High Rigg Shepherd's Retreat

We had a great stay at the shepherds retreat, we arrived and let ourselves in using the helpful guidance from the owners in the email sent shortly before our stay. We loved the special touches like the Prosecco, local pies, biscuits and pack of playing cards. The owner came over and introduced himself and explained how he had hand built all of the huts himself. We spent every evening sat outside and cooked a bbq every evening and made good use of the hot tub. The outside area was beautifully decorated, well kitted out and perfect for all weathers. It was spotless and well maintained and the hot tub was perfect- robes supplied were handy for getting out of the hot tub into the cold. The views from our decking were stunning, although we couldn?t make friends with the sheep . The huts are located close enough to local amenities but far enough to be in a very quiet location. Parking is close by to the huts and each have their own parking space. The hut inside was perfect, beds were comfy, plenty of storage for food, plenty of pots and cutlery for cooking and a good oven and hob. Shower was great and although the bathroom is small it functions well and has everything you require so was not an issue. The place was completely spotless cannot fault this area. We had a smart tv and a really good fan which was useful seen as it was hot but there was also plenty of windows and a set of patio doors to open. We originally booked a 3 night stay but requested to stay longer at short notice and although our hut was already booked for the evening the owners facilitated this for us and moved us into the hideaway hut for the extra night with no fuss. The hideaway hut was equally as perfect to the retreat with a stunning view to Scotland.

Were do I start... I booked the shepherds retreat a year in advance for my birthday, so was looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend, one we didn't get. We arrived at the hut at about 4-5pm to the male owner greeting us and gave us a run down of everything and told us our hottub wouldn't be ready for and hour or so which we didn't mind.On entering the hut it seemed nice,warm and inviting. Later on we went out to the hottub, when we opened the tub lid the water level was only half way, so even when we were sat in there it only came to below my partners chest. When we got out late that night my partner decided to fill it up abit with the hose, the water was dribbling out, so he left it, to go back out to it, but he forgot. . Early next morning I got a call from the rental company saying the tub was turned off, at this point my partner realised what he'd done and went straight to the owner to apologise and if there was any damage we will pay for it, the owner responded by saying, dont worry, the water had only just got to the top of the tub and wet the floor slighty and to go and enjoy our stay, even though he had said this we were both distaught that this had happened has we are both very mindful of how we look after other peoples things/property. We decided on go out for the day, but while making breakfast and getting ready for the day we started to notice what the hut was really like, the place was filthy, shabby, very worn, the cutlery was disgusting and did not even want to eat with them. Dust, cobwebs everywhere, it didn't look like it had been cleaned in months nevermind just before we arrived. The lampshade at the side of the eating table didn't even look like it had been cleaned since the day they opened, the bunting above the bed was inch thick with dust (this is above your head when sleeping), flooring was split, crumbs and dust on the worktops, a long black hair on the work top (iv got blonde hair) this list goes on, but the photos prove it. On leaving the hut there is a table and 2 chairs on the decking as seen in the photos, but the garden was nothing like the pictures advertised, no logs/seating in the garden by a bbq/fireplace, just 2 loungers lent up against a wooden box, they were full of cobwebs and filthy, the grass was over grown and 4 recycling bins. After our day out cycling we came back to the hut to then find the own had emptied the hottub and unplugged it. We didn't understand why he would do this after speaking with him that morning and him stating not to worry, nothing was damaged and to go enjoy our weekend, to us this was just been very spiteful and he could have told us straight that morning. We called the rental company to complain about the hottub and everything else we were unhappy with, even they were shocked that he'd emptied the tub and said they would speak with him to get it refilled, but I new this would fall on deaf ears and this just put the nail in my birthday weekend treat. On the day we were leaving i heard the owner come down to the hotub at 7am to fill it up for the next people, which I thought was out of order seen as we had rented the place till 10am, but hay oh. On leaving we noticed the end of the hose that they fill the tub up with was thrown into the sheeps drinking water trough in the field the huts in, hygienic not! On packing up our car the owner walked passed us and wasn't going to speak, my partner said hi to him for him to just grunt at us. Haha. Unbelievable! To say we payed just short of ?500 to stay in a "luxury" hut for 3 nights, i would have expected so much better. Yes we hold ours hands up with the hottub and looking back we should have asked him to fill it up for us, but our treatment after makes me think he wouldn't have any ways. Besides the hottub the review would still be the same, for the amount of money they are asking it should be in tip top condition and at the very least clean.

There are 2 parts to my review. The first part regarding the stay..... The Shepherds hut is lovely, done to a good standard with amazing views over the hills and had an undercover hot tub. Set up on a hill in the peace and quiet, you couldn?t ask for more. We loved it so much so that on the way home we were looking to book again...... This takes me onto the 2nd part of my review...... We paid ?414 for 3 nights, the same 3 nights next year and the owners want ?1100!!!! Yes you read correctly ?1100!!! The price has trippled! Now like most things I expect an increase year on year but to treble the price blew my mind. I felt at ?414 it was priced about right, you can imagine my shock at seeing ?1100!! This is not just for a the weekend I wanted in September. Every 3 night stay from about the end of March to the end of October is around the ?1100 mark! Now dont get me wrong its nice but certainly not worth anywhere near that. I rang Sykes Cottages who confirmed that the owners had increased their prices. For me there are as nice if not nicer Shepherds huts around for a hell of alot less. Seems to me the owners have become greedy and possibly thinking people will be staying in UK next year aswell due to Covid-19. In a nutshell, lovely accommodation, very relaxing but feel the owners are taking advantage. I won?t be paying that amount thats for sure!!!!

Absolutely amazing.. Due to covid the gentleman David apologised for not being able to offer the usual warm welcome bless him.. For a woman who has ocd I haven't had to look twice the cleanliness is outstanding the shepherds pie is scrumptious.. And it is so private we will definitely be booking again