above includes a short walking route. *You may need to download the Google Earth App (if accessing on your mobile)

For a Tour of ‘Raffer Yem’ cabin interior* CLICK HERE

*Note, the cabin now features a compost toilet, no longer an incinerator one.

Grab a coffee and be sure to watch the FULL VIDEO PLAYLIST  for other essential viewing, before you set off to come and stay.

Arrival:

For the exact location of Crowdy Hall click here

Crowdy Hall
Foxton Lane
Sedgefield
TS21 2HU

Check in is from 3pm and check out is at 11am. Driving to the site is straight forward, though using just the postcode in a sat nav may take you to our neighbours instead and on the rare occasion may incorrectly guide you from the south. From Sedgefield Village head south for 3 miles along Spring Lane which soon becomes Foxton Lane. Continue beyond Foxton Kennels and turn right at the following entrance. Crowdy Hall is sign posted, with a black gated entrance set 10 metres back from the road. Your gate code will be be shared with you once you reply to this message confirming what items you can put in the compost toilet 

‘What3words’ map locations:

Crowdy Hall Main Entrance Gate ‘What3words’

‘Raffer Yem’ Cabin location ‘What3words’

Parking:

The drive from road to parking zone can be bumpy and muddy so do take care and drive slowly. Spoiler alert: your car may not be spotless following your stay! Please ensure ALL GATES ARE CLOSED behind you to protect livestock.

This includes those you’ll pass through on foot to your cabin, those through fields and the large one you pass through in your car, on the track before you arrive at the farm buildings. This is to keep sheep safe. The car park is through the barn entrance on the right hand side as you approach the buildings. Drive through and parallel park along the right hand side. There is ample space for four vehicles. As its a little narrow, when departing it’s easier to reverse out carefully instead of trying to turn in the barn. Once parked, head through the opening at the far end and follow the grassy path to the right to head to ‘Raffer Yem’ cabin. For the log store and all other cabins, turn right along the pathway between the barns, taking a left once on the gravel track.

For a time lapse of the Drive from the main entrance gate to the parking zone click here.

Note the main gate is solar powered and your answer to the question mentioned earlier triggers the release of your gate code. Be sure to respond at least 24 hours prior to arrival, as we wouldn’t want you to get stuck at the entrance gate with no means of access!

Walk from parking zone to Raffer Yem:

Your cabin is a short walk from the purple parking zone and from Autumn through to Spring following rain, will require WALKING BOOTS OR WELLIES. From your car, head to toward the far end of the barn and you will see your cabin a few metres ahead on the right hand side. As you may know we’ve used as many natural materials as possible here.  Structures essentially become living and wood can expand and contract according to the seasons.

Map Key: 

Purple : Parking Zone

Light blue : Log Store, Old Chicken Shed

Green : Raffer Yem

Cabin Keys:

Unless otherwise stated, your keys will be located above the port hole window sill. Please return keys here when you leave. The change of seasons can affect the mechanism. When locking unlocking the front door, you may need to push the lock mechanism gently with your left thumb, as you turn the key with your other hand.

Power:

Off-grid means we are not connected to any mains electricity or sewage networks. Power is sourced from the sun via roof mounted solar panel charging 12V batteries. This means there are no standard three-pin plug sockets for 240v appliances, like laptops, fridges, hair driers, etc. Power is reserved for USB devices and lights (if you have a USB-C device please bring an adapter)

Lights:

Please remember to turn the toilet, bedroom, kitchen and living area lights off when not in use. Note, you are welcome to use both portable lanterns to light the bathroom should you wish.

USB ports:

Please charge phones for a maximum of 30 mins at a time before unplugging. This is to avoid draining the battery. Better still, turn your phone off and put it away and allow yourself to unplug, unwind and relax!

Also, please leave hair dryers, straighteners or power-thirsty appliances at home, as these too will drain the battery & leave the cabin without a toilet or lights.

Compost Toilet:

Taking a break from everyday normality involves stripping things back and employing the most basic of technologies. Your cabin now features a compost loo in place of the incinerator toilet. We’ve made this change as compost loos have proven to be more sustainable, more hygienic and far simpler to use. What you gift it will end up fertilising soil on the land, helping plants grow, ensuring none of your waste will be wasted.

For the compost loo explainer video CLICK HERE

Here are the steps for use:

• If going for a pee, simply lift the lid, sit down and do your business.
• If going for a number two, lift the lid and (if your loo has one) remove the solids lid and place next to the toilet.
• Regardless of gender, please sit down every time for number ones and twos.
• Poor one scoop of sawdust into the solids container, which traps any odour.
• Putting toilet paper in the solids container is fine, please put any other sanitary products in the separate landfill bin bag.
• Put the lid back on the solids container and shut the lid of sawdust box to avoid dust on the floor.
• The pee outlet is not collected in a bottle like the other cabins, its piped to a soak away in the ground near to the cabin.
• Please ensure nothing other than pee is poured down the hole to avoid risk of blockage in the pipe below.
• When departing, simply leave the loo and we’ll take care of ensuring contents make it to the designated compost bin, soon to feed the crops!

Hot water:

Water is heated by LPG via a tankless boiler, which provides instant hot water through the shower and bathroom sink, using far less energy than conventional domestic boilers. You’ll find the taps are labelled appropriately with a red or a blue dot. To use hot water, first turn on the hot tap in the bathroom sink. When you turn it on, you’ll hear the flame ignite the boiler outside and you’ll then receive hot water. The boiler flame can go out a few times when first used. When this happens, simply turn the tap off, then on again.

If the tap is not opened enough or opened too far, the water will run tepid. Between the two is the sweet spot. There is a knack and patience is required!

When you’re happy with the temperature, simply turn on the left hand shower tap…unless you’re all about the Wim Hoff philosophy in which case ignore the above and simply use the right tap for a cold shower

Drinking water:

With the exception of the kitchen sink tap, all other taps provide drinking water, including the outdoor tap, the bathroom sink and shower. The push button kitchen sink tap is cold water and comes from the outside water butt and must be boiled before drinking. If water no longer flows, the butt will need filling up, which you can do with the outdoor hose. Simply lift lid off butt, fill up and replace. For hot water to wash dishes, you can fill a few mugs of water at the bathroom hot tap and fill the sink that way, or boil the kettle. There is a large black water container outside as well as glass jug inside that you are welcome to fill up for your drinking and washing up water.

Along with cool box, there is a washing up bowl you are welcome to use to wash up in the bathroom if you’d prefer. Please bring your own ice packs should you want some.

The bathroom floor is currently a little level and water can pool as a result. After showering please use the wiper to help dry the wet room. Note also not all cabins’ hot and cold taps are located consistently one side or the other.

Running hot water tips video

Weather & Clothing:

Remember you are in the North East of England and weather can be unpredictable. Click Here for Local Weather Forecast. Embrace it all, but doing so with preparation makes it all the more enjoyable. If there’s been any rainfall or due chilly weather be sure to bring:

• Wellies and/or waterproof walking boots
• Gloves
• Hat
• Rainwear
• Warm underlayers/thermals
• Slippers (for inside the cabin)
• Head torch (useful for navigating between car and cabin at night as there are no lights guiding the way)

Equally important in the heat and sunshine:

• High factor sunscreen & hat for shade (There is no direct shading on the deck)

Much of the land is not landscaped and your walk from car to cabin is highly likely to feature wet grass, puddles and mud. If you’re arriving after sunset, a head torch would also be recommended, keeping hands free to carry your luggage. Wheeled suitcases are no good over the fields and muddy tracks here, so please do use something you’re happy to carry for the few minutes you’re walking to your accommodation.

Please remove footwear before entering cabin and leave on paper/boot trays provided.

Pets:

Click here if you’ve arranged with us to bring your pet (s)

INCLUDED IN YOUR CABIN…

Fire Wood:

Please feel free to collect what you would like to use from the barn next to the container log store what3words location here:

Your first bag of kindling and firewood is on the house. For extra wood, feel free to pay as you go clicking the below links…

Click to pay £5 per bag of firewood

Click to pay £5 per and bag of kindling

Sometimes wood is supplied loose in dumpy bags. If so, feel free to fill an empty bag found to the left of the wood.

For hot tub coil burner only…

Click to pay £4 per 1kg bag of charcoal

We recommend starting your hot tub fire with charcoal, then adding firewood once charcoals are up to temperature.

Should you want to pay the total in one go upon departure, Click to pay custom total here

Alternatively, bank details for a transfer are below:

Crowdy Hall Ltd.

AN: 19804245

SC: 04-06-05

Extra packs of fire lighters can be found on the head-height back wall shelf above the dumpy bags of firewood. Please use these sparingly as you only need a few small squares broken off one sheet to get a fire going. No need to use an entire sheet of them nor toilet roll to get the fire going.

Be mindful when collecting wood for the indoor burner as its small so use logs under 15cm wide for this. The outdoor fire pit will accommodate larger logs. In keeping with our ethos of sustainability, we often stock off-cut wood pieces instead of logs.

Charcoal: Can be found in the old chicken shed to the left of the container/log store. Charcoal is for use heating the hot tub only, using one small 1kg bag per fire.

Feel free to use a trolley or wheel barrow to carry bags if you see one available. When departing, please return empty log bags, the trolley or the wheelbarrow to the place you found them when you depart, thanks.

PRIOR TO LIGHTING ANY FIRE…

• Fill a bucket of water up and place within easy reach on the decking.
• Ensure to locate:  fire blanket, fire extinguisher and outdoor tap with hose pipe. The decking is wooden and flammable, so keep an eye out for embers that may fall out of the fire and onto the decking.

NEVER LIGHT A FIRE IF HIGH WINDS PREVAIL AS BURNING EMBERS CAN CARRY FIRES

NEVER LEAVE A LIT OR SMOULDERING FIRE UNATTENDED

&

FULLY EXTINGUISH AN OUTDOOR FIRE PRIOR TO LEAVING IT

PLEASE DISPOSE OF EXTINGUISHED FIREPIT ASH AT LEAST 5 METERS ALONG HEDGEROW, WELL AWAY FROM CIRCULATION ROUTES, PATHS OR DECKING

Indoor Wood-burner:

Here is a video guide to lighting a fire in the wood burner

Hot Tub:

Here is a video guide to using the outdoor hot tub

Should you want to use the outdoor tub, note the video has been created for the original tub in Tawny Hide. Each has a slight variation on details. Only light a fire if the wind is relatively calm to avoid hot embers blowing about. Ensure you know where to find the fire extinguisher and fire blanket.

1) Fill a bucket of water to have on hand. Please watch for hot rocks landing on decking as they can scorch the wood.

2) Fill the tub with the mains pipe tap, ensuring the level is just above the highest inlet hole of the two. Do not start a fire until the tub is full. When filled, if there is one on your tub, place the black cover over the tub, later helping the water to retain heat.

3) To light the fire, please use 1 kg of charcoal found either in the outside cubby hole or if not, a few minutes walk away in the old chicken shed to the left of the storage container/log store area.

4) Prior to lighting a fire, check that the drum sits centred on the fireproof base, away from the wooden decking.

5) Using the charcoal chimney will help the coals heat up much quicker first. Sit this on the grate and light the coals.

6) Once hot after 15 mins or so, pour the charcoal onto the grate within the coil, adding firewood to get the pipes hot. Continue to add wood as required. Normally expect to get through at least one netted bag of firewood. It requires a hot fire to heat the coil that holds the water. Leave the fire open; You don’t need to place the lid back on the barrel.

Watch that embers or hot rocks don’t burn the decking. Have patience and ignore the video’s prediction of 2 hours, as it usually 3.5+ to get to temperature, depending on your fire-lighting skills! When hot enough hop in and enjoy your creation!

7) When finished using the tub, please drain the water and ensure you replace the plug when you’ve drained the tub so the next guest can use it.

8) Finally ensure the fire is fully extinguished prior to retiring to the cabin.

Departure:

We’d be grateful if you can leave the cabin as you found it. Cleaning pots and pans and surfaces would be much appreciated as this helps us with the tight change over windows.

Please Take Your Waste & Recycling Bags Home With You:

We are attempting to create as low impact a retreat as possible and as we currently have no means of handling waste on-site we kindly ask that you take your landfill, recycling and food compost waste material home with you. We appreciate your help in keeping this pocket of land tidy and free of litter!

P.S. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of handling your toilet compost bags as this will eventually feed the land!

We look forward to hosting you soon and hope that you enjoy your stay here at Crowdy Hall!

All the best,

Alasdair

P.S. If you’re not on social media; respect! If you are, please support Crowdy Hall, follow us and share your experience. Reviews are the life blood of our business. If we can improve anything or you have ideas, please do tell us!