Frequently asked questions

Staying on Lundy

• Are Landmarks only available as self-catering accommodation?

  Yes, Landmarks are only available as self-catering accommodation.

• Do you allow dogs?

  Dogs are not permitted on Lundy except assistance dogs.

• Insured if I break something?

  We do not carry insurance for breakages. However we appreciate that accidents do sometimes happen. If you have a breakage during your stay, please let the housekeeper know and if appropriate we reserve the right to invoice you accordingly.

• Are Landmarks suitable for children?

  Yes, most of our Landmarks are perfect for children, with gardens to play in and secret places to discover. Our furniture is surprisingly robust and we positively encourage families to stay. However, some of our buildings may not be suitable for small children; for example, some of them have steep or uneven spiral staircases. We recommend that you call the Booking Enquiries team if you would like to find out the suitability of any of our Landmarks for young children.

• Are Landmarks accessible for people with disabilities or limited mobility?

  Some of our Landmarks are suitable for people with limited mobility with bedrooms and bathrooms on the ground floor.However, many Landmarks have steep or narrow staircases and uneven floors making access difficult. We recommend that you call our booking office if you would like to find out the suitability of any of our Landmarks for those with specific disabilities.

• Can I get married in a Landmark?

  Our Landmarks are not licensed for weddings. However, you can apply to have a wedding blessing in the church of St Helens on Lundy.  Please contact the Lundy Shore Office on 01237 470074  for further details.

• Can I hold a big party in a Landmark?

  All our larger Landmarks are perfect for gatherings of family or friends. You may invite an additional two guests to visit you during your stay, however they must not stay overnight. This is very important because our fire regulations specifically note the maximum number of people in any one building. In addition our properties are prepared, furnished and equipped for the number of people specified and greater numbers cause damage and excessive wear and tear to vulnerable buildings. Should this condition be ignored we shall make a retrospective charge per person per day (whether or not they stay overnight) for each guest over the permitted limit, the charge being pro-rated on the total cost of your booking.

• Is it true there are no televisions in the buildings?

  We deliberately do not provide televisions and find that most people appreciate this.

• Will there be sockets for my electrical appliances?

  Yes, we have standard electricity sockets for UK appliances. If you are coming from outside the UK, you will need to bring your own adaptor plug(s). The self generated power on Lundy is however restricted and is normally turned off between Midnight and 06.00.

Your booking questions answered

Booking and Payment

• Can I pay a deposit?

  If your stay starts more than three months from the date you make the booking, you are required to pay a deposit of one third of the cost of your stay (or £100 per booking, if greater) at the time of booking. Camping on Lundy must be paid for in full at the time of booking. 

• How can I pay?

  We accept Maestro (if issued in the UK), Visa, MasterCard and sterling cheques drawn on a UK bank. Cheques should be payable to The Lundy Company Ltd. All payments must be in sterling. 

• How do I pick up the key?

  When you arrive on the island please check in at reception next to the Marisco Tavern. 

• How can I cancel or change my booking?

  If you wish to cancel or change your booking, please contact our Booking Office on 01628 825925

• Do you accept payment in other currencies?

  At the moment we only accept payment in sterling.

• How far in advance do I need to book?

  It depends. Some of our most popular Landmarks are booked up a long time in advance, but many can be booked at short notice. We will always have Landmarks free for the coming weekend so it’s always worth checking our availability list.

• Do you have to be a member to book a Landmark?

  No, Landmarks are available to be booked for anyone.

• Do I need a Handbook to be able to book?

  No, all the information you need can be found on our website, although we’d like you to buy one anyway as it will be a pleasure to own!

• What happens if bad weather prevents the ship from sailing or the helicopter from flying?

  If we cannot transport you to Lundy either by ship or helicopter at the beginning of your stay, and you have bought from us either a boat or helicopter ticket we will refund the rent you have paid for each night until you reach the island.  If we cannot transport you from Lundy at the end of you stay and you have bought from us a boat or helicopter ticker we will cover the cost of each extra night’s accommodation on Lundy.  If we offer you a sailing or helicopter flight to or from Lundy but you refuse it, we reserve the right to change your accommodation and/or charge for it.

Facilities

• Are the kitchens and bathrooms restored to a modern standard?

  Sometimes our kitchens and bathrooms have to be imaginatively fitted into the available space in buildings where before there were none, but they are all planned and equipped to a high and modern standard.

• Are the kitchens fully equipped?

  Yes, our kitchens are well equipped with cookers, fridges and a wide range of utensils. The Barn and Millcombe House have freezers and Millcombe also has a dishwasher. A full equipment list is available at time of booking.

• Is linen provided?

  Yes, Landmarks are fully equipped with sheets and towels. All the beds are fully made up for your arrival.

• Do you provide logs for the open fire/stove?

  Fuel is available from the island shop for an additional cost. 

• Will there be a mobile signal in the Landmark I book?

  Mobile coverage varies. Some Landmarks have an excellent signal, but others have none at all.

• Is there Wi-Fi in your buildings?

  No. At the moment, we have decided not to implement Wi-Fi in our buildings following a consultation with our customers. Many said that they would find it useful, but many also felt that it would somehow damage the experience of staying in a Landmark. As the responses were so split, and as we have so many other initiatives requiring funding, we have decided to put this on hold for the time being. 

• What should I bring with me? Are there lavatory rolls, soap, shampoo, milk, teabags, coffee, hairdryer?

  A welcome tray with tea, coffee, sugar and milk awaits your arrival. We also provide one lavatory roll per toliet and a bar of soap, per basin but no other toiletries. We do not provide hairdryers.

Your booking questions answered

• Is the Landmark Trust a charity or a holiday company?

  The Landmark Trust is a charity that rescues and restores historic buildings and lets them out for holidays. Any income we receive from holiday lettings goes back into the charity to maintain the buildings.

• Where does my money go?

  The income from holiday lettings goes towards the ongoing maintenance of the buildings as well as the running of Lundy. Funds raised from donations and appeals go to the ongoing conservation of the island. Some fundraising appeals raise unrestricted funds which will go where the need is greatest. 

• What are the criteria for taking on a building?

  The buildings we take on must be of architectural or cultural significance, be at some kind of risk, and be in a place and a setting where people will enjoy staying.

• How does Landmark acquire its buildings?

  In its early days, Landmark was often able to acquire its buildings by purchase. Today this is very rare, and acquisition by purchase happens only in cases of exceptional merit coinciding with available funds through a statutory grant or a monetary bequest. Today, we are more likely to take a building on through gift, bequest or a long lease. Under these scenarios, we will raise the money required for restoration through charitable appeal and then take full responsibility for onward maintenance, funded through the letting income. Just occasionally, we will let an exceptional building on behalf of its owners (who then retain responsibility for all restoration and maintenance costs). We are always happy to assess whether a building is suitable to become a Landmark. If you would like more information, please contact our Historian, Caroline Stanford [email protected]

• Does Landmark buy buildings?

  In Landmark’s early days, we were backed by our Founder’s private trust fund, so we do own the freehold of many of the buildings in our care. However, we no longer have such funding, nor an endowment or dedicated funds to be able to buy buildings. We do not buy buildings that will sell on the open market and therefore survive without our help. Very occasionally, usually tied to a specific building of the highest merit in great peril, grant aid may be forthcoming and we would then be able to buy the building in question. But this is the exception. We are always happy to assess whether a building is suitable to become a Landmark. If you would like more information, please contact our Historian, Caroline Stanford [email protected]

• Does Landmark let buildings on behalf of others?

  Landmark is not a letting agency and we do not generally let buildings already restored and furnished by others without any input from ourselves. We are always happy to assess whether a building is suitable to become a Landmark. If you would like more information, please contact our Historian, Caroline Stanford [email protected]

• Do you have a membership scheme?

  We do not have a membership scheme per se, but do have a Friends of Lundy scheme. The Friends are enthusiasts who wish to be close to the work of the Islanders and who enjoy visiting Lundy each year and hearing about island life. For more information, visit our Support Us section. 

• Can I volunteer ?

  There are a number of ways you can volunteer with Lundy. Some people help out on the mainland or on board the Oldenburg, others work on specific projects on the island for a week or longer. There are also opportunities to join a larger voluntary working party. Please see our Get Involved section for further details. 

• Does Landmark own any other property?

  Yes, Landmark owns a portfolio of property that is not featured in the Handbook, including land, ancillary buildings and commercial property including shops.

• When did Landmark take over the running of Lundy?

  Lundy was put up for sale in 1969 and following a national appeal led by Local MP’s Jeremy Thorpe, Peter Mills and David Owen, Lundy was bought for the National Trust through the generosity of Sir Jack Hayward. The Landmark Trust immediately took a 60 year lease of the island and undertook to restore the islands buildings and infrastructure. 

Your fundraising questions answered

• How do I become a member of Landmark?

  Landmark does not have a membership scheme. Anyone can book a stay on Lundy. We do have a Friends of Lundy scheme though. The Friends are enthusiasts who wish to be close to the work of the Islanders and who enjoy visiting Lundy each year and hearing about island life. For more information, visit our Support Us section.

• How do you fund a large restoration project?

  The cost of funding large projects on Lundy is wholly dependent on the donations we receive from individuals, grant-giving trusts, gifts in wills, and occasionally bodies such as English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. We will normally launch a fundraising appeal to raise the money for a restoration project, and work cannot begin until the funds have been secured.

• How will you use my donation?

  Where you have specified that your donation is for a particular purpose at the time you make your gift, this is how we will use it. Many of our supporters give in response to a specific appeal for Island based projects. Many also make unrestricted gifts to support our work in general, and these donations are extremely valuable as the funds can be applied wherever the need is greatest, for example to invest in the ongoing cost of maintaining the Oldenburg, Lundy’s lifeline to the mainland.  

• Do I get any benefits if I become a supporter?

  Depending on the supporter scheme to which you are a member, you will receive certain benefits to recognise your support and provide opportunities to learn more about our work, and get involved.  For example, the Patrons of the Landmark Trust receive a number of benefits including: an advance complimentary copy of each new edition of the Landmark Trust Handbook; bespoke updates about current Landmarks undergoing restoration; early booking privileges that include a period of exclusive access to forward bookings, including new Landmarks; exclusive invitations to bespoke events around the country and an opportunity to meet our Director to learn of our future plans and to feedback your thoughts on our work or specific restoration projects. Friends of Lundy receive specific benefits directly related to Lundy. For more information on our friends of Lundy scheme and its benefits, please visit our Support Us section. 

• What is Gift Aid?

  The Gift Aid scheme applies to gifts of money from individuals who pay UK tax.  
  Gift Aid enables us to increase your gift by 25% at no extra cost to you by reclaiming the tax on any qualifying donations made by you. In order to take advantage of Gift Aid, you must pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities and CASCs you donate to will reclaim on your gifts for that tax year. Other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not apply.
  
  Essentially, Gift Aid donations are regarded as having basic rate tax deducted by the donor.  We are able to reclaim the basic rate tax from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on the donation’s ‘gross’ equivalent; the amount before the basic rate was deducted.  The basic rate of tax is 20 per cent.  If you donate £10 using Gift Aid it is actually worth £12.50 to us, and is therefore a great way of boosting your donation.
  
  In order to make a Gift Aid donation to us you will need to make a Gift Aid declaration, either at the time of making your donation via our website, or by completing and signing a simple form.  Your declaration will then cover all subsequent donations that you might make to us, as well as those that you have already made.  If you would like a Gift Aid form, you can download one from our Support Us section.  
  
  For more information on Gift Aid, or if you are concerned about whether you pay enough tax to cover Gift Aid on a donation, please see the HMRC Gift Aid webpage.

• How can I make changes to my donations/details?

  Please contact the Landmark Development Office on 01628 825920 or email [email protected] and we will be happy to help you make the necessary changes.