FAQs
BOOKINGS AND PAYMENT
How do I book? Please take a look at our booking page for more information.
How do I check availability and prices? You'll find The Muckle Snug's availability here, and The Wee Bothy's here.
Do you allow short breaks? We tend to offer the cottages by the week, from Saturday to Saturday. However, at quieter times of year or at late notice we're very happy to offer shorter breaks. Please just ask.
Do you have a 'minimum booking' policy? Because the majority of our costs are in the changeover, we do have a three-night minimum (or cost equivalent).
Can we rent both cottages at once? Absolutely. Although nicely discrete, with their own gardens and parking, the cottages are close to one another and so work very well for a single group.
What is included in the price? The quoted price includes all linen, towels and utilities, including electricity, heating and wifi for all guests listed on the Booking Form. It also includes all relevant taxes, use of a high chair and travel cot if required and, in The Muckle Snug, one basket of logs (additional logs available to buy on request).
Can I pay by card? I'm afraid we don't take card payments. The booking process provides guests with the information to make a direct bank transfer (BACS). If this is problematic, please do get in touch.
Can I add extra people to the booking? As long as this won't take you beyond the limit for the property (6 in The Muckle Snug and 3 in The Wee Bothy), you're welcome to add extra people, by agreement. Depending on circumstances, however, there may be an additional charge. Please contact us to confirm.
What if I need to cancel my booking? Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel your holiday, and refer to the Terms and Conditions for the process.
When will I receive my booking confirmation? You should receive a confirmation email within 48 hours of your deposit payment and booking details being received. Please feel free to chase us if you've not received this.
When should I pay the balance? The balance and Security Deposit should be settled at least four weeks prior to your arrival.
ACCESSIBILITY
Are your cottages wheelchair accessible? Unfortunately there is at least one step into the back door of The Wee Bothy, but The Muckle Snug has been deliberately designed to be wheelchair friendly, being all on one level, and with an easy path from the parking space to the door.
Can we stay without a car? We're a few miles outside of Haddington and it's quite a walk to the nearest bus, so I'm afraid we don't recommend our cottages if you don't have your own transport.
PETS
Do you allow pets? You're very welcome to bring dogs, by prior arrangement and for a £15 surcharge. We've also had guests in the past with cats and, depending on availability, may even be able to offer stabling for a horse. Please be sure to read our T&Cs about having pets in the cottages.
LOCATION
Do you provide directions to the cottage? Yes, you can get directions via our Location page.
What is there to see and do in the local area? Loads! Please refer to our Local Attractions page.
How far are you from Edinburgh? We're less than forty minutes (20miles) from the city centre.
How far are you from the airport? We're about forty minutes (30 miles) from the airport.
How far are you from the nearest supermarket? There's a small supermarket in Gifford (3 miles) and a large Tesco and Aldi in Haddington (3 miles). Most of the larger supermarkets will also deliver.
Where is your nearest train station? Both Longniddry and Drem are on the main line into Edinburgh and fifteen minutes away. From there it's twenty minutes into Edinburgh.
Can we walk to the pub? It's about 2.5 miles to the nearest pub, so you may prefer to call one of the many local cab firms.
The cottages are on a farm; is it noisy? Rentonhall Farm is no longer a working farm, though there are chickens and also horses in the surrounding fields. So the only noises you'll hear - beyond the woodpecker and owl in the nearby wood - are the occasional cluck or a whinny. At times, a quad bike is used around the fields, but this is done with full consideration for anyone in the cottages. In fact, the usual feedback we get is how perfectly peaceful it is.
You're obviously rural. Is there anyone on hand to offer help if we need it? We live in the steading block alongside the holiday cottages and, while each building is quite discrete, looking out in different directions with their own private gardens, they are nearby. Someone is around most of the time, day and night, and will be happy to help.
FACILITIES
What facilities do you offer? For a full list of The Muckle Snug's facilities, please click here. For The Wee Bothy's, click here.
Are you child-friendly? We've worked hard to make our cottages child-friendly. High chairs and travel cots are included free of charge and, with the exception of the steps into The Wee Bothy, both cottages are on one level. Toddler toys and a baby mat are included in The Muckle Snug, and there is an outdoor area beyond the firepit where children can run around and explore.
Do you offer wifi, and how reliable is it? We're delighted to offer unlimited wifi in both cottages through local supplier Lothian Broadband. You're welcome to stream movies or enjoy online gaming, but please be aware that bandwidth is shared across the properties and so may slow if you're all on tablets or phones! It's also a line-of-sight supply (rather than hardwired), and so very occasionally more sensitive to extreme weather conditions. That said, we've found it immeasurably better than our former wired supply with BT.
Does the cottage have a bath or shower? The Muckle Snug has an ensuite shower, and a shower over the bath in the main bathroom. The Wee Bothy has a shower over the bath. All showers are mains pressured.
Do you provide bed linen and towels? Yes, each bed will be made up (with two pillows per guest). We also supply bath sheets and hand towels.
What facilities do you provide for walkers and other outdoor enthusiasts? Both cottages benefit from laminated local Land Ranger OS maps, hard floors, washer-dryers, clothes horses, and whirligigs for outdoor drying. In The Muckle Snug there's also a boiler cupboard with a pulley.
What facilities do you provide for cyclists? Alongside the cottage is a secure, stone-built shed with a dial padlock. Guests are very welcome to use the shed for cycle storage. There's also a hose for washing bicycles, and a workshop.
Can we order a grocery delivery or takeaway delivery? Yes, you're welcome to arrange for a delivery to your cottage. Please just make sure you'll be there when it arrives!
Can I charge my electric vehicle? If you're planning to charge an electric vehicle during your stay, please let us know prior to arrival. Each cottage has a dedicated EV charger (a zappi from the UK company myenergi). This is a Type 2, tethered charger, so fitted with a charging cable and Type 2 plug. All EV charging must be via the supplied chargers. It is not permitted to charge via a 3-pin extension. Electricity use for charging vehicles is automatically logged, and you will be asked to settle any related cost prior to departure. Guests are charged at the site's then rate - 26.52p/kWh as at April 2024. Please ask for an up-to-date price prior to charging.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
What time can we arrive and when do we have to leave? You're welcome to arrive any time after 4pm and we ask guests to vacate by 10am on the day of departure.
Will you be there to meet us on arrival? We like to greet our guests on arrival and show them around their cottage. But if we can't be there, we'll make sure to give you instructions on how to get in before you arrive. Inside each cottage is a Welcome Folder with all you should need to know about the property.
What if we're not happy with the property? If you've any cause for complaint, or any problems during your stay, we're more than likely just next door, so do please let us know. You can read more about our complaints procedure in the Terms and Conditions.
Do we have to clean the cottage before we leave? The price you pay for the cottage includes a standard clean. However, we ask that you do all you can to leave the cottage as you found it.
Can we have guests to visit? Yes, you're welcome to have guests visit. However, please park with consideration for guests in the other cottage and for our own use of the ground.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
What are the Thistle Awards and what is the Climate Action Award? Billed as the Oscars of Scotland's tourism industry, Visit Scotland's Thistle Awards highlight the best places to visit and stay across the country. We were absolutely delighted to be announced 2023's Central and East region winners of the Climate Action Award, and were described by judges as an “outstanding example” of how businesses can help look after the planet while offering a luxurious and memorable stay. Read more about it in the local newspaper, the East Lothian Courier.
What is the Green Tourism Gold Award? This national award certification programme recognises the commitment of tourism businesses actively working to become more sustainable. A Gold Award confirms that we've achieved the highest standard when it comes to environmentally friendly practices.
What steps are you taking to reduce the environmental impact of your holiday cottages? We take our obligation to the environment and to future generations very seriously, and are proud of our green credentials. For example, we have almost 12kW of rooftop PV providing both cottages with power, and all grid electricity used is 100% renewable. This makes The Wee Bothy, with its electric space and water heating, entirely renewable (The Muckle Snug is currently heated by an oil boiler, but steps are underway to move to a heat pump as soon as possible.)
We actively encourage you to read our Environmental Policy, and welcome any suggestions for improvement.
You can also look at our 'Positively Green' blog about the small steps we can all take to care for the climate, here (opens in new window).
PERSONAL SECURITY AND PRIVACY
What is your privacy policy? You can find out about our use of cookies, how we comply with GDPR and all other aspects of our Privacy Policy by clicking here.
Do you have CCTV on the grounds? Yes, for everyone's reassurance, the approach to the cottages is covered by CCTV. However this coverage does not extend to the cottages themselves. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.
RANDOM
How can I keep up to date with your latest news and offers? The best option is to 'like' us on Facebook. You'll find the East Lothian Cottages Facebook page here.
Finally, what is a 'muckle snug'?! Muckle is an old Scots word meaning 'large' or 'many', as in the phrase 'many a mickle makes a muckle'. When we converted the old farm byre to create our larger cottage, we wanted a name to show that it was larger than The Wee Bothy, but still cosy and comfortable. Thus, The Muckle Snug!