Reviews

Birch Retreat is such a beautiful place to stay. It is located in a peaceful and quiet forest in Melmerby. It was just what my family and I needed. If you are looking for a special place to have a holiday then this should be on your list.

The shepherd’s hut itself has been carefully designed and is well built. We had all the things we needed. It is part of the Rowley Estates and the hosts are helpful, generous and responsive. I am looking forward to returning when I get the chance.

We had a brilliant weekend at the Birch Retreat. It is secluded and peaceful with incredible views of the woods and fields. Melmerby is a nice village and we were able to explore some of it during our stay.

Christine was superb and quick to respond to any questions I had.
I would say this is the most relaxing and enjoyable place we have stayed at through Airbnb.

A little piece of paradise in Melmerby! Clean, well thought out, well appointed and beautifully situated. Highly recommend!

Lovely shepherds hut in a beautiful forest setting. It is surprisingly spacious and well equipped. The owner was very attentive to our needs and a very nice hamper was ready for our arrival. Would definitely recommend staying here in this unique setting.

Great stay at a unique property. The shepherds hut made excellent use of space and was finished to a high quality. The location is great, secluded enough but then also a 15 minute walk from the village and pub.

Stayed here in the summer of 2025 and had the most amazing family time break, just what we all needed, so much so have just booked for summer 2026.

An absolutely stunning stay at Birch Retreat. The pictures really don’t do the location or the lodge justice. Super dog friendly, our water mad lab was able to play in the beck for hours with no one else around and no stress. Sitting on the deck with a cup of tea watching the lambs play on a morning really was a highlight. If you’re considering booking this place I urge you to do it.

We really enjoyed our stay at Birch Retreat. It was very cosy and warm, especially with the log burner over Christmas, the wi-fi was thankfully great for the kids evening entertainment! We loved the beautiful forest, the kids loved walking the stream in their wellies and the dog loved chasing the pheasants! Ashgill force nearby is great to visit, and there are so many beautiful walks, great value for money.

We stayed at Birch Retreat for our Christmas as a family of three and we had the best Christmas ever. Birch Retreat exceeded all our expectations. It was lovely and cosy. It was always warm with central heating and a lovely log fire. Soooo many logs for the fires you will never run out. Gorgeous shower gel, shampoo and moisturiser to use. Lots of lovely towels to keep us going. Really comfortable beds. Everything you need in the kitchen. The welcome hamper was a lovely touch and the homemade jam was lovely. The area is lovely and quiet. There are 2 other cabins in view. Birch Retreat is on the end next to woodland and a river which was perfect for us as it gave us our own little private walk which our daughter loved each day. There is a lovely pub a quick walk down the road. We were sorry to leave, we had such a lovely peaceful time. Christine was a great attentive host. We hope to return and stay again! Thank you x

My husband and I stayed at the Birch Retreat a week ago and it was a fantastic stay. Lovely and cozy, with the fire roaring as it was minus temperatures outside. The shephards hut is located in the middle of a beautiful forest, which added to the cozy asthetic. Perfectly well equipt with everything we needed. Will definitely be coming back to stay again!