A very special location for anyone wanting to escape for a few nights. We stayed for eight nights and thoroughly enjoyed both the cottage and the observation room. The property was clean, comfortable and clearly well maintained. Older properties of this type inevitably require constant attention, particularly when it comes to damp and moisture, and as the owner of a heritage property myself, I appreciate the work involved in keeping a building like this in good condition. We have used Rural Retreats many times over the years and have generally been very impressed with the quality and character of the properties offered. That is why we felt it was important to mention the following points, particularly given the price paid for an eight-night stay. A particular thank you to the housekeeper, who is often one of the unsung heroes of the holiday-let industry. Your hard work was very much appreciated. There are two points I think future visitors should be aware of, with the second perhaps also something for Rural Retreats to consider. Firstly, the directions and description of the walk to the property appear to be incorrect in a few places. The path is behind the information board (margin to the right), almost opposite some other holiday properties. You walk down the steps, ignore the first turning on the left (which leads to the bird hides), and continue downwards as the path winds all the way to the lighthouse. Some descriptions refer to the walk as being “uphill”, which is correct only when walking from the lighthouse back towards the car park. On arrival, you are of course walking steeply downhill. If you are bringing heavy or awkward luggage, bear in mind that this is quite a demanding route. I used a trolley but still managed to twist both knees on the steep path, and as I already had a broken arm, getting everything down was rather challenging! This is not a criticism of the property at all, simply information that may help future guests. Travel as lightly as possible and be prepared for the walk. Secondly, and this was really the only negative aspect of our stay, the lighthouse understandably attracts a great deal of interest from visitors. Despite the property being private, there was a surprisingly constant stream of people attempting to gain access through the gate. People regularly tried the combination locks, played with the bolts and, on several occasions, attempted to climb over the gate. This happened perhaps 10–20 times a day while we were there and did detract considerably from the sense of solitude we had expected when booking such a remote property. The damaged or broken posts along the top of the gate also appear to suggest that people have been climbing over it for some time. On two occasions we were actually locked in after visitors interfered with the outer bolts, which could potentially create a safety issue. To be absolutely clear, I do not believe anyone was attempting to break in for any malicious reason. It appeared to be entirely down to curiosity and exploration. Nevertheless, it became frustrating at times, particularly when trying to leave the property and finding families gathered on the other side of the gate watching us, which occasionally made us feel rather like exhibits in a zoo! Given the price paid for eight nights, this level of disturbance felt like something that should not have been allowed to happen. We have stayed with Rural Retreats many times over the years and have always valued the standard and privacy associated with their properties. On this occasion, however, the repeated attempts by members of the public to access the property significantly affected our experience. Without some form of goodwill gesture or incentive, I would have to think carefully about whether I would return. It may be worth Rural Retreats considering additional signage or alterations to the gate to make it much clearer that the lighthouse is privately occupied and that access is not permitted. This would help protect guests’ privacy, prevent visitors from interfering with the locks and reduce the risk of someone becoming trapped inside or outside the property. Overall, however, we had a lovely eight-night stay in a genuinely unusual and memorable location. We saw plenty of wildlife, enjoyed the peace when we had it, and very much appreciated the opportunity to stay somewhere so distinctive.

Staying in a lighthouse was always a dream of mine, and me and my family finally made it as a (late) 30th birthday present! This place is truly magical, and the peace and isolation is incredible. My camera roll now contains hundreds of lighthouse photos at every hour of the day in every lighting. The facilities are great; comfortable beds, solid showers, and a well stocked kitchen. The drive there and the walk up/down is definitely a bit of a challenge, but well worth it to see the seals and the sun setting over the water every evening.

This was our second stay at the cottage. We absolutely love the privacy & serenity. The cottage was fully equipped from a gravy boat to washing machine detergents. They have thought of everything to make our stay comfortable & it truly was. On our arrival there was a welcome goodie bag & even fresh milk left in the fridge for us. We had an amazing time & on the day before we could leave we had a visit from a seal, even with the rough sea he kept popping up.