Plan Your Stay

Safety

The Tranquil Otter is an unspoilt rural site with a lake and woods in their natural state. These, inevitably, present potential hazards and need care on the part of our guests. There are, for example, small bridges over streams, boardwalks across swampy ground and fallen trees left lying to provide rich habitats for birds, mammals and invertebrates. There is unfenced water around the site that can be dangerous, even for good swimmers. Guests need to take reasonable care. Children must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. Buoyancy aids are available from us and strongly recommended.

Boat

Each lodge comes with its own flat-bottom. We can supply buoyancy jacket for you to use during your stay. Please let us know in advance so that we can have these ready for you.

Hot-tub by the Lake

We check the chemical balance in the hottub regularly, including during your stay. Water changes are scheduled to avoid changeover. However, very occasionally we need to make an unplanned water change. In such a case, the hottub will be out of use for the first night of your stay. We will contact you ahead of your arrival if this is ever the case.

Every lodge has a hot tub for you to use during your stay. The way our lodges are positioned around the lake means that you can relax and enjoy your experience without worrying about being overlooked.

Hot tubs are fun but remember that they are serious pieces of equipment.

Everyone enjoys relaxing in the hot tub while looking out over the lough. However, hot tubs combine water and electricity with an outdoor setting, which means there are some Health & Safety issues that you need to be familiar with before you start using it.

You can read more about Do’s and Don’ts of Hot Tub Safety on our Frequently Asked Questions section.

We have some information on Health & Safety in the guest handbook in your lodge. The Health and Safety Executive also recommends you read an extract from their report on the “Managment of Spa Pools” which you can download here.

In the meantime, here are a few pointers that you should be aware of.

Hot tub management at The Tranquil Otter

We are very thorough about maintaining the hygiene and safety of the hot tub. The water is changed regularly, and we keep a date and time record of each water change. In addition, we do the following:

Things you can do to make sure you are safe when using the hot tub.

Children and babies in the hot tub

It’s really important not to take babies into the hot tub. The heat of the water can be dangerous for babies and possibly fatal. Children under the age of eight should be supervised by an adult at all times, and don’t let them submerge their head under the water. Jumping and diving into the water is also dangerous.

Eating and drinking

We understand that people like to drink a something cold and bubbly in the hot tub, but please don’t use glasses, there are plastic containers in the lodge for you to use. Also, take care not to swallow any hot tub water.

We ask that food is not consumed in the hot tub. Food particles can clog the filters and could make the hot tub unusable.

Pregnancy and people on medication

We strongly advise all pregnant women to consult their GP before using a hot tub. We also advise the same for anyone taking medication for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease or other chronic conditions.

Using the hot tub at night

We ask that the hot tub is not used after 11 pm at night. Our approach at the Tranquil Otter is that guests should be virtually unaware of each other’s presence and ask you bear in mind that sound travels much further over water than you might realise.

Relax and enjoy

We know it seems like a long list, but we want all our guests to be safe during their stay. Before your arrival you will receive an email with final details, and a disclaimer for you to read and sign before using the hot tub. So look out for that, download it and bring it with you when you come.

Log Burner

Your lodge comes complete with a basket of logs, kindling, fire-lighter and matches. Additional logs may be bought on site.

 

Wifi

Our lodges have fibre connection and telephone reception is variable. You’ll find that you can use FaceTime or Skype and watch Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Woodlands

The lake is surrounded by woodlands, enjoy an early morning walk and if you are lucky you may see a deer.

What tranquillity means for your stay

Many of our guests come to the Tranquil Otter to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. For your stay, we offer a rural retreat where you can get close to nature while still enjoying many modern conveniences you enjoy at home. Sitting on your lodge deck, overlooking our private lake, is, without a doubt, a deliciously tranquil experience and the complete antithesis of traffic jams, urban noise and jostling cheek by jowl on overcrowded trains during your morning commute.

Nature cannot be silenced

But nature cannot be silenced. There are noises. Birdsong may wake you up in the morning, and you may hear owls ‘hoot-hooting’ late at night. Frogs and crickets and bumblebees all add their two penneth worth to the throng together with woodpeckers, wood pigeons and many other creatures.

A front row seat to observe and enjoy local wildlife

We offer our guests the opportunity to get up close and personal with nature, and have a front row seat to a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the variety of wildlife that can be found in and around our lake.

Most of our guests like to keep themselves to themselves and spend their time reading, enjoying the hot tub and really immersing themselves in the peaceful surroundings. However, because all our lodges overlook the lake, voices and other noises can carry and can sometimes be heard by other guests.

A far cry from being awakened by juggernaut lorries thundering past

The overall experience of a visit to The Tranquil Otter is peaceful and idyllic, but it’s not always silent. But even if you’ve been woken up by a symphony of birds at the crack of dawn, you can’t deny that it’s a far cry from being awakened by police sirens, aeroplanes or juggernaut lorries thundering past.

The only traffic jam you’re likely to see in our part of the world will be sheep that have strayed onto the road, or maybe a duck trying to get her chicks safely to the other side of the road.

If you’d like a front row seat to nature in all its glory, then come and visit the Tranquil Otter. You won’t be disappointed.

Book early to be sure of getting the dates you want.