Ready or Not?

If you fit the following description AND if our place fits you, please feel free to book! Otherwise, there are hundreds of choices closer to town that may suit your needs better.

Adventurous?

We urge only resilient, nature loving, independent, resourceful, adventuresome people to book a holiday here. Its a wild and steep terrain, and at night you will not hear the noise of traffic, but rather the sound of wind in the trees, owls in the dark, rain on the roofs, and bird and animal calls.  When skies are clear the stars and moon are perhaps the most beautiful you will ever see.  It's something about being in the mountains 8,000 ft high, with no pollution covering the atmosphere. Other times of the year, especially in the monsoon, it's just incredibly dark.

Nature Lover?

Wild Gaur, boar, Sambar, Barking deer, Malabar Squirrels, bear and leopards roam near our property (and sometimes on our property)! Not long ago a couple of huge bison bulls fought over a nearby cow just a few feet from the main bay window of the big house. We've caught a roaming leopard on the night video camera. Stumpfields is not for the faint-hearted.  A huge variety of birds fill our trees, shrubs and drink nectar from our flowers. This is a bird lover's paradise. Keep your eyes (and binoculars) scanned for all the wild animals and exotic birds of the Nilgiris.

Resilient?

The mountains of Ooty are very cool year-round, especially at night.  While the indoors are warm and cozy, mountain air outside is brisk! Pack ready for cool or wet weather, walking shoes for outdoors, slippers for indoors, hats, coats and warm socks. Except for a couple level lawns and gardens, Stumpfields is either a steep walk up, or down. Come ready for exhilirating excersise, and a hiker's resolve. You may drive up to the house to drop your things, but we ask you to park down below at the barn, since the space by the house is limited.

Ready for peace and quiet?

We don't have TVs, a nightclub or bar. On purpose. Beauty and stillness is all around you, waiting for your attention. Good books cram the bookshelves. Come here ready to unplug from emails, internet, TV, social media, and movies and try curling up by the oil heater with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. Let your body and mind re-set and recharge as you decompress and let the nature around you remind you there is a different way to live. 

Competent driver?

Our driveway is 300 meters long and 8 feet wide and is steep in places. Sheer cliffs fall away on one side, with no guard rail. Cars have gone off the side before (and eventually recovered). Part of the drive is a dirt track, but all the steepest places now have concrete pavers. You need to be a competent driver to navigate our road. If you are not confident in your driving skills, but you are still prepared to hike, then you can park down at our entrance and hike up the road. Many have done that before you.

Safe and Sensible?

We do want you to be safe. You must plan to ARRIVE BEFORE DARK. There are no lights along our drive and there are wild animals. In order to drive up safely, park, get your things unpacked into your rooms, its very important to arrive no later than 7pm. Please plan accordingly.

Proactive about dinner?

We want you to be well fed. However, as a Bed and Breakfast we do not serve lunch or dinner. If you arrive after 5 pm you cannot order in from Swiggy or Zomato. 6pm is their last delivery time (because of the reasons we have mentioned above). If you are unable to arrive by 5, then please eat before you come, OR bring take away with you to reheat in our kitchen. Of course you are welcome to dine out after you arrive. If you have booked Bilberry or Ivy and wish to cook, please be sure to bring all your own provisions. We only keep salt, pepper and a few spices in the cupboards. Ooty is 7 km away which takes about 20 minutes due to the windy, slow roads. A provision shop with a few things is available at the bottom of our drive in the village of Buttercombai.