Gardener's Cottage, Kirriemuir

The Gardener's Cottage is the perfect place to escape the stresses of modern life and indulge in the joys of mold, musty odors, and questionable hygiene standards. When we arrived at the cottage, we thought we had accidentally booked an igloo. The wood burning stove was our only hope for warmth, but even that proved to be a challenge. It may have seemed like a romantic touch, but without an axe, my boyfriend had to unleash his inner lumberjack and make do with a self-brought knife. To make matters worse, we had to pay an extra tenner for a measly bit of wood that didn't even last us the rest of the week. And let's not forget the joy of stubbing our toes countless times due to the cramped quarters, which the pictures failed to accurately depict. Having to clean up the cottage upon arrival, including a moldy fridge and wall behind the sofa, was a great bonding experience. Who needs a couples retreat when you can scrub away at questionable substances together? It really brought us closer, especially when we discovered a few unidentifiable objects that may or may not have been left behind by previous guests. And if you're a fan of arachnids, you'll be thrilled to know that there were plenty of spiders to keep us company. Speaking of unpleasant company, we had the pleasure of sharing our stay with a group of feral children who seemed to have no concept of personal space or privacy. They even had to walk past our bedroom and living room to get to their log’s, and we caught them peeking in our windows several times. But it wasn't just the kids who had issues with boundaries, as we were also observed by a mysterious adult man lurking in the garden. But fear not, for the kitchen was well-equipped, and the bed was surprisingly comfy (unlike the stools), so we managed to get some rest in between dodging spiders and banging our toes and knees on every corner. A little heads up about the state of the place, the daily log parade right outside our window, and the unruly children running amok in the garden during holidays could have saved us and other guests this "romantic" getaway. All in all, Gardener's Cottage is the perfect place to test your immune system and the strength of your relationship. So, if you're up for a challenge, book it now!