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Biblins Youth Campsite – Terms and Condition
Biblins Youth Campsite is owned by the Forestry Commission and managed by Woodcraft Folk, to benefit children and young people. Woodcraft Folk aims to:
- Support more children and young people to enjoy residential experiences at Biblins
- Provide appropriate information to group leaders, to ensure children and young people have a safe stay at Biblins
Who can stay on site?
Biblins provides a unique environment for children and young people, as such only schools and recognised children and youth groups can use the site during the Herefordshire Summer Term dates. Recognised children and youth groups include uniformed youth groups, sports groups and any state or voluntary group that provides formal or informal learning to those under the age of 25 years.
Other community groups are welcome to book the site at all other times.
Individual and family bookings will not be accepted.
How to book?
Initial enquiries will be made via the on-line Enquiry Form, available via the following link to the Biblins website: Biblins Booking Enquiry
Approved groups will then be sent a link to the on-line Booking Form, which shall be completed and submitted.
Booking confirmation
Once the Booking Form is received and processed, the group leader will be e-mailed a Booking Confirmation Letter together the applicable Invoices.
These documents will confirm the anticipated number of campers; the allocated pitch and the deposit payment required to secure the booking.
A Final Balance Invoice will also be sent at this time – but will not be due for payment until 14 days before the actual event. If any details of the booking are subject to change before the actual event, then the Final Balance Invoice will be revised and reissued.
Whilst we will always try to respect the requested pitch allocation, this remains subject to change, in response to conditions on site. If it does become necessary to amend the allocated pitch, we will inform affected groups as soon as possible.
All information provided to the Woodcraft, for the purposes of making a booking at Biblins, will be treated in accordance with our Privacy Policy. This can be accessed via the following link: www.woodcraft.org.uk/privacy
Charges
Woodcraft Folk attempts to keep all prices low, to ensure that Biblins remains an affordable location for all groups.
The charges for 2019 are as follows:
- Camping guests – £5 per person, per night
- The Burrow – £125 per night, for up to 19 guests
- Bunkhouse – Meeting / Dining room only – £30 per day
- Herf’s Barn – £25 per day (24Hrs)
- Bathrooms – Free of charge
- Firewood – Included in camping fee – but please use responsibly
- Canoe launch – £2 per boat*
- Parking – £2 per vehicle per day
- Day Visitors – £2 per person per day
- Camp Koodoo (Semi-Permanent Camp) – £8.50 per person, per night (Minimum fee of £200 per night)
* Campers, with own boats, one payment per boat for unlimited launches during residency. Non-campers, or campers using an external canoe company, payment of £2 per boat for each activity session. Activity Providers may also buy an Annual Launch Permit, to cover all launch fees. Please e-mail biblins@woodcraft.org.uk for further details.
Arrivals and Departures
- Normal arrival times = after 2pm
- Normal departure times = Before noon
Alternative arrival times can be agreed, especially to support larger groups, for set up / removal of camping equipment – please enquire. Please note that there may be additional fees, if extended timings prevent us hiring pitches to other users.
Day visitors
Day visitors are welcome on site. The charge for individual day visitors is shown above.
A charge will not be made for anyone making deliveries to site, or dropping off / collecting campers.
A group day visitor charge will be made for any group participating in activities on site, whether or not they are joining a resident group. Price on application, but will be based on the space required on site for the activity.
All day visitors must leave the site by 9pm.
Exclusive use
Exclusive use of the entire site can be arranged, for a minimum fee of £1,500 per night.
Payment
Invoices will be issued for a non-refundable Deposit; a Final Balance, and any additional fees. We would prefer invoices to be paid by BACS transfer, but do accept cheques, made payable to “Woodcraft Folk Biblins Youth Campsite”.
The value of the non-refundable deposit will be calculated as follows:
- For bookings with a value less than £100, we will issue a single Invoice for the total value of the visit
- For bookings with a value between £100 – £200, we will issue a Deposit Invoice for £50.
- For bookings with a value between £200 and £500, we will issue a Deposit Invoice for £100.
- For bookings with a value in excess of £500 we will issue a Deposit Invoice for 25% of the total value.
Deposit invoices must be paid within 30 days of issue, in order to secure bookings.
Final Balance Invoices are due for payment 14 days prior to the actual camp.
For groups who incur additional costs (increased numbers, car parking, canoe launch, etc.) we will issue additional invoices, as necessary, following the visit.
Cancellation and Refunds
When a group requests a cancellation and an alternative date is not booked, their Deposit payment will be forfeit.
For cancellations made by a group within 2 weeks of the camping event, a charge of 50% of the total fee will be levied.
Where a cancellation is made, by Biblins Campsite, due to site closure for safety reasons, or other unforeseen circumstances, groups will be offered the opportunity to re-book on alternative dates. If the alternative dates are not acceptable to the group, then a full refund of ALL payments will be made.
In the unlikely event that a group is required to leave the site due to unacceptable behaviour, no refunds will be made.
Internet connection
There is no internet connection on site.
Telephone and mobile signal
An emergency land-line phone is located on the exterior wall of the Warden’s cabin, for use by groups, to call the Emergency Services. Please note that there is no reliable mobile phone signal on site. Network signal is available at the King Arthur’s Cave car park, at the top of the access track.
Litter and waste
All groups are responsible for their own waste and we ask all guests to leave the site as they found it.
Bins are provided for recycling and general waste.
At Biblins you can recycle paper, cardboard, plastics, metal and glass.
Cleaning during your stay
Woodcraft Folk believes in co-operation and expects all guests to look after the site during their stay.
This includes:
- Mopping out the shower after you have used it, ready for the next guest
- Picking up your litter
- Placing waste in the bins provided (this should be done regularly to prevent animals being attracted to food waste)
- Placing tools in secure boxes
On departure
- Leave no trace
- Return all unused firewood to the wood store
- Mop your allocated toilet block
- Make sure all waste is placed in the bins provided
Groups should leave the site as they found it, ensuring they take all their equipment home with them.
Damages
Biblins and Woodcraft Folk are not responsible for injuries to individuals or damage to their property whilst on site. Please take precautions to ensure that you and your equipment are safe and secure.
We are aware that accidents do happen and, inevitably, Biblins campsite fixtures, fittings and equipment will suffer unintentional damage at the hands of campers. All damages should be reported to the on-site warden, so that they may be rectified as soon as possible.
Whilst we will not normally charge for accidental damage, we reserve the right to levy a charge to any groups found responsible for damage caused by misuse or deliberate intent.
Firewood
Groups are welcome to have open fires in the pits and stoves provided. Fire wood is available alongside the warden’s cabin. Please only take what you need and return any wood that you do not burn. For all bookings made at the new 2019 prices, the cost of firewood is included with the basic £5 camping fee and no additional charges will be made.
For groups that booked before the 2019 price review, A fee of £10 per night will be levied for firewood.
Please do not forage for wood in the surrounding forest and DO NOT attempt to light any fires within the woods. The forest is a SSSI and needs to be protected.
There is a designated area within the woods, where fires and Bushcraft activities may be carried out – please enquire for further details.
Quiet times
Out of respect for other campers and for our neighbours on site, we require that all groups observe the quiet-time between 10pm and 7am. In addition, we do not permit amplified music at any time. The on-site warden will remind any groups who are being discourteous of this requirement.
Canoe launch
The Biblins canoe launch is available for use by prior arrangement. All groups using the canoe launch should be under the supervision of a qualified instructor. If you need local recommendations for activity providers, please see the Biblins Web Site.
To help us maintain the track and launch point, we charge £2 per boat to use this facility. See the fees section, above, for more information on launch fees.
River Access
The only permissible access to the River Wye, from Biblins Camp Site, is via the Canoe Launch facility. This is for access to the river in boats only and is NOT to be used for swimming. At all other locations the bank and shore of the River are in private ownership and access is NOT permitted. This includes the beach area, downstream of the bridge.
These restrictions have been applied by the owners of the river-bed and banks and neither the Staff nor the Wardens at Biblins campsite have any authority to overrule them.
Climbing Crag
The climbing crag, behind the eastern toilet block, may be booked by any groups camping on site. It is a first-come, first served facility, although we do encourage groups to share where possible. All groups must be accompanied by a qualified instructor, who must make their own assessment as to the safety of the crag and suitability for the group using it.
Individuals are not permitted to access the crag without a qualified instructor – access will remain locked and gated. Please enquire of site staff when making your booking.
Access to the site
The local road access to Biblins campsite is narrow and winding, so please drive with care. The local roads are suitable for minibuses, with frequent passing places. The final descent into Biblins is along a Forestry Commission maintenance road – please drive here with extreme caution, looking out for walkers, wildlife and forestry vehicles. Please close the two barrier gates behind you.
The lower barrier will be locked between 10pm and 7.30am. There is to be no vehicular movement on site between those hours. The upper barrier is never locked, but must remain closed after use.
Coach access to the site can be arranged from the Monmouthshire side of the river. See the Biblins Website for full details.
Parking on site
Biblins encourages lift sharing to reduce traffic on site.
A parking charge of £2 will be levied for each vehicle for the duration of the stay.
Groups are encouraged to park alongside the campsite track, close to their pitch. For the safety of all campers, a 10MPH speed Limit applies whilst driving on site, or on the approach road. Please be vigilant for walkers and wildlife.
There is also an overflow car park at the entrance of the site, near the Bunkhouse and, at busy times, we may ask guests to use this instead of parking cars on site.
When a yellow weather warning is in place, for snow and ice, we ask that all vehicles are parked at the King Arthur’s Cave car park, at the top of the access track, to prevent vehicles becoming stranded on site.
BBQs and cooking on site
Groups are welcome to BBQ on site and should take appropriate fire safety precautions. All BBQs should be raised off the ground. A number of bricks are available at the warden’s cabin to support you to do this.
Fire pits may also be used for open fire cooking.
Smoking
SMOKING IS PROHIBITED on site. This includes all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and e-cigarettes.
A designated smoking area can be found just off site in the overflow carpark near the Bunkhouse.
Drugs, alcohol and intoxicating substances
Biblins Campsite has adopted and will adhere to the Woodcraft Folk’s Drug and Alcohol Policy. For further details, please see:- http://woodcraft.org.uk/resources/drugs-alcohol-tobacco-and-intoxicating-substances-policy
Dogs
Dogs are NOT PERMITTED at Biblins Camp Site. Only registered assistance dogs will be allowed to camp, or stay in any of the buildings at Biblins.
Members of the public are permitted to walk their dogs along the public footpath, through the centre of the site. All dogs are required to be kept on a lead and their owners are required to pick up after their dogs. Please report any irresponsible dog owners to the on-site warden.
Essential equipment
All campers should bring everything they need for an enjoyable stay – except when staying in Camp Koodoo, where only sleeping and other personal equipment will be required.
Please be aware that there is very limited lighting on site, so a Torch is essential and that we DO NOT provide Toilet Rolls – so please bring your own!
Safety on site
All group leaders are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people in their care whilst on site.
Group leaders are encouraged to make their own risk assessments of all aspects of their stay and ensure you have appropriate measures in place to deal with an accident or emergency.
Significant aspects to consider in any Risk Assessment:
- Close proximity of the River Wye
- Weather conditions
- Public footpath through the campsite
- Cliffs along the campsite edge and throughout the forest