Weatherproof your camping experience with a large yurt and camp in comfort & privacy on an off-grid property powered by solar energy and enjoy exclusive use of 50 acres of peaceful woodlands with over 4km of nature trails and special features like a SoundForest and meditative walking labyrinth through the trees. It’s like having your own private park! Note this is not located on the same property as nearby Airbnb "private farmhouse" listing.
The space
"Large, bright, cozy, unique" are some of the ways guests describe the yurt. It is super-private, down a forest path about 150m east of the host’s house & parking area. (A cart is available to move your gear.) The experience combines the best parts of camping while avoiding the worst (like neighbouring campers or struggling to put up a tent) and even includes unlimited campfire wood.
Max occupancy of 4 adults. At host's discretion, it may be extended to 5 or 6 to accommodate families with children.... contact host BEFORE booking.
YURT AMBIENCE: Yurts, which have their roots in nomadic Mongolia, are round tents sturdy enough for extended deployment and braving the elements but still able to be packed up and moved. This particular yurt, manufactured in Ontario, with a 17′ diameter 6' walls and 10' peak, easily accommodates up to 5 people sleeping with space to spare for hanging out. The outside skin is waterproof breathable fabric and the inside walls are lined with cozy wool felt. The floor is off the ground and made of local maple.
The beauty of any tent, including this yurt, is how it allows you to feel immersed in the natural environment. Fabric walls let through the sounds of the forest and you can hear the ocean-like breeze travelling through pine trees. Five giant windows (screened, with flaps that may be opened or closed) connect your sight and senses to the forest which surrounds the yurt. A large transparent dome in the ceiling can be opened for ventilation and allows sky-gazing day or night!
Whether you're camping with your family, your friends, or your significant other, a yurt weatherproofs your experience like no other tent can, because even if you get some poor weather you'll have a large, bright and completely waterproofed space to hang out in.
CAMPING AMENITIES: The yurt is just steps away from a secluded open-sky area with fire pit and picnic tables. You will also find a small work table sheltered by a tarp in case you need somewhere to cook or prepare food if it is raining.
Water for drinking and washing is provided at the camp area and may be refilled anytime at the house. There is no electricity at the camp area but there is a charging station accessible 24/7 near the house. Ice is available for free, though quantities may be limited. Firewood is free, and unlimited.
An outhouse, opposite the yurt, is not an old-style pit privy but instead contains a modern flush-action portable toilet. Featuring aromatic cedar panelling and a window to the forest, you may stay in there longer than you expect ;-)
This sustainable rural homestead is completely off-grid, with no utility connections to the “outside world”. Electricity is generated on-site from solar energy and some clever modern electronics. A sealed well drilled almost 300’ into the bedrock supplies clean, fresh water from an aquifer. And a modern septic system responsibly processes waste water. Heat comes from carbon-neutral firewood all harvested on the property. If you’re interested in how home-based renewable energy works, feel welcome to ask the host for walk-thru of the system!
Guest access
In addition to the accommodation, part of the value in your stay is exclusive use of 50 acres of woodlands with 4km of marked trails looping through varied types of forest, each with its own character: mystical cedars, feathery larches, towering red pines, fragrant spruces, sugar maple hardwood bush, and white pines that whisper to you in the breeze. You basically have your own private nature park. You will get a printed trail map and guide to the forest areas.
You will also find special features like a magical SoundForest of suspended wind chimes and a meditative walking labyrinth winding its way through the trees. And on a clear night don’t be surprised to find yourself awestruck as the dark country sky treats you to a stargazing extravaganza.
In addition to the features in and around your accommodation, guests have access to the following amenities on the property:
+ relax and clear your pores in the wood-fired sauna (book a time, or just let host know a couple hours ahead to get it warming)
+ refresh yourself in the outdoor shower (ambient temp, not heated) anytime
+ use the campfire pit, with unlimited firewood provided
+ full-size BBQ with side-burner stove plate, on back deck of host's house
Other things to note
CLEANING PROTOCOL - While I follow Airbnb’s cleaning procedures to the extent reasonably possible, be advised this is unique accommodation and many of the interior surfaces (e.g., wood, felt, fabric) are natural, unfinished or porous, and cannot be sanitized/disinfected with solutions or sprays. In lieu of this, as an added guest safety measure, I manage the booking calendar to ensure a buffer of at least one day between guest occupancies of the yurt. In other words, you will never be checking-in on the same day a guest has checked-out; there is always at least 24 hours in between. In addition, my cleaning protocol includes opening windows for at least one hour to cross-ventilate the space.
CAMPING EQUIPMENT – The yurt is a very refined tent but nevertheless this is camping so keep in mind you need to bring necessary gear for sleeping, washing, cooking, etc… a list with packing suggestions is provided to booked guests. Two air mattresses (singles) are available by request.
COUNTRY LIVING: Being situated in a rural area, at certain times of year you may occasionally hear (or, ah, smell) agricultural activities in the neighbouring vicinity. Similarly, the trade-off for living surrounded by the good vibes and plentiful oxygen from tens of thousands of trees is inconveniences like bugs… welcome to country life! I generally know the times of year these are most impactful but nothing can be guaranteed. If it is a concern, please inquire before booking.
