We love this row of four little wooden boxes, sitting on a rugged coastal outcrop in Nova Scotia. Each is a fantastically simple but elegant space, positioned to make the most of the wild landscape surrounding it, but also offering all the creature comforts of modern design.
The owners of the cabins describe their location as being “at the end of the Earth… a farming and fishing village that had completely died, a ghost of a lost village at the end of the Earth, with just the bones left.”
Today, the site is a collection of rental properties with very cool design sensibilities. Surrounded by sea and mountains, the little complex started as an architectural experiment, with temporary buildings and creative gatherings, but gradually evolved into something more sustainable. Four cottages, a tower, a studio, a reconstructed barn and other barns were built around the ruins of the former village.
The cottages were inspired by boats – so living in them is a little like living inside fishing boats. Dubbed “frugal chic” by their owners, the cabins are rustic and simple. With their exposed framing and simple decor, they’re basic but also very comfortable. They’re also eco-conscious, with sheep roaming freely around them, an organic vegetable garden and trout ponds, and they run on solar energy.
Each of the cottages has a second level loft with a queen bed upstairs, and a second bedroom downstairs on the main floor with two twin beds. There are two additional overflow sleeping places on the living room raised plinth. One of the four has an additional bathroom with a Jacuzzi bathtub upstaris, and it is fully insulated for year-round use (please ask for this specifically, if required).
“If you’re looking for Motel 6, you don’t come here,” say the owners. “If you’re looking for nature and a physical relationship to nature — kayaking, swimming, surfing, fishing — you come here. If you want to be alone and write a book, you can do that as well.”
Really unique cabin rentals in Nova Scotia.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
The cabins have fully-equipped kitchens with fridge/freezer, oven, cook-top, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, kettle and coffeemaker. They also have TVs with digital cable and a DVD player, telephones, wireless internet, fireplaces and private parking.
The four adjacent cabins share two washing machines and two dryers. There is also a shared barbecue area, with three BBQs, and a communal firepit by one of the larger houses on the property.
AROUND
The peninsula on which the cabins are located is very isolated. But it’s also close enough to urban landscapes to keep all kinds of guests amused.
The property is near Mahone Bay, which has around 460 islands, as well as little towns like Chester and Bridgewater, a little fishing village called Bluerocks, and the UNESCO World Heritage Town of Lunenberg. Across from the houses are the LaHave Islands, which can be reached by kayak. Halifax is 1 1/4 hours away, and Cape Breton is slightly farther.
The owners offer horseback riding lessons in the summer, and there are folk art and music festivals in the nearby village. There is no public transport, and a car is recommended.
LOCATION
Upper Kingsburg, Nova Scotia. Nearest airport: Halifax International Airport (130km)
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The cottages are open May through November. All of the seasons are great, but fall and off-season are two of the best, with the mildest climate on the south shore of Nova Scotia, east of Vancouver.
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