Cookies Policy
Last updated: January 2024
This Cookies Policy explains how lakeshadow-retreat uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit our website. It explains what these technologies are, why we use them, and your choices regarding their use.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They serve various purposes, from remembering your preferences to helping us understand how visitors interact with our site. Cookies may be set by the website you're visiting (first-party cookies) or by third-party services operating on that site (third-party cookies).
Cookies can remain on your device for different periods. Session cookies exist only while your browser is open and are deleted automatically when you close it. Persistent cookies remain until they expire or you delete them, and help recognise you on return visits.
How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
Essential Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled. They enable core functionality such as:
- Remembering your cookie consent preferences
- Maintaining security during your session
- Ensuring the website displays correctly
Analytics Cookies
With your consent, we use analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our website. This helps us improve our content and user experience. These cookies collect information such as:
- Pages visited and time spent on each
- How you arrived at our site (search engine, direct visit, referral)
- General geographic location (country or city level)
- Device type, browser, and operating system
This information is processed in aggregate form and does not identify individual visitors.
Marketing Cookies
With your consent, we may use marketing cookies to deliver relevant content and measure the effectiveness of our communications. These cookies may:
- Track whether you have visited from an advertising link
- Help prevent showing you the same content repeatedly
- Measure response rates to our communications
Specific Cookies We Use
The following table describes the specific cookies used on our website:
| Cookie Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| cookie_consent | Essential | Stores your cookie preferences | 1 year |
| cookie_analytics | Preference | Records analytics consent choice | 1 year |
| cookie_marketing | Preference | Records marketing consent choice | 1 year |
| _ga | Analytics | Distinguishes unique visitors | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Analytics | Maintains session state | 2 years |
| _gid | Analytics | Distinguishes users | 24 hours |
Your Cookie Choices
When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie banner offering choices about non-essential cookies. You can:
- Accept All: Enable all cookies including analytics and marketing
- Decline: Allow only essential cookies required for the website to function
- Customise: Open cookie settings to make granular choices about each category
You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the cookie settings link in our website footer or by adjusting your browser settings.
Managing Cookies Through Your Browser
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically:
- View cookies stored on your device
- Delete some or all cookies
- Block cookies from specific or all websites
- Set preferences for first-party versus third-party cookies
Please note that blocking or deleting cookies may affect your experience on our website and others. Some features may not function properly without certain cookies.
Browser-Specific Instructions
For guidance on managing cookies in specific browsers, please refer to your browser's help documentation:
- Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data
- Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Cookies and site data
Other Tracking Technologies
Local Storage
In addition to cookies, we may use local storage to store preferences that enhance your experience. Local storage data remains on your device until you clear your browser data.
Web Beacons
We may use small transparent images called web beacons (or pixels) in our emails to understand whether messages have been opened and which links have been clicked. This helps us improve our communications.
Third-Party Services
Some cookies on our website are set by third-party services that we use. These services have their own privacy and cookie policies:
- Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to understand website usage. Google's privacy policy is available at policies.google.com
We have configured these services to respect your privacy to the extent possible, including IP anonymisation where available.
Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" feature that signals to websites you visit that you do not want your online activity tracked. There is currently no consistent standard for how websites should respond to these signals. Our website does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals, but you can use the cookie preferences on our site to control tracking.
Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookies Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. The date at the top of this page indicates when it was last revised. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or this policy, please contact us:
Email: [email protected]
Post: Data Protection Officer, lakeshadow-retreat, Unit 4, Riverside Business Centre, Chapel Street, Salford M3 5BN