Secluded Artisan's Cabin in Blue Ridge Mountain Holler
About the property
- Cabin
- Bedrooms3
- Sleeps7
- Bathrooms2
- Half Baths0
- Minimum Stay2 nights
Cabin, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, (Sleeps 3-6)
Nestled in a secluded dell, this log cabin boasts interior walls of polished cherry wood harvested from the nearby forest. A cathedral ceiling and meticulous craftsmanship welcome you to the interior of a jewel box. Sit in the spacious shade of a wrap-around porch and watch cloud shadows play across a facing mountain. Barbecue dinner on the rear brick patio. Listen to the songs of whippoorwills and katydids in the night, and see what the heavens look like miles away from light pollution.
This cabin affords privacy, but is only minutes away from the D-Day Memorial, a five-star restaurant, and cultural events sponsored by the Sedalia Center. In less than one hour, you can be kayaking or canoeing on the James River. Viewing Roanoke from the top of Mill Mountain. Strolling the campus of Liberty University.
This is a year-round facility. In winter, you can snuggle up in front of a wood fire and sneer at the wind fretting around the corners of this tight and well-insulated home. In spring, watch the dogwoods and redbuds bloom, and hike to the top of the nearby Peaks of Otter. Summer time, and the living is easy. Uninvited people and problems will have trouble finding you. In fall, the air is crisp, clear, cool. The leaves turn colors.
And a special someone will multiply your delight in the beauties of this setting.
Keywords: Cabin
Property Manager
Tom (the Younger) Smedley
- Response rate:
- 90%
- Response time:
- within two days
- Speaks:
- english, french, turkish
- Calendar last updated:
- May 3, 2018
About Tom (the Younger) Smedley
Tom Smedley, the Elder, veteran urban planner, retired to Wheats Valley to raise apples, cattle, sheep, and children. A passionate outdoorsman, he enjoys welcoming people who share his appreciation for the Blue Ridge Mountains. Tom Smedley, the Younger, is living his dreams as well. After a career in technical writing, he landed his PhD in Communication Studies and now teaches online classes from his home office with a view of Overstreet Creek.
Tom (the Younger) Smedley purchased this Cabin in 2005
Why Tom (the Younger) Smedley chose Bedford
What can be achieved with local materials? Can you build a cabin with all the modern amenities from poplar logs and cherry lumber harvested and milled on site? If you have ever longed to build your own cabin in the woods, come see what a fulfilled dream looks like. Of course, you'll need to find a talented framing carpenter who can also do finish carpentry, then cabinetry.
What makes this Cabin unique
Yes, you can see for miles and miles while sitting on the porch. However, this house is invisible from the road. A quick climb out of the dell, and you can hike for miles, all the way up to the Jefferson National Forest -- and beyond.
Amenities
- Internet
- Pets Welcome
- Air Conditioning
- Heater
- Kids Welcome
- Parking
- No Smoking
Bedrooms
- 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 7
- Bedroom 1 (downstairs). Has own attached bathroom and a queen-size bed. Bedroom 2 (upstairs). Has standard double-bed. Bedroom 3 (upstairs). Has standard double and single beds. The upstairs bedrooms share a bathroom between them.
Bathrooms
- 2 Bathrooms
Location Type
- Mountain ViewA brief walk up the hill behind the cabin will let you see the Peaks of Otter.
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- Parking Off Street
- Air ConditioningCentral A/C
- Free Long DistanceCalling card provided.
- HeatingHeat pump
- Linens ProvidedOf course. We may not be a motel, but expect to find the beds made when you get here after your drive.
- Broadband AccessVerizon-provided DSL, as reliable as their customer service.
- Parking for RV/Boat/TrailerNo sanitary hookups, but room to park.
- Telephone
- Towels Provided
- Wireless InternetVerizon-provided DSL, as reliable as their customer service.
- Wood StoveThis is supplemental heating.
Kitchen
- Catering Available
- Coffee Maker
- Cooking UtensilsEverything you'll probably need.
- Dishes & UtensilsOf course. You're not camping out!
- Kitchen
- Microwave
- OvenConventional oven.
- Refrigerator
- StoveGas range.
- Toaster
Dining
- Dining Area
Entertainment
- BooksIncluding some written by Smedleys!
- CD Player
- DVD Player
- Music Library
- Video Library
Outside
- BicyclesI'm a fanatical cyclist, with several favorite routes of varying lengths and difficulty. I have a spare mountain bike, if you'd like to join me for a ride!
- Deck / PatioBrick patio behind the cabin, with free standing fire pit.
- Lanai / GazeboSpacious wrap-around porch.
- Outdoor Grill
Suitability
- Long-term Renters Welcome
Attractions
- churches
- festivals
- library
- museums
- playground
- restaurants
- winery tours
Leisure Activities
- antiquing
- horseback riding
- sight seeing
- wildlife viewing
Sports & Adventure Activities
- cycling
- hiking
- hot air ballooning
- kayaking
- mountain biking
Notes
- What most impresses most guests? The PEACEFUL atmosphere.
19 Reviews
Latest reviews
Wonderful time
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at your cabin. Perfect location, peaceful, quiet, plenty of hiking areas. If I had only thing to recommend that would be the installation of a water filter onto the kitchen sink for the drinking water. Other than that we will certainly keep Hawk's Nest in mind for future trips, just a great place to relax.
Thank you so much for the kind words. Most of our guests remark on how peaceful the setting it. And dad takes great pride in maintaining several hiking paths.
Welcome to Virginia
When we first pulled into the drive way I was thinking "oh no what have I got myself into?" It was a small narrow road that looked like it led into a field with uncut hay all around. As we kept going I was a little concerned bc it was like driving up a very steep and bumpy mountain. We have a big truck so I knew we would make it, but my mom was coming later and she drives a mini van. To my surprise she made it just fine.
The cabin is very secluded, I liked that. The porch is amazing so we sat out there a lot and enjoyed the peace and quiet. The inside of the cabin is nice and cozy and the beds were very comfortable.(There is not a washer, dryer or dishwasher) There is a charcoal grill plus a table and chairs on the back porch so we grilled out and enjoyed ourselves.
I had the pleasure of meeting TOM and his friend Heidi. They were both just delightful. Tom had actually just turned 90 the day before. He was pretty amazing I thought.
Yes I would and will go back again if we are ever back in the area.
So glad you enjoyed it, and we would love to see your party again.
The cabin is our family Taj Mahal. Dad built it (actually, helped a master carpenter who rented from us at the time) using materials harvested from the farm -- poplar for the logs, cherry for the 3/4" interior paneling, and hemlock for the visible beams inside. Dad was nursing Mom through her "long goodbye" (Alzheimer's), and this was his sanity saver.
The most common word used to describe the cabin is "peaceful." It's also a great place to reconnect with distant friends and family.
Quaint cabin getaway
Very roomie with all of the essentials. We hiked around the property the first day and relaxed on the wrap around porch. The 2nd day we went to peaks of otter which was only about a 20 minute drive. We packed all the food supplies so we didn't need or have a chance to eat out as there was a full kitchen. hopefully we will be back next year to go to natural bridge. Good host good memories can't complain :)
So glad you guys enjoyed yourselves! Something to keep in mind for your next visit -- the Millstone Tea Room restaurant offers an incredible dining experience in an unlikely location, just 2.5 miles away from the cabin.
Fantastic Cabin
The cabin is in a quiet, secluded setting. The wood in the structure is beautiful to behold. The windows in the cabin really allow for a great view of the surroundings.We really enjoyed the fire pit and the wood stove. Great place for a get away.
Nice getaway
My family really enjoyed this cabin. We did some walking around the property with the kids and they loved the adventure. The drive way is very steep wouldn't have made it in my car. The wood burning fire place was the best.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Kashanda. We love to watch families with children build memories of fun times together. A few sassafras trees provided us with seasoned and fragrant firewood to share with our guests.
And yes, 350 hilly acres with a valley down the middle does provide a lot of room for adventure.
True, the driveway does take some getting used to. The trick is to keep up a brisk pace. I go up there all the time in my 2000 Honda Civic with a chopped suspension and six inches clearance.
We appreciate your family's military service -- Dad is a WW II navy veteran.
Beautiful workmanship, very private, almost too private
Our family and golden retriever thouroughly enjoyed being nestled in the gorgeous cabin! It was 30 min from Liberty University and 45 min from Roanoke. We enjoyed the quiet surroundings of the property and marveled at the white tailed deer that would sneak through the area. We streamed Netflix over internet connection for our kids entertainment, while my husband and I would sit and chat by the fire. The owner was quite hospitable and brought us everything we needed for the fire and to enjoy the snow we got for a day!! Thank you for a wonderful stay!
Liberty University attracts quite a few wonderful people into its orbit. It's such a joy to host families that come here expecting to enjoy themselves. 50 years ago, as Dad presided over the explosive urbanization of Northern Virginia (planning director, Fairfax County), he dreamed of providing a Blue Ridge place of refuge for harried urbanites. Where they could "see two trees together." Or, in the case of this family, their first snowfall!
Location
35-minute drive to Liberty University, 45-minute drive to Natural Bridge and its zoo, 20 minute drive to D-Day Memorial, 15-minute drive to Peaks of Otter, 30-minute hike to Jefferson National Forest, 30-minute drive to Thomas Jefferson's octagon house Bedford Forest