Our Approach to Coronavirus
Although almost all restrictions have now been lifted, it remains our priority to protect the health and safety of our guests, employees and the community. We will therefore continue to ensure we have the necessary protocols and procedures in place to meet the recommended hygiene and cleanliness requirements.
In adapting our cottages and the service we provide to our guests, we will adhere to the guidance issued by the industry and Scottish Government, providing guests with the reassurance and confidence that holidaying with us is as safe as we can make it.
Our team completed valuable, industry recommended, online COVID-19 training so that we can be confident in the cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting routines which need to be carried out to keep everyone safe.
Should we experience further travel restrictions as a consequence of the virus, or its variants, we will override our usual cancellation policy and will happily defer your booking to another date up to 12 months following the date of your original booking. However we do strongly encourage and advise all guests to ensure they have adequate insurance in place for any holiday and travel they are planning.
Guests should check the Scottish Government website for up to date guidance on all travel restrictions as these may change; see Corona Virus Scotland and also Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel and transport.
We recommend guests with any COVID-19 symptoms take a lateral flow test prior to commencing their holiday, so if you test positive, you have a little time before making a final decision on whether to proceed with your booking in line with the ‘stay at home’ guidance.
We would also recommend visitors maintaining physical distancing and washing and sanitising of hands regularly.
These are not legal requirements, but we kindly ask that you do this as a precaution to help stop the spread of the virus across our island communities.
Although we are now returning to something more like ‘normality’, things continue to be a little different in 2022 while numerous variants of the virus are in circulation. By working together, we can continue to keep you and our community safe – these are all good practice for avoiding more general bugs and viruses too.
- We would respectfully request that hands are sanitised and washed thoroughly immediately upon arrival and when leaving or re-entering the property. You will find a hand sanitiser inside the main door for your use when entering the cottage and before departing.
- You should follow the recommended hygiene guidelines of regular handwashing with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based gel throughout the day. Please carry hand sanitiser with you when out and about on the island. Be aware, some public toilets may be closed.
- We encourage guests to maintain the cleanliness of the cottage during their stay and to always maintain good ventilation, particularly prior to departure. All properties should have adequate supply of cleaning materials, including virucidal disinfectant, tissues, hand wash and/or sanitiser and cloths, disposable gloves for use. A supply of cloths and cleaning materials is provided in the kitchen which can be used throughout your stay as needed, and we do encourage guests to clean regularly. Please let us know if you need to top up the supplies.
- We always provide guests with antibacterial soap in the dispensers in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Used tissues and face masks should be bagged and binned.
- Face-coverings or a mask are no longer mandatory but some businesses may still ask you to wear a face covering. When visiting the local store at Leverburgh, An Clachan, please be respectful of any of the shop’s procedures both inside and outside the store. As a small community this is our ‘hub’ and everyone, local or visitor has contact with the shop in one way or another.
Our dedicated housekeeping team continues to work hard to ensure our properties are thoroughly cleaned between departures and arrivals, and we are maintaining additional measures recommended in the industry guidelines.
We are sure you will appreciate the additional housekeeping measures to safeguard you and our team require more time to complete. In order to achieve our high standards and be confident the property is ready for you, we will be changing our arrival and departure times as follows, and hope this does not cause any inconvenience:
- Arrival time strictly 17:00 hrs; we will advise you if we can accommodate earlier arrivals.
- Departure time 10:00 hrs
Our already comprehensive changeover procedures have been updated to ensure the property is thoroughly prepared. If you would like more information on the standards please let us know and we will be happy to supply this for you.
In adapting to the ‘new normal’, accepting we are living with the virus for some time to come. Guests, including those arriving at The Rock House and The Broch, will have a contact-free welcome rather than a face to face ‘meet and greet’. Our cottages will be left unlocked ready for your arrival (from 17:00) and keys will be hanging in the porch/utility room. However, you can speak to us by telephone at any time, and we will be happy to answer any questions you have.
The Estate Office will not be open to visitors unless prearranged and then social distancing must be adhered to. If you have any questions or need help, please call the office on 01859 550358.
Our Approach to Coronavirus
It is our priority to ensure we have all protocols and procedures in place to meet the recommended hygiene and cleanliness requirements, in order to protect the health and safety of our guests, employees and the community.
In adapting our cottages and the service we provide to our guests, we will adhere to the guidance issued by the Scottish Government in respect to all housekeeping requirements. We have signed up to Visit Scotland’s ‘Good to Go’ Scheme and Sawday’s ‘Clean and Safe’ Charter to provide guests with the reassurance and confidence that holidaying with us is as safe as we can make it.
Our housekeeping team have also completed valuable, industry recommended, online COVID-19 training so that we can be confident in the cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting routines which need to be carried out to keep everyone safe.
Should we experience further restrictions as a consequence of the virus, or its variants, we will override our usual cancellation policy and will happily defer your booking to another date up to 12 months following the date of your original booking if you are not able to travel due to the COVID-19 restrictions. However we do encourage and advise all guests to ensure they have adequate insurance in place for any holiday and travel they are planning.
Guests should check the Scottish Government website for up to date guidance on all travel restrictions as these are changing on a sometimes weekly basis: Corona Virus Scotland and also here Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel and transport.
As a reminder, the First Minister has provided guidance for travellers to the Western Isles advising them to take a COVID-19 lateral flow test three days prior to travelling and on the day of your departure from home. That means that if you test positive, you have a chance to confirm the result before making a final decision on cancelling your visit. You can order a free home test kit online here. Note: select ‘yes’ when the site asks if you were asked to get tested by a local authority or by an NHS Public Health team. Further guidance from NHS Western Isles can be found here.
Although measures are now easing and we are now returning to something more like ‘normality’, things continue to be a little different in 2022 while variants of the virus are in circulation. By working together, we can continue to keep you and our community safe. We have introduced some guest requirements and would kindly ask for your cooperation during your stay.
- We would respectfully request that hands are sanitised and washed thoroughly immediately upon arrival and when leaving or re-entering the property. You will find a hand sanitiser inside the main door for your use when entering the cottage and before departing.
- You should follow the recommended hygiene guidelines of regular handwashing with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based gel throughout the day. Please carry hand sanitiser with you when out and about on the island. Be aware, some public toilets may be closed.
- We encourage guests to maintain the cleanliness of the cottage during their stay and to always maintain good ventilation, particularly prior to departure. All properties should have adequate supply of cleaning materials, including virucidal disinfectant, tissues, hand wash and/or sanitiser and cloths, disposable gloves for use. A supply of cloths and cleaning materials is provided in the kitchen which can be used throughout your stay as needed, and we do encourage guests to clean regularly. Please let us know if you need to top up the supplies.
- We always provide guests with antibacterial soap in the dispensers in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Used tissues and face masks should be bagged and binned.
- Face-coverings or a mask are still mandatory in public places in Scotland and must be worn in any retail stores or enclosed public spaces. When visiting the local store at Leverburgh, An Clachan, please be respectful of the shop’s procedures and to social distancing both inside and outside the store. As a small community this is our ‘hub’ and everyone, local or visitor has contact with the shop in one way or another.
Our dedicated housekeeping team continues to work hard to ensure our properties are thoroughly cleaned between departures and arrivals, and we are maintaining additional measures recommended in the industry guidelines.
Our housekeepers are trained in COVID-19 processes so that we can be confident in the cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting routines and we have signed up to both Sawday’s ‘Clean and Safe’ initiative and Visit Scotland’s ‘Good to Go’ scheme.
We are sure you will appreciate the additional housekeeping measures to safeguard you and our team require more time to complete. In order to achieve our high standards and be confident the property is ready for you, we will be changing our arrival and departure times as follows, and hope this does not cause any inconvenience:
- Arrival time strictly 17:00 hrs; we will advise you if we can accommodate earlier arrivals.
- Departure time 10:00 hrs
Our already comprehensive changeover procedures have been updated to ensure the property is thoroughly prepared. If you would like more information on the standards please let us know and we will be happy to supply this for you.
In adapting to the ‘new normal’, accepting we are living with the virus for some time to come. Guests, including those arriving at The Rock House and The Broch, will have a contact-free welcome rather than a face to face ‘meet and greet’. Our cottages will be left unlocked ready for your arrival (from 17:00) and keys will be hanging in the porch/utility room. However, you can speak to us by telephone at any time, and we will be happy to answer any questions you have.
The Estate Office will not be open to visitors unless prearranged and then social distancing must be adhered to. If you have any questions or need help, please call the office on 01859 550358.