Hen Cloud Cottage

The staff were lovely and bubbly, and we’d happily come back. We spent a few nights in one of the shepherd huts, a nice little spot to be close to nature. The hot tub was fun, though flies swarmed around as soon as we lifted the cover. It would’ve helped to have an optional welcome pack with basics like milk, butter or bread, even for a small charge, since we weren’t sure what to bring for our first night.

The beds were rock hard, and the long drive to the cottage was horrendous. We also found the list of jobs in the lodge uncomfortable: strip the beds, wash and put away the pots, and take out all the rubbish. I do those things anyway, but the wording felt so aggressive that I worried we’d get in trouble if we missed anything. The owner seemed unhappy with us from the start. While I was in the hot tub with my 10-year-old, she stood outside her house staring over. I smiled, but she turned away and went inside. Later she walked back and forth across the back of our lodge, seeming mad for no reason. There was no greeting or welcome. When we walked around the area, she shouted at us rudely and aggressively for being there. We hadn’t known we shouldn’t walk there, as there were no signs, and we stayed away from the other lodges. We were just stretching our legs. As we left, we passed Ruth, who didn’t acknowledge us or smile. It wasn’t an enjoyable stay, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for a friendly atmosphere or travelling with children.

We stayed at Lavander retreat for three nights, from 29 June to 2 July 2024, and the hot tub was a highlight. We used it even in the rain, with the warm water making the chilly weather lovely. The bed was a decent size and the shower room had what we needed. We had music, giggles and laughter, and nobody disturbed us. Just take care on the steps, they get slippery when wet and feel dangerous. Thank you, Hen Cloud Cottage x

We wish we could give this zero stars. The entry code didn’t work when we arrived, and nobody answered our many calls, so we had to go back home. We got no refund and no apology or contact from the owners. There was no pre-lit fire as the description said there would be. The response says the fire is only lit on arrival and guests must then light it themselves and provide the fuel, but that wasn’t what we found. The hot tub instructions also say guests must arrive before 18:00 to be shown how to use it, that it can’t be used from 22:00 to 10:30, and that a £50 cash refundable deposit is due on arrival and returned after an inspection at departure. Children under 12 can’t use it. Nobody was there to show us how it worked or take the deposit. Wouldn’t recommend.