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SMITHYWOOD - GUEST INFORMATION
WELCOME TO SMITHYWOOD
Our aim is for you to enjoy Smithywood as if it were your own home and this information is provided to ensure that you are aware of, and are able to, use the facilities that are available.
If you believe some information that would be useful for guests has been omitted, or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone, text or WhatsApp -
Antonia: 07769 923637 Richard: 07990 722019
Although the mobile phone signal is generally good in the Highlands, for most networks, please bear in mind that we may be working in an area where the cell signal is weak or unavailable – if you are unable to contact us straight away, on our mobile numbers, please send a text; we will endeavour to contact you as soon as we can.
Heating - The lodge heating is provided by four electric radiators – heater timings are programmed to keep the rooms at a reasonable temperature, If you would like to adjust the heat output to the room, please set the mark on the dial on the front of the heater to ‘I’. Turn the dial back to ‘P’ when the room is at the desired temperature or before going out, to return the heater back to the programmed timings. Should you wish to turn the heating off, please set the dial to ‘0’, then return back to ‘P’ if heating is required.
Please do not press the heater keypad, as doing so may affect the heater timings and overall room temperature.
Showering & Hot Water – We have selected a low-energy, 90 litre hot water tank, which is permanently on: this is sufficient to give up to a 25-minute shower at a suitable temperature, before total re-heating of the supply occurs.
Bathroom Heated Towel Rail & Cloakroom Heater - a booster switch can be found in the bedroom (below the bathroom light switch) and in the cloakroom (below the cloakroom light switch): press once per hour of heat required (up to four hours). The heater will switch off after the selected time.
Please help us to reduce our carbon footprint and its contribution to climate change by reducing hot water use and by switching off the lights and other appliances when not required.
Morsø Wood Burning Stove –
IMPORTANT: Please read the - ‘How to Light a Fire’ - instructions (see below) before lighting the stove for the first time. Please contact us if you require assistance.
Equipment Instructions – instruction books for use of the washing machine, dishwasher, microwave oven, oven and carbon monoxide alarm can be found in the back of the Guest Information folder.
Fire Safety – Guests are required to familiarise themselves with the Fire Safety Notice and Fire Safety Best Practice note on arrival for their stay. Guests must take note the locations of exits, emergency lighting, fire-fighting equipment and instructions for use, and the Evacuation Procedure. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Smoking and the use of candles, tea lights, ethanol burners, etc., is not permitted. Smoking or vaping is not permitted inside the lodge and within 10 feet of the lodge, open windows or open doors. The use of disposal barbeques, fire pits and the lighting of fires on the premises is not permitted.
Lodge Occupancy Limits - The maximum occupancy this lodge is as follows – Smithywood sleeps up to two guests (including infants) - the occupancy limit must not be exceeded. The lead guest must be part of the group occupying the premises and the lodge premises may only be occupied by the booked party.
We are happy for you to welcome a small number of visitors to spend time with you on the lodge premises during the daytime and/or evening; however, the lodge premises may not be occupied overnight by persons other than those in the booked party. The use of tents and/or vehicles for overnight stays on the premises, including in parking areas, is not permitted.
Electric vehicle charging – Unfortunately, the lodge’s electrical system has not been designed to provide continuous power from one socket over several hours. If an ordinary socket is used to charge an electric vehicle, there is significant risk of an electrical fire and consequent danger to life. Therefore, we are unable to allow electric vehicle charging from our properties at present.
Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) – Passcode: CGCFEcvbJMcY9L
Wireless Internet access is not guaranteed and is provided subject to third party terms and conditions.
The facility is not subject to any particular security/filtering measures and requires continuous parental supervision when used by children.
If connection is lost, reset the Wi-Fi by holding in the reset button (on the top of the Wi-Fi unit) for 10 seconds, release then wait for the continuous blue light to appear before attempting to reconnect.
Care of property during your stay/damage
In the event of any breakages/mishaps, please inform us as soon as possible, so that items can be replaced/repaired before the arrival of our next guests.
When drying clothing/towels indoors, please:
- use the clothes horse provided for indoor drying purposes;
- do not hang towels, clothes or any other item over the heaters - this would be a fire hazard;
- do not place wet items on chairs or other furniture.
For clothes drying outside – a retractable rotarty dryer is attached to the back of the lodge.
Please note that:
- clogging objects e.g. tampons, sanitary towels, nappies, etc., must not be put into the toilets or drains;
- smoking is not permitted in the lodge;
- pets are permitted in the lodge and the garden or woodland grounds by prior arrangement, only.
DEPARTURE DAY
Departure times - the occupancy period ends at 10:00am on the day of departure; it is particularly important that the departure time is observed, so that we have sufficient time to prepare the lodge for our next guests.
Before you leave, please:
- wash up and put away all used kitchen equipment;
- place used towels in the shower;
- empty the indoor bins – place all waste and recyclable items in the outside bins provided (see below for disposal/recycling information);
- leave the lodge in a tidy state.
Rubbish disposal and recycling - The Highland Council provides a general waste and recycling collection facility for all properties – please segregate all waste items and place in the outside bins provided as follows:
- newspapers, card, cans and plastic in one black bin - no film lids, bread or crips bags or similar polythene packaging;
- glass in another black bin;
- all non-recyclable/general waste in another bin - including film lids, bread & crips bags or similar polythene packaging, soiled items;
- dog waste (bagged) in the general waste bin.
*please rinse out all cans, trays and bottles before disposal*
On departure
When you leave, please shut all windows, switch off lights, ensure heaters are set to ‘P’ and lock the lodge; if we are not available at the time of your departure, please pop the keys back into the keysafe and scramble the numbers.
THANK YOU…
…for choosing to stay with Moniack Lodges – we hope that you will find everything you need and that you’ll be comfortable!
We’re always happy to hear what our guests have to say about their stay, so please do tell us what you think (good or bad) – if you think there is something we could do to improve our lodge or if you had everything you could need….please let us know.
HOW TO LIGHT A FIRE
Lighting a fire can sometimes be difficult. Those of us who have arrived at a cold cabin in the winter, know that there are many different ways to get the fire going. However, this is a trusted procedure that makes lighting the fire easy. Also, this procedure is better for the environment.
The following fire lighting method produces less soot and ashes, ensures better air supply and makes the first wood load last longer.
In order to light the fire on the first try, you will need:
- A couple of larger logs of wood
- 3 to 4 pieces of kindling sticks
- 2 firelighters
- Matches or gas lighter
Empty the ash pan before starting – there is metal bucket at the rear of the lodge for ash.
A supply of seasoned wood and kindling can be found at the rear of the lodge.
Use only the logs and kindling provided. Wood and kindling must not be stored inside the lodge.
If you require more wood, please give us a call/text and we’ll drop some down for you. +44 (0) 7769 923637
STEP 1
AIR AND LOGS OF WOOD
Ensure that all air vents in the fireplace are open. Put the logs on the bottom of the fireplace. It is important that the wood is cleft and dry. The logs may be as thick as a fist or thicker.
STEP 2
FIRELIGHTERS
Put a couple of fire firelighters on top of the bottom logs. If you run out of fire lighters, please ask for more – do not use newspaper or cardboard.
STEP 3
KINDLING WOOD
Add one or two layers of kindling – ‘Jenga’ style! Remember that air is important – approx. 1 cm between the pieces of wood is the perfect spacing.
STEP 4
LIGHT IT!
**ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE REMOVED ALL COMBUSTIBLE ITEMS FROM THE STOVE TOP AND FROM THE HEARTH, BESIDE THE FIRE, BEFORE LIGHTING**
Light the firelighters and leave the door slightly open. The flames will work their way slowly downwards from the top – do not leave the fire unattended during this step. Close the door after 5 to 10 minutes, when all of the wood is burning.
STEP 5
REFUELING
After 35 to 45 minutes the wood will have reduced to embers – now open the door carefully, by opening up the air supply control (dial on the front at the top) fully first, before opening the door, and refuel with just 1 to 2 small logs.
Adjust the air supply control (dial on the front at the top) to the required position.
IMPORTANT -
Never turn air supply control so far down that there are no clear yellow flames are visible.
Never burn overnight.
FIRE SAFETY NOTICE
All guests must make themselves familiar with the contents of the Fire Safety Notice.
Updated: 24 June 2025