The Guardhouse has a 4G WiFi connection. The password is MayenEstate1790

If you have trouble connecting, try the following:

1. Make sure the unit is switched on and plugged into the wall

2. If your computer doesn't recognise the network and you have a USB port, you can plug the device directly into your laptop

3. If connection dissappears, switching it off and on again tends to do the trick, but sometimes it's due to a network issue outwith our control. Try again in half an hour and hopefully the network is restored.

4. Let us know! We are more than happy to try to resolve connectivity issues, but please note that if your internet is down, the team's internet might be down too, so come and find us in the Coachhouses!

EE signal can be found all around the estate. If you are with another provider, signal can be found at the top of the main drive at the Gate Lodge.

The main source of heat in The Guardhouse is the wood burning stove, which heats the whole home.

There is a supplementary electric heater in the bedroom and electric towel rail in the bathroom.

To light the fire,

1. Create a valley of logs at the base of the stove.

2. Place 2-3 firelighters in the valley and light them.

3. Carefully build a Jenga of kindling across the valley of logs.

4. Leave the door open while the fire takes hold.

5. Once fire is burning yellow, add larger logs and close the stove door.

6. Make sure that both the top vent and bottom vents are open to allow airflow.

7. Once the stove is hot, close the bottom air vent completely and use the top vent to control the temperature.

The top vent should be left at about half-way, once the stove is lit, to avoid overheating.

If the stove is smoky when lighting, use the door to waft fresh air to the fire and encourage the smoke to go up the chimney.

The water is heated by an immersion, the switch is in the kitchen and must be left on at all times.

Please note that the bath is very large and will take a whole tank of hot water to fill. It will take a couple of hours to replenish the hot water tank.

Do not dispose of any rubbish in the toilet nor food or cooking fats down the drains, as we are on a septic tank system which will block.

Condensation can occur in The Guardhouse, due to the single glazing.

To keep the property warm and dry, we recommend opening the bedroom window during the day. Make sure to always use the kitchen extractor fan when cooking and keep the bathroom door closed after showering, with the fan left on to clear the steam.

The Guardhouse’s hot tub is wood-burning, chemical free and we empty, clean and refill the hot tub between guests.

Points to note:

• We will light the hot tub fire so that the water is heating up in advance of your arrival, but the hot tub does take 2 hours to heat from cold, topping up the fire every 15 minutes.

• We recommend showering before using the hot tub each time, to keep the water pleasant for longer.

• Do not introduce soaps, chemicals, dyes or oils to the water.

• Keep the lid on the hot tub any time you are not in the tub
  

To light the fire:

Follow the same process as lighting the indoor stove.

Before lighting, open the ashtray a few inches to ensure good airflow. Keep the ashtray slightly open.

You need to stack the logs up the top of the wood burner and keep it topped up. It takes a lot of energy to heat the volume of water.

Whilst the hot water is heating inside the tub, you must stir the water at least every half hour using the wooden paddle, to prevent hot spots from forming, which can melt the liner.

Allow the fire to burn out once the desired temperature has been reached. The water will continue to get hotter while a fire is burning.

1. Remove the BBQ cover

2. Open the top vent and bottom vent fully

3. Carefully remove and set aside the metal grates and stone

4. Pour in BBQ coals into the egg and place a few firefighters on top. Do not use lighter fluid as this damages the stone

5. Light the firefighters, add back in the stone and grate and close the lid

6. Once the fire has taken hold, close the bottom vent

7. Monitor the temperature of the BBQ and use the top vent to control the temperature

8. When the coals have turned grey, you can cook on the stone or grates with the lid closed

9. Wait until the BBQ has completely cooled before replacing the cover

For recipe ideas, check out Big Green Egg on Youtube

The Guardhouse’s pizza oven is gas powered. It’s quick and easy to use.

Points to note:

• We offer pizza kits for sale in our shoppe

• Do not attempt to cook anything other than a pizza in the pizza

  oven

To use the pizza oven

1. Remove the pizza oven cover

2. Locate the knob on the back of the pizza oven. and light the oven like you would a gas hob, by pushing in and twisting the knob.

3. Heat the oven on maximum heat for 10 minutes

4. Turn the knob to the lowest heat setting and use the paddle to pop your pizza in the oven

5. Rotate the pizza using the paddle. It will only take a few minutes to cook.

6. Wait until the pizza oven has completely cooled before replacing the cover

For pizza recipe inspiration, check out the Ooni website.

When walking on the estate, you’ll be almost guaranteed to come across some of the beautiful, biodiverse nature that reside here at Mayen. This includes Roe Deer, Hares, Pine Martins, Red Squirrels, Pheasants, Barn Owls, Ospreys, Woodpeckers, Partridge, Foxes, Badgers and Wildcats to name just a few!

We recommend you use the OS maps app to navigate your way around Mayen.

When enjoying the beautiful nature, we ask you to please take only memories and leave only footprints behind. With this philosophy, we can protect the stunning habitats throughout Mayen which in turn will improve the biodiversity on the estate.

We are a working farm with free range livestock and field animals (including Sheep and Highland Coos). In the interest of Health and Safety, we do ask that you do not enter any fields which are fenced off and we kindly ask that you do not feed any of the animals.

We take pride in our Estate and strive to continuously work to ensure that we are able to maintain a beautiful place for our guests to explore.  From time to time, have contractors working on our Estate who help to manage our restorations and our livestock, and in the interest of health and safety, we kindly ask that you do not enter any construction areas which will be visibly marked. 

Between November and February, we also host Driven Bird Shoot Days for external guests only. On these days, we kindly advise that walking around the grounds of Estate is prohibited in the interest of Health and Safety.

Please do also make sure to leave gates as you find them.