Guests often praise the high standard of the cottages, the thoughtful interiors, and attentive hosts. Several stays mention welcome hampers and simple key-code check-in. The most serious complaints involve deposits being kept, poor cleanliness, and occasional safety hazards. A smaller number of reviews also mention intrusive website pop-ups and missing advertised amenities.
Examples from available reviews (Nov 2021 – Feb 2026).
Exceptionally clean, thoughtfully designed treehouse and outstanding host care.
“it was absolutely beautiful.”
They handled a bereavement cancellation with speed and understanding.
“dealt with a cancellation caused by a double bereavement with commendable speed and understanding.”
They kept my £650 deposit after I cancelled due to family problems.
“fleeced for £650...”
Accommodation was filthy with cobwebs and unacknowledged complaints.
“the place had cobwebs everywhere, not been cleaned”
Many reviewers describe proactive hosts who prepare the property well and respond quickly by phone. Staff also get specific praise for handling sensitive cancellations and offering a warm welcome on arrival. A minority report refusals to rebook or unhelpful decisions during urgent situations.
Many comments suggest guests felt the price matched the equipment and location. One strong complaint stands out: a £650 deposit kept after a cancellation. No broader pattern appears around routine refunds or compensation.
Guests often mention an easy arrival, including key-code check-in and clear paperwork. Several users describe frustrating website behaviour, with persistent pop-ups and overlays interrupting availability searches. A few listings did not include expected tech features, such as a smart TV.
Many reviews point to clean, well-equipped cottages with spacious kitchens and pleasant gardens. A contrasting cluster describes dirty units, cobwebs, and slippery showers that raised safety concerns. Both positive and negative experiences show up under quality.
Several reviewers praise fast replies and a compassionate approach to cancellations. Others say the company stopped responding to complaints and left cashback or claims unresolved. A small set also mentions refusals to rebook and sharing of sensitive details.
Reviews split between five-star stays and one-star incidents that disrupted holidays. Positive feedback highlights attention to detail, smooth check-in, and helpful hosts. Negative accounts focus on kept deposits, cleanliness problems, noise, and follow-ups that went unanswered.
For each review, the core experience based on original source reviews.
Sources: Trustpilot (22) · Collected.reviews (1) · Quotes shortened · As of: February 2026
Exceptionally clean, thoughtfully designed treehouse and outstanding host care.
“it was absolutely beautiful.”
Most beautiful lodge stayed in, exceptional attention to detail.
“this was the most beautiful lodge I have ever stayed in”
They kept my £650 deposit after I cancelled due to family problems.
“fleeced for £650...”
Received excellent customer service and a very high standard cottage.
“I received excellent customer service”
Cashback offer not honoured and queries remain unanswered after stay.
“our claim remains outstanding over 3 weeks after our stay.”
Lovely, comfortable cottage with a beautiful walled garden near Poole.
“Beautiful cottage and walled garden.”
Property lacked a smart TV, only Freeview provided despite high price.
“ONLY "Freeview".”
Accommodation was filthy with cobwebs and unacknowledged complaints.
“the place had cobwebs everywhere, not been cleaned”
Excellent phone service during booking with helpful staff.
“excellent service from staff that answered my call”
Property had safety hazards and lacked promised luxury standards.
“The showers were very slippery”
Holiday ruined by neighbouring building site and machinery noise nearby.
“Got woken up at 8am to the sound of machinery”
Spiders at entrance and continuous foghorn noise disrupted our stay.
“incessant and disruptive noise from the lighthouse foghorn system.”
Company failed to check property and stopped responding to complaints.
“the company have just stopped responding.”
They refused to rebook despite my dog's medical issue and revealed sensitive details.
“They have refused as it’s near the date.”
Comfortable three-bedroom cottage with well-equipped kitchen and prompt issue resolution.
“The kitchen is large and well provided for with dishwasher and washing machine.”
Most rentals met or exceeded expectations, high overall quality.
“9 out of 10 places rented have either met of exceeded expectations”
Website intrusive pop-ups and newsletter overlay hindered availability searches.
“There's a constant irritating pop-up that keeps asking if I want to chat”
Great, clean property with welcome hamper and easy key-code check-in.
“Great property, clean, hamper, beautiful location.”
Hosts were welcoming, helpful, and went above and beyond.
“The kettle was on & a lovely welcome pack”
Beautiful, well-equipped Harrogate apartment with thoughtful owner gestures.
“A bag of Betty’s goodies was in the kitchen”
They handled a bereavement cancellation with speed and understanding.
“dealt with a cancellation caused by a double bereavement with commendable speed and understanding.”
No issues; paperwork timely and stunning cottage and scenery.
“Everything was perfect and we were given paperwork in plenty of time”
Many thanks for making our stay in Scotland one unforgettable moment of our life. We did not know the best place to spend the holiday as a family but you really helped us. The agent gave us the available options and even guided us in choosing the best place to visit as a family.The handpicked holiday cottages in the Scottish Highlands were unique and luxurious. We loved that we could do our cooking and this was awesome. We could walk around and have fun on the beach without worrying that there would be no food in the hotel. The children had lots of pleasure playing around too. We got the package best with our budget. We hated that we would go back home soon. Looking forward to another great experience in a different destination.
This page combines submitted experiences with public reviews from platforms such as Google, Trustpilot, etc. Recurring points are summarised without changing the content of reviews.
Rural Retreats lists self-catering holiday cottages, lodges, and rural properties across the UK. Each property page includes photos, detailed descriptions, availability calendars, and local area guides. Customers can book online, pay deposits by card, and receive booking paperwork by email. The company offers phone and email support and sets out terms for cancellations and deposits. Many listings also share practical information such as check-in instructions and on-site facilities.