This is a valuable and courteous review albeit being directed towards the Lazy Duck Hostel. Really it should be on Trip Advisor's Lazy Duck Campsite page but never mind, the same principles apply and it invites a similarly courteous response. What the reviewer calls 'rules' we refer in our pre visit postings to as 'arrangements' and for good reason. The distinction may be slight but it is important. For someone more accustomed to being ruled by rules as distinct from being guided by arrangements though it may be not so easy but let's try.

Our 'arrangements' have been devised after years of experience of making our visitors feel safe, looked after and assisted in any way open to us to help them enjoy their visit. Agreed, for some this might just result in information overkill. Our experience this year in particular though with a more even balance of well seasoned and highly experienced campers and hostellers and those first timers who happily profess themselves as novices has been that a clear explanation from us before they come of what is of offer and what is not makes for more smiling faces by far.

Determinedly both in the pre visit correspondence and again on arrival we draw attention to what visitors CAN do and what is on offer rather than what they cannot. They can expect the intimacy of a 4 pitch site. They can expect a fifth pitch to be offered to someone who walks or cycles in unannounced; we will not turn them away. They will have smallholding livestock - sheep, ducks, hens in the field over the fence from them. They should feel free to light the chimenea fire, use the hammocks in the trees, 'suffer' the adventurous bush shower and then award themselves a Certificate for Courage, wallow in the 2 person sauna, eat at the picnic table, light the candles in the Shelter, ask for home baked bread, help themselves to polytunnel produce in support of a children's charity, use our internet connection free and access the computer provided and arrange for any children to help feed the waterfowl at breakfast time.

And yes, without any apology from us, they are asked not to scorch the precious grass with careless use of their cooking stove and they are also asked to venture no closer to the waterfowl pond than the 'Welcoming Seat'. The pond banks can be slippery for children and the ducks have their right to space as well as the rest of us. They are asked to recycle waste most carefully and follow other requests for their own safety and enjoyment as well as for the well being of other guests. This includes minding the noise level after 11.00pm
These are 'arrangements' for civilized living in an elemental environment, the sort of place you though didn't exist any more.

The reviewer is generous in highlighting what he likes at The Lazy Duck and we are appreciate this. We agree the pre visit posting on our 'arrangements' could be viewed by some as lengthy, rather like this response. Let's just agree shall we that with three season visitors filling our few tent pitches constantly from all over the World, the safest way of ensuring a good time is had by all is to let you all know in advance just how we have learned to live with guests in this smallholding/hostel/camping ground/holiday cottage/woodman's hut six acres. "Say it as it is" said the wise man of the North. Then, as we say in the pre visit posting, please decide for yourself whether or not The Lazy Duck is the place for you. Most reviewers seem to go along with that one happily enough.

All the best,

David, Valery & L. Duck