Frequently asked questions

Staying on Lundy

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

  Some of our Landmarks are suitable for people with disabilities or limited mobility. However, many Landmarks have steep or narrow staircases, uneven floors and thresholds, changes of level, low ceilings or beams, as well as indistinct colours on steps and in corridors. We recommend that you call Booking Enquiries on 01628 825925 if you would like to find out the suitability of a particular Landmark for anyone with a specific disability.  Further information on access when visiting Lundy can be found here: https://www.countrysidemobility.org/lundy.

• Are Landmarks only available as self-catering accommodation?

  Yes, Landmarks are only available as self-catering accommodation. We occasionally offer bed and breakfast subject to property availability, with breakfast being served in the Marisco Tavern.

• Do you provide catering?

  We do not provide catering, however, the Marisco Tavern is normally open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Please check the notice board on arrival for opening times.

• Do you allow dogs?

  Dogs are not permitted on Lundy except assistance dogs.

• Can I bring a pet?

  Lundy is a working farm with large numbers of ewes and lambs at certain times of the year. For this reason we cannot allow you to bring dogs or pets (except assistance dogs) when travelling to, or staying on, the island.

• What time can I arrive and what time do I have to depart from the Landmark?

  Your arrival and departure time on the island will be governed by the arrival and departure time of MS Oldenburg or the helicopter.  Your property will be ready by 4pm, however, this can often be earlier.  You must vacate your property by 10am.

• Am I 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.

• Can I get married in a Landmark?

  Unfortunately, most of our Landmarks are not licensed for weddings.  However, it’s possible to get married or have a wedding blessing on Lundy subject to obtaining the relevant license and/or consent. Please contact the shore office info@lundyisland.co.uk for further information.   

• 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.

• Are there 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).  

Your booking questions answered

Booking and Payment

• How can I pay?

  We accept Maestro (if issued in the UK), Visa, MasterCard, direct transfer and sterling cheques drawn on a UK bank. Cheques should be made payable to the Landmark Trust except for Lundy stays and boat/helicopter tickets which should be payable to The Lundy Company Ltd. All payments must be in sterling.

• 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 cancel or change my booking?

  If you wish to cancel or change your booking, please contact Booking Enquiries 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 online.

• How do I pick up the key?

  Please report to reception when you arrive on the island, where further information will be given.

• What if I arrive late?

  If you miss the scheduled sailing or helicopter to Lundy, you’ll have to make your own travel arrangements using local operators.

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

  If we cannot transport you to Lundy either by boat 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 your stay and you have bought from us a boat or helicopter ticket 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 to charge for it.

• 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!

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 and fridges. There is standard range of crockery, cutlery, pots, pans and utensils. A full equipment list is available at time of booking.

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

  Fuel for the open fires/stoves can be bought from the General Store.

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

  Mobile coverage varies on the island.  There is a payphone in the Marisco Tavern.

• 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.

• Is linen provided?

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

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

  A welcome tray with tea, milk and sugar awaits your arrival.  We also provide toilet rolls and a bar of soap per basin, but no other toiletries. We do not provide hairdryers. Here are other things you might consider.

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 cstanford@landmarktrust.org.uk.

• 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 cstanford@landmarktrust.org.uk

• 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 cstanford@landmarktrust.org.uk

• 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 you fund a large restoration project?

  The cost of acquiring, restoring and furnishing new Landmarks 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 to restore a building which will become a new Landmark. 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 early stages of planning the rescue of a future Landmark before a fundraising appeal is launched.  Examples of how donations have been used to help fund our work can be seen in our annual Supporter Update, a copy of which can be downloaded from the Support Us section.

• 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. For more information on all our supporter schemes and their 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 support@landmarktrust.org.uk and we will be happy to help you make the necessary changes.

• How do I become a member of Landmark?

  Landmark does not have a membership scheme. Anyone can book a Landmark. We do have a Friends scheme though. The Landmark Friends are enthusiasts who wish to be close to the work of Landmark and who enjoy visiting a number of Landmarks each year and meeting people who stay in them. For more information, visit our Support Us section.