Courtyard Cottage, Fogo Mains, Duns, Scottish Borders, TD11 3RA

I booked this cottage based on the description of it being isolated, only to find out a week before our holiday started, that in actual fact, the owner lives right next door to the holiday cottage. This information is not stated in the description anywhere. Had I known, I wouldn't have booked it at all.

I have booked countless holiday cottages with various booking sites in the past. Not once have I had to have a 'Meet & Greet' with the owner. The key code is normally sent via email a few days pre-holiday start date , you simply turn up, put the code in, job done. After all, there is always a handy information book somewhere - should you need it.

Having said this, the owner living next door wouldn't normally bother me IF we were left alone.

Let's just say that the lengthy 'Meet & Greet' felt uncomfortably awkward...

Indeed, having just pulled up outside, the owner seemingly appeared from nowhere, and we were immediately told to move our camper van in case her husband needed to park his car in the garage (adjoining the holiday property.) Then we were asked where our son was, and if he was getting out the van. We'd literally just pulled up!

Maybe he was asleep?

Maybe he didn't want to get out at that exact moment?

Perhaps she thought we were hiding a few other people in there?

Back to the farcial 'Meet & Greet, and let me assure you, no stone was left unturned as the owner ascertained we knew EXACTLY what was expected of us.

After the owner had completed her award-winning spiel, we cautiously entered the property, feeling slightly miffed, and highly cautious - should we dislodge a fibre on the new beige carpet, or our little dog decided to jump on to the new sofa, or much worse, enter a bedroom!

The cottage itself is lovely. Credit where credit is due - it's absolutely spotless. It's definitely the most well equipped cottage we have stayed in.

Unfortunately, this doesn't end here.

The owner popped up another THREE times during our stay. The first time (to be fair) was to warn us that the local farmers were shooting the birds in the fields as they had planted new crops. Okay, no one wants to be shot on holiday...

The second time we had left the radiators on in the games room - the same games room we thought was for our exclusive use during our stay (also adjoining the holiday property, externally.) It didn't say in the holiday description that the owner and her tennis buddies may enter it at will if rain ruins their game. Wonder what would have happened if we had actually been in the games room at the time. Would we have been expected to vacate it?

By the third visit, we were feeling very tired of our lack of privacy. We just wanted to be left alone to enjoy our 'isolated' holiday.

Oh, and I should also mention there is no curtain hanging behind the glass-paned front door. The owners go back and forth to their garage for various reasons and can see straight in! Indeed, within minutes of our departure (carefully planned and executed escape, not on departure day), we got a text.

The owner must have literally been looking through the door/windows to have known we had left!

Sorry, but I won't be coming back, and in the future, I will make careful enquiries about the holiday cottages we pay hard-earned money for.

We have just returned from a week in this comfortable cottage with probably the most amazing views we've ever had at a holiday home. The owners have taken a lot of effort to make the bungalow as comfortable as possible (great beds, with good quality linen and towels). The kitchen has everything you need and the lounge is so cosy with an open fire. You could just sit and look at the view all day. The games room is a fab addition. Great walking and the 2 acre paddock next to the cottage is great for exercising your dog. Duns is 10 mins in the car and about 30