Kip Hideaways Reviews 329

If your soul longs for stillness, for silence unbroken by modern life, then Callie Bothy is your sanctuary. Tucked among wildflowers and ancient trees, this beautifully crafted retreat offers a haven of calm. Inside, everything is finished to the highest standard—from the sleek kitchen and contemporary bathroom to the soft, inviting lounge.

We didn’t need the sauna or hot tub; the sun hung high in a sky of blue all weekend, and we spent our days on the wraparound decking, listening to the hush of the forest. Sometimes, the quiet was so deep, you could hear a pin drop.

There’s Wi-Fi, but no music—no distractions. Just the rustle of leaves, a good book in hand, and time stretching gently before you.

Though the towns of Forres and Elgin are close by, they feel a world away. Callie Bothy is not just a place to stay—it’s a place to exhale, to reconnect, and to simply be.

I was really disappointed with my stay at this cabin. First of all, it was way too hot inside — there’s no proper cooling, so it felt like an oven most of the time. To make matters worse, there are no curtains in the living room, so there’s zero privacy and the sun just blazes in all day, heating it up even more.

Outside wasn’t much better. The grass and yard looked like they hadn’t been maintained in weeks — overgrown and messy, which really ruined the atmosphere I was hoping for.

Overall, it felt neglected and uncomfortable. I wouldn’t recommend staying here unless these issues get fixed.

We have just returned from a lovely stay at East Lodge. Here is my honest review.
Highlights:
Quirky property with lots of charm.
Master bedroom with free standing bath is stunning.
Kitchen well stocked with all accessories you could think of.
The cabin garden room is a quiet sanctuary.
The welcome pack was a nice touch.
The hot tub and sauna were fabulous.
The country garden was lovely.
Wireless charger and tooth brush charger were appreciated.
Suggested improvements:
A small fence near the gate would make the garden secure.
A fan would have been aappreciated.
Wardrobes were not tall enough to hang my long dresses.
A curtain to the patio door to keep out the heat/light/flies.
The site mentions the road but not the quarry which is right next door, starts at 7.30 and disturbs what would have been the most relaxing break and the reason I've dropped to 4 stars.

Our only regret was not staying for longer!! We need more time to appreciate the different walks and stunning scenery with nature at its finest! From start to finish, the whole process was simple! The hosts issued all access instructions via whatsapp along with any advice needed, contact details, and recommended walks, pubs and things to keep an eye out for!! Unfortunately we didn't see the deer but we did see other fascinating wildlife including the 100s of varieties of birds and even the bugs, all on the very doorstep of the cabin and through the huge picture window. From getting the key and entering the secluded woodland through the named sidegate, walking up the short woodland path to the private cabin was just amazing. The peace and quiet just surrounded you with only birds song to be heard. The cabin itself was perfect. Quaint but fully furnished with everything you could possibly need (no tv of course and very minimal phone signal but that was the point of the getaway). All products and furnishings were high end and it was obvious there has been no expense spared when creating this little escape pod. Every little detail has been considered from a fabulous welcome pack with organic and fresh/free range goodies to try, to the vast supply of information books, maps and blankets and torch for outdoor use. The outdoor area was fantastic all round. Thriving with birds and bees. All been planted with this in mind it seemed. Choice of seating areas outside whether to enjoy coffee on the deck or sit around the fireplace toasting marshmallows, or enjoy a glass of wine on the bench overlooking the fields and hills. Obviously a special mention to the outdoor bath, wood provided to heat it up was a nice touch, and can purchase more if required. Takes approx 60-90mins to preheat but was lovely to sit in and take in the views after a day of walking and rambling. We walked along the stiperstone ridges, access via a footpath behind the cabin, there are lots of marked footpaths and different routes to take, and then we dropped down into stiperstone village where we ate at the stiperstone inn. Fabulous homecooked food!! Approx an hours walk away dependant on route taken and Pace obviously. We went the long way round!
Lots of other walks to take but unfortunately we didn't have the time.
We would definitely like to visit again and do not hesitate in recommending this little gem to anyone. A credit to the hosts!!
My only negative is we would have loved to have bought our dog, he would have absolutely LOVED it but I totally understand why no pets allowed, to maintain the highest standards and cleanliness and to keep it perfect, which it really was!

Kip Hideaways clearly selects the very best of properties. Booking was so simple and straight forward. We stayed in The Hidden House in Somerset, part of Hinton Hideaways and we had the most incredible 4 nights. The property was everything we dreamed it would be, the pictures were a true reflection of how stunning the property was. I will absolutely be using the site to book our next escape.

Foxearth (Near Milton Abbas, Dorset) lived up to the description and pictures online. It is in a very peaceful location, it’s well equipped, comfortable, and very pretty. For our stay in June/July the little garden was full of bumble bees and butterflies. The owner Sarah was very helpful in recommending places to visit, walk and eat etc. Perfect if you want to explore Dorset or if you just want to hideaway somewhere lovely.

Such a great few days and the booking process and communications were all easy and hassle free. The accommodation was very reasonable and so comfortable with everything we needed. A fantastic experience overall.

We loved kudhva. The danish cabin is beautifully designed, nestled in deep woodland and surrounded with birdsong and the flow of the stream. We loved having wood fires on the deck in the evenings. The staff were incredibly generous and thoughtful. A wonderful spot to decompress.

This has to be one of the best places we've stayed in. Tastefully decorated, a lived in space with authenticity and character. Unlike some stays, this wonderful house had the feeling of being well loved and a family home, not stale and corporate.

An excellent experience. Would recommend and use again.

We had the most amazing stay, the cabin was clean, stylish, homely a solid 10/10 I cannot wait to go black again

River Cottage is an idyllic gem of property that is furnished to a very high standard. The hosts Susie and Richie have discerning taste and this is clearly evident throughout. You could comfortably or stay for long breaks as he kitchen is so well-equipped.
As for the garden…stunning. We loved sitting and listening to the river and wildlife.
We highly recommend visiting Powys Castle and Gardens, Lake Vrnwy and the Greenhouse Cafe and nurseries.
We thank Susie for being so responsive answering all our queries promptly.

We got to Rapids on Wed this week for our booking (around 5 pm) and all seemed fine apart from the near vertical steps up to the bedrooms. These are described on your site as steep but they are MUCH worse than that. A challenge even for the able bodied - I am a personal trainer and yoga teacher! There are no photographs of the stairs on the site - for good reason!

After settling in for the evening, the heavens opened all day on Thursday rendering no wifi (1.47 mg) so no ability to make bookings for local attractions via internet or ability to stream programmes on the tv or in the "cinema room" (essentially an open tin shack full of insects and damp floor cushions) as internet connection too weak to cope with anything. Even trying to make wifi phone calls was practically impossible. There is zero phone coverage outside in the valley at all so we felt really cut off.

I called and messaged the owner Holly on Friday morning to report this issue as things did not improve with the weather. Initially she insisted that there was good coverage for internet via BT Business ("guaranteeing 50 mg") until I took some screen shots of download speeds using Ookla speed test. I still have this photo as evidence of this.

Holly messaged that BT would investigate within 24 hours but probably not have engineer out until Monday it being Friday morning. My husband has his own business so it is essential he has the ability to communicate with his team if necessary. Aside from this, how are we meant to book local attractions and restaurants etc if the internet is either too slow or non-existent and impossible to make calls?

Holly’s attitude immediately was defensive - insisting that they “paid for good levels of wifi and have a business contract with BT”. It was not until I insisted she did a speed test heself that she reluctantly agreed 1.47 mg was insufficient.

I don’t believe that The Rapids ever enjoys a decent internet service and this should be reflected on their website and on yours. We felt vulnerable as we were unable to make bookings or even watch t.v. which relies upon the ability to stream such services. Holly said that they have an agreement with the local hotel/pub to use their onsite internet if necessary so this would infer that there have been problems before surely?

There has been no real attempt to apologise from Holly, just a standard phrase “we cannot guarantee that the weather won’t affect these facilities”.

\We left at 10 am on Friday 13th (how appropriate) and I informed the owners en route back to Surrey that we had tidied and locked up appropriately.

An altogether disappointing experience and shocking response from the owners. No offers of refund or re-booking. Just defensive remarks.

As is the case with all of these companies who manage"luxury"accommodation belonging to private owners (including Boutique Retreats et al) they offer no come back or assistance at all to the clients who pay handsomely to use these facilities. It has been my experience with several such companies that they are there to serve and protect owners only.

We loved our stay at Croft Cabin. It was super easy to book via the website and the owners were then extremely helpful with information and recommendations. The cabin is beautiful and is set in stunning surroundings with plenty of local walks for us and our dog. Would highly recommend!

Lovely place and location. Process for notifying entry code and address was unreliable.

The experience at Paradise farm was something our family will talk about for years to come . Gem and Tom should be immensely proud of what they have created in such a small space of time - the cider store was immaculate. The aesthetic was amazing and I almost didn’t want to write this review as we want to keep it our secret . The generosity of the hosts and even their wider family was so warming and our children never wanted to leave . We miss Prada and plucky (pigs ) and hope to see them again soon .

'Betsy' is such a unique hideaway in a stunning location. The American Airstream caravan is in great condition and well looked after. Great sleep and a strong, hot shower. There's also a record player and a selection of albums!

It's so easy to book via Kip. The selection of cottages, eco-cabins, bothys etc make an escape from the city to delightful rural areas just so easy. Just returned from Fox Earth, an immaculately idyllic and clean cottage in Dorset where we enjoyed the beautiful garden, birdsong and peace. It was so wonderful to just be there. To be present in the moment. On a rainy day we visited Thomas Hardy's house and birthplace and enjoyed a good pub dinner at an inn recommended by the host. A great, reviving break.

A perfect weekend getaway

My wife and I spent three nights at Bay House Studio to celebrate her birthday, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The space is beautifully designed, with first-class amenities and thoughtful touches throughout. Everything felt incredibly generous and well-considered — from the welcome details to the excellent local recommendations for food and things to do.

While it would be a fantastic place for a family holiday, it was also an ideal romantic escape for the two of us. We left feeling relaxed, refreshed, and already talking about when we can come back. Highly recommended.

Everything was perfect.The apartment was beautifully and lovingly furnished. It had everything you need and more! The kitchen in particular was well equipped. We especially liked the gintonic provided on arrival. The washer/dryer and iron were also great. It even had an adapter for our German plugs! And then: The view of the harbor! The piano! The church window! The beautiful showers! The well-chosen care products! The coffee table books!
We will be back!

Saba Bach and family